A Friendly Hello

Like many other peoples, the Mexicans really appreciate when you try to speak their language — no matter how much you butcher it. Everyone will greet you with a smile even when you say a simple “Hola” (hello). And if you go so far as to say “Buenias dias” (Good day), you'll receive a like greeting and a smile in return.

To help you receive those Mexican smiles, I've prepared a short list of some basic greetings, preceded by a simple explanation of Spanish pronunciation. While many people who work in tourism can speak English, it's ever so nice to say just a little in their language. You'll be glad you did.

Basic Spanish Pronunciation

Pronounce Spanish vowels as follows:

a as in father

e as in yet

i as in greet

o as in open

u as in loot

Pronounce Spanish consonants as you do in English. But keep these differences in mind:

b and v are always pronounced as b

c before an a, o, or u is always pronounced as k

c before an e or i is always pronounced as s

ch is always pronounced as in chin

g before an a, o, or u is pronounced as in go

g before an e or i is pronounced as in hey

h is always silent

j is pronounced as ach

ll is pronounced as in million

ñ is pronounced as the ny in canyon

q is always pronounced as k

r is pronounced as in right

rr should be trilled

x (in Indian words) is pronounced as sh

x after an e or i is pronounced as h

z is always pronounced as s

Everyday Phrases

Good morning

Buenos días

Bway-nohs dee-ahs

Good afternoon

Buenas tardes

Bway-nohs tahrdehs

Good night

Buenas noches

Bway-nohs noh-chehs

How are you?

¿Cómo está usted?

¿Kohmoh ehstah oostehd?

Hello

Hola

Ola

Hello (on phone only)

Bueno

Bway-noh

So long

Hasta luego

Ahstah loo-eh-goh

Goodbye

Adiós

Ah-deeohs

Please

Por favor

Pohr fah-bohr

Thank you

Gracias

Grah-seeahs

Thank you very much

Muchas gracias

Moo-chahs grah-seeahs

You're welcome

De nada

Day nah-dah

Pleased to meet you

Mucho gusto

Moo-choh goos-toh

With pleasure

Con mucho gusto

Kohn moo-choh goo-stoh

How do you say _______________?

¿Cómo se dice _______________?

¿Koh-moh seh dee-she_______________?

Yes

See

No

No

Noh

Okay

Bueno

Bway-noh

All right

Bien

Bee-ehn

What time is it?

¿Qué hora es?

¿Keh ohrah ehs?

Excuse me

Perdóneme

Pehr-doh n-ney-may

Excuse me (when walking in front of someone)

Con permíso

Kohn per-mee-soh

Excuse me (interrupting speech)

Discúlpeme

Dees-cool-pe-me

I'm sorry

Lo siento

Loh see-ehn-toh

I am well

Estoy bien

Ehstoy bee-ehn

What's happening?

¿Qué pasa?

¿Keh pahsah?

I don't understand

No entiendo

Noh ehntee-ehn-doh

Where is _______________?

¿Dónde está_______________?

¿Dohn-deh eh-stah_______________?

When?

¿Cuando?

¿Kwahn-doh?

What?

¿Que?

¿Kay?

What do you wish?

¿Qué desea usted?

Keh dehss-ehah oos-tehd

I want

Yo quiero

Yoh kee-ay-roh

I would like

Quisiera

Keyh-see-air-ah

Do you have _______________?

¿Tiene usted _______________?

¿Tyah-nay oos-ted _______________?

The check, please

La cuenta, por favor

Lah kwehn-ta pohr fah-bohr

It's good

Hace buen

Ahseh boo-ehn

It's bad

Hace mal

Ahseh mahl

Weather

tiempo

tee-ehm-poh

How much is it?

¿Cuánto cuesta?

¿Kwahn-toh kwess-stah?

It's too expensive

Cuesta mucho

koo-ehstah moo-choh

Please take it

Me lo llevo

Meh loh lee-ay-voh

Where is the restroom?

¿Dónde está el baño?

¿Dohn-deh ehs-tah ehl banyo?

I feel sick

Me siento mal

Meh see-ehn-toh mahl

I need a doctor

Necesito un doctor

Neh-seh-see-toh oon dohk-tohr

Bring me

Tráigame

Tra-hee-gah-meh

Speak slowly

Hable lentamente

Ahb-leh lehn-tah-mehn-the

Do you speak English?

¿Habla usted inglés?

¿Hah-bla oosted een-glehs?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

¿Hay alguién aqui qué hable inglés?

¿Ahy ahl-gee-ehn keh ahbleh een-glehs?

To the right

A la derecha

ah lah day-ray-chuh

To the left

A la izquierda

ah lah ees-ky-ehr-dah

More

Más

Mahs

Less

Menos

May-noss

Small

Pequeño

Peh-kehn-yo

Quick

Rápido

Rah-peedo

More slowly

Más despacio

Mahs des-pah-cheeoh

Hot water

Agua caliente

Ahgwa kah-leeente

Cold water

Agua frio

Ahgwa free-oh

Here, please

Aqui, por favor

Ah-key pohr fah-bohr

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