Difference Between Spanish and Latin American Spanish
European Spanish and Spanish spoken in other areas of the world can differ significantly. Just try asking someone in Mexico the price of a jacket using European Spanish. The translation of the word ‘jacket’ is very different in Latin America than it is in Europe.
Trust us: it’s going to get a little awkward.
If you’re headed to Spain, you’ll want to download a translation app that includes European Spanish (Castilian) translations. Headed to Puerto Rico? You’ll want to look up Latin American Spanish.
Even in Latin America, Spanish can be very different from country to country. While most of the words and phrases translate over, it’s important to understand that they aren’t always a direct translation.
Common Spanish Phrases: Greetings and Formalities
The most common phrases you’ll need if you’re headed to a Spanish speaking country for a vacation are greetings and formalities. Depending on your destination, it’s totally possible you’ll be outed as a native English speaker the moment the first word comes out of your mouth.
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Many native Spanish speakers will happily speak Spanish with you — or even English if you’re not very familiar with Spanish.
Headed to a small town or village? You’ll definitely need a little more help. Here are some of the most common greetings and formalities:
– “Hi, how are you?” = “Hola, como esta?”
– “My name is Juan.” = “Me llamo Juan.”
– “What is your name?” = “Como te llama tu?” Or “Cuál es tu nombre?”
– “Nice to meet you.” = “Mucho gusto.”
– “The pleasure is mine.” = “El gusto es mío.”
– “Excuse me,” = “Disculpe,” or “Perdóneme,” or even just, “Perdón.”
– “Please.” = “Por favor.”
– “Thank you.” = “Gracias.”
– “You’re welcome.” = “De nada.”
Want to learn how to say hello in other languages?
Eating Out
No matter if you’re traveling for business or vacation, you’ll most likely end up eating at a restaurant at some point during your trip. If you don’t, we feel sorry for you. Spanish and Latin American food is delicious!
If you’re headed to a restaurant, you’ll want to know these key phrases:
– “Table for one, please.” = “Una mesa para uno, por favor.”
– “I need a menu.” = “Yo necesito una carta,” or, “yo necesito un menú.”
– “Water, please.” = “Agua, por favor.”
– “What are the specials?” = “Cuales son los especiales?”
– “Where is the bathroom?” = “Donde está el baño?”
– “Check, please!” = “¡La cuenta, por favor!”
– “I have a nut allergy.” = “Tengo alergia a las nueces.”
Checking Into Your Hotel/Airbnb
When it’s time to check into your hotel, you’ll probably encounter someone who speaks English. But with more and more people opting for home shares and Airbnb rentals, it’s more likely that you’ll need a little Spanish to get through check-in. These common Spanish phrases should get you started:
– “I have a reservation.” = “Yo tengo una cita.”
– “I need more toilet paper.” = “Yo necesito papel de baño.”
– “I lost the apartment key.” = “Perdí la llave del apartamento.”
– “Where is the fire extinguisher?” “Donde está el extintor de incendios?”
– “Where is the closest drugstore/bank?” = “Donde está la farmacia/banco más cercano?”
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Miscellaneous Travel Words and Spanish Phrases
Inevitably, you’ll need to know a few miscellaneous words, too. Depending on your travel needs, these are some of the words and phrases you’ll run into:
– Suitcase: Maleta
– Wallet: Billetera
– Backpack: Mochila
– Purse: Bolso
– Stop!: Alto!
– Taxi: Taxi
– Help!: Ayúdame!
– Airport: Aeropuerto
– Train: Tren
– Car: Coche
– Boat: Bote
– Subway: Metro (usually)
– Street: Calle
You wouldn’t want to find yourself chasing a cab after you forgot your purse inside — only to realize you can’t remember how to say the word, “Purse!”
How to Say Numbers in Spanish
Numbers are relatively easy to remember in Spanish. Once you learn one through ten, you can easily figure out the rest of the system.
– One: Uno
– Two: Dos
– Three: Tres
– Four: Cuatro
– Five: Cinco
– Six: Seis
– Seven: Siete
– Eight: Ocho
– Nine: Nueve
– Ten: Diez
– Eleven: Once
– Twelve: Doce
– Thirteen: Trece
– Fourteen: Catorce
– Fifteen: Quince
– Sixteen: Dieciséis
– Seventeen: Diecisiete
– Eighteen: Dieciocho
– Nineteen: Diecinueve
– Twenty: Vente
– Thirty: Treinta
– Forty: Cuarenta
– Fifty: Cincuenta
– Sixty: Sesenta
– Seventy: Setenta
– Eighty: Ochenta
– Ninety: Noventa
– One hundred: Cien
You don’t need to know every Spanish phrase before heading to a Spanish-speaking country. Just follow the ‘rules’ of Spanish, learn a few phrases and download an English-to-Spanish translation app, and you’ll be on your way to communicating internationally!
Need help translating other languages? Find out how to say hello in other languages and English to Persian translations.
