Travel words and phrases in Spanish you should know
What do you need to know when traveling to Colombia or any Spanish-speaking country?
If you don’t have enough time to enroll in a Spanish class or simply are not interested in speaking Spanish but want to learn the basics. Then, this short guide will make your life easier.
You will hear these words, sentences, and questions very often, so you better get familiar with them!
1. Spanish greetings and courtesy words
Colombians are very polite; you must learn and use these words when traveling. People would understand if you didn’t know them because of the language barrier, but you’ll get extra points if you did.
| Hola | Hello |
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon |
| Buenas noches | Good evening |
| ¿Cómo está? | How are you? |
| Bien, gracias | Good, thank you |
| Adiós, Chao | Bye |
| Hasta luego, Nos vemos (luego) | See you later |
| Por favor, porfa (informal) | Please |
| Sí, gracias | Yes, thank you |
| No, gracias | No, thank you |
| Gracias, Muchas gracias | Thank you, Thank you very much |
| De nada | You’re welcome. / Not at all. |
| Con gusto | It’s a pleasure |
| Disculpe | Excuse me |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| Quiero/Quisiera … | I want / I would like … |
| Puede/Podría…? | Can you…/ Could you? |
2. Spanish basic questions and sentences
| ¿Qué hora es? | What ‘s time is it? |
| ¿Cuánto es?, ¿Cuánto vale? | How much is it? |
| ¡Está muy caro! | It ‘s expensive! |
| No hablo español (muy bien). | I don’t speak Spanish (very well) |
| ¿Hablas inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| Podría hablar más despacio, por favor. | Could you please speak slowly |
| Puede repetir, por favor | Can you repeat, please |
| ¿Puedo sentarme aquí? | Can I sit here? |
| Me llamo…., y tú? | I´m ….., and you? |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you |
| Encantada(o), un placer conocerte | A pleasure to meet you |
| ¿De dónde eres? | Where are you from? |
| Soy de… | I´m from… |
| No entiendo | I don’t understand. |
| No sé | I don’t know. |
| Vale, Listo, De una! | OK. |
| Estoy perdido/a | I´m lost |
| ¿Me podría ayudar, por favor? | Could you help me, please? |
| Cool | Chévere |
3. Spanish vocabulary at the Airport
| Puedo ver su pasaportes, por favor | Can I see your passport, please? |
| ¿Cuál es el motivo de su viaje? | What’s the purpose of your trip? |
| Turismo o negocios | Tourism or business |
| ¿Por cuánto tiempo estará en Colombia? | For how long will you be in Colombia? |
| ¿Viene solo(a), o acompañado(a)? | Are you traveling alone, or with someone else? |
| Estamos viajando juntos | We are traveling together |
| El vuelo se canceló | The flight has been canceled |
| ¿Puedo cancelar mi reserva? | Can I cancel my booking? |
| ¿Puedo cambiar mi asiento? | Can I change my seat? |
| ¿Dónde está la puerta de embarque? | Where’s the boarding gate? |
| Pasabordo | Boarding pass |
| Perdí mi vuelo! | I missed my flight! |
4. Spanish vocabulary for hotel and accommodation
| Reservar | To book |
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | I have a reservation under the name of… |
| Puedo confirmar/Cancelar la reserva? | Can I Confirm/cancel the booking? |
| Estadía de x noches | x-night stay |
| ¿Para cuántas personas? | For how many people? |
| Con / sin ducha / baño | with / without a shower/bathroom |
| Habitación individual/doble | Single/double room |
| Cama sencilla/doble | Single/double bed |
| No funciona | It´s not working |
| ¿Tiene piscina? | Is there a pool? |
| ¿A qué hora es el desayuno? | What time is breakfast? |
| El desayuno es hasta las 11:00 am | Breakfast is until 11:00 am |
| Arriendo de un mes | One month rent |
| Depósito | Deposit |
| No se aceptan mascotas | Pets are not allowed |
5. Asking for Directions in Spanish
| ¿Dónde está…? | Where is…? |
| El restaurante | The restaurant |
| El banco | The bank |
| El Aeropuerto | The airport |
| La estación del bus | The bus stop |
| La estación de Transmilenio | The transmilenio station |
| Esta dirección | This address |
| Este hotel | This hotel |
| El baño | The toilet/restroom |
| Disculpe, ¿sabe si hay un/una……cerca? | Excuse me, do you know if there is a…. close by? |
| Restaurante | Restaurant |
| Cajero | ATM |
| Café | Café |
| Supermercado | Supermarket |
| Tienda | Convenience store |
| Panadería | Bakery |
| Droguería/Farmacia | Drugstore/Pharmacy |
| Estación de Gasolina | Gas station |
| Hospital | Hospital |
If you are giving directions to the taxi or Uber driver
| Me lleva por favor a… | Can you please take me to … |
| ¿Puede poner el taxímetro? | Can you put the meter on? |
| Aquí | Here |
| Allá | There |
| A la derecha | To the right |
| A la izquierda | To the left |
| Derecho | Straight |
| En la esquina | At the corner |
| A una cuadra | In one block |
| Me deja por acá, por favor | Can you drop me off here, please |
6. Useful Spanish vocabulary when in a Restaurant, Café or Bar
| Disculpe | Excuse me (to attract attention) |
| ¿Tiene…? | Do you have…? |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
| Me trae…., por favor | Can I have a/some …, please |
| Una cerveza por favor | A beer please |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Desayuno | Breakfast |
| Almuerzo | Lunch |
| Cena | Dinner |
| Entrada | Starter |
| Plato Fuerte | Main dish |
| Postre | Dessert |
| Bebidas | Drinks |
| Con/sin azúcar | With/without sugar |
| sal | salt |
| tomate | tomato |
| ajo | garlic |
| cebolla | onion |
| carne | meat |
| leche | milk |
| Limón | Lemon |
| Botella de vino | Bottle of wine |
| Vino tinto | Red wine |
| Vino blanco | White wine |
| Tinto | Black coffee |
| Té | Tea |
| Agua con gas | Sparkling water |
| Gaseosa | Soda |
7. Spanish medical vocabulary
| Cita médica | Doctor’s appointment |
| Cita de control | Follow-up appointment |
| Seguro de salud internacional | International health insurance |
| Me siento enfermo(a) / No me siento bien | I feel sick / I don’t feel well |
| ¿El doctor habla inglés? | Does the doctor speak English? |
| ¿Necesito prescripción médica? | Do I need a prescription? |
| ¿Qué medicamento necesito? | What medicine do I need? |
| Resfriado | A cold |
| Dolor de garganta | Sore throat |
| Tos | Cough |
| Fiebre | Fever |
| Dolor de cabeza | Headache |
| Dolor de estómago | Stomachache |
We guarantee that with this quick and easy guide, you will be able to “survive” when traveling around Colombia. These are the most basic words, sentences, and questions you need to know.
And if you want to speak more fluently with local people here, we highly recommend taking some General Spanish classes.
