Spanish everyday phrases. Useful Spanish Phrases: Travel Phrasebook

Spanish is one of the most popular languages ​​in the world, it is spoken in Spain and in Latin America, although they speak dialects and variations of classical Spanish. Classical Spanish is the basis and is well understood in Peru, Chile, Portugal, Mexico, Cuba and other South American countries. In general, it turns out more than half a billion people in the world. So learning 100 phrases in Spanish will be useful.

Language of Lorca and Cervantes

Spanish sounds beautiful, it is melodic and easy to learn. The spelling and pronunciation are almost identical, it is quite easy to learn it on your own at the level of a tourist. In everyday speech, the Spaniards use about 700-1000 words, of which about 150-200 are verbs. And for tourist purposes, in order not to get lost in the cities of Spain or to understand airport employees, about 100 phrases consisting of 300-350 words are enough.

They are conditionally divided into several groups: words of gratitude and phrases for polite communication, in a restaurant, airport and on the road. You will also need numbers, pronouns and the most popular verbs, designations of directions and names of places, days of the week and time. And also you need to learn the words necessary in difficult and dangerous situations, ask for help or help passers-by.

Sound and pronunciation in Spanish

To speak Spanish, start learning with the basics - phonetics and the alphabet. The language has features and complexities. The Spanish alphabet is almost identical to the English one, with the exception of 1 detail - the letter "Ñ" is added, it reads "n". Otherwise they are the same. Consider the details of the phonetic features of Spanish letters:

• at the beginning of the word, the letter "H" is not pronounced, in the word "Hola!" (hello), it is pronounced "Ola" with the removal of the first vowel;
• in classical Spanish, the letter "C" is often pronounced with a whistle, somewhat similar to the English combination "th";
• the letter "E" is read "E", at this moment foreigners are strongly audible;
• the letter "L" in Spanish is soft;
• basically, words are read as they are written, there are exceptions, but they are few;
• stresses are placed according to the rules, unlike the Russian language - at the end of the word there is a consonant letter (except N and S), then the stress is on the last syllable, the vowel or letters N and S, then on the penultimate one;
• the letter "C" is read "K" in combination with the vowels a, o, u; and "C" - with the letters e, i;
• the letter "G" is read "G" in combination with a, o, u; and with the letters e, i - pronounced "X";

• special combinations "GUE", "GUI" are read as "Ge" and "Gi", and "QUE" and "QUI" - as "Ke" and "Ki";
• the letter "V" is pronounced as the average between "c" and "b";
• the letters "S" and "Z" are read like the Russian "C", and in Spain it is pronounced like "ts".

These features are easy to remember, otherwise the languages ​​are similar and it is not difficult for Russians to learn Spanish and speak it understandably for the natives of Spain.

The difficulty lies in the first 2-3 months of training, when pronunciation is set, at this time it is better to study with a teacher. You can independently instill the wrong sound of some words and combinations of letters, then it is difficult to relearn.

How to learn a foreign language?

Regardless of the country and language, its study should contain certain points and stages, then memorization and understanding will be achieved to the right extent. You can’t learn sentences without knowing how individual words are pronounced, and you can’t start talking without gaining basic knowledge in building phrases. It is best to do everything gradually, including all stages:

• setting pronunciation, studying basic words and sounds - here you can get a dictionary where new phrases and expressions are recorded with transcription and translation;

• solving and performing exercises on phonetics and spelling;
• writing words and expressions to consolidate knowledge with mechanical memory;
• listening to music and watching films in Spanish with subtitles;
• reading books by Spanish authors and translating them - start with simple children's stories familiar to you from childhood, then move on to more complex ones;
• communication with native speakers in chat, social networks, language centers, trips to a Spanish-speaking country.

Skipping any of the stages will negatively affect the speed and completeness of language learning, it is better if everything is in the complex. Communication in Spanish will allow you to put together all the knowledge you have gained and try to reproduce the phrases so that you are understood. This is an opportunity to hear and try to understand real Spanish, because it is very different from the book.

Words of welcome and phrases of gratitude

First of all, write down in your dictionary the words of greeting and farewell, they are the basis for any language and for communication in any country. Spain is no exception, here everyone politely greets in shops, cafes, when meeting acquaintances and friends. As in Russian, in Spanish there are several options for phrases for varying degrees of "kinship" with the interlocutor.

When meeting a friend and well-known peer, you can say ¡Hola! (Ola!) - Hello! But to a stranger or an adult interlocutor they say ¡Buenos días! (Buenos dias!), ¡Buenas tardes! (Buenos tardes!) or ¡Buenas noches! (Buenos noches!), Which translates accordingly to "Good morning/afternoon/night!".

Usually after the greeting I add a polite question “How are you?” or its variations, which do not talk about their problems, just say “Okay! And how are you?" It sounds like this:

¿Que tal? ke tal How are you?
¿Como estas? komo estás How are you?

These two phrases can be used to communicate with an acquaintance or friend, but to a stranger or group of people you should say:

¿Como está? komo está How are you? (if the person is alone), or
¿Como estan? komo estan How are you? (if you are talking to a group of people).

The answer options again depend on the interlocutor:

Bien, ¿y tu? [bean, and tu] Okay, how about you? - so you can say to a friend, but in other options you need this wording:

Bien, gracias ¿y Usted? [bian, grácias and ust] OK, thank you! And you?

In addition to standard greetings, you can use or hear the following phrases: ¿Qué tal la vida/ el trabajo/ la familia/ los estudios? (que tal la vida/el trabajo/la familia/los estudios), which means – How is your life/work/family/study?

In response to these phrases, you can answer the standard “Bien!”, Or you can diversify communication:

• ¡Excellent! (excellent) Excellent!
• ¡Muy bien! (mui bian) Very good!
• Mas o menos. (mas o manos) More or less.
• Regular. (rregular) Fine.
• Mal. (mal) Bad.
• Muymal. (mui mal) Very bad.
• fatal. (fatal) Terrible.

But after these phrases, polite Spaniards will start asking questions and demanding details, if you are not ready for this, then limit yourself to the standard wording.

You can say goodbye or wish a good day with a famous phrase

• "¡Chao! (chao) Bye!” or “¡Adios! (adyos) Bye! Goodbye!" if the interlocutors are older than you or unfamiliar, then it is better to choose one of these:

• ¡Hasta luego! asta luego Goodbye!
• ¡Hasta pronto! asta pronto See you soon!
• ¡Hasta mañana! asta manana See you tomorrow!
• Nos vemos. nos vemos See you soon! See you.

If suddenly you are faced with a complete misunderstanding of the interlocutor, then you can tell him about it in the following words:

• No entiendo But entiendo I don't understand.
• Mas despacio, por favor. Mas despacio, por favor Could you speak slower?
• No comprendo. But comprendo I don't understand.

These words are quite enough to look like a polite person when communicating with residents in the cities of Spain. If you have difficulties in understanding, you can switch to English, if it is easier for you to select phrases in this language, besides, you can meet Russian-speaking people, there are a lot of them in all countries of Europe and Latin America.

The right words if you don't know the way

The Spaniards are quite responsive and will gladly show the way to the tourist, but you should know how to ask her and what they can answer you. In order not to memorize complex phrases and phrases, 3 options are enough and you will be understood:

Where is…

I need…

For example, you need to ask for directions to a bank or a hotel, you can ask a question like this:

• ¿Dónde está la calle/un banco/un hotel? (Dongde esta la saye/un banko/un hotel?) – Where is the street/bank/hotel?
• Yo necesito la estación de ferrocarril. (yo nesesito la estacion de ferrocarril) - I need a train station.

Other options that you can use to find the road:

¿Como llego a…? - How can I get to…?
¿Qué tan lejos es…? - How far is...?

In response, they may offer you a map or show you the direction, or they may explain in detail how to get there and where to turn, for this the following expressions are used:

• Right side, to the right (a la derecha) a la derecha;
• Left side, to the left (a la izquierda) a la izquierda;
• Straight ahead (derecho) derecho;
• On the corner (en la esquina) en la esquina;
• Far (Lehos) Lejos;
• Near/near (Sirka) Cerca;
• One/two/three/four blocks (a una cuadra/a dos,/tres/cuatro cuadras) a una cuadra/a dos/tres/cuatro cuadras

Even if you do not understand the Spanish answer well, you can ask to repeat it again or say that you do not understand. As a rule, they will be happy to draw a map, guide you to a place or explain in more detail and more clearly.

In Spain, they treat tourists well and are happy when you manage to pronounce words correctly. They will help you on the street and in the store, and the police officers, while on duty, also take you to the right place.

Phrases for emergency situations

Unforeseen situations can happen to anyone, no one is immune from this. Help may be needed by you or your friends, as well as a person on the street. You don't walk past people in trouble just because you don't know how to call a doctor in Spanish, do you? Traveling with children often requires a quick response to the situation and finding the right phrase in a phrasebook or online translator will make it very difficult to solve the problem. What are the basic phrases you may need to find help:

• ¡Ayudame! (Ayudame!) Help me!
• Help! (Socorro!) Socorro!
• Stop! (stop!) (Pare!) Pare!
• Necesito un doctor/ dentista/ oficial de policia. - I need a doctor / dentist / policeman.
• ¿Hay una farmacía cerca? - Is there a pharmacy nearby?
• ¿Puedo utilizar su telefono? - Can I use your phone?
• ¡Llame a la policia/ambulancia/los bomberos! (Yame a-lapolisia/a-unambulancia/a-los bomberos!) - Call the police/ambulance/firefighters!
• Fire! (fuego) Fuego!
• I'm lost. (me e perdido) Me he perdido.

These phrases will be enough to ask for help from passers-by in an emergency. If you know them by heart, then perhaps this will save someone's life or health and make your trip much calmer and safer.

As a conclusion!

Spanish is a beautiful, sonorous and musical language, it is pleasant and easy to learn it. Phrases for tourists are just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg, and a real understanding of this music will come after a year or two of mastering it. When you can understand the interlocutor, and not guess by gestures what they said to you, when you can watch Spanish films without subtitles and translation, then you can already confidently go to a foreign country and enjoy its culture and inner world.

Where can you learn Spanish:

1. Language schools, courses and individual lessons with a teacher are the most popular way and the most productive.
2. Online programs and smartphone apps for self-study are long and require self-discipline.
3. Video and audio lessons, exercises and tasks in the network and books - will require specialist correction or help at the initial level.
4. Visiting a country or communicating with native speakers is fast, but it will only give you spoken language, they will not teach you to read and write there.

If learning Spanish is your dream, then supplement your studies with reading the history of the country, books by national authors, searching for information about its culture and features. Then the picture will be more complete. If you need a language to get the job done, deepen your study of technical knowledge, specialized words. To do this, you will need special literature, magazines, newspapers, websites and blogs on the necessary topics, and you should start studying them only after you have completed the basic part.

Classes can take from six months to infinity, depending on the intensity and density of classes, the degree of immersion in learning, repetition of acquired knowledge and the addition of new words and phrases.

About 10% of the world's population speaks Spanish. Perhaps that is the only reason why you should think about learning this language. If you want to learn Spanish, take your time and start with common phrases. Once you feel more confident after studying at home, you can expand your knowledge by immersing yourself in a language environment or enrolling in special lessons or courses. This will help you deepen your skills and become fluent in the language.

Steps

Learning common phrases

Introduce yourself. The greeting is the easiest to remember. It will allow you to not only get to know the language better, but also give you the opportunity to communicate with other people in Spanish.

• Hola(Oh-la) is "hello" in Spanish. Even if you know Spanish very poorly, most likely you have already heard this word and understand it. But there are other greetings, such as buenos dias(buEN-os DI-az), which means "good morning", or buenos nights(buen-os NO-ches), which means "good evening".
• After greeting, you can learn "¿Cómo estás?" (KO-mo es-TAS), which means "How are you?". This can be answered estoy bien(ES-toi bi-EN), which means "I'm fine."
• You can also use mucho gusto(MU-cho gus-to), which means "nice to meet you." After that, learn how to say "my name is": me llamo(me YA-mo). By putting these phrases together, you can greet someone in Spanish: "Mucho gusto, me llamo Juan" which means "Nice to meet you, my name is Ivan."

1. If you speak English, look for borrowings from Spanish in it. They may not be pronounced exactly the same as native Spanish speakers, but if you're fluent in English, chances are you already know some Spanish words.

   • Make a list of the Spanish words you already know to build up your vocabulary. In the future, these words will serve as the basis for further study of the language.
   • You probably already know many Spanish food names, such as taco(taco) and burrito(burrito).
   • There are also many words that are the same in both languages ​​(although their spelling and pronunciation may differ). For example, animal(animal) and chocolate(chocolate).

2. Learn the gender of nouns. Just like in Russian, in Spanish all objects differ by gender. In general, if a noun ends in o is masculine, and if a- female (but there are some exceptions).

   • Just like in Russian, all nouns have gender, even inanimate ones (the same pronouns are used with them as with animate ones).
   • Remember, gender depends on the specific word, not the general meaning. This situation may arise when you are talking about an animal. For example, in a conversation about a dog, one should say "el perro" (el PE-rro), which indicates the masculine gender, even if the dog is feminine.

3. Learn Spanish pronouns. Just like in Russian, verbs are declined depending on the pronoun used. However, in Spanish it is not necessary to name a pronoun or even include it in a sentence. The reader or listener will understand which pronoun you meant by using the verb conjugation.

   • For example, if you want to say that you want something, you can use "yo quiero" (YO ki-YER-OH), which means "I want", or just say "quiero", and the pronoun will be clear from the context.
   • Here is a list of Spanish pronouns: yo - I, nosotros - we, el - he, ella - she is, a ellos and ellas - they. Use ellas if you are addressing an all-female group, and ellos- for all-male groups or mixed groups.
   • In addition, in Spanish there is a formal and informal appeal to one person. Use tu(you) if you are talking to someone you know or are close in age to (or younger). If the person is older than you, higher in rank, or completely unfamiliar to you, use a polite, formal form. usted. The plural of "you" (meaning "all of you") is ustedes. In addition, in Spain there is another formal address in the plural: vosotros or vosotras(you). In other Spanish-speaking countries, only ustedes(you).

4. Learn basic sentence structure in Spanish. It is quite similar to the structure that exists in English, but it has some differences. If you understand how to think correctly, it will be easier for you to think and speak in Spanish.

5. Learn the words and phrases used in certain situations. Depending on the reason you are learning Spanish, some words may be most helpful in the beginning. Starting from a familiar area will help you lay the foundation you need.

   • Think about the words and phrases you use frequently throughout the day. For example, you say "please" and "thank you" several times a day. If you are not yet familiar por favor(por fa-BOP) and gracias(gra-si-as), learn these easy-to-learn words, as well as other politeness phrases.
   • If someone tells you gracias, can answer de nada(te NA-da), which means "please" (or, more literally, "no way").
   • Also in the early stages you will need to learn "yes" and "no" in Spanish (if you haven't already). These are the words: si(si) and no(but).

   Immerse yourself in the language environment

   1. Visit Spanish speaking countries. If you have mastered the basic conversational phrases, go somewhere where the official language is Spanish to learn and understand it even faster.

      • The immersion process can be the fastest way to learn any language. If you think about it, that's how you learned your mother tongue. Most likely, you learned to speak long before you went to school and learned about the rules of grammar. You also began to speak more or less correctly even before you could read and write.
      • Immersion in the language environment is suitable for you if you want to communicate in it. Once in a Spanish-speaking country, you will not learn to read and write. You will still need to learn grammar and spelling, however, with the ability to speak, these skills will be easier for you.
      • In Spanish-speaking countries, there are a huge number of schools and educational programs that will help you immerse yourself in the language, as well as get acquainted with Spanish or Latin American culture. However, if you cannot afford to travel abroad, there are other effective ways to immerse yourself in a language without leaving your home.

   2. Watch shows in Spanish. When listening to Spanish speech, it can be difficult to grasp the meaning due to problems understanding individual words. Watching shows in Spanish will help you train your ears and identify sounds.

      • To get started, watch movies or shows you know with Spanish subtitles. Since you will already have a general idea of ​​what the characters are saying, you will begin to pick out the words and understand their meaning.
      • Use subtitles to improve your Spanish listening skills and train your brain to associate certain letters with certain sounds.
      • Once you've mastered familiar stories, move on to shows or movies you haven't seen before and see how well you understand them.

   3. Chat with native Spanish speakers. Since there are so many people in the world who speak Spanish, you don't have to travel to Spain or Latin America to find a native speaker who is willing to talk to you.

      • By talking to a native speaker and listening to his speech, you will be able to better understand sentences as a whole, rather than individual words. In addition, he will correct your mistakes before you embarrass yourself or find yourself in an unpleasant situation due to being misunderstood.
      • Keep in mind that different countries have different pronunciations. Some Spaniards speak very differently from Mexicans, and some Mexicans speak differently from Colombians. A similar difference exists between British and American English.
      • If you are just starting to learn a language, look for people from Mexico or Ecuador, as they usually speak more slowly.

   4. Listen to music in Spanish. Since the lyrics are slower and more repetitive than normal speech, music is a great way to start recognizing individual words and associate their sound with the spelling in your mind. Try listening and singing the same song at the same time until you master the pronunciation and begin to understand the words.

      • If you have satellite radio, you can find many radio stations with Spanish music as well as talk radio stations. Depending on your location, you can even tune the radio to AM or FM.
      • In addition to the radio, you can find mountains of music in Spanish on the Internet. Start by searching the top 40 in a specific Spanish-speaking country, such as Mexico or Colombia.
      • Pick the songs you like and look up the lyrics on the internet. As the song plays, you can read the lyrics to better connect the sound and spelling of the word in your mind.

   5. Change the language on your electronic devices. Use the settings on your smartphone, computer or tablet to change the default language from Russian to Spanish. Since you are already familiar with the device menu, you will recognize the names of these words in Spanish.

      • Many websites and social networks allow you to change the default language. You can even change the language of your browser or use a special extension to translate Russian-language sites into Spanish. However, be careful, as translations are not always accurate and may not convey the correct meaning.
      • You can also search for sites in Spanish and try to read them. Many new sites have transcribed videos so you can read and listen at the same time.

   6. Sign household items. If you have a visual reminder of the name of this or that object that you deal with daily, in the end, this word will be firmly imprinted in your head. So your vocabulary will expand.

      • All you need for this is a pen or felt-tip pen, paper and tape. Make sure the sticky surface won't rub off the paint or damage the item, as you'll likely want to remove the stickers later. Alternatively, use regular stickers.
      • Don't try to stick stickers on everything at once. It can be tiresome. Choose 5-10 items, look up what they are called in Spanish, and label them. Once you've learned them, remove the stickers and move on to another group of things. If you forget something, just go back and repeat the process.

      Signing up for courses

      • There are also programs that require quite a significant initial investment. If you have money and you think that this program will benefit you in the future, buy it. But do not forget that you can learn Spanish without any material costs.
      • Websites and mobile apps are good for practicing vocabulary and basic phrases, but they usually provide a fairly scattered knowledge of Spanish. Be prepared for the fact that you will need to immerse yourself in the language (at home or abroad) if you want to truly master it.
      • Generally, these programs are good if your goal is to learn how to read and write Spanish. If your main goal is communication, you are better off having real conversations.

   7. Set aside time each day to practice. You cannot learn Spanish overnight, it takes time. Decide how long your classes will last and try to hold them every day at the same time so that the practice of the language becomes a habit.

      • Using a calendar on your computer or smartphone is a great option as you can set notifications to remind you when it's time to study.
      • Don't spend too much time learning a language at a time or you'll get bored or your progress will slow down. Make sure you learn something new every session. For example, if you practice the language for 15 minutes every evening, set aside 5 minutes to review the material covered the day before, 5 minutes to go through a new topic, and 5 more minutes to reinforce it.

   8. Set measurable goals. The thought of learning all the nuances of a language can be a bit overwhelming, especially when you think about how long it took you to learn your first language. Break everything down into small, achievable goals to track your progress.

      • Goals can be related directly to the language or to your learning methods. For example, if you immerse yourself in the language and watch shows in Spanish, your goal might be to watch one episode of a TV show every evening. The language-related goal is to learn 5 new verbs every week.
      • Write down your goals and evaluate your progress every week. If you don't reach your goal, try not to get upset. Just reevaluate and determine what went wrong. If you can fix it somehow, make adjustments and try again next week.
   • Learning a second language can be difficult. Don't be too hard on yourself if you forgot something or made a mistake. And you will make mistakes. Be patient and try to exercise a little every day.
   • Enrolling in courses will help you master the Spanish language. It will be easier for you to learn and you will be able to receive feedback on your progress.
   • Try to visit a Spanish-speaking friend every day to learn more about the language, as well as internal tricks and tricks.

We have compiled a Spanish tourist phrasebook so that you can use simple combinations of words to form a simple question and understand a simple answer. With the help of our phrasebook, you will not be able to participate in a philosophical discussion or discuss an event.

In our Russian-Spanish phrasebook, intended for tourists, we have collected those words and expressions that we ourselves used. Just what you need to communicate.

Hasta la vista, baby!

I must say right away that Galya and I do not speak Spanish, only spoken English. But before the trip, as always, we learned phrases that help simple communications. By the way, you can study the course "Fast entry to Spanish" and fly to Spain already prepared.

Some, of course, we knew. Among such well-known phrases were the famous words: “Hasta la vista, baby.” Naively, we believed that this was a common farewell. Many Spanish phrasebooks we found on the Internet reported that "Hasta la vista" is "goodbye."

Naturally, we applied our “knowledge of Spanish” at the first opportunity. Imagine our amazement when the owner of the house in Santander, where we booked a pretty room on the second floor, turned pale and agitated. We were going for a walk around the city and said goodbye to him in the way we know - "Hasta la vista". Instead of "baby" we, of course, inserted his name.

Deciding that our pronunciation was not clear enough, we once again said goodbye together. This time more clearly and loudly, so that the Spaniard understood us for sure.

He was stunned and began to ask what we did not like so much in his house. I had to resort to the application described above.

Soon we learned that we were saying goodbye to the owner forever. He decided that we would never return...

Conclusion: Spaniards almost never use this phrase. Here's "goodbye" to you! Just say "Adios!" And, of course, smile)

Another useful word that we often heard from the Spaniards when asked how to get to a boring place for us is “rotonda”.

Rotunda - a place on the road where a roundabout is made. We have more common intersections, and in Spain - roundabouts (thus they get rid of unnecessary traffic lights). Naturally, it is more convenient to indicate the direction in which Galya and I are moving from some point. In 80% it was a rotunda (circle).

I must say that even with a map of the city in hand, it is not easy to navigate in Spain, because. they very rarely write street names on houses. The most convenient in this regard is Germany. In Germany, street names are on every pole and with directions.

Check . You need to know at least a little the names of the numbers. It is best to have a notepad and pen handy. When you buy something, calmly ask to write down the cost in a notebook.

The phrase "speak slower, I don't understand Spanish well" helps.

Another personal observation. In Russia, we often turn to strangers with the words: “Excuse me ... or Excuse me, how can I get through ...” In Spanish, the word por favor (por favor) - please recommend using before contacting. For example, on the street. "Por favor (please, in our sense," excuse me please), and then the question is how to get to Torres Street (for example).

We have noticed that almost all Spaniards exclaim "¡Hola!" (Ola). But beggars and beggars, just addressing, pronounce "porfavor". Maybe Galya and I came across such polite beggars, maybe we were just lucky and this is an accident, but we decided to pronounce the word “por favor” in specific situations - in a store or in personal communication, already in the process of communication, and on the street turn to people with the greeting "¡Hola!" But this is only our observation.

Friends, now we are in Telegram: our channel about Europe, our channel about Asia. Welcome)

How to learn Spanish in a week

Recently found a funny video showing how you can learn Spanish in a week. The results are amazing!

Russian Spanish phrasebook for tourists

Required words

Spanish greetings

Difficulties in understanding

In the town

Taxi

Hotel

Shopping / Requests

Restaurant/cafe/grocery store

Order/menu

Beverages

Dishes

Products

Seafood

Tableware

Useful words

Check

Just in case, you should have a notebook on hand and write down the numbers, especially when it comes to payment. Write the amount, show, specify.

You can specify the numbers with the words:

So, you can call your hotel room not 405 (four hundred and five), but by numbers: quattro, sero, cinco. You will be understood.

Dates and times

Emergencies

Spanish Dialogue Example

Of course, during a conversation it is inconvenient to go into a phrasebook and read. Some words are worth learning. You can prepare questions in a notebook. In extreme cases, you can poke your finger into a printed phrasebook.

Here is an example of a dialogue compiled from this phrasebook:

- Ola (greeting)

- Me he perdido (I'm lost). Puede usted ayudarme? (could you help me?) Donde esta? (where is) La calle (street) …. Torres?

With this phrasebook you asked a question. Now the most important thing begins: you need to understand the answer.

1. Show the map of the city
2. If there is no map, take a notepad and a pen
3. Ask, feel free to:

— ¿Podria usted hablar más despacio? (Could you speak more slowly). No comprendo! (I don't understand). Repitan por favor (repeat please). ¿Me lo puede escribir? (Can you write it? In our case, draw it).

1. Ask again and clarify:

- Lejos (far?) Todo recto (straight?) A la izquierda (left?) A la derecha (right?)

2. Watch your hands and facial expressions
3. At the end, do not forget to say:

Muchas gracias (thank you very much). Adios (goodbye!)

Before going to Spain, Galya and I watched the lessons

« Polyglot. Spanish from scratch in 16 hours " (Channel "Culture")

Sincerely,

Vocabulary to learn before traveling to Spain

Essential Spanish phrases that will save your life

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

Photo 1 of 6:© gettyimages.com

When going on a trip to the Pyrenees, do not think that you will get by with knowledge of English - a very small percentage of Spaniards speak this language, so travelers often find themselves in situations like in that joke "my friend does not understand."

We hope our readers will definitely not get into such a mess, because tochka.net prepared a small dictionary for them.

1. Basic Spanish Phrases - General Rules

Never hesitate to speak Spanish with Spaniards, even if your knowledge of the language is reduced to a primitive minimum. Even simple words "hello-bye" or "how are you, friend" will be enough to win over the Spaniards. Remember that in Spanish there is no reduction of sounds, i.e. All vowels must be pronounced clearly, whether they are stressed or not. Otherwise, you may not be understood or understood differently than you would like.

• Also remember that the sound of the letter "H" (ache) in Spanish is not pronounced. For example, the greeting hola is pronounced "ola".
• The letter v in Spanish is read as "b", or rather something in between "b" and "c".

1. Basic Spanish phrases - greetings and polite words

• hola ("ola")- Hi Hello. Sometimes it may seem that the Spaniards were born with this word on their lips. They greet everyone constantly and with everyone: acquaintances, strangers, in a store, cafe, etc.
• por favor ("por favor")- please. Any request of a well-mannered person by Spanish standards of etiquette should be accompanied by this phrase.
• gracias ("gracias")- Thanks. Pay attention to the pronunciation, "gracias" is correct.
• si ("yes"), no ("no"). In this country, it is customary to use "no, gracias", "si, por favor".
• vale ("bale")- ok, fit
• adios ("adios")- goodbye, bye. In Spain, it is customary to always say goodbye to everyone with this word. Often also use hasta luego ("asta luego"). "Asta la vista" is now not used in most regions, although everyone understands it.

1. Basic Spanish phrases - in a restaurant

• la carta ("la carte")- menu, list of dishes. If you say "menu, por favor", they may misunderstand and bring a set lunch.
• sin hielo ("sin hielo")- without ice. A very useful and important phrase. So, if you don’t specify, you will most likely be served a drink with ice, which will take up from a third to a half of the volume of the glass. Therefore, immediately when ordering, specify: "una cola sin yelo, por favor" - cola without ice, please.
• cerveza ("serves")- beer. Word jarra ("harra") means mug. However, if you say, for example, "una jarra grande, por favour", it immediately implies that you are ordering a large mug of beer. If the waiter does not really understand you, say "una jarra de servesa, por favor" - a mug of beer, please.
• vino ("wine")- wine (accent on the first syllable). If you don't specify which one, the default is red. For example, "una copa de wine, por favor!" - a glass of wine, please. "Dos Copas" - two glasses.
• cenicero ("senicero")- ashtray. Ask the waiter: "el senicero, por favor" - please, bring an ashtray.
• servicios ("services")- toilet. To know how to ask "where is the toilet" learn the following "los servicios, por favor?" Also the words "toilet" mean lavabo and aseo.
• cuenta ("cuenta")- check. "Bill, please" in Spanish would sound like this: "la cuenta, por favour."

1. Basic Spanish phrases - in store

• estoy mirando ("estoy mirando")- I look. A special phrase for the overly accommodating salespeople who have taken a liking to you with a desire to help. Say back "estoy mirando, gracias", which means "I'm still looking at what you have, but I haven't chosen yet, thanks." A win-win option is to stay kind and get rid of the seller.
• cuanto vale? ("cuanto balle?")- what is the price? If you use it with queria eso "queria eso", in Spanish shopping you will feel like a fish in water. You can also ask: "Keria eso, kuanto bale, por favor?", "kuanto bale eso, por favor?"
• probarme - ("probarme")- try on yourself. If you ask: "keria probarme, por favor" means "please, I would like to try on this clothes."
• probadores ("probadores")- dressing room. Ask, "probadores, por favour," and they'll tell you where the fitting booth is.
• tarjeta ("tarheta")- card. "Kon tarheta" would mean "can I pay with a card".
• en efectivo ("en efficient")- cash. At the checkout in stores you will be asked "con tarheta o en effective?" - Would you like to pay by card or cash?

1. Basic Spanish phrases - note

• linda ("Linda"), guapa ("guapa")- beautiful, cute. If you want to compliment a Spanish woman, use these exact words.
• Spaniards often use affectionate words, adding the softening suffix -ita. For example, mamasita ("mamasita") - mommy, gordita ("proud") - plump, solecito ("solesito")- Sun.

1. Basic Spanish Phrases - Emergencies

• ayúdeme ("ayudeme")- help me
• llame ("lyame")- call
• policia ("policy")- police. For example, in an emergency, shout: "llame a la police" - "call the police."
• urgencias ("urgensias")- Ambulance
• llame a un médico ("llame a un medico")- Call a doctor
• me siento mal ("me siento mal")- I feel bad

1. Basic Spanish phrases - funny phrases

• Te he traído la grasa- I brought you fat. Knowing this phrase in Spanish, perhaps, will touch any inhabitant of the Pyrenees.
• Mañana ("manyana")- tomorrow. Do not be surprised, but remember this word. The Spaniards simply adore it and use it at every turn, as if following the principle: "Why do something today, if it can be done tomorrow?"
• Me encanta sangria ("me encanta sangria")- I love sangria. Sangria is the delicious national drink of the Spaniards.

Spanish for tourists. Useful phrases from everyday life:

If you are in a business environment, then after a verbal greeting, a handshake will suffice. In a friendly atmosphere, a kiss on the cheek or an air kiss will follow. There are many options - just choose the one that suits you best or come up with your own combination.

Spanish greetings are not limited to well-known Hola and Buenos dias: today we have compiled a comprehensive list of Spanish phrases for you to start a conversation with.

• Hola- Hi.
  This is the simplest greeting and can be combined with any of the ones below. So you can say "Hola, buenos dias", or Hola, buenas tardes. And we will not tire of reminding: the letter "h" is not pronounced!
• Buenos dias- Good morning.
  Literally translated as "good day", but means "good morning". "Buenos Dias" usually used before noon.
• Buenas tardes- Good afternoon.
  In the event that you want to say hello to someone, and it's already one in the afternoon or later, you can say "buenas tardes". In Spain, this greeting can be used until late in the evening, and in a number of Latin American countries and Caribbean countries - only until sunset.
• Buena nights- Good evening.
  This phrase also means "good night". Always be mindful of the context, as you may accidentally say goodbye.
• ¿Como está?- How are you? (formal address).
  This is a polite way to ask someone about their state of affairs. As a rule, it is necessary to use this phrase in a conversation with older people or people in leadership positions, as a sign of respect. Use this phrase in South American countries to always feel confident. Are you in business? It is important to inquire about a person's well-being before any business conversation. This will be a sign that you care about your client or partner.
• ¿Como estas?- What's up? (informal address).
  Adding a letter "s" at the end means that you are talking to a peer or someone younger than you. If you hear "tuteame", which means that the interlocutor invites you to turn to "you", regardless of his and your age.
• ¿Como estan?- How are you? (plural)
  Greeting a group of people? The letter "n" at the end will mean that you are referring to all at once. If you know everyone in the group, you can greet everyone with a friendly kiss. But if you are a guy, kiss only girls, shake hands with other guys. Are you traveling in Spain? Ask "¿Como estáis?".
• ¿Que tal?– How are things going?
  To some, this appeal may seem too familiar, but, in general, this question can be asked to any person, being in an informal setting.
• ¿Que pasa?– What's new?/What's going on?
  Do you have a conversation with friends or with someone who is younger than you? Use the phrase "¿Qué pasa?" It can also be heard in situations where they want to clarify some point.
• ¿Que hubo?– What happened?
  This phrase is considered an informal greeting in some Spanish-speaking countries. Use the phrase when communicating with friends or family. Just remember that the letter h has no sound (we know that you are already tired of us).
• Bienvenidos- Welcome.
  Would you like to invite someone to your home? In Spanish it would sound like this: Bienvenidos. Save the final "s" if you are greeting several people. removing "s", you will receive a greeting for one person. When addressing a woman, say bienvenida, and to a man - bienvenido. A group of girls invited? use the word bienvenidas. Do not take this as discrimination and male chauvinism, but you need to speak bienvenidos, if both girls and men are present in the group of invitees.

• Mi casa es su casa- My home is your home.
  If you want a guest to feel comfortable in your home, you can say: "Mi casa es su casa". This does not mean at all that you are giving him your home, but it does mean that those invited can feel at home. If the guest is the same age, just replace "su" on the "tu".
• ¿De donde eres?- Where are you from?
  Use this expression when you want to ask someone your age or younger where they are from. The question will change and will sound like "¿De donde es usted?" if you are addressing a person of older age or higher in status.
• ¿Como te llamas?- What is your name?
  Literally means "What do you call yourself?" is what you say when you want to know someone's name. This time has several options, depending on the type of appeal. An older person in Spain is asked: "¿Como se llama?"
• ¿Alo?– Hello?
  This is a common way to answer a call in many Spanish speaking countries. Depending on where you are traveling, you can hear "bueno", "si" or diga in response to a phone call. Regardless of the phone greeting, you should respond by introducing yourself and asking how your interlocutor is doing. It would be impolite if you did not show such a courtesy. Thank your interlocutor. Then you can go to the purpose of the call.
• ¿Adonde vas?- Where are you going?
  Greet someone in a hurry? To ask someone where they are going, use this phrase. Change the verb to "va" for formal address, and if you are asking a group of people in Spain where they are going, change to "vais".
• ¿Dónde has estado?- Where did you be all this time?
  Have you not seen each other for a while? Tell "¿Dónde has estado?" and find out where he's been for all these years. Get ready to listen to the whole story!
• ¡Hace tiempo que no te veo!- How long have I not seen you!
  This is how you greet someone you haven't seen in ages.