You don’t need to be fluent to enjoy Spain or Latin America. A handful of polite, high-impact phrases unlocks taxis, restaurants, hotels, and local advice. Locals appreciate the effort, and it helps you avoid the obvious tourist-tax prices.
Greetings and politeness
| Hola | Hello |
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| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon |
| Buenas noches | Good evening / night |
| Por favor | Please |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| De nada | You’re welcome |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
Getting around
| ¿Dónde está…? | Where is…? |
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| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? |
| Quiero ir a… | I want to go to… |
| La calle… | …the street… |
| ¿A qué hora abre? | What time does it open? |
Eating and drinking
| La carta, por favor | The menu, please |
|---|
| Quisiera… | I would like… |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Sin…, por favor | Without…, please |
| ¿Tiene opciones vegetarianas? | Do you have vegetarian options? |
Help and emergencies
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? |
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| No entiendo | I don’t understand |
| Necesito ayuda | I need help |
| ¿Dónde está el hospital? | Where is the hospital? |
| Llame a la policía, por favor | Call the police, please |
Pronunciation tip
Spanish is largely pronounced the way it is written. Stress the second-to-last syllable unless the word has an accent mark. When in doubt, speak slowly and smile — it carries you further than perfect grammar.
Practice before you land
The fastest way to make these phrases stick is to rearrange them into real sentences. You can practice the Spanish travel essentials pack inside Tango Lingo before your trip.
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Put this into practice
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