Spanish Expressions and Useful Words

(Before starting this lesson on Spanish expressions, visit our Spanish pronunciation guide to learn basic pronunciation, and be sure to refer back to it as necessary. There is also a link to it from the homepage and site map.)

The best ways to learn a language is to start speaking it right away, and then learn the grammatical rules once you know a few words and expressions. You may want to print out the list of Spanish expressions below, so you can read over them several times a day until you know them. Each is followed by the most appropriate translation, and sometimes a more literal translation in parenthesis.

Spanish Expressions

¿Cuál es su nombre? - What is your name?

Mi nombre es Ana. - My name is Ana.

¿Cómo se llama usted? - What is your name?

Me llamo Ana. - My name is Ana (I call myself Ana).

Buenos días. - Good morning (Good day).

Buenas tardes. - Good afternoon.

Buenas noches. - Good evening (Good night).

¿Cómo está usted? - How are you?

Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y usted? - Very well, thank you. And you?

Le presento a Steve. - This is Steve (I introduce you to Steve).

Mucho gusto. - Nice to meet you (Much pleasure).

Igualmente. - And you too (Equally).

Hasta luego. - See you later (Until then).

Adiós. - Goodbye.

Hasta mañana. - See you tomorrow (Until tomorrow).

Por favor. - Please.

Gracias. - Thank you.

De nada. - You're welcome (It's nothing).

¿Cuánto cuesta? - How much (How much does it cost)?

Disculpe. - Excuse me.

Lo Siento. - I'm sorry.

La cuenta por favor. - The bill please.

¿Dónde está el baño? - Where is the bathroom?

¿Cómo se dice esto? - How do you say this (How does one say this)?

No entiendo. - I don't understand.

Hable más lento por favor. - Speak more slowly please.

¿De dónde es usted? - Where are you from?

Yo soy de los Estados Unidos. - I am from the United States.

Useful Spanish Words

En la casa = at home

sala = living room
comedor = dining room
dormitorio = bedroom
cocina = kitchen
baño = bathroom

Las estaciones = the seasons

invierno = winter
verano = summer
otoño = autumn
primavera = spring

La ubicación = the directions

norte = north
sur = south
este = east
oeste = west

La comida = the meal

desayuno = breakfast
almuerzo = lunch
cena = dinner

Los días = the days

lunes = Monday
martes = Tuesday
miércoles = Wednesday
jueves = Thursday
viernes = Friday
sábado = Saturday
domingo = Sunday

Los meses = The months

enero = January
febrero = February
marzo = March
abril = April
mayo = May
junio = June
julio = July
agosto = August
septiembre = September
octubre = October
noviembre = November
diciembre = December

Palabras de pregunta = question words

¿Qué? = What?
¿Cómo? = How?
¿Cuándo? = When?
¿Dónde? = Where?
¿Cuál? = Which?
¿Por qué? = Why?

Palabras de respuesta = answer words

Sí = yes
No = no
Quizás = maybe/perhaps
Tal vez = perhaps
Claro = of course
Nunca = never
Siempre = always
Ahora = now
Porque = because

Clcik here for the Spanish Pronunciation Guide