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Basics
Before you go deeper — a handful of phrases that'll save you in your first conversation. No grammar, no lists. Just start talking.
Learn these few and you won't get lost in Spain. — Ama
Hellos & goodbyes
- Hola/ˈo.la/PLCześćENHi
- Buenos días/ˈbwe.nos ˈdi.as/PLDzień dobry (rano)ENGood morning
- Buenas tardes/ˈbwe.nas ˈtaɾ.ðes/ðSoft 'd', like 'th' in 'this' — tongue lightly between the teeth.ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLDzień dobry (po południu)ENGood afternoon
- Buenas noches/ˈbwe.nas ˈno.tʃes/PLDobry wieczór / dobranocENGood evening / night
- Adiós/aˈðjos/ðSoft 'd', like 'th' in 'this' — tongue lightly between the teeth.PLDo widzeniaENGoodbye
- Hasta luego/ˈas.ta ˈlwe.ɣo/ɣSoft, throaty 'g' — with no full stop.PLDo zobaczeniaENSee you later
Courtesy
- Por favor/poɾ faˈβoɾ/βSoft 'b' — lips don't fully close (somewhere between 'b' and 'v').ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLProszę (o coś)ENPlease
- Gracias/ˈɡɾa.θjas/θLike 'th' in English 'think' — tongue tip between the teeth.ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLDziękujęENThank you
- De nada/de ˈna.ða/ðSoft 'd', like 'th' in 'this' — tongue lightly between the teeth.PLNie ma za coENYou're welcome
- Perdón/peɾˈðon/ðSoft 'd', like 'th' in 'this' — tongue lightly between the teeth.ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLPrzepraszam (uwaga / przejście)ENExcuse me
- Lo siento/lo ˈsjen.to/PLPrzykro miENI'm sorry
Numbers (1–5)
- uno/ˈu.no/PLjedenENone
- dos/dos/PLdwaENtwo
- tres/tɾes/ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLtrzyENthree
- cuatro/ˈkwa.tɾo/ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLczteryENfour
- cinco/ˈθiŋ.ko/θLike 'th' in English 'think' — tongue tip between the teeth.ŋ'ng' as in 'sing' — back of the tongue against the palate.PLpięćENfive
When you're stuck
- No entiendo/no enˈtjen.do/PLNie rozumiemENI don't understand
- ¿Puedes repetir?/ˈpwe.ðes re.peˈtiɾ/ðSoft 'd', like 'th' in 'this' — tongue lightly between the teeth.ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLMożesz powtórzyć?ENCan you repeat?
- Más despacio, por favor/mas desˈpa.θjo poɾ faˈβoɾ/θLike 'th' in English 'think' — tongue tip between the teeth.βSoft 'b' — lips don't fully close (somewhere between 'b' and 'v').ɾA single tapped 'r' — one flick of the tongue (as in 'pero').PLWolniej, proszęENSlower, please
- ¿Hablas inglés?/ˈa.βlas iŋˈɡles/βSoft 'b' — lips don't fully close (somewhere between 'b' and 'v').ŋ'ng' as in 'sing' — back of the tongue against the palate.PLMówisz po angielsku?ENDo you speak English?
- ¿Cómo se dice…?/ˈko.mo se ˈði.θe/θLike 'th' in English 'think' — tongue tip between the teeth.ðSoft 'd', like 'th' in 'this' — tongue lightly between the teeth.PLJak się mówi…?ENHow do you say…?
Getting to know you
- ¿Cómo estás?/ˈko.mo esˈtas/PLJak się masz?ENHow are you?
- ¿Cómo te llamas?/ˈko.mo te ˈʝa.mas/ʝLike 'y' in 'yes', only stronger (Spanish 'll' and 'y').PLJak masz na imię?ENWhat's your name?
- Me llamo…/me ˈʝa.mo/ʝLike 'y' in 'yes', only stronger (Spanish 'll' and 'y').PLMam na imię…ENMy name is…
- Mucho gusto/ˈmu.tʃo ˈɣus.to/ɣSoft, throaty 'g' — with no full stop.PLMiło miENNice to meet you
Ready to go further?
You already know these. Now pick where to go next — you can always come back here.