Vocabulary

100 Common Spanish Phrases (with real translations)

9 min readUpdated 2026-06-01

Textbook Spanish and real Spanish are two different languages. The phrases below are the ones native speakers actually use, in the moments they actually use them.

Learn them in blocks by function, not as a flat list. Say them out loud. When you catch yourself thinking a sentence in English, look here first.

Greetings and goodbyes

¡Hola!, Hi!
Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches, Good morning / afternoon / evening.
¿Qué tal?, How's it going?
¿Cómo estás? / ¿Cómo va todo?, How are you? / How's everything?
Encantado / Encantada, Nice to meet you.
Hasta luego, See you later.
Hasta mañana, See you tomorrow.
Nos vemos, See you around.
Que tengas un buen día, Have a good day.
Cuídate, Take care.

Small talk starters

¿De dónde eres?, Where are you from?
¿A qué te dedicas?, What do you do (for work)?
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas aquí?, How long have you been here?
¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre?, What do you do in your free time?
¿Has estado en…?, Have you been to…?
Cuéntame, Tell me (about it).
¿En serio?, Really?
¡No me digas!, You don't say!
¡Qué casualidad!, What a coincidence!
Qué pequeño es el mundo, Small world.

Everyday polite phrases

Por favor, Please.
Muchas gracias, Thank you very much.
De nada / No hay de qué, You're welcome.
Perdón / Perdona / Disculpa, Sorry / Excuse me.
Lo siento, I'm sorry (for a mistake or bad news).
No pasa nada, No worries.
Con permiso, Excuse me (getting past someone).
¿Me puedes ayudar?, Can you help me?
¿Puedo hacerte una pregunta?, Can I ask you a question?
Muy amable, Very kind of you.

Reactions and agreement

Vale, Okay (Spain).
Claro / Claro que sí, Of course.
Por supuesto, Of course.
Sin duda, Without doubt.
Estoy de acuerdo, I agree.
Tienes razón, You're right.
Depende, It depends.
Puede ser, Could be.
No lo sé, I don't know.
Ni idea, No idea.

Expressing feelings

Estoy cansado / cansada, I'm tired.
Estoy contento / contenta, I'm happy.
Estoy nervioso / nerviosa, I'm nervous.
Tengo hambre / sed / sueño / frío / calor, I'm hungry / thirsty / sleepy / cold / hot.
Me da igual, I don't mind / it's all the same.
Me encanta, I love it.
No me gusta nada, I don't like it at all.
¡Qué rollo!, What a drag!
¡Qué guay! / ¡Qué chulo!, How cool! (Spain)
¡Qué pena!, What a shame!

Useful in shops, cafés and restaurants

¿Cuánto cuesta? / ¿Cuánto es?, How much is it?
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?, Can I pay by card?
La cuenta, por favor, The bill, please.
¿Me pone…? / ¿Me trae…?, Could I have… (formal, Spain).
Para llevar / Para tomar aquí, To go / To eat here.
Sin gluten / Sin lactosa / Vegetariano, Gluten free / Lactose free / Vegetarian.
Estoy solo mirando, I'm just looking.
¿Tienen una talla más grande?, Do you have a bigger size?
Me lo llevo, I'll take it.
¿Aceptan efectivo?, Do you accept cash?

Fillers and connective words

Pues…, Well… / So…
Bueno…, Well…
A ver…, Let's see…
O sea, I mean / that is.
En plan, Like / kind of (Spain, informal).
Encima, On top of that.
Además, Besides.
Sin embargo, However.
Total, que…, Long story short…
Al final, In the end.

How to actually memorize these

Don't drill them as flashcards. Pick 10 phrases each week and force yourself to slip them into real sentences. Change one thing about your life to make room for Spanish: mutter these phrases in the shower, on your commute, when you cook.

Frequently asked questions

Are these phrases the same in Spain and Latin America?

Most are universal. A few (vale, guay, chulo) are Spain-specific; Latin America uses bueno, chévere, bacán, padre, chido depending on country.

How many phrases do I need to sound natural?

About 200 well-used phrases will carry you through most everyday interactions.

Should I memorize phrases or grammar first?

Phrases give you immediate speaking ability. Grammar lets you generate new sentences. You need both, in parallel.

What's the fastest way to remember them?

Use them the same day you learn them. Practice creates the memory; review only maintains it.

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