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Mexico · Spanish Travel Phrases

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

Greetings

  1. 1
    Hola
    Hi (the most common greeting) “OH-lah”
  2. 2
    Buenos días
    Good morning “BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs”
  3. 3
    Gracias
    Thank you “GRAH-syahs”
  4. 4
    Por favor
    Please “por fah-VOR”
  5. 5
    Buenas tardes
    Good afternoon “BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs”
  6. 6
    ¿Cómo está?
    How are you? (polite) “KOH-moh eh-STAH?”
  7. 7
    Con permiso
    Excuse me (passing by or leaving) “kohn per-MEE-soh”
Local etiquette
  • Warmth matters in greetings. Women, and men greeting women, exchange a light single cheek-kiss (beso); men shake hands or give a light hug (abrazo).
  • Add "¿Cómo está?" after "Hola" — jumping straight to business feels curt.
  • It's natural to smile and greet even strangers. A blank face reads as cold.

Basics

  1. 1
    Sí / No
    Yes / No “see / noh”
  2. 2
    No entiendo
    I don't understand “noh en-TYEN-doh”
  3. 3
    No hablo español
    I don't speak Spanish “noh AH-bloh es-pah-NYOL”
  4. 4
    ¿Habla inglés?
    Do you speak English? “AH-blah een-GLEHS?”
  5. 5
    Más despacio, por favor
    More slowly, please “mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fah-VOR”
  6. 6
    ¿Qué es esto?
    What is this? “keh es EH-stoh?”
  7. 7
    ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
    Can you help me, please? “meh ah-YOO-dah, por fah-VOR?”
  8. 8
    ¿Puedo tomar una foto?
    May I take a photo? “PWEH-doh toh-MAR OO-nah FOH-toh?”
Local etiquette
  • Don't drink tap water. Buy bottled water (agua embotellada) and make sure ice is made from purified water.
  • Time runs a bit loose (hora mexicana). Relax and wait rather than getting frustrated.

Shopping

  1. 1
    ¿Cuánto cuesta?
    How much is it? “KWAN-toh KWEH-stah?”
  2. 2
    ¿Me da un descuento?
    Can you give me a discount? (market haggling) “meh dah oon des-KWEN-toh?”
  3. 3
    Es muy caro
    It's too expensive “es mwee KAH-roh”
  4. 4
    ¿Aceptan tarjeta?
    Do you accept cards? “ah-SEP-tahn tar-HEH-tah?”
  5. 5
    Me llevo esto
    I'll take this “meh YEH-boh EH-stoh”
  6. 6
    ¿Me da una bolsa?
    Could I get a bag? “meh dah OO-nah BOHL-sah?”
Local etiquette
  • Haggling is expected at markets (mercado) and souvenir stalls — smile and open with "Es muy caro." But department stores and supermarkets have fixed prices.
  • Carry cash and small change (monedas) for small purchases; street stalls often don't take cards.
  • Confirm whether a price is in pesos or dollars — tourist spots sometimes quote inflated dollar prices.

Restaurant

  1. 1
    El menú, por favor
    The menu, please “el meh-NOO, por fah-VOR”
  2. 2
    ¿Qué me recomienda?
    What do you recommend? “keh meh reh-koh-MYEN-dah?”
  3. 3
    ¿Pica mucho?
    Is it very spicy? (salsa/tacos) “PEE-kah MOO-choh?”
  4. 4
    Sin chile, por favor
    Without chili, please “seen CHEE-leh, por fah-VOR”
  5. 5
    Agua, por favor
    Water, please “AH-gwah, por fah-VOR”
  6. 6
    Soy alérgico
    I'm allergic “soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh”
  7. 7
    La cuenta, por favor
    The check, please “lah KWEN-tah, por fah-VOR”
  8. 8
    Para llevar
    To go “PAH-rah yeh-BAR”
Local etiquette
  • A tip (propina) of 10–15% is effectively expected. Check if service is already included (servicio incluido); if not, always leave one.
  • Salsas and chilies can be very hot. Ask about the heat level or say "Sin chile" first.
  • Lime (limón) and salsa usually come free on the side. Squeezing lime over tacos is the local way.
  • The check won't come until you ask — say "La cuenta, por favor" with a small hand gesture.

Getting around

  1. 1
    ¿Dónde está el baño?
    Where is the restroom? “DOHN-deh eh-STAH el BAH-nyoh?”
  2. 2
    ¿Dónde está el metro?
    Where is the metro? “DOHN-deh eh-STAH el MEH-troh?”
  3. 3
    A esta dirección, por favor
    To this address, please (taxi) “ah EH-stah dee-rek-SYON, por fah-VOR”
  4. 4
    ¿Usa taxímetro?
    Do you use the meter? (taxi) “OO-sah tak-SEE-meh-troh?”
  5. 5
    ¿Cuánto al aeropuerto?
    How much to the airport? “KWAN-toh al ah-eh-roh-PWER-toh?”
  6. 6
    Pare aquí, por favor
    Stop here, please “PAH-reh ah-KEE, por fah-VOR”
  7. 7
    Estoy perdido
    I'm lost “eh-STOY per-DEE-doh”
Local etiquette
  • Use the Uber or DiDi app rather than hailing taxis on the street — it's safer and the fare is transparent.
  • Mexico City's metro has women-and-children-only cars (at the front) during busy hours. Wear bags in front to guard against pickpockets.
  • In a street taxi, confirm the meter is used or agree on the fare before you set off.

Hotel

  1. 1
    Tengo una reservación
    I have a reservation “TEN-goh OO-nah reh-ser-bah-SYON”
  2. 2
    Quiero registrarme
    I'd like to check in “KYEH-roh reh-hee-STRAR-meh”
  3. 3
    ¿A qué hora es la salida?
    What time is check-out? “ah keh OH-rah es lah sah-LEE-dah?”
  4. 4
    ¿Puedo dejar mi equipaje?
    Can I leave my luggage? “PWEH-doh deh-HAR mee eh-kee-PAH-heh?”
  5. 5
    ¿Cuál es la contraseña del wifi?
    What's the Wi-Fi password? “kwal es lah kon-trah-SEH-nyah del WEE-fee?”
Local etiquette
  • Your passport is required at check-in. Tourist hotels speak English, but local guesthouses may be Spanish-only.
  • It's customary to leave the housekeeper (camarista) a tip of about 20–50 pesos a day, placed by the pillow.

Emergency

  1. 1
    ¡Ayuda!
    Help! “ah-YOO-dah!”
  2. 2
    Llame a la policía
    Call the police “YAH-meh ah lah poh-lee-SEE-ah”
  3. 3
    Llame a una ambulancia
    Call an ambulance “YAH-meh ah OO-nah am-boo-LAN-syah”
  4. 4
    ¿Dónde hay un hospital?
    Where is there a hospital? “DOHN-deh eye oon oh-spee-TAHL?”
  5. 5
    Perdí mi pasaporte
    I lost my passport “per-DEE mee pah-sah-POR-teh”
Local etiquette
  • The unified emergency number is 911. Operators mostly speak Spanish, so have a translation app or your address ready.
  • Major tourist areas have Tourist Police (Policía Turística). Keep a passport copy separately and leave the original in the room safe.