Please, thank you, table manners, gift-giving. Cultural norms you should know.
| Situation | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Please | Por favor |
| Thank you / Thanks a lot | Gracias / Muchas gracias |
| You're welcome | De nada / No hay de qué |
| Excuse me (passing by) | Perdón / Con permiso |
| Excuse me (getting attention) | Disculpe (usted) / Perdona (tú) |
| I'm sorry | Lo siento |
| Bless you (after sneeze) | ¡Salud! / ¡Jesús! |
| Enjoy your meal | ¡Buen provecho! / ¡Que aproveche! |
Always greet when entering a shop/elevator/waiting room: ¡Buenos días! / ¡Buenas tardes!
Always say goodbye when leaving: ¡Hasta luego! / ¡Adiós!
Not greeting is considered very rude in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Entering a restaurant: ¡Buenas noches! (even if just ordering takeaway)
Hands on the table (not on your lap) — keeping hands under the table is considered suspicious.
Don't start eating until everyone is served or the host says ¡Buen provecho!
Break bread with hands, never cut it with a knife.
Tipping: Not mandatory in Spain (5-10%), expected in Mexico (10-15%).
Sobremesa: The tradition of lingering at the table after eating, chatting for hours. Don't rush!
Wine or chocolates are safe gifts when invited to someone's home.
Odd numbers of flowers (except 13) — even numbers are for funerals in some regions.
Open gifts when received (unlike some Asian cultures where you wait).
¡No tenías que molestarte! (You didn't have to bother! — polite response to a gift)
¡Qué detalle! (How thoughtful! — appreciating a gift)
Late arrivals are normal: 15-30 min late for social events is expected. Being on time can mean you arrive before the host is ready!
Lunch is the main meal (2-3 PM in Spain). Dinner is light and late (9-10 PM).
Siestas: Many businesses close 2-5 PM in smaller Spanish towns.
Don't split the bill precisely — one person usually pays or it's split equally, not per item.
1. Bless you (sneeze) = ¡_____!
2. Enjoy your meal! = ¡Buen _____!
3. Not greeting when entering is considered _____.
4. Hands during dinner should be _____.
5. Sobremesa means _____.
6. Being 15 min late to a social event is _____.
7. You didn't have to bother! = ¡No tenías que _____!
8. Dinner in Spain is typically at _____.
9. How thoughtful! = ¡Qué _____!
10. The main meal in Spain is _____.
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