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In collaboration
with Rough Guides
Speak like a local: Essential Spanish phrases for your getaway
It's easy to pick up a few words in Spanish. English is spoken in the main tourist areas of the Canary Islands, but you’ll get a far better reception if you try communicating with Canarios in their own tongue. When it comes to pronunciation, Canarian Spanish differs by the absence of a “lisp” on the letter “c” before vowels – which is replaced by an “s” sound. So Barcelona, pronounced Barthelona in Spain, becomes Barselona. However, in casual conversation, locals don't even really bother with “s” sounds at all, particularly at the end of a word – so gracias becomes gracia.
In collaboration
with Rough Guides
Words and phrases
Basics
Yes, No, OK Si, No, Vale
Please, Thank you Por favor, Gracias
Where?, When? ¿Dónde?, ¿Cuándo?
The Canary Islands welcome as many as 12 million visitors per year.
What?, How much? ¿Qué?, ¿Cuánto?
Here, There Aquí, Allí
This, That Esto, Eso
Now, Later Ahora, Más tarde
Open, Closed Abierto/a, Cerrado/a
With, Without Con, Sin
Good, Bad Buen(o)/a, Mal(o)/a
Big, Small Gran(de), Pequeño/a
Cheap, Expensive Barato, Caro
Hot, Cold Caliente, Frío
More, Less Más, Menos
Today, Tomorrow Hoy, Mañana
Yesterday Ayer
The bill La cuenta
Greetings and responses
Hello Hola
Goodbye Adiós
Good morning Buenos días
Good afternoon/night Buenas tardes/noches
See you later Hasta luego
Sorry Lo siento/Disculpe
Excuse me Con permiso/Perdón
How are you? ¿Cómo está (usted)?
I (don’t) understand (No) Entiendo
You’re welcome/not at all De nada
Do you speak English? ¿Hablas (usted) inglés?
I (don’t) speak Spanish (No) Hablo español
My name is… Me llamo…
What’s your name? ¿Como se llama usted?
Transport and directions
How do I get to…? ¿Por donde se va a…?
Left Izquierda
Right derecha
Straight on todo recto
Where is…? ¿Dónde está…?
… the bus station …la estación de guaguas
… the nearest bank …el banco mas cercano
The island of La Gomera developed its own whistling language called “Silbo Gomero”, in order to communicate across its vast valleys.
… the post office …el correos/la oficina de correos
… the toilet …el baño/los aseos
Where does the bus to… leave from? ¿De dónde sale la guagua para…?
I’d like a (return) ticket to… Quisiera un billete (de ida y vuelta) para…
What time does it leave? ¿A qué hora sale?
Numbers and days
1 un/uno/una
2 dos
3 tres
4 cuatro
5 cinco
6 seis
7 siete
8 ocho
9 nueve
10 diez
11 once
12 doce
13 trece
14 catorce
15 quince
16 diez y seis
17 diez y siete
18 diez y ocho
19 diez y nueve
20 veinte
100 cien(to)
1000 mil
Monday lunes
Tuesday martes
Wednesday miércoles
Thursday jueves
Friday viernes
Saturday sábado
Sunday domingo
Menu reader
To have breakfast Esmorzar
To have lunch Dinar
To have dinner Sopar
Knife Ganivet
Fork Forquilla
Spoon Cullera
Table Taula
Bottle Ampolla
Glass Got
Menu Carta
Soup Sopa
Salad Amanida
Hors d’oeuvres Entremesos
You’ll hear these casual phrases out and about in Barcelona – and dropping them in to conversation will make you smug with sophistication:
Fem un café? Let’s have a coffee
Salut i força al canut! To health and money
Déu n’hi do! Wow!
S’ha acabat el bròquil The jig is up
Quatre gats Four cats (as in, only four people turned up, a small gathering)
agua minerale mineral water
à la plancha grilled
al ajillo in garlic
al punto medium
arroz rice
asado roast
atún tuna
azúcar sugar
bacalao cod
bocadillo sandwich
boquerones anchovies
buey/res beef
café coffee
calamares squid
callos tripe
cangrejo crab
cerdo pork
cerveza beer
champiñones mushrooms
cocido stew
cordero lamb
ensalada salad
entremeses hors-d’oeuvre
flan caramel custard
helado ice cream
jamón serrano cured ham
judías beans
langosta lobster
leche milk
mariscos shellfish
mejillones mussels
pan bread
pescado fish
picante spicy
pollo chicken
postre dessert
pulpitos baby octopus
queso cheese
sal salt
ternera veal
tortilla omelette
trucha trout
salsa sauce
vino wine
verduras vegetables
Una cerveza, por favor One beer, please
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