Starting Spanish can feel overwhelming when you open a textbook and see pages of verb conjugations. But here's the thing: you don't need perfect grammar to start having real conversations.
These 40 phrases are the ones my students use most when they travel, meet Spanish speakers, or practice their first conversations. They're practical, easy to remember, and you'll hear them constantly once you start paying attention.
Essential Greetings
1. Hola, ¿cómo estás?
Meaning: Hello, how are you?
This is your go-to greeting for friends, coworkers, or anyone in a casual setting. You'll hear it dozens of times a day in Spanish-speaking countries.
Examples:
- Hola María, ¿cómo estás? (Hi María, how are you?)
- ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás hoy? (Hi! How are you today?)
- Hola chicos, ¿cómo están? (Hi guys, how are you all?)
Pronunciation tip: "Estás" sounds like "eh-STAHS" with stress on the second syllable.
2. Buenos días
Meaning: Good morning
Use this until about noon or early afternoon. It's slightly more formal than "hola" but still friendly.
Examples:
- Buenos días, señora López. (Good morning, Mrs. López.)
- Buenos días a todos. (Good morning, everyone.)
- ¡Buenos días! ¿Dormiste bien? (Good morning! Did you sleep well?)
Memory trick: Think "bonus days" to remember "buenos días."
3. Buenas tardes
Meaning: Good afternoon/Good evening
This covers afternoon through early evening, roughly from noon until dark.
Examples:
- Buenas tardes, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle? (Good afternoon, how can I help you?)
- Buenas tardes, profesor. (Good afternoon, professor.)
- ¡Buenas tardes! Hace buen día. (Good afternoon! Nice day.)
Usage note: Spanish speakers switch from "tardes" to "noches" earlier than you might expect—often around sunset.
4. Buenas noches
Meaning: Good evening/Good night
Use this after dark, both as a greeting when you arrive and when you're leaving.
Examples:
- Buenas noches, que descanses. (Good night, rest well.)
- Buenas noches, ¿cómo estuvo tu día? (Good evening, how was your day?)
- Buenas noches a todos, me voy a dormir. (Good night everyone, I'm going to sleep.)
Quick tip: Unlike English, you use "buenas noches" both when greeting someone in the evening AND when saying goodbye at night.
5. ¿Qué tal?
Meaning: How's it going? / What's up?
Super casual and common. You can use this alone or after "hola."
Examples:
- ¿Qué tal el fin de semana? (How was the weekend?)
- Hola, ¿qué tal todo? (Hi, how's everything?)
- ¿Qué tal? ¿Todo bien? (What's up? Everything good?)
Pronunciation: "Tal" rhymes with "doll" but with a "t" sound.
Basic Responses
6. Muy bien, gracias
Meaning: Very well, thank you
Your standard polite response when someone asks how you are.
Examples:
- Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Very well, thanks. And you?)
- Estoy muy bien, gracias por preguntar. (I'm very well, thanks for asking.)
- Muy bien, gracias. ¿Cómo está la familia? (Very well, thanks. How's the family?)
7. Más o menos
Meaning: So-so / Not great, not terrible
Literally "more or less." Use this when you're having an okay day but nothing special.
Examples:
- ¿Cómo estás? Más o menos. (How are you? So-so.)
- El examen estuvo más o menos. (The test was okay.)
- Me siento más o menos hoy. (I feel so-so today.)
Cultural note: Spanish speakers tend to be more honest about their feelings than English speakers, so "más o menos" is pretty common.
8. No muy bien
Meaning: Not very well
Honest but not dramatic. Use this when you're having a rough day.
Examples:
- Hoy estoy no muy bien. (Today I'm not doing great.)
- No muy bien, tengo dolor de cabeza. (Not very well, I have a headache.)
- ¿Cómo te sientes? No muy bien. (How do you feel? Not very well.)
9. Estoy cansado/cansada
Meaning: I'm tired
Use "cansado" if you're male, "cansada" if you're female.
Examples:
- Estoy muy cansado del trabajo. (I'm very tired from work.)
- Estoy cansada, fue un día largo. (I'm tired, it was a long day.)
- ¿Por qué estás tan cansado? (Why are you so tired?)
Remember: The -o/-a ending changes based on who's speaking, not who you're talking to.
10. Perfecto
Meaning: Perfect / Sounds good
Way more common in Spanish than "perfect" is in English. You'll use this constantly.
Examples:
- ¿Nos vemos a las ocho? Perfecto. (See you at eight? Perfect.)
- Perfecto, entonces quedamos así. (Perfect, so we'll leave it like that.)
- ¿Te parece bien? Sí, perfecto. (Does that work for you? Yes, perfect.)
Polite Expressions
11. Por favor
Meaning: Please
Always appreciated. Put it at the end of requests.
Examples:
- Un café, por favor. (A coffee, please.)
- ¿Puedes ayudarme, por favor? (Can you help me, please?)
- Más despacio, por favor. (Slower, please.)
12. Gracias
Meaning: Thank you
You know this one. Use it early and often.
Examples:
- Gracias por tu ayuda. (Thanks for your help.)
- Muchas gracias, eres muy amable. (Thank you very much, you're very kind.)
- Gracias por venir. (Thanks for coming.)
13. De nada
Meaning: You're welcome
Literally "of nothing." The standard response to "gracias."
Examples:
- Gracias por el café. De nada. (Thanks for the coffee. You're welcome.)
- Te agradezco mucho. De nada, con gusto. (I really appreciate it. You're welcome, my pleasure.)
Alternative: You can also say "no hay de qué" (there's nothing to thank for) or simply "con gusto" (with pleasure).
14. Disculpe / Perdón
Meaning: Excuse me / Sorry
"Disculpe" is slightly more formal. Both work fine.
Examples:
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está el baño? (Excuse me, where's the bathroom?)
- Perdón, no te escuché. (Sorry, I didn't hear you.)
- Perdón por llegar tarde. (Sorry for being late.)
15. Lo siento
Meaning: I'm sorry
For when you need to apologize for something real, not just getting someone's attention.
Examples:
- Lo siento mucho. (I'm very sorry.)
- Lo siento, fue mi error. (I'm sorry, it was my mistake.)
- Lo siento, no puedo ir hoy. (I'm sorry, I can't go today.)
Understanding & Communication
16. No entiendo
Meaning: I don't understand
Super useful phrase. Don't be shy about using it.
Examples:
- No entiendo, ¿puedes repetir? (I don't understand, can you repeat?)
- Perdón, no entiendo la pregunta. (Sorry, I don't understand the question.)
- No entiendo esta palabra. (I don't understand this word.)
17. ¿Cómo se dice...?
Meaning: How do you say...?
Your best friend when learning. Fill in the blank with the English word.
Examples:
- ¿Cómo se dice "table" en español? (How do you say "table" in Spanish?)
- ¿Cómo se dice esto? (How do you say this?)
- No sé cómo se dice. (I don't know how to say it.)
18. ¿Qué significa...?
Meaning: What does... mean?
Use this when you hear a Spanish word you don't know.
Examples:
- ¿Qué significa "chévere"? (What does "chévere" mean?)
- ¿Qué significa esta frase? (What does this phrase mean?)
- No sé qué significa. (I don't know what it means.)
19. Habla más despacio, por favor
Meaning: Speak more slowly, please
Native speakers talk fast. Don't hesitate to ask them to slow down.
Examples:
- Perdón, habla más despacio, por favor. (Sorry, speak more slowly, please.)
- ¿Puedes hablar más despacio? (Can you speak more slowly?)
- Más despacio, estoy aprendiendo. (More slowly, I'm learning.)
Real talk: Most Spanish speakers are happy to slow down once they know you're learning.
20. ¿Hablas inglés?
Meaning: Do you speak English?
Sometimes you need a bilingual rescue. No shame in asking.
Examples:
- Disculpe, ¿habla inglés? (Excuse me, do you speak English?)
- ¿Hablas un poco de inglés? (Do you speak a little English?)
- ¿Alguien habla inglés aquí? (Does anyone speak English here?)
Getting Information
21. ¿Dónde está...?
Meaning: Where is...?
Your navigation phrase. Works for places, things, and people.
Examples:
- ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where's the bathroom?)
- ¿Dónde está la estación de tren? (Where's the train station?)
- ¿Dónde está María? (Where's María?)
22. ¿Cuánto cuesta?
Meaning: How much does it cost?
Essential for shopping, restaurants, and any transaction.
Examples:
- ¿Cuánto cuesta este libro? (How much does this book cost?)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta en total? (How much is it in total?)
- ¿Cuánto cuestan las manzanas? (How much do the apples cost?)
Grammar note: Use "cuesta" for singular items, "cuestan" for plural.
23. ¿A qué hora...?
Meaning: At what time...?
For scheduling anything.
Examples:
- ¿A qué hora abren? (What time do you open?)
- ¿A qué hora nos encontramos? (What time are we meeting?)
- ¿A qué hora es la cena? (What time is dinner?)
24. ¿Puedo...?
Meaning: Can I...? / May I...?
Polite way to ask permission.
Examples:
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? (Can I pay with a card?)
- ¿Puedo usar el baño? (Can I use the bathroom?)
- ¿Puedo probar esto? (Can I try this?)
25. ¿Tienes...?
Meaning: Do you have...?
For asking if something is available.
Examples:
- ¿Tienes agua? (Do you have water?)
- ¿Tienes tiempo? (Do you have time?)
- ¿Tienes esta camisa en talla mediana? (Do you have this shirt in medium?)
Agreeing & Disagreeing
26. Sí, claro
Meaning: Yes, of course
Enthusiastic agreement. Very common.
Examples:
- ¿Puedes ayudarme? Sí, claro. (Can you help me? Yes, of course.)
- ¿Vienes a la fiesta? Sí, claro que sí. (Are you coming to the party? Yes, of course.)
- Claro, sin problema. (Of course, no problem.)
27. Creo que sí
Meaning: I think so
When you're pretty sure but not 100%.
Examples:
- ¿Está abierto el banco? Creo que sí. (Is the bank open? I think so.)
- ¿Viene Juan? Creo que sí. (Is Juan coming? I think so.)
- Creo que sí, pero no estoy seguro. (I think so, but I'm not sure.)
28. Tienes razón
Meaning: You're right
Agree with someone's point.
Examples:
- Tienes razón, es muy caro. (You're right, it's very expensive.)
- Sí, tienes toda la razón. (Yes, you're totally right.)
- Creo que tienes razón. (I think you're right.)
29. No estoy seguro/segura
Meaning: I'm not sure
Honest response when you don't know.
Examples:
- ¿Es este el camino? No estoy seguro. (Is this the way? I'm not sure.)
- No estoy segura de la hora. (I'm not sure about the time.)
- No estoy seguro, déjame verificar. (I'm not sure, let me check.)
30. No creo
Meaning: I don't think so
Gentle disagreement or doubt.
Examples:
- ¿Viene hoy? No creo. (Is he coming today? I don't think so.)
- No creo que sea una buena idea. (I don't think it's a good idea.)
- ¿Es caro? No creo. (Is it expensive? I don't think so.)
Expressing Wants & Needs
31. Quiero...
Meaning: I want...
Direct way to state what you want.
Examples:
- Quiero un café con leche. (I want a coffee with milk.)
- Quiero aprender español. (I want to learn Spanish.)
- ¿Qué quieres hacer hoy? (What do you want to do today?)
32. Me gustaría...
Meaning: I would like...
More polite than "quiero." Great for restaurants and formal situations.
Examples:
- Me gustaría una mesa para dos. (I would like a table for two.)
- Me gustaría visitar España. (I would like to visit Spain.)
- ¿Te gustaría venir con nosotros? (Would you like to come with us?)
33. Necesito...
Meaning: I need...
State something necessary, not just wanted.
Examples:
- Necesito ayuda. (I need help.)
- Necesito un médico. (I need a doctor.)
- ¿Qué necesitas? (What do you need?)
34. Tengo que...
Meaning: I have to... / I must...
Express obligation.
Examples:
- Tengo que irme. (I have to go.)
- Tengo que estudiar esta noche. (I have to study tonight.)
- ¿Tienes que trabajar mañana? (Do you have to work tomorrow?)
35. Me encanta
Meaning: I love it
Show strong enthusiasm for something.
Examples:
- Me encanta esta canción. (I love this song.)
- ¡Me encanta tu vestido! (I love your dress!)
- Me encanta viajar. (I love traveling.)
Grammar heads-up: "Encanta" stays the same even when talking about plural things—"Me encanta" can mean "I love it" or "I love them."
Social Situations
36. ¿Cómo te llamas?
Meaning: What's your name?
For meeting new people.
Examples:
- Hola, ¿cómo te llamas? (Hi, what's your name?)
- ¿Cómo se llama usted? (What's your name? - formal)
- Me llamo Ana. ¿Y tú? (My name is Ana. And you?)
37. Mucho gusto
Meaning: Nice to meet you
Say this right after someone introduces themselves.
Examples:
- Mucho gusto, soy Carlos. (Nice to meet you, I'm Carlos.)
- Mucho gusto en conocerte. (Nice to meet you.)
- El gusto es mío. (The pleasure is mine.)
38. ¿De dónde eres?
Meaning: Where are you from?
Common question when meeting someone new.
Examples:
- ¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?)
- Soy de Estados Unidos. ¿Y tú? (I'm from the United States. And you?)
- ¿De dónde es usted? (Where are you from? - formal)
39. Nos vemos
Meaning: See you later
Casual goodbye. Very common.
Examples:
- Nos vemos mañana. (See you tomorrow.)
- Bueno, nos vemos luego. (Well, see you later.)
- Nos vemos pronto. (See you soon.)
Note: You can also say "te veo" (I'll see you) when talking to one person directly.
40. Que tengas un buen día
Meaning: Have a good day
Polite way to end an interaction.
Examples:
- Que tengas un buen día. (Have a good day.)
- Que tenga un buen fin de semana. (Have a good weekend. - formal)
- Que tengas buena suerte. (Good luck to you.)
Pattern to notice: "Que tengas" changes to "que tenga" in formal situations.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Try completing these sentences with the phrases you've learned:
- When you enter a shop in the morning, you say: "__, ¿tienen camisetas?"
- If someone asks "¿Cómo estás?" and you're doing okay but tired, you might say: "__"
- You're lost and need directions. You stop someone and say: "__, ¿dónde está el metro?"
- The waiter brings your food. You say: "__"
- You don't understand what someone said. You tell them: "__"
- Someone introduces themselves. You respond: "__"
- You're ordering at a café and want to be polite: "__ un café con leche, por favor."
- You need to leave a conversation. You say: "Tengo que irme. __"
- Your friend suggests meeting at 7pm. You agree by saying: "__, te veo a las siete."
- Someone thanks you for helping them. You reply: "__"
Translation Practice
Translate these situations into Spanish using the phrases above:
- Ask a stranger if they speak English.
- Tell someone you love their car.
- Ask how much something costs.
- Say you're not sure about something.
- Ask where the bathroom is.
Your Next Steps
These 40 phrases give you a solid foundation for basic Spanish conversations. You won't be fluent overnight, but you can definitely handle greetings, ask for help, order food, and be polite—which covers most of what you need as a beginner.
Here's what helps my students retain these phrases: pick five favorites and use them every day for a week. Text them to yourself, say them out loud, or write them on sticky notes. Once those five feel natural, add five more.
The beautiful thing about Spanish is that people appreciate the effort. Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect or you mix up a word, Spanish speakers tend to be encouraging and patient with learners. So start using these phrases—even if it feels awkward at first. That's how everyone learns.
Keep practicing, stay curious, and remember that making mistakes is just part of getting better. You've got this!