Spanish is spoken by more than 500 million people as a native language, making it one of the most practical languages to learn for travel, business, and personal enrichment. A compact set of 100 high-frequency phrases will carry a learner through most everyday encounters: greetings, ordering food, asking for directions, handling emergencies, and small talk with neighbors or coworkers. This reference gathers those phrases, arranged by function, with literal word breakdowns and usage notes so that each expression is actually understood rather than merely memorized.
Spanish has two major register distinctions that every phrase must respect. The first is the formal-informal split between usted and tu for "you," which forces verbs into different conjugations. The second is the regional divide between Peninsular Spanish (Spain) and the many varieties of Latin American Spanish, which differ in vocabulary (coche vs carro), pronoun use (vosotros is absent from Latin America), and certain idioms. The phrases below mark these differences explicitly where they matter. For the verb forms behind the phrases, see the Spanish verb conjugation guide for present tense. For the pronunciation of every phrase, see the Spanish alphabet and pronunciation guide.
Greetings and First Contact
Table 1. Core greetings by time of day.
| Spanish | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello / Hi | Universal, any time, any register |
| Buenos dias | Good morning | Until noon |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon | Noon to around sunset |
| Buenas noches | Good evening / Good night | After sunset, also used as farewell |
| ¿Que tal? | How's it going? | Informal |
| ¿Como estas? | How are you? | Informal (tu) |
| ¿Como esta? | How are you? | Formal (usted) |
| ¿Como estan? | How are you all? | Plural |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you | After introductions |
| Encantado / Encantada | Delighted | Gendered: male / female speaker |
The response to ¿Como estas? is usually "Bien, gracias, ¿y tu?" (Well, thanks, and you?) or more casually "Todo bien" (all good). Spanish speakers generally do not launch into detail about their health or mood the way English speakers sometimes do; a short positive answer is expected.
The question ¿Que tal? is genuinely casual and the expected reply is just "Bien" or "Todo bien." Treating it like a formal "How are you today?" produces an awkwardly long answer in Spanish.
Introductions and Personal Information
Table 2. Phrases for introducing yourself.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me llamo Ana | My name is Ana |
| Soy Carlos | I'm Carlos |
| ¿Como te llamas? | What is your name? (informal) |
| ¿Como se llama? | What is your name? (formal) |
| Soy de Mexico | I'm from Mexico |
| ¿De donde eres? | Where are you from? (informal) |
| ¿De donde es usted? | Where are you from? (formal) |
| Tengo treinta anos | I'm thirty years old |
| ¿Cuantos anos tienes? | How old are you? (informal) |
| Hablo ingles y un poco de espanol | I speak English and a little Spanish |
| No hablo espanol muy bien | I don't speak Spanish very well |
| ¿Hablas ingles? | Do you speak English? |
Note that Spanish expresses age with tener ("to have"): literally, "I have thirty years." The same verb expresses hunger, thirst, cold, heat, and fear. This is explained in the ser vs estar guide and the grammar reference.
Courtesy and Social Lubricants
Table 3. Please, thank you, and related formulas.
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Por favor | Please | Request softener |
| Gracias | Thank you | Standard |
| Muchas gracias | Thank you very much | Warmer |
| De nada | You're welcome | Response to gracias |
| No hay de que | Don't mention it | More emphatic |
| Con mucho gusto | With pleasure | Warm version |
| Disculpe | Excuse me | Formal, also "pardon?" |
| Perdon | Sorry / excuse me | General apology |
| Lo siento | I'm sorry | Deeper regret |
| Lo siento mucho | I'm very sorry | Condolences |
| Permiso | May I pass? | Getting past someone |
| Adelante | Go ahead | Response to permiso |
| Salud | Bless you / Cheers | After sneeze, toasts |
Lo siento is the right phrase for condolences and for genuine regret ("Lo siento por tu perdida" - "I'm sorry for your loss"). Perdon or Disculpe is better for bumping into someone on the street; do not overuse Lo siento for minor matters.
Yes, No, and Hedges
Table 4. Affirmations, denials, and qualifiers.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Si | Yes |
| No | No |
| Claro | Of course |
| Claro que si | Of course yes |
| Claro que no | Of course not |
| Por supuesto | Certainly |
| Tal vez / Quizas | Maybe |
| Creo que si | I think so |
| Creo que no | I don't think so |
| No se | I don't know |
| No estoy seguro / segura | I'm not sure |
| Mas o menos | More or less / so-so |
Mas o menos is one of the most useful phrases in Spanish. It works as both a reply to "how are you?" ("so-so") and a quantifier ("more or less ten people came").
Asking for Things in Shops and Cafes
Table 5. Shopping and service phrases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cuanto cuesta? | How much does it cost? |
| ¿Cuanto es? | How much is it (total)? |
| ¿Cuanto vale? | What's it worth? |
| Es muy caro | It's very expensive |
| Es barato | It's cheap |
| ¿Tiene descuento? | Is there a discount? |
| ¿Puedo probarmelo? | Can I try it on? |
| ¿Aceptan tarjeta? | Do you take cards? |
| Solo efectivo | Cash only |
| La cuenta, por favor | The check, please |
| Quiero un cafe | I want a coffee |
| Quisiera un cafe | I would like a coffee (more polite) |
| Me gustaria | I would like |
| Para llevar | To go / takeaway |
| Para aqui | To stay / for here |
Quisiera (imperfect subjunctive of querer) is softer and more polite than Quiero and is the standard form for polite orders in a cafe or restaurant. For the forms behind this, see the Spanish subjunctive mood reference.
In Spain, entering a shop or cafe without saying Hola or Buenos dias is considered rude. The greeting is a social obligation, not an optional pleasantry; only after it can transactional language begin.
Directions and Getting Around
Table 6. Directional phrases and verbs.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Donde esta el bano? | Where is the bathroom? |
| ¿Donde esta la estacion? | Where is the station? |
| ¿Como llego a...? | How do I get to...? |
| ¿Esta cerca? | Is it near? |
| ¿Esta lejos? | Is it far? |
| A la derecha | To the right |
| A la izquierda | To the left |
| Todo recto / Derecho | Straight ahead |
| En la esquina | On the corner |
| Al lado de | Next to |
| Enfrente de | Across from |
| Cerca de | Near |
| Lejos de | Far from |
| ¿Me puede ayudar? | Can you help me? |
| Estoy perdido / perdida | I'm lost |
The choice between esta and es (estar vs ser) is decisive for location: physical location is always estar, as in ¿Donde esta la estacion?, never ¿Donde es la estacion? For the rule, see the ser vs estar complete guide.
Food and Restaurant Phrases
Table 7. Ordering and dining basics.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Una mesa para dos | A table for two |
| ¿Tiene menu en ingles? | Do you have an English menu? |
| ¿Que recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| Soy vegetariano / vegetariana | I'm vegetarian |
| Soy alergico / alergica a... | I'm allergic to... |
| Sin sal | Without salt |
| Sin azucar | Without sugar |
| Bien cocido | Well done |
| Poco hecho | Rare |
| Termino medio | Medium |
| Esta delicioso | It's delicious |
| Esta muy rico | It's very tasty |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| ¿Incluye la propina? | Is the tip included? |
For a comprehensive food vocabulary, see the Spanish food and restaurant reference.
Time and Scheduling
Table 8. Time phrases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Que hora es? | What time is it? |
| Son las tres | It is three o'clock |
| Es la una | It is one o'clock |
| Son las tres y media | Three thirty |
| Son las tres y cuarto | Quarter past three |
| ¿A que hora? | At what time? |
| A las ocho | At eight |
| Hoy | Today |
| Manana | Tomorrow |
| Ayer | Yesterday |
| Ahora | Now |
| Mas tarde | Later |
| Temprano | Early |
| Pronto | Soon |
Notice that it is Es la una (singular, because una is one) but Son las dos / las tres and so on (plural, because the hours are plural). Never say Es las dos.
Weather and Small Talk
Table 9. Small-talk phrases about weather and everyday life.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Hace calor | It's hot |
| Hace frio | It's cold |
| Hace sol | It's sunny |
| Hace viento | It's windy |
| Llueve | It's raining |
| Nieva | It's snowing |
| Esta nublado | It's cloudy |
| Que bonito dia | What a nice day |
| Estoy cansado / cansada | I'm tired |
| Tengo hambre | I'm hungry |
| Tengo sed | I'm thirsty |
| Tengo sueno | I'm sleepy |
| Tengo frio | I'm cold |
| Tengo calor | I'm hot |
Note the split: the weather uses hacer ("Hace calor" = it makes heat), while a personal sensation uses tener ("Tengo calor" = I have heat). Never say Soy calor or Estoy caliente to mean "I'm hot" temperature-wise - the latter has a sexual meaning in most regions.
Beginners commonly say "Estoy caliente" to mean "I'm warm" and are met with raised eyebrows. The correct phrase is always "Tengo calor." For the temperature of the air, use "Hace calor."
Emergencies and Essential Help
Table 10. Emergency phrases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Ayuda | Help |
| Socorro | Help! (emergency) |
| Llame a la policia | Call the police |
| Llame a una ambulancia | Call an ambulance |
| Necesito un doctor | I need a doctor |
| Es una emergencia | It's an emergency |
| Me robaron | I was robbed |
| Perdi mi pasaporte | I lost my passport |
| No me siento bien | I don't feel well |
| Me duele la cabeza | My head hurts |
| ¿Donde esta el hospital? | Where is the hospital? |
| Cuidado | Careful / watch out |
| ¡Fuego! | Fire! |
| ¿Habla ingles? | Do you speak English? |
Socorro is the scream of genuine emergency; Ayuda is the word for needing help with the groceries. Memorize both and know which to use.
Goodbyes and Closings
Table 11. Farewell phrases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Adios | Goodbye |
| Hasta luego | See you later |
| Hasta manana | See you tomorrow |
| Hasta pronto | See you soon |
| Nos vemos | See you |
| Chao | Bye (informal, borrowed from Italian) |
| Cuidate | Take care |
| Que tengas un buen dia | Have a good day |
| Que te vaya bien | May it go well for you |
| Saludos a tu familia | Greetings to your family |
In Spain, hasta luego is more common than adios in casual contexts; adios can feel slightly heavier, used for longer separations. In Latin America, chao is common everywhere.
Common Mistakes
- Using Estoy instead of Tengo for states. Do not say Estoy hambre; say Tengo hambre.
- Confusing Estoy caliente with Tengo calor. The first has a sexual connotation.
- Saying Soy bien in answer to ¿Como estas? The correct answer is Estoy bien.
- Using tu with elders or strangers in Spain. Default to usted unless invited to tutear.
- Skipping the greeting in shops. Always say Hola or Buenos dias before ordering.
- Translating "I'm excited" as Estoy excitado. That word means aroused; use Estoy emocionado.
- Forgetting the inverted question and exclamation marks ¿ and ¡ in writing.
- Using Por favor at the beginning of every request like English "please." Spanish often puts por favor at the end.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
Top 25 phrases to master first.
- Hola - Hello
- Adios - Goodbye
- Por favor - Please
- Gracias - Thank you
- De nada - You're welcome
- Si / No - Yes / No
- Perdon - Excuse me / sorry
- Lo siento - I'm sorry
- No entiendo - I don't understand
- ¿Habla ingles? - Do you speak English?
- ¿Como estas? - How are you?
- Bien, gracias - Well, thanks
- Me llamo... - My name is...
- Soy de... - I'm from...
- ¿Cuanto cuesta? - How much?
- La cuenta, por favor - The bill, please
- ¿Donde esta el bano? - Where is the bathroom?
- Ayuda - Help
- Estoy perdido - I'm lost
- Tengo hambre - I'm hungry
- Tengo sed - I'm thirsty
- Me duele - It hurts me
- Hasta luego - See you later
- Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you
- Salud - Cheers / bless you
FAQ
What are the most important Spanish phrases for beginners?
Start with greetings (Hola, Buenos dias), courtesies (Por favor, Gracias, Lo siento), the survival phrase No entiendo, and the key questions ¿Cuanto cuesta?, ¿Donde esta...?, and ¿Habla ingles? These 10 expressions cover roughly eighty percent of tourist interactions.
How do I ask someone how they are in Spanish?
Informal (to friends, peers, children): ¿Como estas? or ¿Que tal? Formal (to strangers, elders, professionals): ¿Como esta? Plural: ¿Como estan? The standard reply is Bien, gracias, ¿y tu? (or y usted for formal).
What's the difference between Perdon and Lo siento?
Perdon or Disculpe is for excusing yourself (bumping into someone, asking a question, passing through a crowd). Lo siento expresses genuine regret or condolence. Using Lo siento for small things sounds heavier than intended.
How do I say "please" and "thank you"?
Por favor is "please," and it commonly appears at the end of a request (Una mesa para dos, por favor) rather than at the start. Gracias is "thank you"; Muchas gracias is the warmer version. The reply is De nada or No hay de que.
What does Que tal mean?
Literally "what such," used as "how's it going?" It is informal and the expected answer is short: Bien, Todo bien, or Mas o menos. It is not used in formal settings.
How do I ask where the bathroom is?
¿Donde esta el bano? is universal. In Spain, el servicio or el aseo is also common. In restaurants, ask for los aseos or los sanitarios.
What do I say in an emergency?
Socorro for immediate danger; Ayuda for general help. Llame a la policia / a una ambulancia for calling authorities. Es una emergencia establishes urgency. Always carry the local emergency number: 112 in Spain, 911 in most of Latin America.
See Also
- Spanish alphabet pronunciation guide
- Spanish grammar rules complete beginners guide
- Spanish verb conjugation guide present tense
- Ser vs estar complete guide with examples
- Spanish subjunctive mood reference
- Spanish pronouns direct indirect object reflexive
- Spanish gender of nouns rules and exceptions
- Language difficulty for English speakers
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important Spanish phrases for beginners?
Start with Hola, Buenos dias, Por favor, Gracias, Lo siento, No entiendo, and the key questions: Cuanto cuesta, Donde esta, and Habla ingles. These ten expressions cover roughly eighty percent of tourist interactions.
How do I ask someone how they are in Spanish?
Informally, Como estas or Que tal. Formally, Como esta. Plural: Como estan. The standard reply is Bien, gracias, y tu (or y usted for formal).
What's the difference between Perdon and Lo siento?
Perdon or Disculpe excuses yourself (bumping, interrupting, passing by). Lo siento expresses genuine regret or condolence. Using Lo siento for small matters sounds heavier than intended.
How do I say please and thank you in Spanish?
Por favor is please and commonly appears at the end of a request. Gracias is thank you; Muchas gracias is warmer. The reply is De nada or No hay de que.
What does Que tal mean?
Literally 'what such,' used as 'how's it going?' It is informal and expects a short answer: Bien, Todo bien, or Mas o menos. Not used in formal settings.
How do I ask where the bathroom is?
Donde esta el bano is universal. In Spain, el servicio or el aseo is also common. In restaurants, ask for los aseos or los sanitarios.
What do I say in a Spanish-speaking emergency?
Socorro for immediate danger; Ayuda for general help. Llame a la policia or a una ambulancia to call authorities. Es una emergencia establishes urgency. Carry the local number: 112 in Spain, 911 in most of Latin America.
