Most Spaniards are very patient with foreigners who try to speak their language. That said, you might encounter several difficult regional languages and dialects in Spain: In Catalonia, they speak Catalan (the most widely spoken non-national language in Europe); in the Basque Country, they speak Euskera; in Galicia, you'll hear Gallego. However, Castilian Spanish (Castellano, or simply Español) is understood everywhere; for that reason, we've included a list of simple words and phrases in Spanish to help you get by.
Basic Words & Phrases
EnglishSpanish Pronunciation
Good day Buenos días bweh-nohs dee-ahs
How are you? ¿Cómo está? koh-moh es-tah
Very well Muy bien mwee byehn
Thank you Gracias grah-syahs
You’re welcome De nada deh nah-dah
Goodbye Adiós ah-dyohs
Please Por favor pohr fah-vohr
Yes Sí see
No No noh
Excuse me Perdóneme pehr-doh-neh-meh
Give me Déme deh-meh
Where is . . . ? ¿Dónde está . . . ? dohn-deh es-tah
the station la estación lah es-tah-syohn
a hotel un hotel oon oh-tel
a gas station una gasolinera oo-nah gah-so-lee-neh-rah
a restaurant un restaurante oon res-tow-rahn-teh
the toilet el baño el bah-nyoh
To the right A la derecha ah lah deh-reh-chah
To the left A la izquierda ah lah ees-kyehr-dah
Straight ahead Derecho deh-reh-choh
I want . . . Quiero . . . kyeh-roh
to eat comer ko-mehr
a room una habitación oo-nah ah-bee-tah-syohn
How much is it? ¿Cuánto cuesta? kwahn-toh kwehs-tah
When? ¿Cuándo? kwahn-doh
What? ¿Qué? keh
Is there . . . ? (¿)Hay ( . . . ?) aye
Yesterday Ayer ah-yehr
Today Hoy oy
Tomorrow Mañana mah-nyah-nah
Good Bueno bweh-noh
Bad Malo mah-loh
Better (Best) (Lo) Mejor (loh) meh-hor
More Más mahs
Less Menos meh-nohs
No smoking Se prohibe fumar seh proh-ee-beh foo-mahr
Do you speak English? ¿Habla usted inglés? ah-blah oo-sted een-glehs
Is there anyone here who speaks English? ¿Hay alguien aquí que hable inglés? aye ahl-gyehn ah-kee keh ah-bleh een-glehs
I don’t understand Spanish very well. No (lo) entiendo muy bien el español. noh (loh) ehn-tyehn-doh mwee byehn el es-pah-nyol
The meal is good. Me gusta la comida. meh goo-stah lah koh-mee-dah
What time is it? ¿Qué hora es? keh oh-rah es
May I see your menu? ¿Puedo ver el menú (la carta)? pweh-do vehr el meh-noo (lah car-tah)
The check, please. La cuenta por favor. lah kwehn-tah pohr fah-vohr
What do I owe you? ¿Cuánto le debo? kwahn-toh leh deh-boh
Numbers
EnglishSpanish Pronunciation
1 uno oo-noh
2 dos dohs
3 tres trehs
4 cuatro kwah-troh
5 cinco seen-koh
6 seis says
7 siete syeh-teh
8 ocho oh-choh
9 nueve nweh-beh
10 diez dyehs
11 once ohn-seh
12 doce doh-seh
13 trece treh-seh
14 catorce kah-tohr-seh
15 quince keen-seh
16 dieciséis dyeh-see-says
17 diecisiete dyeh-see-syeh-teh
18 dieciocho dyeh-see-oh-choh
19 diecinueve dyeh-see-nweh-beh
20 veinte bayn-teh
30 treinta trayn-tah
40 cuarenta kwah-rehn-tah
50 cincuenta seen-kwehn-tah
60 sesenta seh-sehn-tah
70 setenta seh-tehn-tah
80 ochenta oh-chehn-tah
90 noventa noh-behn-tah
100 cien syehn
1,000 mil meel
Travel Terms
Aduana –Customs
Aeropuerto – Airport
Avión – Airplane
Aviso – Warning
Correo(s) – Mail, or post office
Dinero – Money
Embajada – Embassy
Entrada – Entrance
Este – East
Frontera – Border
Hospedaje – Inn
Norte – North
Oeste – West
Pasaje – Ticket
Puerta de salida – Boarding gate
Salida – Exit
Tarjeta de embarque – Boarding card
Vuelo – Flight
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.