50 Common Spanish Phrases for Travel
The phrases you'll actually use — not the ones from the 1990s phrasebook your aunt gave you.
Most "common Spanish phrases" lists give you 100 phrases you'll never use. "The post office is closed on Sundays." When was the last time you visited a post office on vacation?
This is the list you need: greetings, ordering, directions, money, problems, and the social phrases that make locals warm up to you. Each one includes regional variations because "Spanish" isn't one language — the way you ask for the bill in Mexico is different from Argentina.
Greetings & Basics
- Hola — Hello (universal)
- Buenos días — Good morning (universal)
- Buenas tardes — Good afternoon (universal)
- Buenas noches — Good evening / good night (universal)
- ¿Cómo estás? — How are you? (Argentina: ¿Cómo andás? | Colombia: ¿Qué más? | Spain: ¿Qué tal?)
- Muy bien, ¿y tú? — Very well, and you? (Argentina: ¿y vos?)
- Mucho gusto — Nice to meet you (universal)
- ¿Cómo te llamas? — What's your name? (Argentina: ¿Cómo te llamás?)
- Me llamo... — My name is... (universal)
- Adiós — Goodbye (universal, but see regional farewells below)
Regional farewells: In Colombia, you'll hear "chao" (from Italian "ciao"). In Mexico, "nos vemos" (see you) is more natural than "adiós." In Argentina, "chau" is everywhere. In Spain, "hasta luego" or "nos vemos."
Polite Essentials
- Por favor — Please (universal)
- Gracias — Thank you (universal)
- De nada — You're welcome (universal)
- Perdón — Excuse me / sorry (universal; "disculpa" also works)
- ¿Puedo...? — Can I...? (universal)
- No entiendo — I don't understand (universal)
- ¿Hablas inglés? — Do you speak English? (Argentina: ¿Hablás inglés?)
- ¿Puedes repetir? — Can you repeat? (Argentina: ¿Podés repetir?)
- Más despacio, por favor — Slower, please (universal — this one will save your life)
- ¿Qué significa...? — What does ... mean? (universal)
Ordering Food & Drinks
- Una mesa para dos, por favor — A table for two, please
- La carta, por favor — The menu, please (In Spain: "la carta" = menu; "el menú" = fixed-price lunch menu)
- Quiero pedir... — I'd like to order... (More natural: "Me trae..." = bring me...)
- Me trae un café, por favor — Bring me a coffee, please
- ¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (Argentina: "la cuenta" or just make a writing gesture in the air)
- ¿Aceptan tarjetas? — Do you accept cards?
- Sin hielo — No ice
- Para llevar — To go (In Spain: "para llevar" or "para llevar" — same)
- Está delicioso — It's delicious (Colombia: "está bacano" = it's great)
Coffee tip: If you order "un café" in Spain, you'll get an espresso. In Colombia, ask for "un tinto" if you want black coffee. In Mexico, "un café americano" gets you a regular coffee. In Argentina, "un cortado" is espresso with a splash of milk — the default.
Getting Around
- ¿Dónde está...? — Where is...? (universal)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where's the bathroom? (The most important phrase in any language)
- ¿Cómo llego a...? — How do I get to...?
- ¿Está cerca? — Is it close?
- ¿Está lejos? — Is it far?
- A la derecha — To the right
- A la izquierda — To the left
- Derecho — Straight ahead (In parts of Mexico: "todo recto")
- ¿Puede llamarme un taxi? — Can you call me a taxi?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta el taxi al centro? — How much is the taxi to downtown?
Money & Shopping
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
- ¿Cuánto vale? — How much is it worth? (Used interchangeably with "¿Cuánto cuesta?")
- Es demasiado caro — It's too expensive (Use this before walking away — vendors often drop the price)
- ¿Tiene uno más barato? — Do you have a cheaper one?
- Acepto — I'll take it / I accept
- ¿Aceptan tarjetas? — Do you take cards? (Cash is still king in many Latin American markets)
- ¿Dónde hay un cajero? — Where's an ATM? (In Spain: "cajero automático" | Mexico: "cajero" works fine)
Problems & Emergencies
- Ayuda — Help (universal)
- Llame a la policía — Call the police
- Necesito un médico — I need a doctor
- Me siento mal — I feel sick
- Perdí mi pasaporte — I lost my passport
- ¿Dónde está la embajada? — Where's the embassy?
- Me robaron — I was robbed
- Necesito ayuda — I need help (universal)
Social — The Phrases That Make Locals Like You
- ¿Qué más? — What's up? (Colombia — this one makes you instant friends)
- ¿Qué onda? — What's up? (Mexico)
- ¿Qué hacés? — What's up? (Argentina)
- Bacano — Cool (Colombia)
- Chévere — Cool (Mexico, Peru, Caribbean)
- Guay — Cool (Spain only — sounds weird anywhere else)
- Che — Hey / mate (Argentina — used like "hey" before someone's name or to get attention)
- Salud — Cheers / bless you (universal)
- ¡Buen provecho! — Enjoy your meal! (universal — say this to people at other tables when entering a small restaurant)
The one phrase that works everywhere: "Buen provecho." Say it when you enter a small eatery where people are already eating. It means "enjoy your meal" and locals will instantly treat you better. This single phrase separates tourists from travelers.
Why Regional Spanish Matters for Travel
Notice how many phrases above have regional variations? That's because Spanish isn't one language — it's 21+ dialects. The phrase that gets you friends in Mexico City might get you confused looks in Buenos Aires.
If you're traveling to a specific country, learn that country's Spanish. Not "generic Spanish" — the actual dialect they speak where you're going. You'll understand more, connect better, and avoid embarrassing mistakes.
Lingo Kaiava teaches 21 regional Spanish dialects — Mexican, Colombian (paisa, rolo, costeño), Argentine, Peruvian, Chilean, Spanish from Spain, and more. You practice speaking with an AI tutor that uses the exact slang, vocabulary, and pronunciation of the country you're visiting.
Try it free at lingokaiava.com — no credit card needed.