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Top 50 Phrases in Spanish
Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. These 50 essential phrases will get you communicating confidently from day one — with native audio from a Spanish speaker.
Practice in the LingoSwipe App →Each phrase includes native audio, an English translation, and cultural notes where relevant. Tap any play button to listen.
👋 Saludos y Despedidas — Greetings & Goodbyes
1.
¿Qué tal?
How's it going? / What's up?
Extremely common casual greeting in Spain — used far more than '¿Cómo estás?'
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2.
Encantado de conocerte.
Pleased to meet you.
Women say 'encantada'. Physical greeting: two cheek kisses in Spain.
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3.
¿Cómo te llamas?
What's your name?
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4.
Hasta luego.
See you later. (Standard goodbye)
'Hasta luego' is used even if you won't see them again — it's just a farewell.
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5.
Nos vemos.
See you. / Catch you later.
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6.
¡Buenas!
Hi! / Hey! (Short for buenos días/tardes)
Works at any time of day — very common shorthand in Spain.
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7.
¿Todo bien?
Everything OK?
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8.
Mucho gusto.
Nice to meet you.
More common in Latin America than Spain.
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9.
Cuídate mucho.
Take good care of yourself.
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10.
¡Hasta pronto!
See you soon!
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🙋 Pedir Ayuda y Disculpas — Asking for Help & Apologies
11.
Perdona, ¿me puedes ayudar?
Excuse me, can you help me?
'Perdona' is informal. Use 'Perdone' (formal) with strangers or older people.
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12.
No entiendo. ¿Puedes repetirlo?
I don't understand. Can you repeat it?
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13.
¿Hablas inglés?
Do you speak English?
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14.
Lo siento mucho.
I'm very sorry.
'Lo siento' = I feel it (genuine apology). 'Perdón' = excuse me/pardon.
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15.
¿Me puedes hablar más despacio?
Can you speak more slowly?
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16.
¿Dónde está el baño?
Where is the bathroom?
Spain: 'baño' or 'aseos'. LatAm: also 'sanitarios' or 'servicios'.
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17.
No me encuentro bien.
I'm not feeling well.
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18.
¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
How much does this cost?
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19.
¿Dónde puedo coger el metro?
Where can I take the metro?
'Coger' is normal in Spain for 'to take/catch'. In LatAm, use 'tomar' instead.
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20.
¡Muchas gracias, de verdad!
Thank you very much, truly!
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🍷 En el Bar y el Restaurante — At the Bar & Restaurant
21.
¿Nos trae la carta, por favor?
Could you bring us the menu, please?
'La carta' = menu in Spain. 'El menú' specifically means the set menu (menú del día).
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22.
Para mí, una caña.
For me, a small draft beer.
A 'caña' is a small (200ml) draft beer — the standard way to order in Spain.
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23.
¿Qué nos recomienda?
What do you recommend?
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24.
¿Está incluido el IVA?
Is VAT included?
In Spain, IVA (10% for restaurants) is usually included in menu prices.
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25.
La cuenta, por favor.
The bill, please.
In Spain, you must ask for the bill — waiters don't bring it automatically.
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26.
¿Me pone unas tapas?
Can you bring us some tapas?
In some parts of Spain (Granada, Almería), tapas are free with your drink!
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27.
Está buenísimo.
It's absolutely delicious.
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28.
¿Me cobra, por favor?
Can you charge me, please? (At the bar)
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29.
¿Tiene algo sin gluten?
Do you have anything gluten-free?
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30.
Nos lo ponemos a medias.
We'll split it fifty-fifty.
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💼 Trabajo y Vida Cotidiana — Work & Everyday Life
31.
¿De qué trabajas?
What do you do for work?
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32.
Estoy a tope de trabajo.
I'm swamped with work.
'A tope' = maxed out / full to the brim. Very colloquial Spanish.
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33.
Me ha surgido algo.
Something came up.
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34.
Te mando un correo ahora mismo.
I'll send you an email right now.
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35.
¿Quedamos mañana?
Shall we meet up tomorrow?
'Quedar' means to arrange to meet — one of the most useful verbs in Spanish.
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36.
Ahora mismo te atiendo.
I'll be right with you.
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37.
Se me ha ido la cabeza.
It slipped my mind.
Literally: 'My head left me.' A very Spanish way of saying you forgot something.
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38.
No hay de qué.
Don't mention it. / You're welcome.
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39.
¿Puedo hablar un momento contigo?
Can I talk to you for a moment?
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40.
Enseguida lo hago.
I'll do it right away.
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☀️ Expresiones del Día a Día — Everyday Expressions
41.
¡Madre mía!
Oh my goodness! / Wow!
One of the most versatile Spanish expressions — used for surprise, shock, or admiration.
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42.
Venga, vale.
OK, alright then.
'Venga' in Spain means 'come on' / 'OK' / 'let's go'. In LatAm it means 'come here'.
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43.
¿Cómo se dice… en español?
How do you say… in Spanish?
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44.
Estoy hecho polvo.
I'm exhausted. (Literally: I'm made of dust)
Very colloquial. Men say 'hecho', women say 'hecha'.
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45.
¡Qué guay!
That's so cool! (Spain slang)
'Guay' is Spain-specific slang. In LatAm you'd say '¡Qué chévere!' or '¡Qué padre!'.
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46.
No pasa nada.
No worries. / It's fine. / Don't worry about it.
Perhaps the most useful phrase in Spanish — covers everything from 'you're welcome' to 'forget it'.
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47.
A ver…
Let's see… / Well… / Hmm…
A thinking filler — used to buy time or introduce a thought. Essential for sounding natural.
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48.
¡Qué mala suerte!
What bad luck! / That's rough!
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49.
Me apetece un montón.
I really fancy it. / I'd love that.
'Apetecer' (to fancy/crave) doesn't exist in English — a very Spanish concept.
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50.
¡Ánimo!
Cheer up! / Come on! / You've got this!
Used to encourage someone — equivalent of 'hang in there' or 'you can do it!'.
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