Quick Spanish for Travelers

by Stephen Pirsch

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this booklet is to introduce a quick method to learn the least Spanish needed to get by when traveling in Latin America.  This guide targets only the minimum  basic phrases  needed.  Tips are added  to lessen your problems. Emphasis will be on  trying to politely limit the other persons responses to yes or no etc.  Be aware that Latin Americans are friendly and will likely try to draw you into a conversation about something that will complicate matters.

Most of the following material will be in phrases. In English, in Spanish, and in an easy to read pronunciation system (this is the common pronunciation for Mexico and Central America - not proper Castilian).    For example: 

English:  How many pesos please? 

Spanish:  Cuantos pesos por favor?

Pronunciation:  KWAN-tohs PEH-sohs  por fa-VOR

Please make sure you  very strongly accent the capitals and speak very forcefully compared to English.     If not you will likely get confused looks.  Remember you can copy this guide and simply point to the Spanish request.

Consider that, while fun, creating a back and forth language exchange will most likely be confusing for both parties in Latin America.  When you really need something keep it simple.  If you can not understand their reply slowly repeat your request or try the I DON'T UNDERSTAND section.  Everything in here is set up so only a simple reply or no reply will be needed.  Please consider heeding the tips...it is a foreign country.  At the end there will be a small dictionary with words you can choose to add to the examples as you need. 

NUMBERS

Allow me to start with the numbers.  You have probably been told repeatedly that you simply have to learn the numbers.  Not true.   After you ask them , "Cuantos pesos por favor"  and you can not understand their very rapid reply, hand them a pen a paper and, simply say:

Write it please.

Escribalo por favor.

 ess-KREE-ba-lo  por fa-VOR

TAXIS

Please consider always negotiating the fare in advance, repeat it, have him repeat it or, have him write it. Show the driver the bill you are going to pay with and say "cambio - KAHM-b`yo?" (change)?  If he says no, consider getting another taxi. Consider that  it  is often much easier to hire a taxi  than figure out directions, even if you are driving (we have hired taxis to let us follow them). Taxis are much cheaper and more abundant in Latin America than in the United States.  Note that it is often a better deal to hire a taxi to take you (and your surfboards), watch your stuff, and bring you back than to rent a car.  Renting a car is more expensive in Latin America and they tend to price gouge if there is any problem.  See the dictionary at back for words to add after how many pesos for.

How many pesos to Senor Frogs?   

Cuantos Pesos a  Senor Frogs?

KWAN-tohs  PEH-sohs  ah  sen-YOR frogs?

Change?

Cambio?

KAHM-b`yo?

How much to the beach and back in four hours?

Cuantos Pesos para llevarnos a playa y regreso in cuatro horas

KWAN-tohs PEH-sohs PA-ra l'yeh-VAR-nohs ah PLA-ya EE reh-greh-SOH en KWA-tro OH-ras?

RESTROOMS

(see dictionary for choice of words to put after where is the)

Where is the restroom?  (or just say ba`no?)

Donde esta el ba`no?

DOHN-deh  ess-TA  el  BAHN-yo?

RESTAURANTS

Note that sometimes you may have to point at something on the menu and say "Quiero este por favor " (I want this please), not knowing exactly what it is.  Try to make sure it is all cooked (todo bien cocido) and drink directly out of sealed containers.  It is risky to eat fruits, uncooked vegetables, or drink tap water or ice water anywhere in Latin America.  This is mostly because they wash almost everything in contaminated tap water.  We usually  buy most of our food at grocery stores  when in Latin America.  We soak the fruits and vegetables in disinfectant for 10 minutes ( bleach -1 teaspoon per quart of purified water).  See dictionary for words to add after I want.

I want one bottled water, no glass, no ice please (Latin Americans will often pour it in an ice filled glass)

Quiero una agua en botella, no vaso, no hielo por favor.

KEY-EH-ro   OO-na AH-gwa, en bot-TE-ya  no VA-so  no YEH-lo

The menu please.

El menu por favor.

ehl meh-NOO por fa-VOR

I want this please, no salad, no fruit (pointing at menu item).

Quiero este por favor, no ensalada, no frutas

KEY-EH-ro  ESS-teh  por fa-VOR , no en-sa-LA-da , no FROO-tahs

Sometimes they will bring it with the fruit or salad anyway.  If this happens, either pay for it and leave, or keep the plate, and say "carne y tortillas, no mas.  Repeta por favor."  If you let them take the plate it will likely get scraped off and returned.

Meat and tortillas, no more.  Repeat please.

Carne y tortillas, no mas.  Repeta por favor.

KAR-neh ee tohr-TEA-ya.  reh-PEE-ta por-fa-VOR

The check please (Latin Americans generally do not give you the bill until you ask for it).

La cuenta por favor

la-KWEN-ta por fa-VOR

BUS

Do not give the ticket agent your money until you are sure you are leaving on the soonest bus.   If you ask them for a first class ticket to your final destination and there is no direct bus that day, they will politely tell you no, or give you a time when the direct bus leaves tomorrow etc.  It is very likely there will be another first class bus leaving much sooner along the same route.  Look at a map and ask the agent when the bus leaves for the largest cities along the route starting with the farthest city.    Also consider second class buses which are much more frequent.  Be aware that there is probably another bus station somewhere nearby with a bus leaving sooner.  From 6a to 10p along main routes there is usually some kind of bus going by hourly.

What hour does it leave to Monterrey?  Note that if you request they write it and you see 2300 that means 11 PM (24 hour system).

Que hora sale a Monterrey?

keh OH-ra sa-LEY ah mon-te-REY

One ticket to Sayulita please.  First class. At eight.  One way.  Take first class or executive class when possible.  Second class is ok for a few hours.

Un bolleto a Sayulita por favor.  Primera clase. A la ocho.  Ida.

oon boh-LEH-toh ah sigh-you-LEE-tah por fa-VOR.  pree-MEH-rah KLA-seh. ah lah Oh-cho.  EE-dah.

Executive class. Second class.
Ejecutivo classe. Segunda classe.
ee-HECK-you-TEA-voh KLA-seh. seh-GOON-da KLA-seh

Please tell me where to get off for Santa Cruz?

Digame, por favor, donde debo bajar para Santa Cruz?

DEE-ga-meh, por fa-VOR , DOHN-deh DEH-bo ba-HAR PA ra SAHN ta CRUZ?

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND

I do not understand

No comprendo.

No kom-PREN-doh.

Do you understand?

Comprende?

kom-PREN-deh?

Yes.

Si.

see

No

No

no

I speak very little Spanish.

Hablo espanol.muy pocito

Ah-blo ess-pahn-YOHL mwee po-KEE-toh.

Do you speak English?

Habla Ingles?

Ah-bla een-GLEHSS?

I need an interpreter please.

Necessito un interprete por favor.

neh-seh-see-TOH oon een-TEHR-preh-teh por fa-VOR.

Thank you.

Gracias.

GRA-c`yahs.

I'm sorry.

Lo siento

lo S`YEN-toh.

How do you say this in Spanish? (pointing at object-children love this game)

Como se dice in espanol?

KO-mo say DEE-say en ess-pahn-YOHL?

GETTING DIRECTIONS

Remember if you are lost or do not know how to find something it is probably easiest to tell a taxi to take you there.  Be aware that Latin Americans think it is rude to not give help to someone who is asking for help.  They will give directions when they really do not do not know exactly where something is.  Try to have detailed maps of all areas you will travel.  Sanborn's are the best.  Do not show a map to a local so they can point out directions.  Locals mostly navigate by landmarks, and will point politely, and  uselessly at what seems to them a likely spot on the map.   Remember taxis.

Point the direction to Ixtapa.

Punte la direccion a Ixtapa.

PUN-teh la dee-rek-S`YOHN ah IK-stopa.

Is this the road to Manzanillo?

Es este el camino a Manzanillo?

ess ESS-teh el ka-MEE-no ah MON-zan-eeyoh?

How many streets (kilometers)

Cuantos calles (kilometros)?

KWAN-tohs KAHL-yeh (kee-LOO-meh-tros?

Left?

izquierdo?

ess-K`YEHR-doh?

Right?

Derecha?

deh-REH-cha?

Straight?

Derecho?

deh-REH-cho?

HOTELS

Do you have a room?

Tiene una habitacione?

T`YEH-neh OO-na ah-bee- ta-S`YOHN?

With two beds, hot water, and airconditioning?

Con dos camas,agua caliente, y aire acondicionado

kohn dohs KA-mahs, Ah-gwa kahl-YEN-teh, EE I-reh ah-kohn-dee-s`yo-NA-doh?

I should like to see it.

Me gustaria verla.

meh goo-sta-REE-ya VEHR-la.

Cheaper please.

Mas barato por favor.

mahs ba-RA-toh por fa-VOR

Note that bargaining is a respected practice in Latin America.  Suggest or write another amount and say O.K?   If they will not bargain walk away.  If they still do not bargain consider going back and paying the first amount.  They will not be insulted.

CAR

Please make sure they zero the pump before they put gas in your vehicle.

Fill with this please (point to the most expensive gasoline-the cheaper gas is much lower octane than cheap gas in the U.S.).

llene con este por favor.

yeh-nay kohn EES-teh por fa-VOR

MONEY

When exchanging money simply put your dollars etc. in the slot and say "pesos por favor" or say what ever other currency such as colones for Costa Rica.  Remember that Latin American buisness' are terrible about keeping change so try to not get bills larger than the equivalent of ten American dollars (one hundred Mexican pesos).

(When going by taxi);

How many dollars to the money exchange (bank).

Cuantos pesos a casa de cambio (banco).

KWAN-tos  peh-sohs ah KA-sa day KAHM-b`yo (BAHN-ko).

All one hundred pesos, nothing larger por favor.

Todo cien pesos, no mas grande please.

TOH-doh S`YEN  peh-sohs, no mahs GRAHN-deh por fa-VOR.

DICTIONARY                               

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this guide contains the crude, workable basics of Spanish for travelers. Copy this guide and go where tourists fear to tread!