Mexico Useful Words and Phrases (Useful Spanish Words and Phrases)
Knowledge of a few basic Spanish phrases is quite handy especially when asking for help, asking for directions and starting a conversation. You could also interact with locals fairly well. They will take kindly to your attempts to converse in their mother tongue, even if you only know a few Mexican Spanish words and phrases. While a regualr traveler’s phrase book would suffice, it is advisable to enroll in a Spanish language class if you intend to stay longer in Mexico. This section of our pocket Mexico Travel Guide includes some useful words and phrases in the local language of your destination. It’s your simple reference tool for basic greetings, when you go shopping, and when having a meal at a restaurant.
This guide at the very least ensures that you’d be able to read the restaurant menu items better and be as polite as possible. The last thing you would want on your vacation is a social faux pas because you accidentally violated a norm or practice verbally. Even if it’s unintentional, it is still best to do as they do for as much as you can.
Mexico’s primary language is Spanish, which is slightly different from the basic Spanish as it is mixed with Mayan and Nahautl words. For example, the word avocado is aguacate in Spanish that is derived from the Nahuatl word ahuácatl. While most Spanish-speaking countries use pavo for turkey, in Mexico the term used is guajolote from the Nahuatl word huaxōlōtl. In Spanish, kite is translated into cometa whereas it is called papalote in Mexican Spanish. Likewise, tomato translates to tomate in regular Spanish while it is called jitomate, from the Nahuatl word xītomatl in Mexico.
World Interpreting, LLC offers first-rate professionaltranslations to and fromany language. We are amember of ATA or AmericanTranslators Association, and we offer all our clients the best type of service available, in the most professional manner. We stand behind all the work that we do and you are assured that the translation of your documents are done accurately and submitted promptly, no matter what size your translation project may be.
If you are in need of document translation from English to Mexican Spanish or vice versa, whether for your business, school or personal needs, please contact us now using the online form provided. For faster response, you can also opt to email your documents to info@worldinterpreting.com.
Mexico Useful Words and Phrases – Basic Greetings
Good morning
Good afternoon
Good evening and Good night
How are you?
What’s up?
Farewell
Hello
What is your name?
My name is …
This is my friend/boyfriend/husband
This is my friend/girlfriend/wife
It is a pleasure to meet you
Do you speak English?
Please
Do you understand?
I do not understand
Thank you
Excuse me
When?
Who?
Why?
What?
At what time?
How long?
I don’t know
I’m tired
You are welcome
No problem
Please repeat that.
Amazing
You
Yes
No
I’m sorry.
Excuse me, pardon me
See you later
I’m ready
It’s cold (weather)
It’s hot (weather)
I’m hot (temperature)
I’m cold ( temperature )
A little
A lot
Some
Tomorrow
Morning
Afternoon
Evening / night
Next week
Buenos Dias
Buenas Tardes
Buenas Noches
Cómo estás?
Qué onda?
Adiós
Hola!
Cómo se llama?
Me llamo…
Este es mi amigo/novio/marido
Este es mi amiga/novia/mujer
Mucho gusto en conocerle /Mucho gusto
Habla inglés?
Por favor
¡me entiendes?/¡me comprendes?
No entiendo.
Gracias
Perdón/Discúlpeme
Cuando?
quién?
por qué?
qué?
A qué hora?
cuanto tiempo?
No sé
estoy cansado
De nada
Ningun problema
Podria repetir, por favor?
padre
ustedes (familiar, plural)
Si
No
Lo siento
discúlpeme
hasta luego
estoy listo / lista
hace frío
hace calor
tengo calor
tengo frío
un poco
mucho
unos / unas
mañana
la mañana
la tarde
la noche
la semana próxima
Mexico Useful Words and Phrases (Asking for Directions)
Where is the bus station?
Where is the bus stop?
Where is the subway station?
Where is the airport
Round trip ticket to …
What time does the bus/plane leave?
How long will the trip take?
How far? (distance)
I need
straight ahead
left
right
north
south
east
west
Map
Service station
Transportation
Car
Train
Boat
Taxi
Bus
Plane
Stop
Ticket
Car Rental
Tour bus, coach
Toll road
To check
Dónde está la estación de autobuses?
Dónde está la parada de autobus?
Dónde está la estación de metro?
Dónde está el aeropuerto?
Billete de ida y vuelta a la…
A qué hora sale el avión?
Cuánto tiempo durará el viaje?
A qué distancia?
necesito
derecho
la izquierda
la derecha
norte
sur
este
oeste
Mapa
Estación de servicio
Transporte
carro
Tren
Barco
Taxi
Autobus
Avion
Detener
Boleto
Alquiler de coches
camión
carretera de cuota
checar
Mexico Useful Words and Phrases (Places, things, etc.)
Airport
Beach
Train station
Bus station
Tourism office
Post office
Police station
Embassy
Ticket office
Pharmacy
Bank
Doctor
Bus
Under
Here
Afuera
Behind
Announcement
To have a shower
Toilet
Shower
Speakers, loudspeakers
Bag
Work
Cellphone
Cloakroom
Public holiday
Light bulb
Clothes hanger
Call, to phone
Pen
Bathroom
Swimming Pool
Open
Closed
Bed
Towel
Soap
Pillow
Shower
Iron
Hair dryer
There are no towels
I have a problem.
Aeropuerto
Playa
Estacion de tren
Estacion de autobus
Oficina de turismo
La oficina de correos
Comisaria de policia
Embajada
Taquilla
Farmácia
Banco
Médico
pesero
abajo de
acá
outside
atrás de
aviso
bañarse
baño, taza
baño, regadera
bocinas
bolsa
chamba
celular
guardarropa
día feriado
foco
gancho
hablar
pluma
el baño
la alberca, la piscina
abierto
cerrado
cama
toalla
jabón
almohada
la ducha / el baño
plancha
secador de pelo
no hay toallas
Tengo un problema.
Mexico Useful Words and Phrases (When Shopping)
Money
Coins
Receipt
Expensive
Cheap
It’s cheap
It’s expensive
How much is this?
How much does it cost?
Where can I buy?
How many?
Can I pay with credit card?
I (don’t) like it
Buy
Sell
Store/Shop
Restrooms
Open
Closed
Earrings
Cost
Dinero
Monedas
Recibo
Caro
Barato
es barato
es caro
Cuánto es esto?
cuánto cuesta?
Dónde puedo comprar?
Cuántos?
Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito?
(No) me gusta
Comprar
Vender
Almacenar
Baño
Abrir
Cerrado
Arete
costo
Mexico Useful Words and Phrases (When Dining Out)
I have a reservation for 5 people
I would like a table by the window
I would like a beer
Waiter, one more coke please
Waiter, the bill please
What is the dish of the day?
What do you recommend?
I want my steak well done
I want my steak medium
I want my steak rare
I am going to order a salad
Can you bring me more bread please?
I’m hungry
I’m thirsty
I want / I’d like
The bill please
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Coffee
Tea
Beer
Wine
Fruit juice
Waiter / waitress
Knife
Fork
Spoon
Black coffee
Coffee with milk
Milk
Ice
Mineral water
Wine
Beer
White wine
Red wine
Lemonade
Egg
Scrambled eggs
Cheese
Butter
Bread
Fruit
Salt
Pepper (black)
Sugar
Fish
Salad
Soup
Dessert
Ice cream
Restaurant
Bar
Prawn
Apricot
Sweet, candy
Peach
Pie
Main course
Snacks
Edible mushrooms
Tengo una reserva para 5 personas
Me gustaría una mesa junto a la ventana
Me gustaría tomar una cerveza
Camarero, una Coca más, por favor.
Camarero, la cuenta por favor
Cuál es el plato del día?
Qué recomienda usted?
Quiero que mi bistec bien hecho
Quiero que mi medio de carne
Quiero mi filete a medio cocer.
Voy a pedir una ensalada
Me puede traer más pan por favor?
Tengo hambre
Tengo sed
quiero / quisiera
La cuenta, por favor
Desayuno
Almuerzo
Cena
Café
Té
Cerveza
Vino
Jugo
mesero / mesera
cuchillo
tenedor
cuchara
café negro
café con leche
leche
hielo
agua mineral
vino
cerveza
vino blanco
vino tinto
limonada
huevo
huevos revueltos
queso
mantequilla
pan
fruta
sal
pimienta negra
azúcar
pescado
ensalada
sopa
postre
nieve / helado
Restaurante
Bar
camarón
chabacano
dulce
durazno
pay, pie
Plato principal /plato fuerte
botanas
hongos
“Important Notice – You may use or download information available on our travel guide pages for your own personal, non-commercial use, provided that you give proper attribution, with a link back to our website. Similar to the sources used for the travel guides, World Interpreting provides links to information references even for contents we believe constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. More information here.”