BASIC SPANISH FOR TRAVELLERS

BASIC SPANISH FOR TRAVELLERS

Planning a trip to Colombia involves more than just packing your bags. Familiarizing yourself with basic Spanish phrases can significantly enrich your travel experience, helping you connect with locals and navigate the country more effectively. Colombia is a country rich in culture and diversity and its language reflects that.

We cannot emphasise enough how much it can enhance your experience in Colombia if you spend a short while before your trip learning a few Spanish phrases. The locals you will encounter are some of the warmest and most hospitable people you could wish to meet. So return the favour with a small token of respect by impressing them with a Spanish phrase or two.

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These days, there are a variety of online Spanish language learning programs that make it simple to learn the language before you hit the road.
In the meantime, here are some valuable words and phrases to get you on your way:

GREETINGS AND BASIC SPANISH PHRASES

Often, all you need to start a conversation is a friendly greeting, like how to say hello and thank you.
Here is how to do that, along with some other phrases that will come in handy in every situation:

• Hola  Hello.

• Buenos día  Good morning

• Buenas tardes  Good afternoon

• Buenas noches  Good evening

• Adiós  Goodbye

• Si  Yes

• No  No

• Por favor  Please

• Gracias  Thank you

• De nada  You are welcome

• Lo siento  I am sorry

• Perdón  Excuse me

• ¿Habla inglés?  Do you speak English?

• ¿Cómo se dice ___?  How do you say ___?

• No entiendo  I do not understand

• Me llamo  My name is
• ¿Cómo se llama?  What is your name?

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ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS

It is easy to get lost in an unfamiliar country, but many locals are willing to assist you with directions if you ask.
Use these Spanish phrases to find your way around.

• ¿Dónde está…?  Where is…?

• ¿Cuál es la dirección?  What is the address?

• ¿Puede mostrarme en el mapa?  Can you show me on the map?

• ¿Podrías escribirlo, por favor?  Could you please write it down?

• a la izquierda  on/to the left
  a la derecha  on/to the right

• derecho  straight ahead

• al lado de…  next to

• norte  north

• sur  south

• este  east
• oeste  west

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DINING

Meals are an essential part of culture, so you should definitely make an effort to use Spanish when you are trying local cuisine.
The phrases below will have you covered when getting a table, ordering and paying:

• Una mesa para ___ por favor  A table for ___  please

• • dos  two

• • tres  three

• • cuatro  four

• Tengo una reserva a nombre de…  I have a reservation under the name of…

• ¿Qué recomienda?  What do you recommend?

• ¿Qué hay en este plato?  What is in this dish?

• Soy vegetariano/a*  I am vegetarian

• Soy vegano/a*  I am vegan

• No como…  I do not eat…

• Tengo alergia a…  I am allergic to…

• La cuenta, por favor   The bill, please.

• ¿Aceptan las tarjetas?  Do you accept credit cards?

• Solo se acepta efectivo  Cash only

• un desayuno   breakfast

• un almuerzo   lunch

• una cena   dinner

• una comida   food

• una bebida   drink

• una entrada   appetizer

• un plato principal   main dish

• un postre   dessert

• agua   water

• un café  a coffee

• un té  a tea

• una cerveza  a beer

• un vino  a wine

• caliente  hot

• frío  cold

• picante  spicy

• una cuchara  a spoon

• un tenedor  a fork

• un cuchillo  a knife

• un vaso  a glass

• un bol  a bowl

• un plato  a plate

• una servilleta  napkin

• delicioso  delicious.
• ¡Salud!  Cheers!

*The -o ending of this word is masculine and the -a ending is feminine.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotels and hostels mostly go above and beyond to work around any language barriers; however, it does not hurt to know some phrases like these when you are looking for lodgings:

• Tengo una reserva a nombre de…  I have a reservation under the name of…

• Necesito un cuarto para ___ personas.  I need a room for ___ people.

• • dos  two

• • tres  three

• • cuatro  four

• Una noche de estancia  One night stay

• Estancia de ___ noches  (more than one) night stay

• • dos  two

• • tres  three

• • cuatro  four

• una cama individual  a single bed

• una cama matrimonial  a double bed

• Necesito una cama extra  I need an extra bed.

• una almohada  a pillow

• una manta  a blanket

• ¿Cuál es la contraseña de Wifi?  What is the WiFi password?

• ¿A qué hora es el check out?  What time is check-out?

• ¿Puedo pedir un check out tardío?  Can I have a late check-out?
• ¿A qué hora sirven el desayuno?  What time do you serve breakfast?

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TRANSPORTATION

It is hard to travel through terminals on planes, buses and trains without knowing how to say at least some of these phrases to make sure you get where you need to go:

• el aeropuerto  the airport

• la puerta de embarque  the (airport) gate

• un avión  an airplane

• la estación de autobuses  the bus station

• un autobús  a bus

• una estación de tren  a train station

• un tren  a train

• una estación de metro  a subway station

• un metro  a subway

• un taxi  a taxi

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EMERGENCIES

Ideally, you will not need to use these phrases while you are traveling, but if an emergency arises, here are some useful Spanish phrases to help:

• Ayúdame, por favor  Help me, please

• No me siento bien  I do not feel well

• Necesito un médico  I need a doctor

• La cita médica  doctor’s appointment

• Necesito a la policía  I need the police

• un oficial de policía  a police officer

• Mi medicamento está ____  My medication is ____

• • en mi bolso  in my bag

• • en mi bolsillo  in my pocket

• • en mi maleta  in my suitcase

• ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercano?  Where is the closest pharmacy?

• ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano?  Where is the closest hospital?

• Me duele ___  My ___ hurts.

• • la cabeza  head

• el estómago  stomach
• el pecho  chest
  • me siento mareado  I feel dizzy
• tengo fiebre  I have a fever
• tengo problemas para respirar  I have trouble breathing
• seguro médico  health insurance

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CULTURAL NORMS

• Formality: In formal situations, use usted (you, formal) instead of tú  (you, informal) when addressing someone older or in a position of authority or whom you do not already know.
  If in any doubt, use usted (singular) or ustedes (plural)
• Greeting Etiquette: A handshake is common when meeting someone for the first time.
  Close friends and family may greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
• Respect for Elders: Address older people with titles like Señor (Mr), Señora (Mrs), or Señorita (Miss) followed by their last name to show respect.

By learning these essential Spanish phrases and cultural tips, you will navigate Colombia with confidence, respect local customs and connect more deeply with the people you meet. Enjoy the rich culture, delicious cuisine and warm hospitality that Colombia has to offer!

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