100 Essential Spanish Phrases with Audio

The phrases you actually need for travel, restaurants, hotels, shopping and emergencies. Click any phrase to hear it spoken in Spanish.

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👋

Greetings

13 phrases

Hola

Hello

neutral

Buenos días

Good morning

formal

Buenas tardes

Good afternoon

formal

Buenas noches

Good evening / Good night

formal

¿Qué tal?

How are you? (casual)

casual

¿Cómo está usted?

How are you? (formal)

formal

Muy bien, gracias

Very well, thank you

neutral

Mucho gusto

Nice to meet you

formal

Me llamo...

My name is...

neutral

¿De dónde eres?

Where are you from?

casual

Hasta luego

See you later

neutral

Adiós

Goodbye

neutral

Nos vemos

See you around

casual
Tu vs. Usted

Use usted (formal you) with strangers, elders and in professional settings. Switch to tú only when invited. In Latin America usted is used more broadly than in Spain.

🍽️

Restaurant

13 phrases

Una mesa para dos, por favor

A table for two, please

formal

La carta, por favor

The menu, please

neutral

¿Qué me recomienda?

What do you recommend?

formal

Quiero pedir...

I would like to order...

neutral

Para mí, el pollo

For me, the chicken

neutral

Sin gluten, por favor

Gluten free, please

neutral

Soy vegetariano/a

I am vegetarian

neutral

Está muy rico

This is delicious

casual

Otra cerveza, por favor

Another beer, please

casual

La cuenta, por favor

The check, please

neutral

¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta?

Can I pay by card?

neutral

¿Propina incluida?

Is the tip included?

neutral

¿Dónde está el baño?

Where is the bathroom?

essential
Tipping

In Spain tipping is appreciated but not expected. Rounding up or leaving one to two euros is standard. In Mexico and Latin America, 10 to 15 percent is customary.

🏨

Hotel

12 phrases

Tengo una reserva

I have a reservation

formal

Una habitación doble, por favor

A double room, please

formal

¿A qué hora es el desayuno?

What time is breakfast?

neutral

¿Tiene wifi?

Do you have wifi?

neutral

¿Cuál es la contraseña?

What is the password?

neutral

Necesito toallas limpias

I need clean towels

neutral

El aire acondicionado no funciona

The AC is not working

neutral

¿Hay agua caliente?

Is there hot water?

neutral

¿Puede llamar un taxi?

Can you call a taxi?

formal

¿A qué hora es la salida?

What time is checkout?

neutral

¿Puedo dejar las maletas aquí?

Can I leave my bags here?

formal

Muchas gracias por todo

Thank you for everything

formal
Check-in

In Spain hotels typically allow check-in from 2 or 3 PM. Always confirm checkout time. The phrase a qué hora (at what time) is your best friend for scheduling.

🚕

Getting around

12 phrases

¿Dónde está la estación de metro?

Where is the metro station?

neutral

Un billete de ida, por favor

A one-way ticket, please

neutral

Un billete de ida y vuelta

A round-trip ticket

neutral

¿A qué hora sale el autobús?

What time does the bus leave?

neutral

¿Me puede llevar a...?

Can you take me to...?

formal

¿Cuánto cuesta hasta el centro?

How much to the center?

neutral

Pare aquí, por favor

Stop here, please

neutral

¿Está lejos?

Is it far?

neutral

¿Se puede ir andando?

Can you walk there?

neutral

Gire a la derecha

Turn right

neutral

Gire a la izquierda

Turn left

neutral

Siga recto

Go straight

neutral
Taxis

In Spain always use the meter (taxímetro). In Latin America agree on the price before getting in or use ride-hailing apps.

🛍️

Shopping

12 phrases

¿Cuánto cuesta esto?

How much is this?

neutral

Es muy caro

It is very expensive

neutral

¿Tiene algo más barato?

Do you have something cheaper?

neutral

¿Me lo puedo probar?

Can I try it on?

neutral

¿Tiene una talla más grande?

Do you have a bigger size?

neutral

Me lo llevo

I will take it

neutral

¿Acepta tarjeta de crédito?

Do you accept credit card?

neutral

¿Dónde hay un cajero automático?

Where is an ATM?

neutral

Necesito cambiar dinero

I need to change money

neutral

¿Tiene descuento?

Do you have a discount?

casual

Solo estoy mirando

I am just looking

neutral

¿A qué hora cierra?

What time do you close?

neutral
Bargaining

Bargaining is not common in Spanish stores. It is acceptable at flea markets (mercadillos) in Spain and more widely practiced in Latin American street markets.

🆘

Emergencies

13 phrases

¡Ayuda!

Help!

essential

Llame a una ambulancia

Call an ambulance

essential

Necesito un médico

I need a doctor

essential

Llame a la policía

Call the police

essential

Es una emergencia

It is an emergency

essential

Me duele aquí

It hurts here

neutral

Soy alérgico/a a...

I am allergic to...

essential

Tengo fiebre

I have a fever

neutral

¿Dónde está la farmacia?

Where is the pharmacy?

neutral

Necesito mis medicinas

I need my medicines

neutral

He perdido mi pasaporte

I lost my passport

neutral

Me han robado

I have been robbed

essential

¿Dónde está la embajada?

Where is the embassy?

neutral
Emergency numbers

In Spain and the EU the emergency number is 112. In Mexico dial 911. Keep your hotel address written in Spanish to show taxi drivers or police if needed.

🤝

Conversation

13 phrases

¿Habla inglés?

Do you speak English?

neutral

Hablo un poco de español

I speak a little Spanish

neutral

¿Puede repetir, por favor?

Can you repeat, please?

formal

Más despacio, por favor

Slower, please

neutral

¿Qué significa eso?

What does that mean?

neutral

Me encanta este lugar

I love this place

casual

¿Cuánto tiempo llevas aquí?

How long have you been here?

casual

Es mi primera vez en España

It is my first time in Spain

neutral

La comida está increíble

The food is amazing

casual

¿Puedo tomar una foto?

Can I take a photo?

neutral

¿Tienes Instagram?

Do you have Instagram?

casual

Ha sido un placer

It has been a pleasure

formal

Te deseo lo mejor

I wish you the best

formal
Physical greetings

In Spain people greet with two kisses on the cheek. In Latin America one kiss is standard in most countries, a handshake in business settings.

Polite words

12 phrases

Por favor

Please

essential

Gracias

Thank you

essential

Muchas gracias

Thank you very much

essential

De nada

You are welcome

neutral

Perdón

Excuse me / Sorry

neutral

Lo siento mucho

I am very sorry

formal

Con permiso

Excuse me (passing by)

formal

Disculpe

Excuse me (getting attention)

formal

No hay problema

No problem

casual

Está bien

It is fine / Okay

neutral

Buen provecho

Enjoy your meal

neutral

¡Salud!

Cheers! / Bless you!

casual
Magic words

Por favor and gracias are non-negotiable in Spanish culture. Buen provecho (enjoy your meal) is said to everyone when food arrives, even to strangers at nearby tables.

Quiz: Essential Spanish Phrases

1. What does '¿Cómo estás?' mean?

2. How do you say 'thank you'?

3. What does 'por favor' mean?

4. How do you say 'I don't understand'?

5. What does '¿Dónde está?' mean?

6. What does 'la cuenta' mean?

7. How do you say 'I need help'?

8. What does 'mucho gusto' mean?

9. How do you say 'goodbye'?

10. How do you say 'excuse me'?

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Why these 100 phrases

We selected phrases based on real situations travelers and professionals encounter most frequently. Every phrase was chosen for maximum practical value: hotels, restaurants, directions, emergencies and human connections across any Spanish-speaking country.

Each phrase has a play button triggering text-to-speech in your browser. Switch voices, adjust speed and hide English to test memory. All processing is local with no data sent to servers ensuring complete privacy.

Spanish pronunciation basics

Every vowel has one sound: A father, E bed, I machine, O go, U flute. The J is a strong H, double R a rolled trill, LL sounds like Y. Stress rules are consistent and predictable throughout the language.

Words ending in a vowel, N or S stress the second-to-last syllable. Others stress the last. Exceptions get accent marks. This makes Spanish one of the most phonetically transparent languages for English speakers.

Spain vs Latin America

These phrases work everywhere. Some vocabulary differs: ordenador/computadora, coche/carro, movil/celular. The biggest difference is vosotros (Spain only). Use usted with strangers everywhere for polite communication.

Regional differences are like British vs American English and never prevent communication. Pay attention to local usage of tu vs vos for casual address. Both are correct in their respective regions.

How to practice effectively

Listen three times before speaking. Use the speed slider for detailed listening then natural pace. The Hide English button activates recall which is far more effective than passive reading for long-term memorization.

Organize practice by category to build complete vocabulary sets for specific situations. Even 10 minutes daily produces noticeable results within a week of consistent practice.

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