20 Spanish Phrases for Beginners

If you’re just starting to learn Spanish, mastering some essential phrases can make your language journey easier. Whether you’re planning a trip to Spain, or any spanish speaking countries, these basic expressions will come in handy.

List of Spanish-speaking countries

There are 21 countries where Spanish is the official language:

North America

1. Mexico

Central America

2. Guatemala

3. El Salvador

4. Honduras

5. Nicaragua

6. Costa Rica

7. Panama

Caribbean

8. Cuba

9. Dominican Republic

10. Puerto Rico (territory of the U.S., but Spanish is the primary language)

South America

11. Venezuela

12. Colombia

13. Ecuador

14. Peru

15. Bolivia

16. Paraguay

17. Chile

18. Argentina

19. Uruguay

Europe

20. Spain

Africa

21. Equatorial Guinea (the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa)

Other Regions with Significant Spanish-Speaking Populations

While not official, Spanish is widely spoken in:

• United States – Large Spanish-speaking communities, especially in states like California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

• Belize – English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken by a large part of the population.

• Andorra – Catalan is the official language, but Spanish is widely spoken.

• Philippines – Spanish was an official language until 1987, and Chavacano (a Spanish-based creole) is still spoken in some regions.

• Western Sahara – Spanish is spoken due to colonial history with Spain.

Greetings

Hi! In Spanish: Hola

Good morning!

In Spanish: ¡Buenos días!

Good evening!

In Spanish: ¡Buenas noches!

- Welcome!

In Spanish: ¡Bienvenido! (if you're speaking to a male)

¡Bienvenida! (if you're speaking to a female)

- How are you?

In Spanish: ¿Cómo estás usted?

- I'm fine.

In Spanish: Estoy bien.

- No, I'm not well:

In Spanish: No, no estoy bien.

- What's your name?

In Spanish: ¿Cómo te llamas?

- My name is Savannah.

In Spanish: Me llamo Savannah.

- Do you speak Spanish?

In Spanish: ¿Hablas español?

- Yes, I speak Spanish.

In Spanish: ¡Sí, hablo español!

- No, I don't speak Spanish. In Spanish: No hablo español.

- I don't understand.

In Spanish: No lo entiendo.

- How to say ... in Spanish?

In Spanish: ¿Cómo se dice ... en español? I don't know. In Spanish: No sé.

- Please.

In Spanish: Por favor.

- Thank you.

In Spanish: Gracias.

- I'm sorry.

In Spanish: Lo siento.

- Where do you live?

In Spanish: ¿Dónde vives?

- I live in Barcelona.

In Spanish: Vivo en Barcelona.

- Goodbye!

In Spanish: ¡Adiós!

Nice to meet you!

In Spanish:  ¡Encantado/a!

- See you later !

In Spanish:  ¡Hasta luego!

- See you soon !

In Spanish: ¡Hasta pronto!

- Congratulations !

In Spanish: ¡Felicidades! 

Feel free to practice these phrases with a friend or your nearest teddy bear! 🐻 Remember, learning a new language takes time, so be patient and enjoy the journey!

Calendar Vocabulary in Spanish:

In Spanish, the months of the year are enero, febrero, marzo, abril, mayo, junio, julio, agosto, septiembre, octubre, noviembre, and diciembre. The days of the week are: lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, domingo.

Numbers in Spanish:

0. cero

1. uno

2. dos

3. tres

4. cuatro

5. cinco

6. seis

7. siete

8. ocho

9. nueve

10. diez

Colours in Spanish

Let’s explore some basic colours in Spanish

• Rojo: 

• Azul

• Verdo

• Amarillo

• Naranja

• Rosa

• Morado

• Marrón

• Gris

• Negro

• Blanco

Are you travelling to Spain?

Here 10 places to visit in Barcelona, Spain:

• Sagrada familia

• Park Güell

• Casa Batlló

• La Pedrera - Casa Milà

• Spotify Cam Nou

• Picasso Museum Barcelona

• Cathedral of Barcelona

• Plaça de Catalunya

• Montjuïc Castle

• La Rambla

• Ciutadella Park

• Arc de Triomf

LCS School can help you learn Spanish online with a native teacher.