First things first: ¡Hola!

Spanish is the official language of Spain — but like many things in this beautiful country, it comes with flair, variety, and a little history. What many of us call “Spanish” is actually Castilian Spanish, and it's just one of several languages spoken across Spain. You might hear Catalan in Barcelona, Basque in the north, or Galician out west — each with its own roots and rhythm. Pretty cool, right? And if you’re hopping across the border to Portugal — heads up! Spanish and Portuguese sound similar, but they are not the same language. Locals will appreciate the effort if you attempt a “bom dia” instead of a “buenos días” once you're in Lisbon.

Most people in larger cities and tourist areas speak at least a little English, but it’s always appreciated (and fun) to try a few local phrases. So here’s a handy cheat sheet of useful Spanish phrases to help you navigate like a pro — or at least make someone smile at your courageous attempt.

Hello.

Hola.

OH-lah

Goodbye.

Adiós.

ah-dee-OHS

Please.

Por Favor.

por fah-VOHR

Thank you.

Gracias.

GRAH-syahs

You're welcome.

De nada.

deh NAH-dah

Excuse me.

Perdón.

pehr-DOHN

Bathroom

Baño

BAH-nyo

Water

Agua

AH-gwah

Cheers!

¡Salud!

sah-LOOD

Do you speak English?

¿Hablas inglés?

AH-blahs een-GLEHS

I don't understand.

No entiendo.

no en-TYEN-doh

Can you help me?

¿Puede ayudarme?

PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR-meh

Where is…?

¿Dónde está…?

DOHN-deh ehs-TAH

How much does it cost?

¿Cuánto cuesta?

KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah

I would like…

Quisiera…

kee-SYEH-rah

The bill, please.

La cuenta, por favor.

lah CWEN-tah por fah-VOHR

A table for two, please.

Una mesa para dos, por favor.

OO-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah dos

To go (food).

Para llevar.

PAH-rah yeh-VAR

I’m lost.

Estoy perdido/a.

aes-TOY pehr-DEE-doh / dah

This is delicious.

¡Está delicioso!

es-TAH deh-lee-SYOH-soh

I would like more ham.

Quisiera más jamón.

kee-SYEH-rah mahs hah-MOHN

No, I have not had enough ham.

No, no he comido suficiente jamón.

noh, noh eh coh-MEE-doh soo-fee-SYEHN-teh hah-MOHN

Yes, a third order of ham is appropriate.

Sí, una tercera ración de jamón es totalmente apropiada.

see, OO-nah tehr-SEH-rah rah-SYOHN deh hah-MOHN es toh-tal-MEN-teh ah-proh-PYAH-dah

Not ready to attempt Spanish or Portuguese? No problem. A little tech can go a long way when you're abroad. We highly recommend downloading Google Translate before your trip — it’s incredibly handy for translating signs, menus, and even full conversations. You can use it offline if you download the language packs ahead of time, and the camera feature lets you point your phone at text and see instant translations (perfect for navigating menus or street signs). ChatGPT is also a great travel companion — whether you need help composing a polite message, understanding a quirky phrase, or figuring out how to ask for extra croquetas, it’s like having a multilingual friend in your pocket. Just make sure to download the application before you leave. Between a few practiced phrases and a little help from your digital sidekicks, you'll be navigating like a local in no time. Locals love it when you try and are very friendly— even if your accent leans more Texan or Chicagoan than Castilian.

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