Whether you’re planning to backpack in Argentina, sunbathe in Colombia, or eat your way through Spain, learning some Spanish phrases for travel can take your trip to the next level. Knowing basic Spanish travel phrases makes communicating easier so you can focus on having fun, and it’ll help you make a good first impression with speakers you meet. From polite greetings to sharing dietary concerns, this guide includes the most useful Spanish phrases and words for you to learn (or just reference) for your travels.
Table of Contents
Greetings and basic Spanish phrases
Often, all you need to start a conversation are some friendly greetings in Spanish, like one of the ways to say “hello” in Spanish.
Don’t forget to practice some manners and polite expressions like how to say “thank you.” Here are some other Spanish phrases to know that’ll come in handy in every situation from your hotel to the market.
| Spanish | English |
| Hola | Hello |
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon |
| Adiós | Goodbye |
| Sí | Yes |
| No | No |
| Por favor | Please |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| De nada | You’re welcome |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| Perdón | Excuse me |
| Me llamo… | My name is… |
| ¿Cómo se llama? | What’s your name? (formal) |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What’s your name? (informal) |
Asking for clarification in Spanish
Even if you’ve been studying Spanish for a long time, there are many regional dialects and a wide variety of Spanish accents that could trip you up when you arrive in a new city. It’s helpful to know how to ask native speakers to slow down or ask “What do you mean?” in Spanish.
This is completely normal, so don’t be afraid to ask questions in Spanish for clarification with these Spanish travel phrases.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Cómo se dice…? | How do you say…? |
| ¿Habla inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| Lo siento, no entiendo. | I’m sorry, I don’t understand. |
| Más despacio, por favor. | Slower, please. |
| No entiendo. | I don’t understand. |
| No hablo bien el español. | I don’t speak Spanish well. |
| ¿Podría escribirlo, por favor? | Could you please write it down? |
| ¿Podría repetirlo, por favor? | Could you repeat it, please? |
| ¿Qué quiere decir…?/¿Qué significa…? | What does…mean? |
Dining phrases and questions
Food is an essential part of culture, so you definitely want to make an effort to use words for food in Spanish when you’re trying local cuisine. The phrases below will have you covered when getting a table, ordering, and paying. Brushing up on numbers in Spanish is a wise idea as well.
If you want more than this chart, you can explore a full guide about ordering food in Spanish for even more phrases.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Aceptan las tarjetas? | Do you accept credit cards? |
| La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. |
| ¿Qué recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| ¡Salud! | Cheers! |
| Solo se acepta efectivo. | Cash only. |
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | I have a reservation under the name of… |
| Una mesa para # por favor. | A table for #, please. |
| uno | one |
| dos | two |
| tres | three |
| cuatro | four |
Communicating dietary restrictions in Spanish
If you have food restrictions or dietary preferences, there are still many amazing food options available while you travel throughout Mexico, Argentina, or Spain. These common Spanish phrases can help you avoid ingredients you’re allergic to or prefer to skip. For serious food allergies, verify the local word and labeling conventions.
This chart has several questions and words for common allergens. Pair the question with the food you want to avoid and your waiter or waitress will be able to understand.
- Tengo alergia a leche. = I’m allergic to milk.
| Spanish | English |
| Lleva… ? | Does it have/contain…? |
| No como… | I don’t eat… |
| ¿Qué hay en este plato? | What’s in this dish? |
| sin… | without… |
| con… | with… |
| Soy vegano/a. | I’m vegan. |
| Soy vegetariano/a. | I’m vegetarian. |
| Tengo alergia a… | I’m allergic to… |
| …cacahuetes | peanuts |
| …carne | meat |
| …gluten | gluten |
| …huevos | eggs |
| …leche/lácteos | milk/dairy products |
| …mariscos | seafood |
| …nueces de árbol/frutos secos | tree nuts |
| …pescado | fish |
| …trigo | wheat |
Words for table and menu items
Food and table items are some of the most important Spanish nouns you can learn to prepare for your trip. Learning a few phrases can direct you to the perfect bite and ensure you have everything you need.
| Spanish | English |
| el desayuno | breakfast |
| el almuerzo/la comida | lunch |
| la cena | dinner |
| la comida | the food/the lunch |
| la bebida | the drink |
| la entrada | the appetizer |
| el plato principal | the main dish |
| el postre | the dessert |
| el agua | the water |
| el café | the coffee |
| la cerveza | the beer |
| el té | the tea |
| el vino | the wine |
| caliente | hot (in temperature) |
| dulce | sweet |
| frío | cold |
| picante | spicy |
| el bol | the bowl |
| la cuchara | the spoon |
| el cucuillo | the knife |
| el plato | the plate |
| la servilleta | the napkin |
| el tenedor | the fork |
| el vaso | the glass |
Spanish phrases for accommodations
Employees at hotels and hostels tend to go above and beyond to work around any language barriers, but it can’t hurt to know these Spanish phrases for travel when you’re looking for lodging. Make your reservations well in advance for travel during the busy Spanish months!
| Spanish | English |
| ¿A qué hora es la hora de salida? | What time is check-out? |
| ¿A qué hora sirven el desayuno? | What time do you serve breakfast? |
| ¿Cuál es la contraseña de Wifi? | What is the Wi-Fi password? |
| Necesito una cama extra/adicional. | I need an extra bed. |
| Necesito un cuarto para # personas. | I need a room for # people. |
| ¿Ofrecen una salida tardía? | Do you offer late checkout? |
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | I have a reservation under the name of… |
| Una estancia de # noches. | # night stay |
| Una noche de estancia. | one-night stay |
| una almohada | a pillow |
| una cama individual | a single bed |
| una cama doble/matrimonial | a double bed |
| una manta | a blanket |
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Transportation and direction phrases
It’s easy to get lost in an unfamiliar country (and even if you do, it can lead to an amazing unplanned experience), but many locals are willing to assist you with directions if you ask. Use these basic Spanish phrases for travel to ask “Where is the bathroom” in Spanish, to text your travel partner “Where are you?”, or find your way around a city.
| Spanish | English |
| ¿Cómo llego a…? | How do I get to…? |
| ¿Cuál es la dirección? | What’s the address? |
| ¿Dónde está…? | Where is…? |
| …el aeropuerto | the airport |
| …el baño | the bathroom |
| …la estación | the station |
| …la puerta de embarque | the gate |
| ¿Puede mostrarme en el mapa? | Can you show me on the map? |
| a la izquierda | on the left/to the left |
| a la derecha | on the right/to the right |
| todo recto | straight ahead |
| al lado de… | next to… |
| norte | north |
| sur | south |
| este | east |
| oeste | west |
| un avión | an airplane |
| un autobús | a bus |
| un tren | a train |
| un metro | a subway |
| un taxi | a taxi |
Sightseeing and attractions
Every destination offers memorable destinations. Whether you choose the top five must-see locations, or want to venture off the beaten path, you’ll encounter incredible cultural experiences. Basic Spanish words for places will come in handy.
Some of these words will be Spanish cognates of English, while you may need to reference this list later for some of the different-looking words. You can use the questions from the previous chart to ask how to get to the museum or the beach.
| Spanish | English |
| el bosque | the forest |
| el barrio histórico | the historic neighborhood |
| la catedral/la basílica/la iglesia | the cathedral/the basilica/the church |
| el centro | the downtown/city center |
| el hotel | the hotel |
| la entrada | the entry ticket |
| el jardín botánico | the botanical garden |
| el mirador | the scenic overlook |
| las montañas | the mountains |
| el museo | the museum |
| el monumento | the monument |
| el parque | the park |
| la playa | the beach |
| la plaza | the main square |
| las ruinas | the ruins |
| el templo | the temple |
| la tienda | the store |
Spanish travel phrases to use in emergencies
There’s a lot of wisdom in the saying “hope for the best, plan for the worst.” You may need to ask or understand “How can I help you?” in Spanish. Ideally you won’t need to use these phrases while you’re traveling, but if an emergency pops up, here are some Spanish phrases to help you handle it.
| Spanish | English |
| Ayúdame, por favor. | Help me, please. |
| ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? | Where is the closest hospital? |
| ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercano? | Where is the closest pharmacy? |
| Me duele… | My…hurts |
| …la cabeza | head |
| …el estómago | stomach |
| …pecho | chest |
| Me siento mareado. | I feel dizzy. |
| Mi medicamento está… | My medication is |
| …en mi bolso | …in my bag |
| …en mi bolsillo | …in my pocket |
| …en mi maleta | …in my suitcase |
| Necesito llamar a la policía. | I need to call the police. |
| Necesito un médico. | I need a doctor. |
| No me siento bien. | I don’t feel well. |
| el seguro médico | health insurance |
| Tengo fiebre. | I have a fever. |
| Tengo problemas para respirar. | I have trouble breathing. |
Explore beyond Spanish phrases for travel with Rosetta Stone
The most common Spanish phrases will help you engage with locals confidently in a Spanish-speaking country and enjoy an incredible trip. If you want to enhance your ability to communicate even further, Rosetta Stone’s all-in-one app can have you travel-ready with common phrases in the phrasebook and the audio guide.
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