Start Your Spanish Journey With These 10 Key Phrases

These are just some phrases to get you started. While many expat communities allow you many english-speaking comforts, I whole-heartedly agree with the folks who believe the Mexican experience is best enjoyed using the language. 

So don’t be afraid to learn, practice and keep learning! 

Disclaimer, I’m not a language professional so the phonetic pronunciation is my best attempt! 

• Asking for gasoline 

  • Spanish: Quiero $200 pesos de regular porfavor.
  • Phonetic pronunciation: Key-year-o dose see-entos day ray-goo-lar poor-fa-vore.

• Where is the bathroom?

  • Spanish: ¿Donde esta el baño?
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿Done-day es-tah el ban-yo?

• Polite Responses

  • Thank you

    • Spanish: Gracias
    • Phonetic pronunciation: Grah-see-ah-s

  • Yes

    • Spanish: Si
    • Phonetic pronunciation: See

  • No

    • Spanish: No
    • Phonetic pronunciation: No

  • You’re Welcome

    • Spanish: De nada
    • Phonetic pronunciation: Day nah-dah

• Have a good day

  • Spanish: Que tenga buen día
  • Phonetic pronunciation: Kay tane-gah boo-ane dee-ah

• How much does it cost?

  • Spanish: ¿Cuanto cuesta?
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿Coo-on-toe coo-es-tah?

• How are you?

  • Spanish: ¿Como estas?
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿Co-moe es-tah-s?

• What is your name? / My name is …

  • Spanish: ¿Como te llamas? / Me llamo [Amanda]
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿Co-moe tay yah-mah-s?

• How do I get to [location]?

  • Spanish: ¿Como llego a [location]?
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿Co-moe yay-go a [location]?

• Where is the ATM?

  • Spanish: ¿Donde esta el cajero?
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿Dōn-day es-tah el ka-hair-oh?

• Can you call me a taxi?

  • Spanish: ¿Me puedes pedir un taxi?
  • Phonetic pronunciation: ¿May puay-des pay-dear un taxi?

Here a few sites I’ve either used myself or have heard are very good:

• Fluencia (previously Spanishdict.com): https://app.fluencia.com/#users/login 
• Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/ 
• FluentU: https://www.fluentu.com/spanish/

Now get out there and start practicing! ¡Tú puedes!

_{Original image from: https://www.mumabroadlife.com/5-great-places-to-learn-spanish-in-madrid/}