Survival Phrases
The phrases you need before you need them — for travellers, beginners, and anyone starting out.
You don't need perfect grammar to survive — and often thrive — in a Spanish-speaking environment. What you need is a handful of reliable phrases you can deploy confidently in common situations: asking for help, ordering food, getting directions, handling an unexpected problem. These phrases work as standalone units, even if you can't yet construct full sentences from scratch.
The phrases here have been selected for real-world utility: not the textbook phrases you'll rarely use, but the ones that actually come up when you're travelling, working, or living in a Spanish-speaking country. Several of them — ¿Me puede ayudar?, No entiendo, ¿Cuánto cuesta? — will be useful on almost any trip.
A few quick tips: Adding por favor to any request immediately makes it more polite. ¿Puede repetir más despacio? (Can you repeat more slowly?) is arguably the most important phrase on this list for beginners. How to use this guide: Pick 5 phrases before your next trip and practise saying them out loud — no grammar knowledge required.
| Spanish Phrase | English | When to use it | Pro tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Me puede ayudar? | Can you help me? | Asking for help | Polite and universal — works in any shop, hotel, or street situation. |
| No entiendo. | I don't understand. | Communication breakdown | Simple and essential. Follow with '¿Puede repetir más despacio?' to ask them to slow down. |
| ¿Puede hablar más despacio? | Can you speak more slowly? | Communication breakdown | One of the most useful phrases for any beginner — never hesitate to use it. |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | Shopping & paying | Works anywhere money changes hands — markets, restaurants, taxis. |
| La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. | At the restaurant | The phrase every traveller needs. You can also say '¿Me trae la cuenta?' |
| Quiero esto. | I want this. | Ordering / shopping | Point and say this. Combine with 'por favor' for extra politeness. |
| ¿Dónde está...? | Where is...? | Directions | Fill in any noun: '¿Dónde está el baño?' / '¿Dónde está la salida?' |
| A la derecha / A la izquierda | To the right / To the left | Directions | Understand these two and you can follow most basic directions. |
| Todo recto. | Straight ahead. | Directions | The third direction word you need. Often paired with derecha and izquierda. |
| Tengo una reserva. | I have a reservation. | Hotel / restaurant | Essential check-in phrase. Follow with your name: 'A nombre de...' |
| ¿Hay wifi aquí? | Is there wifi here? | Everywhere | One of the most-used phrases of the 21st century. |
| Necesito un médico. | I need a doctor. | Emergency | Critical in emergencies. Also: '¡Llame a la policía!' (Call the police!) |
| Lo siento. | I'm sorry. | Apology / politeness | For genuine apologies. For small bumps ('excuse me'), use 'Perdona' or 'Perdón'. |
| ¿Está incluido? | Is it included? | Travel & dining | Useful for checking if service, breakfast, or taxes are included in the price. |
| Un momento, por favor. | One moment, please. | Buying time | Gives you time to think, find something, or process what was said. |
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