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Spain · Spanish Travel Phrases

The most useful local expressions, ordered by importance. Pronunciations are approximate.

Greetings

  1. 1
    Hola
    Hello / Hi (any time of day) “OH-la”
  2. 2
    Buenos días
    Good morning (until midday) “BWEH-nos DEE-as”
  3. 3
    Buenas tardes
    Good afternoon / evening (after lunch) “BWEH-nas TAR-des”
  4. 4
    Gracias
    Thank you “GRA-thyas”
  5. 5
    De nada
    You're welcome “deh NA-da”
  6. 6
    Por favor
    Please “por fa-VOR”
  7. 7
    Perdón
    Excuse me / Sorry (to get attention or apologize) “per-DON”
  8. 8
    Adiós
    Goodbye “a-DYOS”
Local etiquette
  • Greet with 'Hola' or 'Buenos días/tardes' as you enter a shop or bar; jumping straight to your request without a greeting seems rude.
  • Friends and acquaintances greet with a cheek kiss (two kisses, starting on the right); men usually shake hands.
  • Spaniards talk loudly and animatedly — don't mistake it for arguing.

Basics

  1. 1
    Sí / No
    Yes / No “see / no”
  2. 2
    No entiendo
    I don't understand “no en-TYEN-do”
  3. 3
    No hablo español
    I don't speak Spanish “no A-blo es-pa-NYOL”
  4. 4
    ¿Habla inglés?
    Do you speak English? “A-bla een-GLES?”
  5. 5
    Más despacio, por favor
    Slower, please “mas des-PA-thyo, por fa-VOR”
  6. 6
    ¿Qué es esto?
    What is this? “keh es ES-to?”
  7. 7
    ¿Puedo hacer una foto?
    May I take a photo? “PWEH-do a-THER OO-na FO-to?”
  8. 8
    ¿Me puede ayudar?
    Can you help me? “meh PWEH-de a-yoo-DAR?”
Local etiquette
  • Lunch (2–4pm) and dinner (after 9pm) run late; syncing your day to this rhythm makes life easier.
  • Churches and monasteries may require covered shoulders and knees, and some areas ban photography.

Shopping

  1. 1
    ¿Cuánto cuesta?
    How much is it? “KWAN-to KWES-ta?”
  2. 2
    ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
    Can I pay by card? “PWEH-do pa-GAR kon tar-HE-ta?”
  3. 3
    Quiero esto
    I want this one “KYEH-ro ES-to”
  4. 4
    ¿Puedo probármelo?
    Can I try it on? “PWEH-do pro-BAR-me-lo?”
  5. 5
    Solo estoy mirando
    I'm just looking “SO-lo es-TOY mee-RAN-do”
  6. 6
    ¿Tienen devolución de IVA?
    Do you offer VAT refund (tax-free)? “TYEH-nen de-bo-loo-THYON de EE-ba?”
Local etiquette
  • Many shops close for a midday siesta (roughly 2–5pm). Big-city department stores stay open, but check in smaller towns.
  • Most shops close on Sundays; only some in tourist zones open.
  • Non-EU visitors can claim a VAT (IVA) refund above a minimum spend in one store — carry your passport.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    Una mesa para dos, por favor
    A table for two, please “OO-na MEH-sa PA-ra dos, por fa-VOR”
  2. 2
    La carta, por favor
    The menu, please ('menú' = fixed daily set) “la KAR-ta, por fa-VOR”
  3. 3
    ¿Qué me recomienda?
    What do you recommend? “keh meh re-ko-MYEN-da?”
  4. 4
    ¿Me pone unas tapas?
    Could I have some tapas? “meh PO-ne OO-nas TA-pas?”
  5. 5
    Una caña, por favor
    A small draft beer, please “OO-na KA-nya, por fa-VOR”
  6. 6
    Tengo alergia
    I have an allergy “TEN-go a-LER-hya”
  7. 7
    La cuenta, por favor
    The check, please “la KWEN-ta, por fa-VOR”
  8. 8
    ¡Está buenísimo!
    It's delicious! “es-TA bwe-NEE-see-mo!”
Local etiquette
  • Ask for 'la carta' for the à la carte menu; 'menú' means the cheap fixed daily set (menú del día).
  • Tipping isn't required and stays small — round up or leave around 5% if you were happy.
  • In some regions (e.g. Granada) a drink at the bar comes with a free tapa.
  • Dinner service usually starts around 8:30–9pm; earlier than that is tourist-oriented or still closed.

Getting around

  1. 1
    ¿Dónde está el baño?
    Where is the restroom? “DON-de es-TA el BA-nyo?”
  2. 2
    ¿Dónde está la estación?
    Where is the station? “DON-de es-TA la es-ta-THYON?”
  3. 3
    Un billete, por favor
    One ticket, please “oon bee-YEH-te, por fa-VOR”
  4. 4
    ¿A qué hora sale?
    What time does it leave? “a keh O-ra SA-le?”
  5. 5
    A esta dirección, por favor
    To this address, please (taxi) “a ES-ta dee-rek-THYON, por fa-VOR”
  6. 6
    ¿Para en...?
    Does it stop at...? (bus/metro) “PA-ra en...?”
  7. 7
    Me he perdido
    I'm lost “meh eh per-DEE-do”
Local etiquette
  • Pickpockets are common on metros and buses; wear your bag on your front in Barcelona and Madrid.
  • A taxi with a green roof light (libre) is available; airports have fixed-fare zones.
  • A rechargeable transit card (Madrid Multi, Barcelona T-casual, etc.) is far cheaper than single tickets.

Hotel

  1. 1
    Tengo una reserva
    I have a reservation “TEN-go OO-na re-SER-ba”
  2. 2
    Quiero hacer el check-in
    I'd like to check in “KYEH-ro a-THER el check-in”
  3. 3
    ¿A qué hora es el check-out?
    What time is check-out? “a keh O-ra es el check-out?”
  4. 4
    ¿Pueden guardar el equipaje?
    Can you store my luggage? “PWEH-den gwar-DAR el e-kee-PA-he?”
  5. 5
    ¿Cuál es la contraseña del Wi-Fi?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “kwal es la kon-tra-SE-nya del wee-fee?”
Local etiquette
  • Some cities (like Barcelona) charge a separate nightly tourist tax, often not included in your booking price.
  • You'll be asked for your passport at check-in for guest registration, so keep it handy.

Emergency

  1. 1
    ¡Ayuda!
    Help! “a-YOO-da!”
  2. 2
    Llame a la policía
    Call the police “YA-me a la po-lee-THEE-a”
  3. 3
    Llame a una ambulancia
    Call an ambulance “YA-me a OO-na am-boo-LAN-thya”
  4. 4
    ¿Dónde está el hospital?
    Where is the hospital? “DON-de es-TA el os-pee-TAL?”
  5. 5
    Me han robado la cartera
    My wallet was stolen (pickpocketed) “meh an ro-BA-do la kar-TE-ra”
  6. 6
    He perdido el pasaporte
    I lost my passport “eh per-DEE-do el pa-sa-POR-te”
Local etiquette
  • The single emergency number is 112 (police, ambulance and fire); tourist areas also have a dedicated tourist police (Policía Turística).
  • For theft, get a written statement (denuncia) at a police station for your insurance claim; you can also file online or by phone.