From airports to parties; the words, phrases (and curses) you need for traveling Spanish-speaking countries.
The "Basic" Ones:
Typical greetings and commonly-needed phrases when traveling
Hello - hola
Good Day - buenos dias
Good Afternoon - buenas tardes
Good Night - buenas noches
Thank You - gracias
Please - por favor
Nice to meet you - mucho gusto
Cheers - salud
How much (does it cost)? - cuanto cuesta?
Where is.. - donde está..
How do you say.. - cómo se dice..
I need.. yo necesito
The "Party" Ones:
Words and phrases you'll need on a night out 🤙🏽
A drink - una bebida, una copa
A shot - un trago
Beer, please - cerveza, por favor
Vodka, Tequila, Whisky - same as in English
Rum - ron
Pineapple - piña
Orange - naranja
Soda - soda
White Wine, Red Wine - vino blanco, vino rojo (or "vino tinto")
Nightclub - discoteca
Patio - terraza
Rooftop - techo
With a view - con una vista
Speakeasy / hidden bar - bar escondido
Pre-Drink - previa
Party - fiesta
After-Party - "after"
Drunk - borracho / borracha
Go Out - salir
Cheers - salud!
Do you want to go out? - quieres salir?
Where are you going tonight? - donde vas está noche?
What is your plan? - cual es tu plan?
To Dance - bailar
Let's go dancing - vamos a bailar
Dance with me? - baila conmigo?
What time does it close? - a que hora cierra?
I need a taxi - necesito un taxi
Hangover - resaca
I drank too much - he bebido demasiado
I don't remember - no me acuerdo
⭐️BONUS: Impress with a more interesting "cheers":
"Arriba! A bajo! Al Centro! Pa' Dentro!"
This cheer translates to "up, down, middle, inside", and is accompanies with the gestures of raising your glass, than lowering it, bringing it forward, then drinking it 🍻
The "Food" Ones:
Some words and phrases you'll need at a restaurant 🤙🏽
Breakfast - desayuno
Lunch - almuerzo
Dinner - cena
I'm Hungry - tengo hambre
Burger, Sandwich, Pizza, Pasta - same as English
Eggs - huevos
Salad - ensalada
Sides - acompañamientos
Fries - papas fritas
Dessert - postre
Sauce - salsa (this applies to all sauces not jut the "salsa" we know in English)
Spicy - picante 🌶️
Fried - frito
Water - agua
Reservation - reserva
Table for X people - mesa para X personas
Check, please - la cuenta, por favor
Delicious - delicioso / deliciosa
The "Flying" Ones:
Some words you'll see at the airport and in the air ✈️
Departures - salidas
Arrivals - llegadas
Lounge - sala VIP
Security - seguridad
Customs - aduanas
Gate - puerta
Boarding Pass - tarjeta de Embarque
Seat - asiento
Flight - vuelo
Layover - escala
The "Bad" Ones:
Words & phrases you didn't hear from us, but you'll hear all the time 🤫
Hijo de puta - son of a b***
Joder - f***k (mostly used in Spain)
La Concha de tu Madre - technically: your mother's.. (mostly used in Chile)
Malparido - if anyone calls you this they REALLY don't like you (mostly used in Colombia)
Mierda - sh*t
Chingada - bullshit (mostly used in Mexico)
Cojones - balls
Coño - p*ssy / c*nt
Gilipollas - idiot, dork (mostly used in Spain)
Pendejo - idiot, dork (mostly used in Mexico)
The "Cool" Ones:
The cool, "local" way to say some basic phrases 😎
What's up?
Spain - qué tal? (also common in most countries)
Colombia - que mas pues? / que hubo? (pronounced cube-oh)
Cuba - qué bolá?
Mexico - que pasa?
Puerto Rico - qué es la que hay?
Cool! / Awesome!
Spain - guay, chulo, genial
Colombia - bacáno, chévere, chimba (mostly in Medellin)
Mexico - cabrón, padre
Argentina - bárbaro, copado
Friend / Pal / Homie
Spain - tío, tía (literally means uncle / aunt)
Colombia - parcero, pana
Mexico - wey
Argentina - che boludo, chabón
Most Important
You'll never learn all the slang from all the countries, nor will your grammar be perfect, but it doesn't matter. Whether it's Duolingo, HOS blogs, or just some liquid courage, the name of the game is to say "f**k it" and just speak. You will be understood, and that's all that matters. Suerte locos!
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
- Nelson Mandela
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