Traveling to a Spanish-speaking country or hoping to make more international friends?
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. While your Latino friends or locals may understand English, communicating with them in Spanish will not only help you connect better but will also show your appreciation for their language.
So, where should you begin? Start with the most common basic Spanish words and useful phrases that every beginner should know.
100 Basic Spanish Words and Phrases for Beginners
This section will be divided into four key themes (daily life, travel, shopping, and restaurant), each containing 25 of the most useful Spanish phrases and words to help beginners in real-life situations.
Spanish Words and Phrases – Daily Life
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Hola | Hello |
| Adiós | Goodbye |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| Por favor | Please |
| Sí / No | Yes / No |
| Claro | Of course |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
| Estoy bien, gracias | I’m fine, thank you |
| ¿Dónde está el baño? | Where is the bathroom? |
| Quiero… | I want… |
| Me gusta… | I like… |
| No entiendo | I don’t understand |
| Más despacio, por favor | Slower, please |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? |
| ¿Puedes ayudarme? | Can you help me? |
| No hay problema | No problem |
| Disculpa | Excuse me |
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon |
| Buenas noches | Good evening / Good night |
| Hasta luego | See you later |
| Nos vemos | We’ll see each other |
| Te quiero | I love you |
| Feliz cumpleaños | Happy birthday |
Spanish Words and Phrases – Travel
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Estoy perdido/a | I’m lost |
| Necesito ayuda | I need help |
| ¿Dónde está la estación? | Where is the station? |
| ¿Qué hora es? | What time is it? |
| Voy a… | I’m going to… |
| ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un taxi? | Where can I find a taxi? |
| Tengo una reserva | I have a reservation |
| ¿Qué recomiendas? | What do you recommend? |
| Un boleto, por favor | One ticket, please |
| Voy a estar aquí por… días | I’ll be here for… days |
| ¿Dónde está el hotel? | Where is the hotel? |
| Me gustaría visitar… | I would like to visit… |
| ¿Hablas inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Este es mi pasaporte | This is my passport |
| ¿A qué distancia está? | How far is it? |
| Estoy de vacaciones | I’m on vacation |
| ¿Cuánto tiempo se tarda? | How long does it take? |
| Necesito una habitación | I need a room |
| Llame a la policía | Call the police |
| Estoy enfermo/a | I’m sick |
| Es una emergencia | It’s an emergency |
| Voy al aeropuerto | I’m going to the airport |
| Necesito un mapa | I need a map |
| Estoy aquí de negocios | I’m here on business |
Spanish Words and Phrases – Shopping
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Tienes esto en otro color? | Do you have this in another color? |
| ¿Aceptan tarjetas de crédito? | Do you accept credit cards? |
| ¿Puedo probarme esto? | Can I try this on? |
| ¿Cuál es el precio? | What’s the price? |
| Está demasiado caro | It’s too expensive |
| ¿Hay un descuento? | Is there a discount? |
| Puedo pagar en efectivo | I can pay in cash |
| Me llevo esto | I’ll take this |
| Busco… | I’m looking for… |
| ¿Tienen mi talla? | Do you have my size? |
| Está agotado | It’s sold out |
| ¿Dónde está la caja? | Where is the cashier? |
| Me gustaría devolver esto | I’d like to return this |
| Es un regalo | It’s a gift |
| Necesito un recibo | I need a receipt |
| Es muy bonito | It’s very nice |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta este? | How much does this cost? |
| Es una ganga | It’s a bargain |
| Quiero cambiarlo | I want to exchange it |
| Tiene un defecto | It has a defect |
| Lo necesito para hoy | I need it for today |
| ¿Cuáles son sus horas de operación? | What are your hours of operation? |
| ¿Tienen en stock? | Do you have it in stock? |
| ¿Dónde puedo encontrar…? | Where can I find…? |
| Estoy buscando un regalo | I’m looking for a gift |
Spanish Words and Phrases – Restaurant
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Una mesa para dos, por favor? | A table for two, please |
| El menú, por favor | The menu, please |
| Recomiéndame algo | Recommend something to me |
| Estoy listo/a para ordenar | I’m ready to order |
| Quiero… | I’d like… |
| ¿Qué lleva este plato? | What’s in this dish? |
| ¿Es picante? | Is it spicy? |
| Sin azúcar, por favor | Without sugar, please |
| Sin hielo, por favor | No ice, please |
| La cuenta, por favor | The check, please |
| Propina incluida | Tip included? |
| Un vaso de agua, por favor | A glass of water, please |
| ¿Tienen opciones vegetarianas? | Do you have vegetarian options? |
| ¡Está delicioso! | It’s delicious! |
| Más pan, por favor | More bread, please |
| Me gustaría otra copa de vino | I’d like another glass of wine |
| Este plato está frío | This dish is cold |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay with card? |
| ¿Puedo ver la carta de vinos? | Can I see the wine list? |
| Me falta… | I’m missing… |
| Quiero cancelar mi orden | I want to cancel my order |
| ¿Puedo cambiar mi plato? | Can I change my dish? |
| Voy a pedir postre | I’m going to order dessert |
| Un café, por favor | A coffee, please |
| ¿Tienen menú para niños? | Do you have a children’s menu? |
| Todo está perfecto | Everything is perfect |
Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
For beginners, one of the most important things is to figure out how to pronounce words correctly. Otherwise, there’s no point in learning new words if you can’t use them in real life. That’s why we’ve put together the basics of Spanish pronunciation:
The Spanish Alphabet
The Spanish alphabet contains 27 letters, including one unique letter, “ñ.” Here’s the full list:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, Ñ, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
- Ñ (pronounced as “enye”) is unique to Spanish and has a distinct “ny” sound.
- The letter R can have a single flap sound or a rolled double sound, especially at the beginning of a word or when doubled.
Pronunciation Guide
Vowels:
A (ah), E (eh), I (ee), O (oh), U (oo)
Consonants:
C before e or i is pronounced like “th” in Spain or “s” in Latin America.
G has a hard “g” before a, o, u but sounds like a throaty “h” before e, i.
J is pronounced as a rough “h” (e.g., “José”).
LL is typically pronounced as a “y” sound, though some regions pronounce it as “sh.”
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
Over-pronouncing vowels.
Mispronouncing “j” and “r” sounds.
Confusing “b” and “v,” as these are often pronounced similarly in Spanish.
Introducing Yourself & Greeting in Spanish
- Me llamo… (My name is…)
- ¿Cómo te llamas? (What’s your name?)
- Hola (Hello)
- Adiós (Goodbye)
- Encantado/a (Nice to meet you)
Polite Words and Expressions in Spanish
- Gracias (Thank you)
- Por favor (Please)
- Perdón (Sorry)
- Con permiso (Excuse me)
- Lo siento (I’m sorry)
Question Words in Spanish (5W1H)
With this list of Spanish question words, you’ll be able to ask about anything and everything. Mastering the 5W1H questions—Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How—is essential for beginners to communicate effectively in any situation.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué? | What? |
| ¿Quién? | Who? |
| ¿Cuándo? | When? |
| ¿Dónde? | Where? |
| ¿Por qué? | Why? |
| ¿Cómo? | How? |
¿Quién? (Who?)
If you want to ask about a person, use “¿Quién?”
For example, if you’re at a party and want to know who someone is, you can say:
¿Quién es esa persona? — Who is that person?
¿Qué? (What?)
To ask about something, use “¿Qué?”
When shopping and you want to inquire about a product, you could ask:
¿Qué es esto? — What is this?
¿Dónde? (Where?)
For asking about locations, use “¿Dónde?”
If you need directions while traveling, ask:
¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom?
¿Cuándo? (When?)
To ask about time or schedule, use “¿Cuándo?”
If you want to know when an event is happening, simply ask:
¿Cuándo es la fiesta? — When is the party?
¿Por qué? (Why?)
To inquire about reasons, use “¿Por qué?”
When curious about someone’s decisions, you might ask:
¿Por qué elegiste este restaurante? — Why did you choose this restaurant?
¿Cómo? (How?)
To ask for clarification or instructions, use “¿Cómo?”
For example, if you’re at a café and want to know how to order something, you could ask:
¿Cómo se pide un café aquí? — How do you order a coffee here?
Common Spanish Verbs
With this list of Spanish verbs, you’ll have a solid foundation for creating sentences in different situations. Basic Spanish for travelers often revolves around these simple verbs: tener (to have), querer (to want), necesitar (to need). Let’s look at how you can use them in practical scenarios.
Asking for What You Have or Need
If you want to ask whether someone has something you need, use “¿Tienes…?” (Do you have…?) followed by the item. This is especially useful when you’re staying at a hotel or asking for information.
For example, at a hotel, you might ask the receptionist:
- ¿Tienes las amenidades de baño? — Do you have bathroom amenities?
If you specifically need something, you can use the verb “necesitar” (to need). For instance, if you’re at a railway station and want to buy a ticket, you could say:
- Necesito un boleto a Madrid. — I need a ticket to Madrid.
Expressing Wants and Desires
When expressing something you want, the verb “querer” (to want) comes in handy. Let’s say you’re in a café and want to order coffee:
- Quiero un café, por favor. — I want a coffee, please.
This verb is versatile and helps in various scenarios, from shopping to dining out.
Checking Abilities with “Poder”
If you want to ask if someone can do something, or if you want to say that you can, you use “poder” (to be able to). For example, if you’re asking for help:
- ¿Puedes ayudarme con esto? — Can you help me with this?
Or, when offering help, you could say:
- Puedo hacerlo. — I can do it.
Compliments and Celebrations in Spanish
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños! (Happy Birthday!)
- ¡Enhorabuena! (Congratulations!)
- ¡Buen provecho! (Enjoy your meal!)
- ¡Que tengas un buen día! (Have a good day!)
- ¡Salud! (Cheers!)
Conclusion
Now you’re ready to dive into everyday Spanish! With these basic words and phrases, you’ll be navigating conversations like a pro in no time. Whether you’re off on a new adventure, shopping for souvenirs, or making new friends, these beginner-friendly expressions will boost your confidence and have you chatting away with ease. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
If you want to put what you’ve learned into practice, learning with a native Spanish speaker can help you gain fluency faster. AmazingTalker offers 1-on-1 online Spanish tutoring, where you can practice comfortably and improve your speaking skills in no time!
FAQS
What’s the Best Way to Learn Spanish?
