Planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country? Whether you're exploring the vibrant streets of Mexico City, hiking the Andes in Peru, or soaking up the sun on a Spanish beach, learning a few key Spanish phrases can make your travels smoother and more enjoyable. Not only will locals appreciate your effort, but it’ll also enhance your ability to connect, communicate, and immerse yourself in the culture.
To make your travels stress-free, we’ve compiled a list of essential Spanish travel phrases, tips on ordering food in Spanish, and recommendations for the best translating apps and tools to keep handy on your trip.
Here’s a breakdown of some basic Spanish phrases every traveler should add to their toolkit. These will help you in a variety of situations, from simple greetings to asking for help.
These phrases will help you make great first impressions and show politeness wherever you go.
Asking for Help and Directions
Getting around in a foreign country can be tricky. These phrases will help you when you need assistance.
The best thing to remember is that "dónde está" mean's "where is" in Spanish. Generally if you're looking for something you could just plug in the place you're looking for.
Remember: Dónde está + noun
Example, you are looking for the house: ¿Dónde está la casa?
If you're not fluent in Spanish, chances are you’ll need some support when communicating. Most people are generally kind and considerate, but you should never assume someone speaks English (many people in Latin American don't). It is always polite to at least try and speak in the local language even if your Spanish clumsy and poorly spoken. Use these phrases to express your needs clearly.
Whether you're haggling at a market or paying for your meal, these phrases will come in handy. We also made sure we learned how to competently order our morning coffee since we don't think as clearly without or morning caffeine.
Making new friends? Use these phrases to strike up a conversation.
Memorizing a few of these phrases before you travel and practicing them can make a big difference in how confident you feel.
Learning a new language takes time, but technology makes it easier to bridge the gap. Below are some of the best translating tools and apps to keep with you while traveling.
A must-have for travelers, Google Translate offers text, voice, and even camera translations for menus and signs. It’s available offline with downloaded language packs so make sure you download Spanish while you're on wi-fi and before you leave home.
Duolingo is great for brushing up on basic phrases before your trip. With short, engaging lessons, it’s perfect for beginners.
iTranslate provides text and voice translation and even includes an offline mode. It also highlights regional dialects for more accurate translations. I haven't personally used this app but it comes highly rated.
Using these tools alongside practicing key phrases will make communication abroad much smoother.
You can say "hi" in Spanish by saying "hola."
You can say "good morning" in Spanish by saying "buenos días."
You can say "I love you" in Spanish by saying "te quiero" or "te amo."
You can say "how are you?" in Spanish by saying "¿cómo estás?"
You can say "thank you" in Spanish by saying "gracias."
You can say "happy birthday" in Spanish by saying "feliz cumpleaños."
You can say "I'm sorry" in Spanish by saying "lo siento."
You can say "bye" in Spanish by saying "adiós."
You can say "no" in Spanish by saying "no."
Traveling and being unfamiliar with the local language can be stressful. Try and commit these phrases to mind before your trip and when all else smile and ask a local for help. Most people in this world are kind and helpful so don't be too intimidated! Get out there and have fun!
