Click here to read the previous post Adjusting to Life in Spain: Road Trip Through Spain & Portugal (pt. 3)
🔤📕 Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to download an A-Z PDF version of these useful Spanish phrases! 🔤📕
Since moving to Spain a couple years ago, I’ve been keeping a list of useful Spanish phrases for various scenarios in which I found myself again and again. Over the years (nay, decades), I’ve taken Spanish classes, but textbook Spanish is not the same as street Spanish—as I learned the hard, or at least embarrassing, way.
I also found that when googling “useful Spanish phrases,” most articles focus on “Hola,” “Buenos días,” “Gracias,” “¿Cuánto cuesta?” and other such elementary terms, which is great for beginners, but far too simple for intermediate Spanish speakers.
When I say useful, I mean this kind of useful: “¡Anda ya, hombre!” (Come on, man!”), “¡Estás que te sales!” (You're amazing!), “¿Que coño?” (What the fuck?), “¡Qué va!” (Nope!), “¡Vaya que no!” (Oh yes it is!)
So I started jotting down actual, real-world Spanish words and phrases, double-checked them against the Spaniards I know, and then started using them in common situations, like ordering in a restaurant, going to a hair appointment, describing something or just quick, normal responses.
This list of everyday life sayings assumes you can already have basic conversations, but now would like your Spanish to sound more natural.
I’ve organized my list of words and phrases by scenario:
1. Quick reactions, surprise & disbelief
These are “real conversation glue” phrases you’d say instantly in conversation.
Nope!
¡Qué va!
Casual, emphatic
Oh yes it is!
¡Vaya que no!
Pushback / contradiction
Come on, [name]...
Anda ya, [nombre]...
Disbelief, teasing, or mild protest
Wow, thank you very much!
Vaya, ¡muchas gracias!
Warm surprise
Wow, congratulations!
¡Ostras, enhorabuena!
Very Spain-natural
Oh my God!
¡Madre mía!
Very useful everyday reaction
Fuck!
¡Joder!
Vulgar but common
2. Greeting people & checking in
¿Qué tal...? phrases are super common.
How’s it going?
¿Qué tal?
General, all-purpose
How’s everything going?
¿Qué tal va todo?
Slightly fuller check-in
How’s it going for you?
¿Qué tal te va?
More personal
How’s the week?
¿Qué tal la semana?
Natural casual check-in
How’s everything with you?
¿Qué tal todo contigo?
Personal, warm
How are you doing?
¿Qué tal estás?
More about mood/wellbeing
3. Making plans, meeting up & staying in touch
For social logistics.
Are you coming tomorrow?
¿Vienes mañana?
Simple, direct
Do you feel like…? / Do you fancy…?
¿Te apetece…?
Suggesting food, a movie, going somewhere.
You up for it?
¿Te animas?
Inviting someone to join
I’m in! / Count me in!
¡Me apunto!
Very useful
That works for me!
¡Me viene bien!
Plans / scheduling
I’ll let you know.
Ya te contaré.
Can mean “I’ll tell you later”
I’ll keep you posted.
Te voy contando.
Ongoing updates
How is tomorrow looking...?
¿Cómo pinta mañana...?
Asking how likely/possible tomorrow looks
As soon as possible
Cuanto antes / Lo antes posible
Both useful
And specific quedar uses:
To meet / arrange to meet
Quedar
Essential Spain Spanish
I met Marta / I’m meeting Marta.
He quedado con Marta.
Arranged to meet
Let’s meet downtown.
Quedamos en el centro. / Nos vemos en el centro.
Both natural
I can meet you at…
Puedo quedar contigo en...
Useful for plans
4. Arriving, leaving & getting around
These are very ‘everyday use’ phrases by tone.
I’m leaving.
Me voy.
Neutral
I’m heading out.
Me marcho.
Slightly more formal / intentional
I’m out of here.
Me largo.
Fed up / dramatic
I’ll be right over!
¡Ya voy!
Literally “I’m coming now”
How long does it take to get there?
¿Cuánto se tarda en llegar allí?
Very useful for travel/plans
5. Daily life, home & simple commands
Short phrases you’d use at home or with people you’re close to.
Let’s eat! / Time to eat!
¡A comer!
Everyday household phrase
Time for bed!
¡A dormir!
Everyday household phrase
Turn on your side, sweetie, you’re snoring.
Ponte de lado, cariño, que roncas.
Natural and affectionate
Listen to me. / Trust me on this.
Hazme caso.
More like “listen to me / take my advice”
6. Checking, clarifying & correcting yourself
Good for real conversation because people constantly clarify themselves.
Check / verify
Comprobar
Check that something is true (the door is locked, the phone works)
Try / test
Probar
Try or test something (clothes, food, method)
I can’t go tomorrow — I mean, Monday.
No puedo ir mañana, o sea, el lunes.
Self-correction
No, not at all.
No, para nada.
Clear denial / reassurance
You don’t even have to ask. / That goes without saying.
Eso ni se pregunta.
Also works as an emphatic “of course”
Is this seat free?
¿Está libre este asiento?
In cafés, theaters, buses, trains
7. Feelings, frustration & coping
When you don’t know what to say, here’s what to say.
I get overwhelmed.
Me agobio.
More like “I get overwhelmed” easily or in certain situations.
I’m overwhelmed.
Estoy agobiada/o.
More like “I’m feeling overwhelmed” right now.
It pisses me off that…
Me jode que…
Vulgar / informal
Cope
Lidiar
General idea
Deal with / handle
Lidiar con
Used with a specific thing/problem
I don’t understand a single thing.
No entiendo ni un pimiento.
Idiomatic, casual
8. Opinions, preferences & compliments
Expressions for talking about your experience.
What I like least
Lo que menos me gusta
Very useful structure
What I like most
Lo que más me gusta
Very useful structure
This meal looks great!
¡Qué buena pinta tiene esta comida!
Literally about how appetizing it looks
Insanely good
Brutal
Very natural informal praise
You’re amazing!
¡Estás que te sales!
“You’re on fire / killing it”
Damn! You’re awesome! / the best!
¡Joder! ¡Eres la caña de España!
Very colloquial and emphatic
Practice makes perfect.
La práctica hace al maestro.
Encouraging / process-oriented
9. Time, sequence & results
Some useful “finally” and time distinctions.
From one day to the next / overnight
De un día para otro
Change happened very quickly from one day to the next
Overnight / almost overnight
De la noche a la mañana
More idiomatic and emphatic: seemingly all at once
Suddenly / all of a sudden
De repente
Very common
Finally / at last
Por fin
A sense of waiting, relief, impatience, or achievement
Finally / in the end / eventually
Al final
Focusing on the outcome rather than the waiting
After some time / after a while
Al cabo de un rato / al cabo de un tiempo
After a passage of time
After all / when all is said and done / ultimately
Al fin y al cabo
Common expression
By the time I returned...
Para cuando volví...
Useful narrative phrase
10. Idioms & set expressions
These idioms will make you sound like a native Spaniard.
To turn things around
Darle la vuelta a la tortilla
Very idiomatic
Needless to say…
Ni que decir tiene que… / No hace falta decir que…
Set expression
She’s got a new boyfriend.
Se ha echado un novio nuevo.
Informal, idiomatic
Not a single thing (literally: not even a pepper)
Ni un pimiento
Used in “No entiendo ni un pimiento”
Take a look / take a look at it
Echa un vistazo / Échale un vistazo
Common idiom
11. Swearing, anger & vulgar phrases
These are common in Spain, but also can be strong, so use them at your discretion.
Not a fucking word
Ni una puta palabra.
Strong / vulgar
Shut the fuck up!
¡Cállate la puta boca! / ¡Cállate, joder!
Very strong / aggressive
Shut up!
¡Cállate!
Common in Spain
What the fuck are you talking about?
¿Qué coño dices?
Vulgar / confrontational
It pisses me off that…
Me jode que…
Vulgar but common
Holy fuck!
¡Joder! / ¡Qué cojones!
Strong / vulgar
What the fuck?!
¿¡Qué coño?!
Strong / vulgar
Holy shit!
¡Hostia!
Very common exclamation of shock/surprise
Holy fucking shit!
¡Hostia puta!
Considerably stronger
12. Word nuance
A few nuances to help you be more precise.
Shout / yell
Gritar
About volume
Scream / shriek
Chillar
About pitch + sharpness
See
Ver
Perceive / notice visually
Means “watch” when consuming visual media.
Look at / watch
Mirar
Direct your attention visually
Hear
Oír
Perceive sound
Listen to
Escuchar
Pay attention to sound
Note: All photos taken or created (using DALL-E) by Selena Templeton, unless otherwise noted.
If you enjoyed reading this travel blog, check out some of my other adventures:
Adjusting to Life in Spain: Dating in My Non-Native Language
Adjusting to Life in Spain: Using the Spanish Healthcare System
Adjusting to Life in Spain: Damn, I Can’t Find My Favorite Products Here!
From Fiesta Invites to Flamenco Nights: My Adventure in Spain
My Road Trip to the Four Corners: Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona
