Introduction
Are you passionate about traveling? 😎 Let nothing stop you, starting with the language of your destination. Learning a little Spanish is a way to anticipate the excitement of going away on vacation and to enjoy your trip even more when the time comes.
If you only know how to say “UNA CERVEZA, POR FAVOR” 😅🍺 in Spanish, you will get your beer without any problems. But is that enough for you?
If you learn a little more “survival Spanish” your trip will be safer and more enjoyable. Simple (but effective) communication will open doors for you. In addition, being able to speak with the locals in their language will make your vacation much more authentic.
What are the essential Spanish phrases for traveling? You have them here. Keep reading this practical conversation guide for tourists. The material will make your life as a globetrotter much easier.
🧐 You do not need to speak any Spanish for this guide for English-speaking travelers. Even if you do speak some Spanish already, the information will come in handy.
In this post, you will find…
- 🔢 Numbers up to 100.
- 😉 How to greet and introduce yourself: Informing who you are, where you come from, where you live.
- 💬 How to facilitate communication: Saying you do not understand, ask for help.
- 😎 Practical phrases for travelers: Money, emergencies, hotel, restaurant, transport, city …
We will also talk a bit about the pronouns and the negation so that you can better understand the language’s structure.
You have the video (subtitles are available) that will teach you the fundamentals of communication in Spanish. In this post, you will find, for free and without registering:
- a PDF-phrasebook with exercises and answers + PDF “cheat sheet” with phrases (to download and / or print out)
- tables with all the words and phrases with their translation, with explanations and tips for speaking Spanish on vacation
- audio files in MP3 format that you can download
- a quiz to practice
- interactive worksheets for vocabulary and phrases: you can choose your preferred learning or playing mode. You can download the cards and print them.
💙 💙 💙 HERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE MATERIAL FOR FREE. 💙 💙 💙
So… ¡VÁMONOS! (“let’s go!”)
Spanish Basics in that every traveler should know
📌📌📌In this set of flashcards, you will find the words of this guide. You can choose the learning/ gaming mode you prefer to practice this travel vocabulary!
Do I have to speak Spanish to learn these words and phrases?
😊 No. You do not need previous knowledge of the language to learn Spanish with this material.
👏If you already speak a little Spanish, this guide will help you to refresh your memory, to learn something new and to practice a little more.
👄In any case, you should at least know the pronunciation of Spanish. You can learn it quickly with this video (starting on minute 11:47), which has free material that you can download:
🎓This video is the first lesson of the FREE online Spanish mini-course, where you will learn the basics of the language.
- I advise you to take the course before your holidays because it will allow you to communicate much better during the trip.
- You will get the certificate of completion.
- You have a course preview that you can access, no need for registration:
🤿If you want to do language immersion, you have this same content for travelers explained exclusively in Spanish, with subtitles in Spanish and English. You also have the explanation and material for download available in Spanish.
⚡I also advise you to watch this free guide with short videos where I teach you phrases in Spanish that will be useful on your vacation, too. You will learn useful Portuguese in a matter of minutes!
How do you say the numbers up to 100 in Spanish?
✅You will learn the numbers in Spanish in the video starting on minute 00:39.
We start with numbers up to 100. In the video, you will see that the numbers provide us with an excuse to observe how the Spanish language sounds.
You can also hear the audio track here:
In Spanish, you must memorize the numbers up to 15 because they are special.
0 CERO
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
Starting with 16, we read the Spanish numbers from left to right:
10 + 6 = 16 = DIECISÉIS (“DIEZ + Y + SEIS”, all written in one word)
(“Y” means “and” in Spanish)
10 + 8 = 18 = DIECIOCHO (“DIEZ + Y + OCHO”, all written in one word)
Up to the number 29, we write one single word:
20 + 1 = 21 = VEINTIUNO
20 + 3 = 23 = VEINTITRÉS
20 + 7 = 27 = VEINTISIETE
Starting with 30, we separate the words and unite them with “Y” in Spanish:
30 + 1 = 31 = TREINTA Y UNO
40 + 6 = 46 = CUARENTA Y SEIS
80 + 9 = 89 = OCHENTA Y NUEVE
How to indicate prices in Spanish: useful tips for travelers
To name prices in Spanish, you have many alternatives. I recommend using the shortest form for the most effective communication: 7,35€ = SIETE TREINTA Y CINCO.
💲¿CUÁNTO CUESTA? = “How much does (something) cost?”
💶EN ESPAÑA
5,50€: CINCO (EUROS) Y CINCUENTA (CÉNTIMOS)
5,50€: CINCO (EUROS) CON CINCUENTA (CÉNTIMOS)
5,50€: CINCO CINCUENTA
💵 EN LATINOAMÉRICA:
$9,25: NUEVE (DÓLARES/PESOS) Y VEINTICINCO (CENTAVOS)
$9,25: NUEVE (DÓLARES/PESOS) CON VEINTICINCO (CENTAVOS)
$9,25: NUEVE VEINTICINCO
How to greet in Spanish: The simplest greetings, farewells, and politeness phrases
✅You will learn the formulas to break the ice in Spanish in the video starting on minute 03:46.
| ¡Hola! | Hello! |
| ¿Qué tal? | How are you doing? |
| Bien, gracias. | I am doing well, thanks. |
| Muy bien, gracias. | Very well, thank you. |
| ¡Hasta luego! | See you later! |
| ¡Adiós! | Goodbye! |
| Sí. | Yes. |
| No. | No. |
| Por favor. | Please. |
| Perdón. | Pardon. |
| No pasa nada. | That is OK. |
| Gracias. | Thank you. |
| De nada. | You are welcome. |
| ¡Hola! | Hello! |
| ¿Qué tal? | How are you doing? |
| Bien, gracias. | I’m doing well, thank you. |
| Muy bien, gracias. | Very well, thank you. |
| ¡Hasta luego! | See you later! |
| ¡Adiós! | Goodbye! |
🤗 “HOLA” is the most practical greeting in Spanish because it can be said at any time and in many everyday situations, just like “hello” in English.
👋 “ADIÓS” is the shortest way to say goodbye in Spanish. With “ADIÓS” we do not know if we will see the person again. It can mean “farewell without the possibility of reunion” and, as such, it does not have an exact translation in English.
In daily-life situations, you can say “ADIÓS” if you mean “see you later”. If you prefer something more colloquial instead, you can say “CHAO”.
🎯 Tip: “GRACIAS” AND “POR FAVOR” are short words that you can use freely in Spanish because you will sound more polite. It is a minimal effort with great results. 😉
👋If you want to learn more expressions to greet, to say goodbye and to be polite in Spanish, you have this video, with free materials for download. It is the trial lesson of the complete Spanish course with explanations in English. The course is online and includes webinars.
💬You have a video with all the Spanish greetings, goodbyes and ways of asking “how are you?”. You have free material to practice, if you want.
How to give basic personal information in Spanish when traveling abroad
How to introduce yourself in Spanish
✅You will learn how to introduce yourself in Spanish starting on minute 06:13 of the video.
| yo | I |
| tú | you (informal) |
| usted | you (formal) |
| yo soy | I am |
| tú eres | you are (informal) |
| usted es | you are (formal) |
| el nombre | name |
| el señor | mr. |
| la señora | ms. |
| ser | to be |
| llamarse | to be called |
| Mucho gusto. | Nice to meet you. |
| Igualmente. | You too. |
| ¿Tú o usted? | Formal or informal? |
| Yo soy … . | I am … . |
| Yo me llamo … . | My name is … . |
| Mi nombre es … . | My name is … . |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What is your name? |
| ¿Cómo se llama usted? | What is your name? |
| ¡Mucho gusto! | Nice to meet you! |
| ¡Igualmente! | You too! |
After the greetings, you will learn how you can introduce yourself. You can use the phrase “YO ME LLAMO”. In Spanish, it is very common, although in English it does not have an absolute correspondence (it would be translated literally as “I call myself”).
If you prefer, you can say “MI NOMBRE ES”.
🧔 YO ME LLAMO JUAN.
🧔 MI NOMBRE ES JUAN GARCÍA.
🧔 YO SOY JUAN. YO SOY JUAN GARCÍA.
More simply, “YO SOY” (or simply “SOY”), which you can combine with your name or with any other information that defines you: “YO SOY ESTUDIANTE” 👨🎓, for example. “TO ME LLAMO” and “MI NOMBRE ES” can only be combined with the person’s name.
When we meet a new person, out of politeness we say “MUCHO GUSTO” and the appropriate reaction is “IGUALMENTE”.
How to use the negative in Spanish
Saying “no” in Spanish is as simple as saying “NO”.
To say “yes”, in Spanish you say “SÍ”.
To turn a Spanish affirmative sentence into a negative one, we say “NO” right before the verb. If the affirmative sentence is “YO SOY UN ESTUDIANTE” (“I am a student”) 👨🎓, the negation is “YO NO SOY UN ESTUDIANTE” ❌👨🎓.
🎯 Tip: If someone offers you something and you want to turn down the offer, in addition to “NO”, it is polite that you also say “GRACIAS”: “NO, GRACIAS”. And if you accept something, in addition to “SÍ” you can say “POR FAVOR”: “SÍ, POR FAVOR”.
Talking about places in Spanish: phrases for travelers
✅ You will learn how to indicate the place you come from and your place of residence in Spanish starting on minute 13:26 of the video.
How to ask “Where are you from?” in Spanish: talking about someone’s place of origin
| de | from |
| ¿De dónde? | From where? |
| la ciudad | city |
| el país | country |
| vivir | to live |
| en | in |
| ¿Dónde? | Where? |
| Yo soy de … (ciudad, país). | I am from… (city, country). |
| ¿De dónde eres? | Where are you from? |
| ¿De dónde es usted? | Where are you from? |
| Yo vivo en … (ciudad, país). | I live in… (city, country). |
| ¿Dónde vives? | Where do you live? |
| ¿Dónde vive usted? | Where do you live? |
In Spanish, to ask someone informally “Where are you from?”, you say “¿DE DÓNDE ERES?”.
If the situation is formal, the question is “¿DE DÓNDE ES USTED?”
You answer with “YO SOY DE…” and add the place where you come from: city, country, region, neighborhood …
🇺🇸 YO SOY DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. = “I am from the U.S.”
🇨🇦 YO SOY DE CANADÁ. = “I am from Canada.”
🇬🇧 YO SOY DEL REINO UNIDO = “I am from the United Kingdom.”
🇮🇪 YO SOY DE IRLANDA. = “I am from Ireland.”
🇮🇳 YO SOY DE INDIA. = “I am from India.”
How to ask “Where do you live?” in Spanish: talking about someone’s place of residence
In Spanish, to ask someone informally “Where are you from?”, you say “¿DÓNDE VIVES?”.
If the situation is formal, the question is “¿DÓNDE VIVE USTED?”
You answer “YO VIVO EN” and add the place where you live.
🇺🇸 YO VIVO EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. = “I live in the U.S.”
🇨🇦 YO VIVO EN CANADÁ. = “I live in Canada.”
🇬🇧 YO VIVO EN EL REINO UNIDO = “I live in the United Kingdom.”
🇮🇪 YO VIVO EN IRLANDA. = “I live in Ireland.”
🇮🇳 YO VIVO EN INDIA. = “I live in India.”
🌍You have a short video where you will learn more phrases to indicate your place of origin and residence in Spanish. It is part of series of short videos with quiz to learn the most essential Spanish that you will surely find useful for your next vacation.
How to overcome communication difficulties in Spanish on a trip
✅You will learn the phrases in Spanish to solve communication problems starting on minute 17:05 of the video.
How to say “I do not understand” and “What does it mean?” in Spanish
| hablar | to speak |
| yo hablo | I speak |
| tú hablas | you speak (informal) |
| usted habla | you speak (formal) |
| español | Spanish |
| portugués | Portuguese |
| inglés | English |
| alemán | German |
| No comprendo. | I do not understand. |
| No entiendo. | I do not understand. |
| ¿Qué significa … ? | What does … mean? |
| Más despacio, por favor. | Slowly, please. |
| ¿Hablas inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| ¿Habla usted inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| Yo no hablo español. | I do not speak Spanish. |
| Yo hablo un poquito de español. | I speak a little Spanish. |
You have two ways of explaining that you do not understand: “NO COMPRENDO” and “NO ENTIENDO”. You can use the one you like the most.
🎯 Tip: To be more polite, you can add “PERDÓN” to “NO COMPRENDO”. To apologize, you can also say “LO SIENTO”.
😪 LO SIENTO, NO ENTIENDO.
🎯 Tip: You can emphasize that you do not understand anything with these two sentences:
😵 NO COMPRENDO NADA.
😵 NO ENTIENDO NADA.
“NADA” means “nothing” in Spanish.
How to say “I do not speak Spanish”
You can indicate the languages you speak in Spanish by saying “YO HABLO…”.
For the negative, you say “YO NO HABLO…”
Travel phrases in Spanish: basics that every traveler should know
Important verbs in Spanish: “TENER”, “NECESITAR”, “PODER”, “QUERER”
You can communicate a lot using these verbs.
| yo (no) tengo | I (don’t) have |
| yo (no) necesito | I (don’t) need |
| yo (no) puedo | I can (not) |
| yo (no) quiero | I (don’t) want |
| yo (no) quería | I would (not) like |
What is the difference between “YO QUIERO” and “YO QUERÍA” in Spanish?
“YO QUIERO” is direct and useful to talk about what you want in general, i.e., your goals and desires.
You can combine “YO QUIERO”:
- with infinitive verbs: YO QUIERO HABLAR ESPAÑOL. 💬 = “I want to speak Spanish.”
- with nouns: YO QUIERO UN CAFÉ. ☕ = “I want a coffee.”
If you say “YO QUIERO UN CAFÉ” in a café, the waiter will give you the coffee, for sure. But it is not the friendliest way to order in Spanish.
“YO QUERÍA” is more polite than “YO QUIERO”. It is used to express wishes, but when we want something from someone.
You can combine “YO QUERÍA” with verbs in the infinitive or with nouns.
💱 YO QUERÍA CAMBIAR DINERO. = “I would like to exchange money.”
☕ YO QUERÍA UN CAFÉ, POR FAVOR. = “I would like a coffee, please.”
🧾 YO QUERÍA LA CUENTA, POR FAVOR. = “I would like the check, please.”
Simply saying “LA CUENTA, POR FAVOR” is not rude, but it is not very polite either.
But do not worry: if you are traveling as a tourist, local people will appreciate that you know a little Spanish. Speaking the language of the country is a nice gesture of courtesy. 😇
🎯 Tip: “YO QUERÍA” can be used to order in the restaurant or café, to do any kind of shopping and even to ask someone for a favor.
🎯 Tip: Are you a romantic? Well, then you should include in your list of essential phrases in Spanish „TE QUIERO“ 🥰. In Spanish you can say “TE AMO”, but it is not common because it sounds very dramatic, telenovela-style. “TE QUIERO” means literally “I want you”, but it is not necessarily used in this sense. So: to declare your love, just say “TE QUIERO, MI AMOR” (“I love you, my love”).
😏Do you want to learn some useful phrases to pay a compliment and to flirt with someone in Spanish? You will find them in this video (starting from minute 16:12).
How to indicate physical needs and other basics in Spanish
✅You will learn how to talk about your basic needs, and you will know phrases for emergencies in Spanish starting on minute 18:57 of the video.
We all have physical needs, so it is essential that, on your vacation, you know how to say in Spanish:
| el hambre | hunger |
| el sueño | drowsiness |
| el dinero | money |
| el baño | bathroom, restroom |
| Tengo hambre. | I am hungry. |
| Tengo sueño. | I am sleepy. |
| No tengo dinero. | I have no money. |
| ¿Dónde está el baño? | Where is the restroom? |
How to ask for help in Spanish and how to communicate in an emergency during a trip
Hopefully, everything runs smoothly 🤞, but you should know some phrases for travel emergencies, just to be on the safe side.
| el médico | doctor |
| el hospital | hospital |
| la policía | police |
| la ayuda | the help |
| ¡Socorro! | Help! |
| necesitar | to need |
| Necesito un médico. | I need a doctor. |
| Necesito ir al hospital. | I need to go to the hospital. |
| ¡Necesito ayuda! | I need help! |
| ¡Ayuda! ¡Socorro! | Help! Help! |
| ¡Policía! ¡Me han robado! | Police! I was robbed! |
🆘In almost all Latin American countries, the emergency number is 911. In Spain it is 912.
How to talk about money and make purchases: Spanish phrases for travelers
✅You will learn the useful phrases to talk about money and to make purchases on your next trip starting on minute 22:34 of the video.
You should learn some phrases to exchange money and to pay in stores or restaurants during your holidays.
| aceptar | to accept |
| cambiar | to exchange |
| pagar | to pay |
| la tarjeta | card |
| la tarjeta de crédito | credit card |
| pagar en metálico | to pay in cash |
| el cajero automático | ATM |
| el tique | receipt |
| ¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero? | Where can I exchange money? |
| ¿Aceptan tarjeta de crédito? | Do you accept credit card? |
| ¿Aceptan dólares? | Do you accept dollars? |
| ¿Dónde hay un cajero automático? | Where is there an ATM? |
| ¿Puedo pagar en metálico? | Can I pay in cash? |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay with card? |
| Aquí tiene. | Here you go. |
| Esto es todo. | This is all. |
| (No) Necesito el tique. | I (do not) need the receipt. |
Communication in the hotel: Spanish phrases for travelers
✅You will learn the phrases in Spanish to use in the hotel and restaurant starting on minute 24:35 of the video.
In the hotel, you must inform your name and where you are from. These are useful phrases that you have already learned in this Spanish guide for travelers.
| el hotel | hotel |
| la reserva | reservation |
| la habitación | room |
| la noche | night |
| el desayuno | breakfast |
| el baño privado | private bathroom |
| (No) Tengo una reserva. | I (do not) have a reservation. |
| Necesito una habitación doble para tres noches. | I need a double room for three nights. |
| (No) Quiero desayuno. | I (do not) want breakfast. |
| (No) Quiero un baño privado. | I (do not) want a private bathroom. |
In Spain it is common to say “RESERVA” when you mean “reservation”, but in Latin American countries you can hear “LA RESERVACIÓN”, too.
You can adapt the phrases to your needs.
🛎NECESITO UNA HABITACIÓN DOBLE PARA TRES NOCHES.
= “I need a double room for three nights.”
For example, at the hotel, you can say “QUIERO/QUERÍA UNA HABITACIÓN INDIVIDUAL PARA CINCO NOCHES ” and they will give you a single room for five nights.
Communication in the restaurant: Spanish phrases for travelers
| comer | to eat |
| beber | to drink |
| tomar | to have, to take |
| la alergia | allergy |
| la cuenta | the check |
| Para comer, yo quería … . | To eat, I would like … . |
| Para beber, yo quería … . | To drink, I would like … . |
| No puedo tomar … . | I can’t have … . |
| Tengo alergia a … . | I am allergic to … . |
| La cuenta, por favor. | The check, please. |
You do not need to know a lot of Spanish to order in the restaurant during your holidays.
🎯 Tip: You can ask for the restaurant’s menu (“LA CARTA”) in English ( “¿TIENE LA CARTA EN INGLÉS?”) and use the phrases you have seen to order:
🍺PARA BEBER, YO QUERÍA UNA CERVEZA. = “To drink, I would like a beer”
You can simply say the name of what you want to order and add “POR FAVOR”: “UNA PAELLA, POR FAVOR” 🥘.
How to call the waiter in a restaurant or bar
To get the waiter’s (or the waitress’) attention in Spanish, you can say:
☝ ¡PERDÓN! / ¡DISCULPE!
Both words are useful both to apologize if you have made a mistake and to get someone’s attention.
You can also say:
🤵¡SEÑOR!
🤵¡CAMARERO! (in Spain) / ¡MESERO! (in Latin America) (if the waiter is a man)
🎯 Tip: Sangría is the most popular drink among vacationers who travel to Spain looking for fun in the sun. But Spaniards in general do not order sangria in restaurants because it is made with the cheapest wine… Instead of ready-made sangría, you should order “VINO DE LA CASA” (“house wine”) and “GASEOSA” (“soda”) or “REFRESCO DE NARANJA” (“orange soda”) to mix the drink yourself. Another option is to order “UNA CLARA CON LIMÓN” which is a beer mixed with lemon soda. 🍹
💸In this video (starting on minute 24:06) you will learn the most useful questions and answers to make purchases and order in the café in Spanish. You have material to download for free.
Communication in the city and in the transport: Spanish phrases for travelers
✅You will learn the practical phrases in Spanish to ask for directions and to ask for information in the public transport on your next trip from the minute 27:12 of the video.
| ir | to go |
| el billete, el boleto | ticket (transport) |
| el billete de ida | one-way ticket |
| el billete de ida y vuelta | round-trip ticket |
| el bus | bus |
| el metro | subway |
| el tren | train |
| el taxi | taxi |
| la parada de bus | bus stop |
| la estación | station |
| el aeropuerto | airport |
| el centro | center |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta un billete de ida a … ? | How much does a one-way ticket to … cost? |
| Quería un billete de ida y vuelta a … . | I would like a round-trip ticket to … . |
| ¿Dónde hay una parada de bus? | Where is there a bus stop? |
| ¿Dónde está la estación? | Where is the station? |
| ¿Me puede llevar al aeropuerto? | Can you take me to the airport? |
| ¿Cómo puedo ir al centro? | How can I go to the city center? |
| ¿Este bus va al aeropuerto? | Does this bus go to the airport? |
| ¿Qué tren va al centro? | Which train goes to the city center? |
Currently, it is possible to obtain all the information about transport and the city using only smartphone apps.
📱 In Spain you say “(TELÉFONO) MÓVIL”, in Latin America “TELÉFONO) CELULAR”.
But if you know some simple phrases in Spanish to ask for information for your holidays, you will see that you will create the opportunity to chat with the locals.
The person may answer your question in long sentences that you do not know, but no problem! It is customary to gesticulate a lot when we give directions on the street. For this reason, you will understand a good part of what the native says thanks to non-verbal communication.
You can adapt these phrases to your needs. Instead of saying
🌃 “¿CÓMO PUEDO IR AL CENTRO?”
you can say
🚉 “¿CÓMO PUEDO IR A LA ESTACIÓN?”
🌃We use “AL” because “CENTRO” is a masculine noun.
🚉We use “A LA” because “ESTACIÓN” is a feminine noun.
🎫The ticket for public transport in Spain is called “BILLETE”, while in Latin America in general it is called “BOLETO”.
🚍You can say “AUTOBÚS” or “BUS” to refer to this transport. But be careful because in Mexico it is called “CAMIÓN”, which in general Spanish is “truck”.
Castillian Spanish (from Spain) or Latin American Spanish? What is the difference? What Spanish should I learn for my vacation?
Obviously, the Spanish spoken in different regions varies a bit. It is normal because it is the mother tongue of 500 million people.
But no matter where you go, the Spanish you learn in this guide, on the blog and in the courses on this website will allow you to communicate with natives without difficulties.
What is the difference between the Spanish of Spain and the one spoken in the different regions of Latin America? One of the most general differences between the typical pronunciation of Madrid and the Spanish spoken on the American continent is the lisp. We identify this sound with the symbol /θ/ and with the sound produced in English when saying the TH in “thing”.
In most regions of Spain, the sound /θ/ is made when we have the letter Z or the combinations CE or CI, for example in the numbers “DIEZ” (10), “DOCE” (12), “CINCO” (5).
However, that sound is not produced in Latin America, where natives pronounce /s/ instead (that is, the sound of S in the English word “sun”). Therefore, if you travel to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, etc., you will not hear the lisp because Latin Americans will pronounce /s/ when they say the numbers “DIEZ” (10), “DOCE” (12), “CINCO”. (5).
In any case, the variations do not hinder communication at all. Of course, the Spanish of Mexico has its peculiarities and its richness, but you do not have to learn “Mexican Spanish” if you are going to travel to Mexico. There you will speak Spanish, just as you will speak Spanish if you travel to Argentina, Puerto Rico, or Madrid.
Similarly, it does not matter where your teacher comes from. As long as Spanish is his/her mother tongue, what he/she teaches you will help you communicate with any other Spanish speaker. This is the beauty of the Spanish language.❤❤❤
Is it useful for me to speak some “broken Spanish” during a trip?
Accents, slang, and some words for everyday objects may be different depending on where you are, but the grammar of Spanish is basically the same in all Spanish-speaking countries. With a simple vocabulary like the one you can learn in this blog, you will be able to make yourself understood without difficulties in Spain and Latin America.
In general, Spanish speakers value positively that a foreigner tries to speak their language. They are especially friendly and patient if they see a foreigner trying to make him/herself understood.
In other words, by having a basic grasp of Spanish, you will get to know more people, and your traveling experience will be more colorful and memorable.
Spanish-speaking and bilingual regions
In some Spanish-speaking regions, the natives speak more languages than Spanish. This is the case of the indigenous Quechua language in countries like Peru or Bolivia, which has no relationship with Spanish. Quechua was spoken in vast regions of South America long before the Spaniards arrived in the continent, and it is still spoken nowadays by 8-10 million people.
Another language that coexists with Spanish is Catalan, which you will hear if you travel to Barcelona. Both languages descend from Latin and are similar.
But do not worry because wherever you go, in the 21 countries that have Spanish as their official language, you will be able to communicate in Spanish with the people there.
Note: when I say “Latin America” I mean generically the countries of the continent that have Spanish as their main language. That excludes Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken. It is not so different from Spanish, but it is another language. If you want to know its basics, you have a Portuguese for travelers guide and a free mini-course to discover it.
Quiz: Spanish for Travelers – Test your knowledge!
📌The first quiz will help you remember the most basic vocabulary in Spanish that any traveler must know.
Please select 2 correct answers
🎯The second quiz will help you practice the phrases of this guide. In the quiz there is at least one incorrect answer.
Mi nombre es Ramona. ¿Cómo se ... ?
Canva
Yo soy de San Juan, de Puerto Rico. ¿De dónde ... ?
Canva
No ... .
Canva
Please select 2 correct answers
¿Hablas ... ?
Canva
Please select 2 correct answers
Tengo ... .
Canva
Please select 2 correct answers
Canva
Please select 2 correct answers
¿Puedo ...?
No quiero ... .
Canva
Please select 2 correct answers
Para comer, yo ... un burrito.
Canva
Please select 2 correct answers
¿... un billete de ida y vuelta al centro?
Canva
¿... la estación?
Canva
Conclusion
With a basic vocabulary and the phrases we have seen, you already know “survival Spanish” for your vacations to Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country.
I will not translate the sentences here so that you recall their meaning.
Now you know:
How to say the numbers up to 100 in Spanish:
0: cero
10: diez
99: noventa y nueve
How to introduce yourself, explaining where you come from and where you live:
Hola, me llamo Juan.
Soy de Santiago, de Chile.
Vivo en Cochabamba, Bolivia.
How to solve communication problems in Spanish:
No comprendo.
Más despacio, por favor.
Hablo un poquito de español.
¿Habla usted inglés?
How to indicate basic needs in Spanish:
Tengo hambre.
Tengo sueño.
No tengo dinero.
¿Dónde está el baño?
How to handle emergencies in Spanish:
Necesito ayuda.
Necesito un médico.
How to talk about money in Spanish:
¿Aceptan dólares?
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How to communicate in the hotel in Spanish:
No tengo una reserva.
Necesito una habitación.
No quiero desayuno.
How to communicate at the restaurant in Spanish:
Para comer, yo quería … .
Para beber, yo quería … .
La cuenta, por favor.
How to communicate in the city and in the transport in Spanish:
Yo quería un billete de ida y vuelta a … .
¿Dónde está la estación?
¿Cómo puedo ir al centro?
Do not forget that more than 70% of our communication is non-verbal. Therefore, if you know some useful expressions in Spanish and rely on all the information that can be transmitted without words, you will go very far … Wherever your wanderlust takes you. Have a great trip!
Hopefully, you can put what you learned into practice. What phrases do you want to learn? Do you think something is missing? You can leave a comment 😉.
Do you want to learn further? More FREE material to learn Spanish from scratch
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💎 You have a sneak peek of the mini-course that you can access without having to enroll. You will also find in the link FREE tips and resources to learn Spanish.
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🔸The 81 TOP questions and answers in Spanish.
🔸The most thorough guide on greetings and goodbyes in Spanish.
🔸Vocabulary: the most relevant verbs in Spanish for English speakers.
🔸Vocabulary: the most relevant nouns in Spanish for English speakers.
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About the author: I am Alicia, your Spanish teacher 💙. I was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and I was raised trilingual, since my mother is German and my father, Spaniard. I did my undergraduate and Ph.D. studies in Madrid and Berlin. After completing my Masters in Didactics in 2010, I applied my knowledge to foreign language teaching. I worked at the Popular University in Berlin with group classes until 2018. Since then, I have specialized in online teaching and the creation of digital learning content.
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