Planning a trip to Spain or Central/South America? Good decision. But going without knowing how to speak Spanish is a bad idea. That’s not to say it isn’t possible to have a good and get by, but by learning even the most basic words, you can make your experience much easier and more fun.
There are some useful basic Spanish travel phrases that you just have to know as you will use them a lot. And most of these are very easy to pick up even if you have never attempted to speak, read or write Spanish before.
Check out our guide to the most important Spanish words and phrases to learn before traveling to a Spanish-speaking country. We start with the easy to learn words and then describe some more advanced spanish phrases for travel which are very useful to know.
Also if you prefer, you can print off our Spanish travel phrases as a pdf and take them with you on your next trip.
Greetings
These are some of the most used words you will use in Spanish, and some of the easiest to learn/remember.
Hello – Hola
Good day/Good morning – Buenos días
Good afternoon – Buenas tardes
Goodnight – Buenas noches
Goodbye – Adiós
Basics
These are some of the best words to memorise.
Por favor – Please
Gracias – Thank you
Disculpe – Excuse me/I’m sorry
Conversational
These are so of the most useful Spanish phrases for starting a conversation.
How are you? – ¿Cómo estás?
How are you? – ¿Qué tal?
How’s it going? – ¿Cómo te va?
How’ve you been? – ¿Cómo te ha ido?
I’m fine, thanks! – Estoy bien ¡Gracias!
Bien/Más o menos. – Good/So-so
And you? – ¿Y tú?
What’s happening? – ¿Qué pasa?
What are you doing? – ¿Qué haces?
What is your name? – ¿Cómo se llama?
My name is… – Me llamo…
Do you speak English? – ¿Habla inglés?
I don’t speak Spanish – No hablo español
Speak slowly please – Hable más lento for favor
I don’t understand – No entiendo
Do you understand? – ¿Entiende?
Question Words
These are some of the main Spanish words for asking questions.
I don’t know – No sé
How do you say this? – ¿Cómo se dice?
What time is it? – ¿Qué hora es?
What does…(word).. mean? – Qué significa (…)?
What? – ¿Qué…?
How? – ¿Cómo…?
When? – ¿Cuándo…?
Where? – ¿Dónde…?
Who? – ¿Quién…?
Why? – ¿Por qué…?
Which? – ¿Cuál?
Who is it? – ¿Quién es?
What do you want to do today? – ¿Qué quieres hacer hoy?
Shopping
Money – El Dinero
Shopping centre – El Centro Comercial
Shop, store – La tienda
I would like – Me gustaría
I want – Quiero
I need – Necesito
How much does it cost? – ¿Cuánto cuesta?
Do you have..? – ¿Tiene..?
I have – Yo tengo-
I don’t have – Yo no tengo
Which one do you prefer? – ¿Cuál prefieres?
Airports / Flying
Country – País?
Airport – El aeropuerto
Terminal – El terminal
When is the Flight? – ¿Cuándo sale el vuelo?
Where is the boarding gate? – ¿Dónde está la puerta de embarque?
Has the flight been canceled? – ¿Se ha cancelado el vuelo?
This is my carry-on baggage – Èste es mi equipaje de mano
I want to change my seat – Quisiera cambiar mi asiento
Tourism & Sightseeing
These are some of the most common Spanish phrases for travel to a Spanish speaking country.
Railway station – La estación de ferrocarril
How Much Does a Round-Trip Ticket Cost? – ¿Cuánto cuesta un boleto de ida y vuelta?
Can you get me a ticket? – ¿Puede conseguirme usted una entrada?
Are there any seats available? – ¿Aún hay asientos disponibles?
Hotel – El hotel
Bank – El banco
Library – La biblioteca
Stadium – El estadio
Petrol station – La gasolinera
Bookshop – La librería
Market – El mercado
Bus stop – La parada
Museum – El museo
Where is the museum? – ¿Dónde está el museo?
What are the best things to do in Ibiza – ¿Cuáles son las mejores cosas que hacer en Ibiza?
Where should I see in Madrid – ¿Dónde debo visitar en Madrid?
Directions
Dónde queda? – Where is?
How do I get to…? – ¿Como llego a..?
I’m lost – Estoy perdido
Can you help me? – ¿Puede ayudarme?
Where is the bank? – Dónde está el banco?
Where is [name] Street? – Dónde está la calle [de name]?
Where is the Taxi Stop? – ¿Dónde está la parada de taxis?
Where’s the nearest bus stop? – ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús más cerca?
Is there a pub/bar around here? – ¿Hay algún bar por aquí?
Here – Aqui
There – Allí
To the right – A la derecha
To the left – A la izquierda
Straight ahead – Derecho
At the corner – En la esquina
One block away – A una cuadra
To the … – Hacia el …
North – Norte
South – Sur
East – Este
West – Oeste
Hotels
I would like to confirm my reservation – Querría confirmar mi reserva
I would like to change my reservation – Querría cambiar mi reserva
I would like to cancel my reservation – Querría anular mi reserva
Eating Out
Café – La cafetería
Restaurant – El restaurante
Breakfast – El Desayuno
Lunch – El Almuerzo
Dinner – La Cena
Where Are the Restrooms? – ¿Dónde están los baños públicos?
A table – Una mesa
Could I have a table, please – Quisiera una mesa, por favor
A menu – Un menú
Could I have …? – ¿Me trae…?
What is today’s menu? – ¿Cuál es el menú de hoy?
What do you recommend? – ¿Qué me recomienda?
A drink – Una bebida
Beer – Cerveza
Red or white wine – Vino tinto or blanco
Water – Agua
An orange juice – Un zumo de naranja
A mineral water – Una agua mineral
Tea – Té
Coffee – café
A bowl of soup – Un cuenco de sopa
Soup – Sopa
A salad – Una ensalada
Sandwich – Torta
Burger – Hamburguesa
Chicken – Pollo
Spicy – Picante
I am vegetarian – Soy vegetariano/a
I’m allergic – Soy alérgico
I’m vegetarian – Soy vegetariano
I would like to try the chef’s special – Me gustaría probar la especialidad del cocinero
I would like some dessert – Me gustaría algo de postre
That was delicious – Estuvo delicioso
How much is it? – ¿Cuanto cuesta?
The bill, please – La cuente, por favor
Do you accept credit card? – ¿Acepta tarjeta de crédito?
Emergencies
Hopefully you won’t encounter and problems when travelling but if you do these are some good phrases to know.
Help! – ¡Ayuda!
Can you help me? – ¿Puede ayudarme?
I need help – Necesito ayuda
I feel sick / I don’t feel well – No me siento bien
How are you feeling? – ¿Como te sientes?
Call an ambulance! – ¡Llame una ambulancia!
Call the police! – ¡Llame a la policia!
Police station – La policía
Firestation – La estación de bomberos
Hospital – El hospital
Pharmacy – La farmacia
A cold – Un resfriado
Sore throat – Dolor de garganta
Cough – Tos
Fever – Fiebre
Headache – Dolor de cabeza
Stomachache – Dolor de estómago
Backache – Dolor de espalda
Hangover – Resaca
Romance
You never known when you might meet that special someone, and if you do, these phrases will impress.
Can you recommend me something fun to do tonight? – ¿Me podría recomendar algo divertido para hacer esta noche?
Can you recommend me a place to dance? – ¿Me podría recomendar un lugar para bailar?
When are you coming back? – ¿Cuándo vienes de nuevo?
Do you have a girlfriend (boyfriend)? – Tienes novia(o)?
I’ve been thinking about you – He estado pensando en ti
I can’t wait to see you – No puedo esperar a verte
I’m in love with you – Estoy enamorado(a) de ti
I love you (a lot / very much) – Te quiero (mucho)
You are the love of my life – Eres el amor de mi vida
I miss you (a lot) – Me haces (mucha) falta
Weather
No matter where you go in the world, weather is always a good icebreaker and something everyone likes to talk about.
The weather is nice – Hace buen tiempo
The weather is bad – Hace mal tiempo
It is hot – Hace calor
It is cold – Hace frío
It is cool – Hace fresco
It is cloudy – Está nublado
It is sunny – Está soleado
It is windy – Está ventoso
It is stormy – Está tormentoso
It is raining – Está lloviendo
It is snowing – Está nevando
Time
What time is it? – ¿Qué hora es?
Could you tell me what time is it? – ¿Puede decirme la hora?
O’clock – En punto
And a half – Y media/Y treinta
Plus fifteen/quarter past – Y un cuarto/Y quince
It’s … until – Faltan … para las …
Midnight – Medianoche
Noon – Mediodía
Days of the Week in Spanish?
Monday – Lunes
Tuesday – Martes
Wednesday – Miércoles
Thursday – Jueves
Friday – Viernes
Saturday. – Sábado
Sunday – Domingo
What day is today? – ¿Qué día es hoy?
Today is Wednesday – Hoy es miércoles
Tomorrow is Thursday – Mañana es jueves
Numbers
1 – Uno
2 – Dos
3 – Tres
4 – Cuatro
5 – Cinco
6 – Seis
7 – Siete
8 – Ocho
9 – Nueve
10 – Diez
11 – Once
12 – Doce
13 – Trece
14 – Catorce
15 – Quince
16 – Dieciséis
17 – Diecisiete
18 – Dieciocho
19 – Diecinueve
20 – Veinte
30 – Treinta
40 – Cuarenta
50 – Cincuenta
60 – Sesenta
70 – Setenta
80 – Ochenta
90 – Noventa
100 – Cien
200 – Doscientos
300 – Trescientos
400 – Cuatrocientos
500 – Quinientos
600 – Seiscientos
700 – Setecientos
800 – Ochocientos
900 – Novecientos
1.000 – Mil
Top Reasons to Learn Spanish
• Millions of people speak Spanish all around the world, even in countries where Spanish isn’t the native language
• Gain a grasp of the history, culture and tradition of the language
• Talk to native Spanish speakers and impress them with your knowledge
• Improve your wellbeing – learning a language is beneficial to your mental health
• Its fun to study
What Countries Speak Spanish?
Over 500 million people speak Spanish around the world and 20 countries count Spanish as the official language including:
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic , Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay. and Venezuela.
Although not an official language, Spanish is also commonly spoken in the United States, Belize, Andorra and Gibraltar.
Best Ways to Study Spanish
Our phrases a great introduction to the language but if you really want to advance your fluency, we recommend booking a Spanish class or studying online. There are so many top rated apps and online language courses available to take, a lot of which are completely free. The best method to improving your reading, writing and speaking Spanish skills is through practise. And although Spanish can seem difficult to pick up at first, with practise you will really improve. This language is also possibly easier to learn than say Italian or French.
So whether you are travelling to Spain or Latin America, hopefully our phrases will help you. Even if you aren’t going to be using them on your next trip, these phrases are a great introduction to Spanish and will really help you to converse with local people.
