Spanish Phrases That Will Make You Sound Like a Local114

Learning a few key Spanish phrases can go a long way in helping you connect with locals and enhance your travel experience. Whether you're asking for directions, making polite conversation, or simply ordering a coffee, knowing the right words can make all the difference. Here are 15 commonly used Spanish phrases that will help you sound like a local:

Hola (Hello)Hola is the most common way to greet someone in Spanish. It can be used in both formal and informal settings. When greeting someone you're meeting for the first time, it's customary to shake hands or kiss on the cheek (if you're close with them).

Pronunciation: oh-lah

Buenos días (Good morning)Buenos días is used to greet someone in the morning, typically before noon. It's important to note that "buenos" is used for both masculine and feminine nouns, so you don't need to worry about changing the ending if you're addressing a woman.

Pronunciation: bway-nos dee-as

Buenas tardes (Good afternoon)Buenas tardes is used to greet someone in the afternoon, typically between noon and 6 pm. Again, "buenas" is used for both masculine and feminine nouns.

Pronunciation: bway-nas tar-des

Buenas noches (Good evening)Buenas noches is used to greet someone in the evening, typically after 6 pm. It can also be used to say good night to someone you're parting ways with.

Pronunciation: bway-nas noh-ches

¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)¿Cómo estás? is a common way to ask someone how they're doing. It can be used in both formal and informal settings. The informal version is ¿Cómo estás?, while the formal version is ¿Cómo está?

Pronunciation: koh-moh eh-stahs

Bien, gracias (I'm fine, thank you)Bien, gracias is a polite way to respond to "¿Cómo estás?" It means "I'm fine, thank you."

Pronunciation: bee-en, grah-thee-as

¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?)¿De dónde eres? is a common question to ask someone you've just met. It means "Where are you from?"

Pronunciation: day dohn-de eh-res

Soy de Estados Unidos (I'm from the United States)Soy de Estados Unidos is a common way to respond to "¿De dónde eres?" It means "I'm from the United States."

Pronunciation: soy day eh-stah-dos oo-nee-dos

¿Hablas inglés? (Do you speak English?)¿Hablas inglés? is a useful phrase to know if you're not fluent in Spanish. It means "Do you speak English?"

Pronunciation: ah-blahs een-glehs

Sí, hablo inglés (Yes, I speak English)Sí, hablo inglés is a common way to respond to "¿Hablas inglés?" It means "Yes, I speak English."

Pronunciation: see, ah-bloh een-glehs

No, no hablo inglés (No, I don't speak English)No, no hablo inglés is a common way to respond to "¿Hablas inglés?" if you don't speak English. It means "No, I don't speak English."

Pronunciation: noh, noh ah-bloh een-glehs

Gracias (Thank you)Gracias is a common way to say thank you in Spanish. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Pronunciation: grah-thee-as

De nada (You're welcome)De nada is a common way to respond to "Gracias." It means "You're welcome."

Pronunciation: day nah-dah

Por favor (Please)Por favor is a common way to say please in Spanish. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Pronunciation: por fah-vor

Lo siento (I'm sorry)Lo siento is a common way to say I'm sorry in Spanish. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Pronunciation: loh see-en-toh

2025-01-14

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