Basic Latin American Spanish phrases for travel

Excuse me

dees-KOOL-peh

Use it to get someone’s attention before a question, or to squeeze past on a crowded metro.

The polite way to catch a stranger’s attention. “Perdón” works too.

• Also common Perdón pehr-DOHN

Please

por fah-VOR

Add it to any order or request.

Thank you

GRAH-syahs

Say it after any small service, such as a waiter bringing a dish or a shopkeeper handing over change.

Thank you very much

MOO-chahs GRAH-syahs

Use it when someone has gone out of their way to help and you want to show extra gratitude.

You’re welcome

deh NAH-dah

Use it after someone thanks you. “No problem” is a more casual alternative.

I’m sorry

loh SYEN-toh

Use it to apologise when you’ve made a mistake or caused someone trouble.

Yes

see

Useful for confirming a price or accepting an offer.

No

noh

Use it to turn down an offer or an extra you didn’t ask for.

Okay

ehs-TAH byen

Use it to agree to a plan, a price, a meeting time or a pickup point.

“Está bien” is the safe everyday okay. In Mexico you’ll also hear “sale” and “órale”.

Perfect

pehr-FEHK-toh

A warmer “okay” for when a suggestion suits you.

That works for me

meh pah-REH-seh byen

Use it to accept a suggestion, such as a later table or a different room.

No problem

noh eye proh-BLEH-mah

Use it when someone apologises to you, or to wave off a small inconvenience.

One moment, please

oon moh-MEN-toh por fah-VOR

Buy yourself a few seconds at the counter while you find your wallet or decide what to buy.

Could you help me, please?

meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR por fah-VOR

The polite way to open a request for assistance.

Hello

OH-lah

An everyday greeting polite enough for staff and strangers. One of the first things you should learn in any language.

Hi

BWEH-nahs

The casual “hello” for friends and anyone you know well.

The relaxed all-day greeting locals use walking into shops and bars, short for “buenas tardes/días”.

Good morning

BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs

Use it until around midday when you greet staff in a shop, café or hotel.

Good afternoon

BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs

For the stretch between lunch and evening. When people switch to “good evening” varies, so follow what locals say to you.

Used from around midday until it gets dark.

Good evening

BWEH-nahs NOH-chehs

The greeting for later in the day: walking into a restaurant for dinner, or checking in after dark.

Doubles as “good night”. It greets and bids farewell after dark.

Goodbye

ah-DYOHS

Say it as you leave a shop or get out of a taxi.

In practice locals often part with “hasta luego” even when they’ll never see you again.

• More casual Hasta luego AHS-tah LWEH-goh
• Casual Chao CHOW

See you later

AHS-tah LWEH-goh

For people you’ll see again, such as hotel staff or the barista you visit each morning.

Have a good day

keh TEN-gah oon bwen DEE-ah

A sign-off after a short exchange, such as paying in a shop.

Take care

KWEE-dah-teh

A friendly goodbye to someone you’ve chatted with, like a host or a shopkeeper who helped you.

“Cuídate” is for someone you’d call “tú”. To a stranger or someone older, say “cuídese”.

• Formal Cuídese KWEE-deh-seh

My name is [name]

meh YAH-moh [nombre]

It’s useful to introduce yourself in the local language, especially when meeting people during your travels.

How are you?

KOH-moh ehs-TAH

Follow your greeting with it. Some people answer briefly, others treat it as a real question.

“¿Qué tal?” is the everyday version you’ll hear most, safe with almost anyone.

• Casual ¿Qué tal? keh TAHL

I’m well, thank you

byen GRAH-syahs

The standard reply to “How are you?”. Ask the question back if you want to continue the conversation.

Nice to meet you

en-kahn-TAH-doh

A useful phrase when meeting someone new on your travels. Saying it in the local language is a nice touch.

Ends in -o if you’re a man, -a if you’re a woman. “Mucho gusto” is a genderless alternative.

• If you’re a woman Encantada en-kahn-TAH-dah
• Neutral Mucho gusto MOO-choh GOOS-toh