Discover this new world through language! Whether traveling through Spain on vacation or backpacking through South America, learning some basic travel phrases and words of Spanish will enhance your trip and ensure an authentic experience. Here are 67 essential travel phrases and words so that you can navigate with ease, make friends more easily, and have an incredible adventure.
These question words will assist in asking for directions or gathering key details, as well as engaging in small talk! Plus they’re great conversation starters!
How to say hello
Hola (pronounced ay-lah) is the simplest and most frequently used greeting in Spanish. You can use it anytime of day or night to greet friends and strangers alike, while more formal expressions include buenos dias (good morning), buenas tardes (good afternoon) and buenas noches (good evening).
On the phone, when greeting people you should use estimado senor/senora (dear sir/madam) or “gracias”. Make eye contact when greeting older individuals; additionally you could say “hey or uey”, although these informal greetings should only be used among friends.
Once greeting someone, it is polite to inquire how they are doing. In Spanish, you may use “Que estas?” (koh-moh ehs-tahs). Use this greeting with any friend but avoid using it with authorities such as supervisors and managers.
Follow up your greeting with an expression like encantado/a or encantada, meaning ‘pleased to meet you’ or ‘charmed to meet you’, to help break the ice and make conversation more memorable and show that you are interested in their response. Keep in mind that only seconds is all it takes for someone to form their opinion of you – make a good first impression now!
How to say goodbye
When the time comes for saying farewell, there are several phrases you can use in Spanish depending on the circumstances. For instance, in an office environment it would be more appropriate to say “tengo que volar” rather than simply saying “saluda.” Typically speaking, more formal conversations will call for more formal goodbyes.
Hasta pronto, which translates to “until next time”, can also be an effective way of saying goodbye if you know when exactly they will see each other again – for instance “Hasta lunes/ martes/ un da” would suffice as this expression.
If you want to wish someone good luck before they depart, say!Que tengas buena suerte! as a way of showing that you care about them and are hoping they have an incredible journey or opportunity ahead.
No matter if you are visiting a Spanish-speaking country or simply engaging with native Spanish speakers, knowing these essential greetings and goodbyes will help put your mind at ease! Be sure to practice regularly so you’ll soon sound like a pro! Additionally, for additional ways of learning Spanish check out Langster!
How to ask for directions
One of the key skills needed when traveling to a Spanish-speaking country is knowing how to ask for and understand directions. While this may seem obvious, navigating your way around city without getting lost can be quite challenging without speaking the language fluently. Here we explore useful phrases and vocabulary for asking directions in Spanish that can help ensure a smooth experience!
For an effective navigation experience, always begin your request for directions with a polite greeting – in Spanish this would include “por favor” and “gracias.” This shows the person helping that you value their assistance and want to thank them.
As part of your preparation, it can also be useful to memorize some common direction words, including “derecha” for left, “izquierda” for right and “adelante” for straight ahead. Furthermore, familiarize yourself with verbs ir (to go) and venir (to come); in Spanish these are available both as forms tu/vostros and vosotros/vous.
Finally, it’s essential to know how to respond if you don’t understand someone’s directions. One effective response would be “Puedes hablar mas despacio, por favor?” to request they speak more slowly – this will allow you to more easily comprehend their instructions and avoid becoming lost!
How to order food
Consuming local cuisine while traveling is one of the greatest pleasures, providing an authentic glimpse of local culture. For travelers learning Spanish, ordering food at restaurants is a fantastic opportunity to practice your language skills – from drinks (bebidas) to entrees (platos), this guide provides all of the vocabulary and phrases necessary for ordering in Spanish from restaurants.
Learn to request food and drinks that meet any special dietary restrictions, like vegetarian or gluten-free dining options. Bear in mind that the verb “tomar” can refer to both eating and drinking; thus it’s wise to clarify which item(s) are required when ordering at restaurants. It is also beneficial to become acquainted with meal times in countries you plan to travel; knowing these could have an effect on what is ordered from restaurant menus.
Finally, you’ll discover how to request and discuss tipping in Spanish. Make sure to practice these phrases with friends or family before traveling abroad so you’re fully prepared. These simple tips will have you dining like an expert in no time! Bon apetit! What will you eat today?