5 Vital Spanish Phrases for Your Next Trip
I recently wrote a Travel Spanish audio program called Travel Savvy. As I came to the end of the program and wrote a final exam to help students review all of the material, I identified 5 important words that everyone should know before their next trip. You can use these words in either questions or statements to communicate important messages as you travel.
1. Quiero. I want. Restaurant
Quiero un café, por favor. I want a coffee please. Use this for ordering food and drinks on your trip. Change un café for whatever you would like to order like this:
Quiero arroz con pollo, por favor. I want chicken with rice please.
2. Tengo. I have. Shopping
Tengo 10 pesos. I have 10 pesos. When you go shopping, you will often have the chance to barter for a good price. If you tell the person who is working the stand that you only have 10 pesos, they will often be able to sell you the item that you want for that price.
3. Necesito. I need. Hotel
Necesito una habitación doble. I need a double room. When you check into a hotel, you can tell them what kind of room you need. Change out doble to ask for a different type of room, like this:
Necesito una habitación sencillo. I need a single room.
4. Puedo. I can. Asking for permission
¿Puedo nadar aquí? Can I swim here? Use this to ask for permission to do something. When you are in a foreign country and don’t speak the language, you can accidentally do something illegal or dangerous without knowing. Substitute out nadar for any other action like this:
¿Puedo estacionar aquí? Can I park here?
5. Busco. I am looking for. Asking for directions and recommendations
Busco la parada de autobús. I’m looking for the bus stop. When you are lost or can’t find what you are looking for, use busco to ask for help. Substitute out la parada de autobús like this:
Busco el aeropuerto. I’m looking for the airport.
Busco un restaurante bueno. I’m looking for a good restaurant. Get recommendations from the locals to try the best food in town.
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