Here are some basic Spanish phrases which you can use in everyday conversation, as well as some common words you will see on signs.
| Gracias | Thanks |
| Muchas gracias | Thanks very much |
The following are some polite ways you can reply to someone who thanks you:
| De nada | You're welcome |
| No tiene importancia | Don't mention it |
| No pasa nada | Not at all |
Saying hello and goodbye
Here are some different ways to greet people:
| Hola | Hello |
| Buenas | Hi (quite informal) |
| Buenos días | Good morning (used before noon) |
| Buenas tardes | Good afternoon (used from noon until around 8pm) |
The following expressions, on the other hand, are some different things you can say when saying goodbye:
| Adiós | Goodbye |
| Buenas noches | Goodnight |
| ¡Nos vemos! | See you! |
| ¡nos vemos pronto! | See you soon! |
| ¡hasta luego! | See you later! |
| ¡Qué tengas un buen día! | Have a nice day! |
| ¡Qué tengas un buen fin de semana! | Have a good weekend! |
Getting someone's attention and apologising
| Disculpe | Excuse me (can be used to get someone's attention, to get past someone, or to apologise) |
| Perdón | Sorry |
If someone apologises to you, you can reply using one of the following expressions:
| no hay problema or no pasa nada | No problem |
| Está bien | It's OK |
| No te preocupes | Don't worry about it |
Making yourself understood
| ¿Habla usted español? | Do you speak Spanish? |
| No hablo español | I don't speak Spanish |
| No hablo mucho español | I don't speak much Spanish |
| Solo hablo un poquito de español | I only speak very little Spanish |
| Hablo un poco de español | I speak a little Spanish |
| Por favor, hable más despacio | Please speak more slowly |
| Por favor, escríbalo | Please write it down |
| ¿Podría, por favor, repetir eso? | Could you please repeat that? |
| comprendo or entiendo | I understand |
| no comprendo or no entiendo | I don't understand |
Other basic phrases
| Lo sé | I know |
| No lo sé | I don't know |
| Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño? | Excuse me, where's the toilet? |
| Disculpe, ¿dónde está el aseo? | Excuse me, where's the toilet? |
Things you might see
| Entrada | Entrance |
| Salida | Exit |
| Salida de emergencia | Emergency exit |
| Aseos | Toilets |
| WC | WC |
| Caballeros | Gentlemen |
| Señoras | Ladies |
| Libre | Vacant |
| Ocupado | Occupied |
| Fuera de servicio | Out of order |
| No fumar | No smoking |
| Privado | Private |
| No pasar | No entry |
