Spanish phrasebook

Spanish for real conversations

Travel, restaurants, dating, emergencies — the phrases you'll actually use, with native audio and formality notes.

10 entries ·300+ phrases across 10 categories · Audio on every entry · cross-checked

You've just sat down at a restaurant in Seville and the waiter rattles off the specials at full speed. You catch maybe one word. You smile, nod, and point at something random on the menu. It arrives. It is tripe. This page exists so that doesn't happen to you — or so that when it does, you can at least ask what you ordered.

The phrases here cover the situations that actually come up: getting a table, asking someone out, telling a pharmacist what hurts, buying a bus ticket when the machine is broken. Each phrase comes with native audio so you hear the rhythm before you try it yourself, plus a short note on formality — because ¿puedes ayudarme? and ¿me podría ayudar? are both asking for help, but one of them will serve you better when you're talking to a border officer.

The page is organized by situation rather than grammar topic. Pick the section that matches where you are right now — travel, food, emergencies, social — and work outward from there. You don't need to read it front to back.

Every translation and audio clip is checked against a native speaker before it goes live. We fix mistakes when readers flag them.

Browse by situation

Full index · ordered A → Z

Greetings & goodbyes Hello, goodbye, see you later
Polite essentials Please, thanks, sorry
At the restaurant Ordering, dietary needs, the check
Travel & directions Buses, trains, taxis, directions
Shopping Prices, sizes, paying, returns
Emergencies Doctor, police, theft, illness
Numbers & time Clock, calendar, age
Dating & flirting Compliments, openers, love
Family & relationships Introductions, kids, partners
Feelings & small talk Moods, weather, reactions

Frequently asked

Will I sound stupid trying to speak Spanish if I'm a complete beginner?

Everyone sounds awkward at first, including people who are now fluent. Most Spanish speakers genuinely appreciate the attempt and will meet you halfway. Starting with a few solid phrases used correctly gets you further than a nervous apology in English.

When do I use tú versus usted in Spanish?

Use tú with friends, people your own age, and most casual settings in Latin America and Spain. Use usted with older people, officials, doctors, and anyone in a formal service context when you want to show respect. The formality notes on each phrase tell you which register fits.

Is the Spanish spoken in Spain the same as in Mexico or Argentina?

The vocabulary and accent differ enough that a few words can surprise you — what's a coche in Spain is a carro in Mexico, and the vosotros form you hear in Madrid isn't used in Latin America at all. The phrases here flag the most common regional differences so you're not caught off guard.

How do I handle a real emergency in Spanish if my mind goes blank?

A handful of high-priority phrases — llame a la policía, necesito un médico, me han robado — are worth memorizing cold, not just recognizing. The emergencies section keeps them short and phonetically straightforward for exactly that reason.