Here we will introduce a few words that are used with a high frequency, and they are neutral, this means they are common to all Spanish speaking regions.
If you travel to a Spanish speaking region of the world, you will have to get your ear used to the local accent, local words and terms, and local idioms. Spanish from Spain is very different, regarding terminology and pronunciation, than Latin American Spanish, for example the term for “computer”. In Spain they use “ordenador”, while in Latin America they use the very different “computador” or “computadora”. Even within Latin America the accents are different. In a shop in Mexico you will hear “¿Tú quieres probarlo?”, while in Argentina you will likely hear “¿Vos querés probarlo?” (both mean “Do you want to try it on?”).
But truth is, any Spanish you speak will be understood everywhere you go, and of course, there are some great words that are used everywhere! The nouns are either feminine (f) or masculine (m) so you will know how to order “el pollo”, or “una ensalada”.
| Please = por favor |
Thankyou = gracias |
Excuseme = disculpe |
| Yes = sí |
No = no |
Ok/good = bueno |
| Morning = mañana (f) |
Afternoon = tarde (f) |
Night = noche (f) |
| Hotel = hotel (m) |
Room = habitación (f) |
Bed = cama (f) |
| Bathroom = baño (m) |
Towel = toalla (f) |
Paper = papel (m) |
| Hungry = hambre (f) |
Thirst = sed (f) |
Restaurant = restaurante (m) |
| Menu = menú (m) |
Dish = plato (m) |
Reservation = reserva (f) |
| Waiter = camarero (m) |
Waitress = camarera (f) |
Table = mesa (f) |
| Meat = carne (f) |
Chicken = pollo (m) |
Fish = pescado (m) |
| Pork = cerdo (m) |
Rice = arroz (m) |
Soup = sopa |
| Steak = bistec (Arg. bife) |
Ham = jamón (m) |
Cheese = queso (m) |
| Vegetables = vegetales (m) |
Salad = ensalada (f) |
Beverage = bebida (f) |
| Water = agua (f) |
Wine = vino (m) |
Bread = pan (m) |
| This = esto/esta |
That = eso/esa |
Very = muy |
| Big = grande |
Small = pequeño/a |
Help = ayuda (f) |
| Price = precio (m) |
Expensive = caro/a |
Cheap = barato/a |
| Pharmacy = farmacia (f) |
Bakery = panadería (f) |
Bank = banco (m) |
| Store = kiosko (m), sells cigarettes and sweets; or also almacén (m), sells food, groceries |
| Change = vuelto (m) |
Money = dinero (m) |
Creditcard = tarjeta de crédito (f) |
| Exchange = cambio (m) |
Map = mapa (m) |
Directions = orientación (f) |
| Entrance =entrada (f) |
Exit = salida (f) |
Bus/train Ticket= boleto (m) |
| Bus = autobús (m) |
Train = tren (m) |
Plane = avión (m) |
| Station = estación (f) |
Airport = aeropuerto (m) |
Bus stop = parada (f) |
| What? = ¿Qué? |
Where? = ¿Dónde? |
When? = ¿Cuándo? |
| How? = ¿Cómo? |
How much? = ¿Cuánto? |
Who? = ¿Quién? |
| To go = ir |
To eat = comer |
To have = tener |
| To ask = preguntar |
To request = pedir |
To be able/can = poder |
| To call = llamar |
To help = ayudar |
To pay = pagar |
| To order = ordenar |
To buy = comprar |
To make a reservation = reservar |
