Spanish for Travel

Common phrases and pronunciation for visitors to Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera.

1 Grammar 2 Pronunciation Guide 2.1 Vowels 2.2 Consonants 2.3 Diphthongs 2.4 Accents and stress 2.5 Pronunciation guide for the Mayan Riviera 3 Phrase list 3.1 Basics 3.2 Problems 3.3 Numbers 3.4 Time 3.4.1 Clock time 3.4.2 Writing Time 3.4.3 Duration 3.4.4 Days 3.4.5 Months 3.4.6 Writing Dates 3.5 Colors 3.6 Transportation 3.6.1 Bus and Train 3.6.2 Directions 3.6.3 Taxi 3.7 Lodging 3.8 Money 3.9 Eating 3.10 Shopping 3.11 Driving 3.12 Authority 4 Learning more

Spanish in Playa del Carmen Most locals who work in the shops and hotels in the tourist areas of Playa del Carmen speak fluent English. At several of the hotels I've stayed at the housekeeping staff did not speak English. If you dine or shop outside of the main tourist areas, you'll encounter many people working in those areas that don't speak English. You can study some of the more common phrases before you go to Playa del Carmen, and print this to take along with you. In Mexico, you should use Spanish to ask a local whether or not they speak English.

Grammar

Spanish nouns have genders. Most words applied to persons have natural gender: masculine like hombre ("male person - man") or feminine, like mujer ("female person - woman"). The gender of some animals, things, and some words applied to persons doesn't follow any rule: they have grammatical gender. Casa (house), rana (frog), and visita (visitor) are of the feminine gender. sapo (toad) and genio (genius) are of the masculine gender. Invitado, invitada (guest) and mono, mona (monkey) have natural gender. Fortunately, the gender of a noun is usually (but not always) indicated by the last letter of the word; -o indicate masculine nouns, and -a indicate feminine nouns.

Adjectives also have gender and number. Like nouns, -o usually indicates the masculine form of the adjective, and -a indicates the feminine form. Adding an -s at the end of an adjective or noun makes it plural. Adjectives need to match the noun they describe in both gender and number. For example, borracho "drunk", when modifying las mujeres ("the women"), makes las mujeres borrachas.

In this guide, where genders of nouns or adjectives comes up, we use the form "o/a" to differentiate. It should be clear from context when to use the feminine and when to use the masculine form.

Pronunciation Guide

Spanish spelling has the pleasant characteristic of being more or less phonetic. This means that if you know how to pronounce the letters of a word, it's relatively easy to sound out the word itself.

Besides having a very small number of vowel sounds and a high predictablity of exactly what sound is represented by each letter, Spanish has a very clear set of rules about where a stress normally falls, and exceptions are noted with an "acute accent mark" ("´") over the vowel of the stressed syllable. Normally, words that end in a vowel or in "n" or "s" have the stress on the next-to-last syllable; all other words without an explicit accent mark are stressed on the final syllable. There are no "secondary stresses" within words.

Vowels

a 

like 'a' in "art": casa.

e 

like the first component of the diphthong 'ay' in "day" (este). Since Spanish also has a diphthong 'ay', as in rey (see "ei" below) you may consider to pronounce Spanish 'e' like the 'e' in "get".

i 

like 'ee' in "see" or "deed".

o 

like the first component of the diphthong 'ow' in "low". The vowel in "caught" will be equally understood, unless you pronounce it like "cot". Anyway, the full diphthong "ow" does not occur in Spanish, so you don't have to worry about pronouncing clipped enough.

u 

like 'oo' in "hoop".

Consonants

b 

like 'b' in "bed": boca

c 

when followed by 'e' or 'i', like 'c' in "cell" (Latin America) or 'th' in "thin" (Spain): cine; otherwise like 'k' in "kid": calle, doctor

ch 

like 'ch' in "touch": muchacho

d 

like 'd' in "dog": dedo

f 

like 'f' in "fine": faro

g 

when followed by 'e' or 'i', like 'ch' in "loch" (general = heh-neh-RAHL), otherwise like "g" in "go" (gato). In the clusters "gue" and "gui", the "u" is silent (guitarra), unless it bears a diaeresis, as in "güe" and "güi" (pedigüeño).

gu, gü 

like 'Gu' in McGuire or 'w' in "wire" (agua, agüita)

h 

silent: hora= or-ah

j 

like 'h' in english: jamón

k 

like 'c' in "cat": kilo

l 

like 'l' in "love": lápiz

ll 

like 'y' in "you" or, occasionally (in some parts of Latin America), like an english "j": lluvia ("lluvia" could be both "you-vya" or "jew-vIA"

m 

like 'm' in "mother": mano

n 

like 'n' in "nice", and like 'n' in "anchor": noche, ancla

Ñ 

like 'ny' in "canyon": cañón, piñata

p 

like 'p' in "pig": perro

q 

like 'q' in "quiche" (always with a silent "u"): queso, pronounced KAY-so.

r, rr 

Spanish has two "r" sounds which are very different form their counterparts in most languages, and certainly very different from the English. As a result most English speakers lisp their r's when they come to Spanish. However, if you use your native pronunciation it's unlikely that people understand perro (dog) when you meant pero (but), and they may not understand you at all.

single flap r (ere)

Always written "r", this sound is created by putting the tip of the tongue up against where the front of the roof of the mouth meets the upper teeth, very similar to the action English speakers make to pronounce l or t. This is not widely taught but can be practiced by anyone. Particular care should be taken when r appears after a consonant, eg in the word otro (other). tr is a particular sound in English, which if you use in Spanish will be an incomprehensible lisp. One must separate the two sounds out, as in wha(t) (r) rubbish, clicking the r properly.

rolled r (erre) 

Written "r" at the beginning of the word, or after "l", "n", or "s" (ropa, enredo). Written "rr" between vowels (cerro). It's a multiply vibrating sound. Whereas all English can learn to tap out a single r it seems that many adult non-Spanish speakers simply do not have the ability to vibrate the tongue in the way needed to pronounce rr.

s 

like 'ss' in "hiss": sopa

t 

like 't' in "top": tapa

v 

like 'b' in "bed": vaca, pronounced BAH-kah. To distinguish v from b when spelling, one says v chica or b grande to know the difference.

w 

like 'w' in "weight" in English words, whisky (pronounced WEESS-kee). Like 'b' in "bed" in Germanic words.

x 

like 'x' in "sex" (sexo). Like 'ss' in "hiss" at beginning of a word (xilífono). Like 'ch' in "loch" in the words México, mexicano, Oaxaca, and oaxaqueño.

y 

like 'y' in "yes": payaso. Like 'y' in "boy": hoy.

z 

like 's' in "supper" (Latin America), like 'th' in "thin" (Spain): zorro. See c above.

Diphthongs

ai, ay 

like 'eye': baile

au 

like 'ow' in 'cow': causa

ei, ey 

like 'ay' in "say": reina, rey.

eu 

like "ooo" euro = "ooo-row"

ia 

like 'ya' in 'Kenya': piano

ie 

like 'ye' in "yes": pie = "pee-yeh"

io 

like 'yo': dio

iu 

like 'ew' in few: ciudad = "see-you-daad"

oi, oy 

like 'oy' in "boy": soy

ou 

like 'ou' in "though". Present only in foreign words: show

ua 

like 'wa' in "wallet": cuatro

ue 

like 'we' in "well": puedo

ui, uy 

like 'wi' in "winter": ruido

ui 

like 'ooy': cuido = "coo-wee-dough"

uo 

like "wa" in "water": averiguo

Accents and stress

Word stress can affect the meaning of the word and generally follows these rules:

• If a word is marked with an accent, then that syllable receives the stress.
  • Additionally, if the accent marks a dipthong a syllable break occurs between the two vowels of the dipthong.

• If a word is NOT marked with an accent, then

1. if the word ends in a consonant other than N or S, the stress occurs on the last syllable.
2. if the word ends in a vowel, N or S, the stress occurs on the next to last syllable.

Examples:

círculo (SEER-koo-loh) → circle

circulo (seer-KOO-loh) → I circulate

circuló (seer-koo-LOH) → (s)he/it circulated

estás (ehss-TAHSS) → you are

estas (EHSS-tahss) → these

origen (oh-REE-hehn) → origin

orígenes (oh-REE-hehn-ehss) → origins

ciudad (syew-DAHD) → city

ciudades (syew-DAH-dehss) → cities

An accent can also be used to differentiate between words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings:

si → if		tu → your		mi → my		el → the
sí → yes		tú → you		mí → me		él → he

Phrase list

Basics

Hello (informal). 

Hola. (OH-lah). For the formal equivalent of hola see good morning, good afternoon, good evening, below.

How are you? (informal) 

¿Cómo estás? (KOH-moh ehss-TAHSS?)

How are you (formal) 

¿Cómo está usted? (KOH-mo ehss-TAH oo-stehd?)

Fine, thank you. 

Muy bien, gracias. (mooey BYEHN, GRAH-syahss)

What is your name? 

¿Cómo te llamas? (KOH-moh tay YAH-mahss?) (informal); ¿Cómo se llama usted? (KOH-mo say YAH-mah ooss-TAID?) (formal)

My name is ______ . 

Me llamo ______ . (may YAH-moh _____ .)

Nice to meet you. 

Encantado/a. (EHN-kahn-TAH-doh)

Please. 

Por favor. (POHR fah-BOHR)

Thank you. 

Gracias. (GRAH-SYAHSS)

You're welcome. 

De nada. (day NAH-dah)

Yes. 

Sí. (SEE)

No. 

No. (NOH)

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Disculpe. (dees-KOOL-pay)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Perdón. (pair-DOHN)

I'm sorry. 

Lo siento. (loh SYEHN-toh)

Goodbye 

Adiós. (ah-DYOHSS)

Goodbye (informal) 

Hasta luego. (AH-stah LWAY-goh)

I can't speak Spanish [well]. 

No hablo español [bien]. (noh AH-blow EHS-pahn-YOL [BYEHN])

Do you speak English? 

¿Hablas inglés? (AH-blahss een-GLAYSS?) (informal); ¿Habla usted inglés? (AH-blah oos-TAID een-GLAYSS?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

¿Hay alguien que hable inglés? (eye ahl-GYEN kay AH-blay een-GLAYSS?)

Help! 

Ayuda! (ah-YOU-dah!); Socorro! (soh-COH-row!)

Good morning. 

Buenos días. (BWAY-nohss DEE-ahss)

Good afternoon. 

Buenas tardes. (BWAY-nahss TAR-dayss)

Good evening (when it's dark) 

Buenas noches. (BWAY-nahss NOH-chayss)

Good night. 

Buenas noches. (BWAY-nas NOH-chayss)

I don't understand. 

No entiendo. (noh ehn-TYEHN-doh)

Where is the toilet? 

¿Dónde está el baño? (DOHN-day ehss-TAH ehl BAHN-yoh?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

Déjame en paz. (DAY-hah-may en PASS)

Don't touch me! 

No me toques! (noh may TOH-kayss!)

I'll call the police. 

Llamaré a la policía. (yah-mah-RAY ah lah po-lee-SEE-ah)

Police! 

Policía! (poh-lee-SEE-ah!)

Stop! Thief! 

¡Alto, al ladrón! (AHL-toh ahl lah-DROAN!)

I need help. 

Necesito ayuda. (ne-say-SEE-toh ah-YOU-dah)

It's an emergency. 

Es una emergencia. (ayss oo-nah AY-mayr-HEN-syah)

I'm lost. 

Estoy perdido/a (ay-STOY payr-DEE-doh/dah)

I lost my purse/handbag. 

Perdí mi bolsa/bolso/cartera. (payr-DEE mee BOHL-sa / BOHL-so / cahr-TAY-rah)

I lost my wallet. 

Perdí mi cartera/billetera. (payr-DEE mee BOHLcahr-TAY-rah / bee-yay-TAY-rah; the last may also be said as beel-yay-TAY-rah)

I'm sick. 

Estoy enfermo/a. (ay-STOY ayn-FAYR-moh/mah)

I've been injured. 

Estoy herido/a. (ay-STOY ay-REE-doh/dah)

I need a doctor. 

Necesito un doctor. (nay-say-SEE-toh OON dohk-TOHR)

Can I use your phone? 

¿Puedo usar su teléfono? (PWAY-doh oo-SAHR soo tay-LAY-foh-noh?)

Numbers

1 

uno/a (OO-noh)

2 

dos (doss)

3 

tres (tress)

4 

cuatro (KWA-tro)

5 

cinco (SEEN-ko)

6 

seis (SAISS)

7 

siete (SYE-te)

8 

ocho (O-cho)

9 

nueve (NWAI-be)

10 

diez (DYESS)

11 

once (OHN-say)

12 

doce (DOH-say)

13 

trece (TRAY-say)

14 

catorce (kah-TOHR-say)

15 

quince (KEEN-say)

16 

dieciseis (DYEESS-ee-SAYSS)

17 

diecisiete (DYEESS-ee-SYAY-tay)

18 

dieciocho (DYEESS-ee-OH-choh)

19 

diecinueve (DYEESS-ee-NWAY-bay)

20 

veinte (BAYN-tay)

21 

veintiuno (BAYN-TYOO-noh)

22 

veintidos (BAYN-tee-DOHSS)

23 

veintitres (BAYN-tee-TRAYSS)

30 

treinta (TRAYN-tah)

40 

cuarenta (kwah-RAYN-tah)

50 

cincuenta (seen-KWAYN-tah)

60 

sesenta (say-SAYN-tah)

70 

setenta (say-TAYN-tah)

80 

ochenta (oh-CHAYN-tah)

90 

noventa (noh-BAYN-tah)

100 

cien (syehn)

200 

doscientos (dos-SYEHN-tos)

300 

trescientos (tres-SYEHN-tos)

500 

quinientos (kee-NYEHN-tos)

1000 

mil (MEEL)

2000 

dos mil (dohss MEEL)

1,000,000 

un millón (oon mee-YOHN)

half 

medio (MAY-dyoh)

less 

menos (MAY-nohss)

more 

más (MAHSS)

Time

now 

ahora (ah-OH-rah)

later 

después (day-SPWAYSS)

before 

antes (ahn-TAYSS)

morning 

mañana (mah-NYAH-nah)

afternoon 

tarde (TAHR-day)

night 

noche (NOH-chay)

Clock time

one o'clock AM 

la una de la madrugada; la una de la mañana (lah OOH-nah day lah mah-drooh-GAH dah; lah OOH-nah day lah mahn-YAH-nah)

two o'clock AM 

las dos de la madrugada; las dos de la mañana (lahss DOHSS day lah mah-drooh-GAH dah; lahss DOHSS day lah mahn-YAH-nah)

ten o'clock AM 

las diez de la mañana (lahss dee-AYSS day lah mahn-YAH-nah)

noon 

mediodía; las doce de la mañana (lahss DOH-say day lah mahn-YAH-nah)

one o'clock PM 

la una de la tarde (lah OOH-nah day lah TAHR-day)

two o'clock PM 

las dos de la tarde (lahss DOHSS day lah TAHR-day)

ten o'clock PM 

las diez de la noche (lahss dee-AYSS day lah NOH-chay)

midnight 

medianoche; las doce de la noche (may-dee-yah-NOH-chay; lahss DOH-say day lah NOH-chay)

Writing Time

When speaking, times are given in AM/PM form (but saying de la mañana (morning), de la tarde (afternoon), de la noche (evening/night) or de la madrugada (late night) to distinguish between AM and PM. On the other hand, in most countries times are rendered in 24-hour format, with a colon separating hours and minutes:

9 o'clock AM 

nueve de la mañana (spoken: noo-WEH-vay day la mahn-YAH-nah), 9:00 (written)

12:30 PM 

doce y media de la mañana (spoken: DOH-say ee MAY-dee-yah day la mahn-YAH-nah), 12:30 (written)

1 o'clock PM 

una de la tarde (spoken: OOH-nah day lah TAHR-day), 13:00 (written)

10 o'clock PM 

diez de la noche (spoken: dee-AYSS day la NOH-chay), 22:00 (written)

2 o'clock AM 

dos de la madrugada or dos de la mañana (spoken: DOHSS day la mah-drooh-GAH-dah or DOHSS day la mahn-YAH-nah), 2:00 (written)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ minuto(s) (mee-NOOH-toh(ss))

_____ hour(s) 

_____ hora(s) (OHR-ah(ss))

_____ day(s) 

_____ día(s) (DEE-aah(ss))

_____ week(s) 

_____ semana(s) (say-MAH-nah(ss))

_____ month(s) 

_____ mes(es) (MAYSS-(ayss))

_____ year(s) 

_____ año(s) (AH-nyoh(ss))

Days

today 

hoy (OY)

yesterday 

ayer(I-air)

tomorrow 

mañana (surely you know how to pronounce this word: mahn-YAH-nah)

this week 

esta semana (EHS-tah say-MAH-nah)

last week 

la semana pasada (lah say-MAH-nah pah-SAH-dah)

next week 

la semana que viene (lah say-MAH-nah kay vee-AYN-ay)

Monday 

lunes (LOOH-nayss)

Tuesday 

martes (MAHR-tayss)

Wednesday 

miércoles (mee-AIR-coh-layss)

Thursday 

jueves (WHAY-vayss)

Friday 

viernes (vee-AIR-nayss)

Saturday 

sábado (SAH-bah-doh)

Sunday 

domingo (doh-MEEN-goh)

The week begins on Mondays.

Months

January 

enero (eh-NEH-ro)

February 

febrero (feh-BREH-ro)

March 

marzo (MAR-zo)

April 

abril (ah-BRIL)

May 

mayo (MAY-o)

June 

junio (HOO-nio)

July 

julio (HOO-lio)

August 

agosto (ah-GO-sto)

September 

septiembre/setiembre (se-TEE-YEM-bray)

October 

octubre (ok-TOO-brey)

November 

noviembre (no-VEE-YEM-bray)

December 

diciembre (dee-CEE-YEM-bray)

Writing Dates

Dates are given in day-month-year form. All spoken and written, long and short forms follow this pattern:

October 3rd, 2003 

3 de octubre de 2003

May 21st, 1997 

21 de mayo de 1997

Day-month constructions (4 de julio, for example) are not usually abbreviated. In the rare cases than an abbreviation is used, the number of the month is not used, but its initial letter is. Usual examples are:

23-F 

23 de febrero, date of a failed coup d'êtat in Spain (1981)

11-S 

11 de septiembre, date of the attack to the Twin Towers (2001) (and of the Chilean coup in 1973).

Colors

black 

negro (NAY-groh)

white 

blanco (BLAHN-koh)

gray 

gris (GREESS)

red 

rojo (ROH-hoh)

blue 

azul (ah-SOOL)

yellow 

amarillo (AH-mah-REE-yoh)

green 

verde (BAYR-day)

orange 

naranja (nar-AHN-hah), anaranjado (ah--nah-ran-HA-do)

purple 

púrpura (POOR-poor-ah) , morado (moor-AH-do), violeta (vee-oh-LEH-tah)

brown 

marrón (mah-RON) , café (kah-FAY), castaño (kah-STAN-yo)

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to _____? 

¿Cuánto cuesta un billete/pasaje a _____? (KwAHno kwEHSta oon beYEHta a ___)

One ticket to _____, please. 

Un billete/pasaje a _____, por favor. (Oon beYEHta a _______, pour FAHvor.)

Where does this bus go? 

¿A donde va este bus?

Where is the bus to _____? 

¿Donde está el autobús hacia _____?

Does this bus stop in _____? 

¿Para este autobús en _____?

When does the bus for _____ leave? 

¿Cuando marcha/parte/sale el autobús hacia _____ ?

When will this bus arrive in _____? 

¿Cuando llegará este autobús a _____?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

¿Cómo puedo llegar a _____ ?

...the train station? 

...la estación de tren?

...the bus station? 

...la estación de autobuses?

...the airport? 

...al aeropuerto?

...downtown? 

...al centro?

...the youth hostel? 

...al albergue juvenil?

...the _____ hotel? 

...el hotel _____ ?

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

...el consulado de Estados Unidos/ Canadiense/Australiano/Británico/?

Where are there a lot of... 

¿Dónde hay muchos...

...hotels? 

...hoteles?

...restaurants? 

...restaurantes?

...bars? 

...bares?

...sites to see? 

...sitios para visitar?

Can you show me on the map? 

¿Puede enseñarme/mostrarme en el plano?

street 

calle (CAH Yeh)

Turn left. 

Gire/doble/da vuelta a la izquierda.

Turn right. 

Gire/doble/da vuelta a la derecha.

left 

izquierda

right 

derecha

straight ahead 

recto adelante , sigue derecho

towards the _____ 

hacia el/la_____

past the _____ 

pasado el/la _____

before the _____ 

antes de _____

Watch for the _____. 

busque el/la _____.

intersection 

intersección , cruce

north 

norte

south 

sur

east 

este

west 

oeste

uphill 

hacia arriba

downhill 

hacia abajo

Taxi

Taxi! 

¡Taxi!

Take me to _____, please. 

Lléveme a _____, por favor.

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

¿Cuánto cuesta ir hasta/a _____?

Take me there, please. 

Déjeme ahí, por favor.

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

¿Hay habitaciones libres?

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

¿Cuánto cuesta una habitación para una persona/para dos personas?

Does the room come with... 

¿Tiene la habitación...

...bedsheets? 

...sábanas?

...a bathroom? 

...baño?

...a telephone? 

...teléfono?

...a TV? 

...televisión?

...air conditioner? 

...aire?

...fan? 

...ventilador?

...pool? 

...alberca?

...kitchenette? 

...cocineta?

May I see the room first? 

¿Puedo ver la habitación primero?

Do you have anything quieter? 

¿Tiene algo un poco más tranquilo?

...bigger? 

...más grande?

...cleaner? 

...más limpio?

...cheaper? 

...más barato?

OK, I'll take it. 

Muy bien, la tomaré.

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

Me quedaré ______ noches(s).

Can you suggest other hotels? 

¿Puede proponerme otros hoteles?

Do you have a safe? 

¿Hay caja fuerte?

...lockers? 

...taquillas? ; casilleros

Is breakfast/supper included? 

¿El desayuno/la cena va incluido/a?

What time is breakfast/supper? 

¿A qué hora es el desayuno/la cena?

Please clean my room. 

Por favor, limpie mi habitación.

I'd like more towels, please. 

Mas toallas, por favor.

I'd like more soap, please. 

Mas jabón, por favor.

Can you wake me at _____? 

¿Puede despertarme a las _____?

I want to check out. 

Quiero dejar el hotel.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

¿Aceptan dólares estadounidenses/australianos/candienses?

Do you accept British pounds? 

¿Aceptan libras britónicas?

Do you accept euros? 

¿Aceptan euros?

Do you accept credit cards? 

¿Aceptan tarjeta de crédito?

Can you change money for me? 

¿Me puede cambiar dinero?

Where can I get money changed? 

¿Dónde puedo cambiar dinero?

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

¿Me puede cambiar cheques de viaje?

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

¿Dónde me pueden cambiar cheques de viaje?

What is the exchange rate? 

¿A cuánto está el cambio?

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

¿Dónde hay un cajero automático?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

Una mesa para una persona/dos personas, por favor. (OO-nah MAY-sah pah-rah OO-nah pehr-SOH-nah / dohss pehr-SOH-nahs pohr fah- BOHR)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

¿Puedo ver el menú, por favor? (PWAY-doh behr ehl meh-NOO pohr fah-BOHR?)

Can I look in the kitchen? 

¿Puedo entrar a la cocina?

Is there a house specialty? 

¿Hay alguna especialidad de la casa?

Is there a local specialty? 

¿Hay alguna especialidad regional/de la zona?

I'm a vegetarian. 

Soy vegetariano/a.

I don't eat pork. 

No como cerdo.

I only eat kosher food. 

Sólo como comida kosher. (In a restaurant they will stare at you, since "kosher" is as Spanish as "empanada" is English.)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

¿Puede poner poca aceite/poca mantequilla/poca grasa?

fixed-price meal 

menú del día

a la carte 

a la carta

breakfast 

desayuno

lunch 

comida

supper 

cena (everywhere), comida (South America)

knife 

cuchillo

fork 

tenedor

spoon 

cuchara

glass 

vasa

napkin 

servilleta

I want _____. 

Quiero _____.

I want a dish containing _____. 

Quisiera un plato que lleve _____.

chicken 

pollo. (POH-yoh)

beef 

ternera (tehr-NEH-rah), vacuno (bah-KOO-noh), res (rehss)

fish 

pescado (pehs-KAH-doh)

ham 

jamón (hah-MOHN)

sausage 

salchicha (sahl-CHEE-chah), vienesa (byeh-NAY-sah)

cheese 

queso

eggs 

huevos

salad 

ensalada

(fresh) vegetables 

verdura (fresca)

(fresh) fruit 

fruta (fresca)

noodles 

fideos

rice 

arroz

beans 

alubias , porotos, frijoles, judías, habichuelas

May I have a glass of _____? 

¿Me puede poner/traer un vaso de _____?

May I have a cup of _____? 

¿Me puede poner/traer una taza de _____?

May I have a bottle of _____? 

¿Me puede poner/traer una botella de _____?

coffee 

café

tea (drink) 

té

juice 

zumo , jugo

water 

agua

(bubbly) water 

agua con gas (if you say agua, is without gas); Agua mineral is bottled water with gas, unless you ask for agua mineral sin gas.

beer 

cerveza

red/white wine 

vino tinto/blanco

May I have some _____? 

¿Me puede dar un poco de _____?

salt 

sal

black pepper 

pimienta

butter 

mantequilla

bread 

pan

toast 

tostada

mustard 

mostaza

vinegar 

vinagre

oil 

aceite

ice 

hielo

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server')

¡camarero!, ¡mesero! (preferred)

I'd like a little more 

Quiero un poquito más.

I'd like the same, again. 

Quiero lo mismo, otra vez.

I'm finished. 

He acabado, terminé (The first phrase can refer to the finishing of a completely unrelated physiological activity)

It was delicious. 

Estaba delicioso.

Please clear the plates. 

Puede llevarse los platos.

The check, please. 

La cuenta, por favor.

===Bars===

Do you serve alcohol? 

¿Hay alcohol?

Is there table service? 

¿Hay servicio a la mesa?

A beer/two beers, please. 

Una cerveza/dos cervezas, por favor.

A glass of red/white wine. 

Un vaso de vino tinto/blanco.

A pint (of beer) 

Una jarra de cerveza (normally it will be half a liter, not really a pint, but the size is similar)

A glass of draft beer 

Un schop (oon SHOHP) (Only in Chile)

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer). 

_____ con _____.

A bottle. 

Una botella.

whiskey 

whisky (WEESS-key)

vodka 

vodka

rum 

ron

water 

agua

tonic water 

(agua) tónica

orange juice 

zumo/jugo de naranja

Coke (soda) 

Coca-Cola

Do you have any bar snacks? 

¿Tiene algo para picar?

One more, please. 

Otro/a ______, por favor.

Another round, please. 

Otra ronda, por favor.

Cheers! 

Salud!

When is closing time? 

¿Cuándo cierran?

Open 

Abierto

Closed 

Cerrado

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

¿Tiene esto de mi talla?

How much is this? 

¿Cuánto cuesta?

That's too expensive. 

Es demasiado caro.

Would you take Visa/American dollars? 

¿Aceptan Visa/dólares?

expensive 

caro

cheap 

barato

I can't afford it. 

Es muy caro para mí.

I don't want it. 

No lo quiero.

I don't like it. 

No me gusta.

You're cheating me. 

Me está engañando.

I'm not interested. 

No me interesa.

OK, I'll take it. 

De acuerdo, me lo llevaré.

Can I have a bag? 

¿Tiene una bolsa?

Can you ship it to my country? 

¿Puede enviarlo a mi país?

I need... 

Necesito...

...batteries. 

...pilas.

...cold medicine. 

...medicamento para el resfriado.

...condoms.

...preservativos/condones.

...English-language books. 

...libros en inglés.

...English-language magazines. 

...revistas en inglés.

...an English-language newspaper. 

...un periódico/diario en inglés.

...an English-Spanish dictionary. 

...un diccionario inglés-español.

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

...medicamento para el dolor (Aspirina, Ibuprofeno).

...a pen. 

...un bolígrafo.

...postage stamps. 

...sellos/estampillas.

...a postcard. 

...una postal.

...a razor. 

...una hoja de afeitar.

...shampoo. 

...champú.

...stomach medicine. 

.... medicamento para el dolor de estómago

...soap. 

...jabón.

...sunblock lotion. 

...crema solar.

...tampons. 

...tampones.

...a toothbrush. 

... un cepillo de dientes.

...toothpaste. 

...pasta de dientes.

...an umbrella. 

...un paraguas.

...writing paper. 

...papel para escribir.

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

Quiero alquilar un coche.

Can I get insurance? 

¿Puedo contratar un seguro?

STOP (on a street sign) 

ALTO

one way 

dirección única

no parking 

no aparcar , no estacionar

speed limit 

límite de velocidad , velocidad máxima

gas/petrol station 

gasolinera , estación de bencina (Chile)

gas/petrol 

gasolina

diesel 

gasóleo , diesel DEE-sel

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

No he hecho nada malo. (NOH ay AY-choh NAH-dah MAH-loh)

It was a misunderstanding. 

Es un malentendido. (AYSS oon MAHL-ayn-tayn-DEE-doh)

Where are you taking me? 

¿Dónde me lleva? (DOHN-day may YAY-bah?)

Am I under arrest? 

¿Estoy arrestado/a? (ay-STOY AHRR-ay-STAH-doh/dah?)

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

Soy ciudadano estadounidense/australiano/inglés/canadiense.

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

Quiero hablar con la embajada/el consulado estadounidense / australiano / inglés / canadiense.

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

Quiero hablar con un abogado. (KYAY-roh ah-BLAHR cohn oon AH-boh-GAH-doh)

Can I just pay a fine now? 

¿Puedo pagar la multa ahora? (PWAY-doh pah-GAR lah MOOL-tah ah-OH-rah?)

Learning more

Pronunciation guide for local sites and tourist areas in Playa del Carmen and the Mayan Riviera.

The Wikibooks Spanish textbook

Credits

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Spanish_phrasebook"

Based on work by Colin Jensen, Evan Prodromou and Yann Forget and Wikitravel user(s) PierreAbbat, Jpatokal, Squeakfox, Nickpest, Chris j wood, Chipuni, Jmabel, Pablo.cl, Sjc196, Guaka, Pstng and Shaktale.

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0.

Edited by Iloveplaya.com