Learning Spanish can seem daunting at first. There is so much vocabulary and so many expressions that the learning curve may start to feel more like a mountain. Not to worry! There are a variety of handy phrases to get started with Spanish. Whether you are meeting/greeting new people, ordering food at a restaurant or interested in purchasing something at a local market, adding some of these expressions to your early vocabulary repertoire will help take your Spanish to the next level and most importantly, get you talking faster!
Everyday Spanish Phrases
| Sí por favor | Yes please |
| No gracias | No thank you |
| De nada | You're welcome |
| Lo siento | I'm sorry |
| Disculpe/perdone | Excuse me |
| Salud | Bless you (after someone sneezes) |
| ¿Dónde está...el baño? | Where is...the bathroom? |
| No entiendo | I don't understand |
| ¿Cómo se dice _____ en español? | How do you say _______ in Spanish? |
| Por favor, hable más despacio | Please speak a little slower (formal) |
| ¿Usted habla inglés? | Do you speak English? (formal) |
| ¿Qué hora es? | What time is it? |
| Son las 10:00 (de la mañana) | It is 10:00 o'clock (in the morning) |
Greetings and Saying Goodbye
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon/evening |
| Buenas noches | Good night |
| Me llamo ______ | My name is ________ |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What is your name? (informal) |
| ¿Cómo se llama Usted? | What is your name? (formal) |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you |
| ¿Qué tal? | What's up?/How are you? (informal) |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? (informal) |
| ¿Cómo esta Usted? | How are you? (formal) |
| Estoy bien, ¿y tú? | I'm good, and you? |
| Adiós/hasta luego | Bye/see you later |
Expressing Opinions, Feelings and Emotions
| Tengo sed | I'm thirsty |
| Tengo hambre | I'm hungry |
| Estoy contento/a | I'm happy |
| Estoy triste | I'm sad |
| Estoy emocionado/a | I'm excited |
| Estoy enojado/a | I'm angry |
| Estoy enfermo/a | I'm sick |
Holidays
| Feliz Cumpleaños | Happy Birthday |
| Feliz Navidad | Merry Christmas |
| Feliz Año Nuevo | Happy New Year |
| Feliz Pascua | Happy Easter |
Shopping and Bargaining
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does this cost? |
| Es un poco/muy/demasiado caro | It is a little/very/too expensive |
| ¿Tiene una talla más chica/grande? | Do you have a smaller/bigger size? (formal) |
| ¿Aceptan tarjeta de crédito, o solo en efectivo? | Do you accept credit card, or only cash? |
Weather
| Hace calor hoy | It is hot today |
| Hace frio hoy | It's cold today |
| Es un día muy bonito | It is a beautiful day |
Restaurants
| Para mí/quiero el pescado, por favor | For me/I want the fish, please |
| Me sirve más cafe por favor | Can you serve me more coffee please (formal) |
| Me trae una cuchara por favor | Can you bring me a spoon please (formal) |
| Es delicioso, me gusta mucho | It's delicious, I really like it |
| ¡Buen provecho! | Enjoy your meal |
| *Cultural Note: You will hear people say this to others at their table and even to complete strangers. For example, if another couple is being sat at a table nearby and you have just been served your food, it is completely normal for them to say "buen provecho" to you. Just smile and nod or say "gracias." | |
For many beginners, speaking a foreign language can be the hardest skill to acquire. As adults we are used to dominating our language where we can effortlessly express every thought, opinion, emotion and desire. Learning a foreign language forces us into a vulnerable, childlike state where we are not able to completely express ourselves. These useful Spanish phrases will help you conquer your first experience in a Spanish speaking environment, whether it be traveling to a Spanish speaking country or going to the Mexican market around the corner. They also serve as great starter Spanish phrases for kids as well!
Not sure where to start? Choose ten phrases from this list and master them to gain confidence before moving onto the next ten. Before you know it, these expressions will start to roll off your tongue naturally. But the most important step is to let go of your fear and get out there and start speaking!
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By YourDictionary
Learning Spanish can seem daunting at first. There is so much vocabulary and so many expressions that the learning curve may start to feel more like a mountain. Not to worry! There are a variety of handy phrases to get started with Spanish. Whether you are meeting/greeting new people, ordering food at a restaurant or interested in purchasing something at a local market, adding some of these expressions to your early vocabulary repertoire will help take your Spanish to the next level and most importantly, get you talking faster!
