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Common Spanish
Words and Phrases

It's a great idea to learn Spanish so you can develop your conversational skills. Being able to communicate in Spanish will make travel experiences richer and more memorable, and there many other benefits of learning Spanish, too.

But sometimes, you may just want to be able to greet someone, ask a simple question, or extend good wishes on a holiday. For example, you may want to know how to say how are you in Spanish, or how to say happy birthday in Spanish. Learning some common Spanish phrases and a few Spanish words can help you begin to build your conversational skills.

A few things to remember how to say in Spanish:

• The H is silent
• The double L is pronounced like the Y in yellow
• The ñ is pronounced like an N and Y together, similar to the sound made in the word onion
• When you see a letter with an accent over it, that's where emphasis is placed in pronunciation
• Unlike English, vowel sounds never change in Spanish; a, e, i, o, u always sound like ah, eh, ee, oh, ooh
• Certain proper nouns that are capitalized in English such as days of the week, the months, and languages, are not capitalized in Spanish

If you're going to learn Spanish for free, one of the best places to start is with travel-related vocabulary. Here are some common Spanish phrases and Spanish words that are easy to learn, and can be very helpful when traveling, or in everyday conversation:

Common Words and Phrases

• Hello! – ¡Hola!
• Goodbye. – Adiós.
• It's nice to meet you. – Mucho gusto en conocerle.
• How are you? – ¿Cómo está usted?
• Yes. – Sí.
• No. – No.
• Please. – Por favor.
• Thank you. – Gracias.
• Good morning. – Buenos días.
• Good night. – Buenas noches.
• What time is it? – ¿Qué hora es?
• What is your name? – ¿Cómo se llama?
• My name is... – Me llamo...
• Happy birthday! – ¡Feliz cumpleaños!
• Merry Christmas. – Feliz Navidad.
• Happy New Year! – ¡Feliz año nuevo!
• Where is...? Where are...? – ¿Dónde está...? ¿Dónde están...?
• I need help. – Necesito ayuda.
• I don't speak Spanish. – No hablo español.
• I speak a little Spanish. – Hablo un poco de español.
• Do you speak English? – ¿Habla usted inglés?
• Where is the restroom? – ¿Dónde está el baño?
• I would like a glass of water – Me gustaría un vaso de agua.
• I live in the United States. – Vivo en los Estados Unidos.
• I live in Canada. – Vivo en Canadá.
• I am on vacation. – Estoy de vacaciones.
• How do I get to the beach? – ¿Cómo puedo llegar a la playa?
• I am lost. – Estoy perdido. (perdida if you're a woman)
• I can't find my passport. – No puedo encontrar mi pasaporte.
• Taxi – Taxi
• Bus – Autobus
• Train – Tren
• Airplane – Avión
• Car – Carro
• Where can I catch a taxi (a bus)? – ¿Dónde puedo tomar un taxi (un autobús)?

Common Spanish Phrases of Love

Spanish is known throughout the world as one of the most romantic languages, along with French and Italian. Learn a few love-related Spanish phrases, including how to say in Spanish that you love your significant other, and you'll win bonus points for being extra romantic.

• I love you. – Te amo or Te quiero.
• You are beautiful. – Eres hermosa.
• You are handsome. – Eres guapo.
• Would you like to go out with me? – ¿Quieres salir conmigo?
• Would you like to have dinner with me? – ¿Quieres cenar conmigo?
• You look beautiful/handsome tonight. – Te ves hermosa/guapo esta noche.
• You have beautiful eyes. – Tienes los ojos hermosos.
• Will you marry me? – ¿Quieres casarte conmigo?

How to Say Numbers in Spanish

Even if you can't carry on an entire conversation yet, knowing how to say numbers in Spanish can be very helpful in certain situations, like shopping. Numbers are some of the most important Spanish words. They will help you indicate how much of something you want to buy, and will help you understand prices when they're said to you. Here are some helpful Spanish numbers:

• one – uno
• two – dos
• three – tres
• four – cuatro
• five – cinco
• six – seis
• seven – siete
• eight – ocho
• nine – nueve
• ten – diez
• twenty – veinte
• thirty – treinta
• forty – cuarenta
• fifty – cincuenta
• sixty – sesenta
• seventy – setenta
• eighty – ochenta
• ninety – noventa
• one hundred – cien
• one thousand – mil

How to Say Days in Spanish

When you learn Spanish words, it's good to start with basics like days of the week, and months of the year. These Spanish words can be very helpful when planning travel, or just to make sure you meet your friends at a restaurant on the right day.

• Monday – lunes
• Tuesday – martes
• Wednesday – miércoles
• Thursday – jueves
• Friday – viernes
• Saturday – sábado
• Sunday – domingo

How to Say Months in Spanish

• January – enero
• February – febrero
• March – marzo
• April – abril
• May – mayo
• June – junio
• July – julio
• August – agosto
• September – septiembre
• October – octubre
• November – noviembre
• December – diciembre