Basic Expressions in Spanish

Learning basic expressions in Spanish can greatly enhance your ability to communicate in the language. Whether you’re planning to travel to a Spanish-speaking country or simply want to connect with Spanish speakers in your community, these fundamental phrases will prove invaluable. 

Let’s dive into some common Spanish expressions:

¡Hola! (Hello!)
When greeting someone, this simple and widely used expression is a great way to start a conversation.

¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)
This is a common question to ask when meeting someone. It shows your interest in their well-being.

Bien (Good)
A response to “How are you?” can be as simple as saying “bien,” meaning “good” in Spanish.

Me llamo… (My name is…)
Use this phrase to introduce yourself and share your name with others. It’s also customary to ask for the other person’s name: ¿Y tú? (“And you?”)

Un placer conocerte (Nice to meet you)
After introducing yourself, it is polite to express that it is a pleasure to meet the other person.

Adiós (Goodbye)
When parting ways, adiós is the standard way to say goodbye in Spanish.

Gracias (Thank you)
Expressing gratitude is important in any language. Gracias is the Spanish word for “thank you.”

De nada (You’re welcome)
In response to gracias, you can say de nada to convey that the favor or help you provided was not a problem.

Disculpe (Excuse me)
When trying to get someone’s attention or apologize for a mistake, disculpe is a polite way to address the situation.

Por favor (Please)
Por favor is a versatile phrase that can be used to make requests or add politeness to your statements.

Sí (Yes)
A simple sí will suffice when you want to respond affirmatively to a question.

No (No)
Likewise, no is used to give a negative response or indicate disagreement.

Buenos días (Good morning)
Use buenos días to greet someone in the morning or until around noon.

Buenas tardes (Good afternoon)
After noon and until the evening, buenas tardes is the appropriate greeting.

Buenas noches (Good evening/night)
When it’s late in the day or evening, buenas noches is the customary greeting.

Hasta luego (See you later)
To say goodbye when you expect to see the person again, hasta luego is a suitable expression.

No sé (I don’t know)
When you’re uncertain or unaware of something, no sé conveys your lack of knowledge.

No hablo español (I don’t speak Spanish)
If you’re not fluent in Spanish, using no hablo español will help others understand your language limitations.

No entiendo (I don’t understand)
When you’re having difficulty comprehending something, no entiendo expresses your confusion.

¿Cómo se dice…? (How do you say…?)
When you want to know the translation of a specific word or phrase, use this question to seek help.

Y (And)
To connect words or phrases together, the Spanish word y functions as the equivalent of “and” in English.

Yo quiero (I want)
When expressing your desires or preferences, use yo quiero followed by the item or action you desire.

No quiero (I don’t want)
If you need to refuse something or state your lack of interest, no quiero is the appropriate phrase.

No puedo (I can’t)
When you’re unable to do something, no puedo is used to convey your inability.

Familiarizing yourself with basic expressions in Spanish is essential for effective communication and building connections with Spanish speakers. 

Whether you’re greeting someone with a simple Hola, expressing gratitude with Gracias, or introducing yourself with Me llamo…, these fundamental phrases will help you navigate various social interactions. 

By using expressions like Por favor and “Disculpe,”you can add politeness to your requests and apologies. Additionally, phrases like No entiendo and No hablo español allow you to express your limitations and seek assistance. 

Learning these basic expressions will provide a solid foundation for your Spanish language journey and make your interactions more meaningful and enjoyable. 

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

Check out our series of Complete Spanish Grammar articles – everything you’ll ever need to know about Spanish grammar.

Or, learn more about LingoToGo here.

(10 Day Free only available to students in the Americas and Europe. If you’re outside these regions, check out our offers here.)