Spanish Phrases Cheatsheet
Common conversational phrases organised by topic.
Greetings & Introductions 12
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you / it's a pleasure |
| Como te llamas | What is your name? |
| De donde eres | Where are you from |
| Tu eres de Mexico, cierto? | You're from Mexico, right? |
| Tu eres Alejandro? | Are you Alejandro |
| Tú debes X | You must be X (name) |
| Te presento a ... mi hermana / Este es mi primo Luis | This is my sister [lit. I introduce my sister to you] / this is my cousin Luis |
| Cuentanos algo sobre ti | Tell us something about yourself |
| A que te dedicas? | What do you do for a living? |
| Quien es | Who is |
| Quien es el | Who is he |
| Quien eres tu | Who are you |
Small Talk & Catching Up 17
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Que tal? | What's up? |
| Cómo te va? | How's it going? |
| Qué andas haciendo? | What are you doing [these days]? |
| Que gusto verte | How cool to see you |
| Qué de tiempo! / Cuánto tiempo sin verte! | Long time no see! |
| Hace mucho que no sé de ti | I haven't heard from you in a long time. |
| Nos hemos acordado mucho de ustedes | We have thought of you a lot |
| (Pues) Como siempre / Igual que siempre | As always (as answer to como estas?) / same as always |
| Espero que estes bien | I hope that you are well |
| ¿Tú vives lejos de aquí? | Do you live far from here |
| ¿Tú vives cerca de la universidad? | Do you live near the university? |
| Ya estas en casa? | Are you already at home? |
| Nosotras vivimos juntas. | We live together |
| Te gusta tu trabajo? | Do you like your work? |
| Qué calor/frio hace! | How hot/cold it is! (the weather) |
| Parece que va a llover | It looks like it is going to rain |
| Nuestro amigo curioso nada le escapa; de hecho sabe mas que mis papas | Our curious friend misses nothing; in fact, he knows more than my parents. |
Farewells 14
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Nos vemos / Nos vemos pronto / Hasta luego / Hasta pronto | See you soon |
| Nos vemos en la casa | See you at home |
| Que te vaya bien | Have good day/time/trip |
| Nos vemos, que te vaya bien | See you, have a good day |
| Oh, ya te vas? | Oh, you're leaving already? |
| Si, es tarde | Yes, it's late |
| Ya me voy | I'm leaving |
| Tengo mucha prisa, me tengo que ir | I'm in a hurry, I have to go |
| Otro día hablamos | We'll talk another day |
| Quedamos otro día | Let's meet another day |
| Venga, ya hablamos | Ok, we'll talk |
| Ve contándome | Keep me updated (lit: keep telling me) |
| Llamen cuando tengan un minuto | Call me when you have a minute |
| Mejor despues vuelvo | I better come back after/later |
Making Plans & Invitations 22
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Tienes planes para el fin de semana? | Do you have plans for this weekend? |
| Tienes planes para mañana? | Do you have plans for tomorrow? |
| A que hora quedamos | What time will we meet up? |
| Cuando nos vemos? | When will we see each other? |
| El lunes podemos quedar en comer. | On Monday, we can meet (to have something) to eat. |
| El viernes pueden venir a mi casa | On Friday you can come to my house |
| Diego vuelve el domingo a las tres. | Diego is returning on Sunday at three. |
| ¿Quieres ir al cine? | Do you want to go to the movies? |
| Quiero ir al zoologico | I want to go to the zoo |
| Podemos ir al parque | We could go to the park |
| Vamos al museo | Let's go to the museum |
| Vamos a la playa | Shall we go to the beach |
| Qué hacemos? | What do we do |
| Qué te apetece hacer? | What do you feel like doing? |
| Qué quieres hacer? | What do you want to do? |
| Me acompañas? | Can you join me? |
| Voy por ti, ven por mi | I'll pick you up, pick me up |
| Sara hoy no puede salir | Sara can't go out today |
| No he estado nunca. | I've never been there. |
| Tengo que ir un dia de estos. | I have to go one of these days. |
| Será esta noche | It will be tonight |
| A, que bien! vamos a llegar pronto | Ah, that's great. we'll be there soon. |
At a Restaurant / Ordering / Shopping 30
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo le puedo ayudar? | How can I help you? |
| ¿En qué le puedo ayudar? | How can I help you? |
| Quieres un cafe? | Would you like to have a coffee? |
| Quieres tomar algo? | Would you like to have something [to eat or drink]? |
| Te apetece una cerveza? | Would you like a beer? |
| Pasa, quieres tomar algo? | Come, would like to drink/eat something? |
| Algo para tomar? | Something to drink? |
| Que quieres tomar? | What do you want to drink? |
| ¿Ustedes beben una cerveza conmigo? | Will you drink a beer with me? |
| Me gustaria un café | I would like a coffee |
| Entonces yo quiero tomar un atole de fresa | Then I want to drink strawberry atole |
| Hoy no tenemos aguas frescas ni cafe | Today we don't have any aguas frescas or cafe |
| Pero tenemos... | But we have... |
| Y para mi... | And for me... |
| Aqui tiene | Here you are |
| Enseguida viene! | Coming right up |
| ¿Algo más? | Anything else? |
| Nada más | Nothing else |
| Eso es todo? | Is that all? |
| ¿Cuánto le debo? | How much do I owe you? |
| Son $8.50 en total. | It's $8.50 in total. |
| Cuanto cuesta eso? | How much does that cost? |
| Cuanto cuesta el libro? | How much does the book cost? |
| Eso cuesta 18 dolares | That costs 18 dollars |
| ¿donde están los probadores? | Where are the fitting rooms? |
| Mesero / las meseras | Waiter / waitresses |
| Un vaso de agua | A glass of water |
| Una taza de te | A cup of tea |
| Una copa de vino | A glass of wine |
| Vino tinto/blanco | Red/white wine |
Asking & Clarifying 27
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Puedes repetir? | Can you repeat that? |
| No entiendo | I don't understand |
| Que dijiste? | What did you say? |
| Perdon, no escuché | Sorry, I didn't hear |
| Cómo? | What? |
| ¿Qué es eso? | What's that? |
| Que tiene | What's wrong, what's the matter |
| Qué pasa? | What's going on? |
| Qué te pasa? | What's wrong with you? |
| Laura, no tienes buena cara... qué te pasa? | Laura, you don't look good. What's wrong? |
| Que estas haciendo | What are you doing? (right now) |
| Que haces | What are you doing? (in general, for a living) |
| Donde estan/esta (plural/singular)? | Where are you? |
| Que hora es? | What time is it? |
| A que hora sale ... | At what time does ... leave? |
| Donde nos bajamos? | Where do we get off? |
| En la siguiente parada | At the next stop |
| A que piso vas? | What floor are you going? |
| ¿Qué necesitamos? | What do we need? |
| Te has enterado de que ... [Laura y Manuel han roto] ? | Have you heard that ... [Manuel and Laura broke up]? |
| Sabes que ... ? | Do you know that ... ? |
| Te puedo pedir un favor? | Can I ask you a favor? |
| Has visto mis libros? | Have you seen my books? |
| Desde cuando? | Since when? |
| Ay, no te lo había contado. Sabes qué mañana me caso? | Oh, I didn't tell you. You know I'm getting married tomorrow? |
| Cuéntame desde tu punto de vista cuál es el problema? | Tell me from your point of view what the problem is? |
| Me cuentan el motivo de ... | Tell me the reason for ... (la visita) |
Opinions & Reactions 29
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Que bien / Qué bien! | That's great! |
| Qué bien, enhorabuena! | That's great, congratulations! |
| Oh, que bueno | Oh, how nice |
| Que divertido! | How fun! |
| Que pena! | What a shame! |
| Me encanta | I love it |
| Me gusta mucho | I like it a lot |
| Te gusto? | Did you like it? |
| No me lo puedo creer | I can't believe it |
| En serio? | Seriously? |
| Ya, en serio. Qué? | Now, really/seriously, what? |
| Imagínate | Imagine |
| Quién sabe? | Who knows? |
| P1: A lo mejor me acabo casando con él P2: Quién sabe? | Maybe I end up marrying him. P2: who knows? |
| Estoy harto/a / estoy harto/a de ti / estoy harto de que me mientas | I'm fed up / I'm tired of you / I'm tired of you lying to me |
| No aguanto... (el ruido; esa situación) | I can't stand (the noise; this situation) |
| Indignado (adj) | To be angry, upset or frustrated |
| Estoy indignadísimo | It's unfair |
| Me asusté cuando lo supe | I got scared when I found out (asustar) |
| Que dices? | Wtf |
| No puede ser | It can't be |
| Que va | No way! |
| A mi me da mucha cosa (grabar por la calle) | It really makes me uncomfortable; it really bothers me a lot |
| Ya ves / P1: el tiempo de hoy es horrible P2: ya ves | Yeah |
| Y lo que es más... | And what's better |
| Es casi tan guapa como tu | It's almost as beautiful as you are Origin by Dan Brown |
| Tengo/no tengo ganas | Express that you do/do not want to do something no tengo ganas de ver una pelicula |
| Que vergüenza! | How embarassing! |
| No sabía mal... era desagradable! | It didn't taste bad... it was disgusting! |
Agreement & Disagreement 19
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Claro, por supuesto (more formal), con gusto (with pleasure) | Sure / yes, of course |
| Estoy totalmente de acuerdo | I totally agree |
| Así es... | That's how it is, that's right |
| Tu qué opinas? / Tu qué crees? / Tu qué piensas? | What do you think? |
| Ya se! | I know |
| No se | I don't know |
| Ni idea; no tengo ni idea | No idea; I have no idea |
| No creo | I don't believe so |
| Lo dudo | I doubt it |
| Lo sabia | I knew it |
| Estas seguro? | Are you sure |
| No estoy seguro | I am not sure |
| Eso espero | I hope so |
| Espero que no | I hope not |
| Eso no es verdad | That is not true |
| Tal vez debo hacerlo | Maybe I should do it; maybe I should |
| Con razon yo tampoco creo que sea muy buena idea | With reason, I don't think it's a very good idea either. |
| Mas o menos | Not so much |
| Siempre y cuando | As long as |
Requests, Commands & Reassurance 23
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Espere aqui, por favor | Wait here, please |
| Un momento/segundo, por favor | One moment/second, please |
| Permitame... | Allow me... |
| Adelante! | Go ahead (to answer a knock on door) |
| Puedo pasar? | May I come in? |
| Cuando estés listo. | When you are ready |
| Ahora puedo hablar? | Can I talk now? |
| Tienes que decirme | You have to tell me |
| Preguntale | Ask him/her |
| Apurate | Hurry up |
| Mas rapido | Faster |
| Ya voy | I'm coming |
| No te vayas | Don't leave |
| Calma | Calm down; when used in imperative form as an order |
| No te preocupes | Don't worry |
| No te sientas presionada. Descuida! | Don't feel pressured. Don't worry! (descuida is imperative form of descuidar, "don't worry") |
| ¿Puedes cerrar la ventana? Tengo mucho frío. | Can you close the window? I'm very cold. |
| Que no se te olvide | Don't forget |
| Lo olvidé por completo | I completely forgot |
| P1: Perdona P2: No pasa nada. | It's alright |
| Lo siento | I'm sorry |
| Que pena disculpe la interrumpa | I'm sorry to interrupt you |
| Borra eso (grabando) o te denuncio | Delete that (recording) or I'll report you |
Discourse Markers & Fillers 21
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| O sea | I mean; that is to say; in other words; so; or rather |
| Por cierto | By the way |
| Oye | Listen (imperative of oír, equivalent to escucha) |
| Sabes qué? | You know what? |
| En fin | Finally, ultimately |
| Mejor dicho | Or rather |
| Llegaremos el viernes, mejor dicho, el sábado por la mañana. | We will arrive on Friday, or rather, on Saturday morning. |
| Yo como que... | I'm like... |
| Algo como esto / algo como eso | Something like this / something like that |
| Que mas? | What else? |
| Por aqui/ahi | This (around here)/that way |
| Mucho mejor, mejor si/no | Much better, better yes/no (change of mind) |
| La negación | The denial |
| Por el simple hecho | For the simple fact |
| No va al caso | Not the case/not relevant |
| A la raíz del problema | The root of the problem |
| Lo que vamos a hacer es... | What we are going to do is... |
| Para poder solucionar ese problema | In order to solve this problem |
| Lo único que falta es... | The only thing missing is... |
| Para poder desbloquear... | In order to unlock... |
| Por eso accedí a venir... | Because of that I agreed to come |
States & Everyday Expressions 50
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Un poco cansado | A little tired |
| Estoy un poco triste | I'm a little sad |
| Estas ocupado? | Are you busy? |
| No puedo | I can't |
| No puedo recordar | I can't remember |
| Debo estudiar | I should study |
| Tengo tiempo | I have time |
| No tenemos mucho trabajo | We don't have much work |
| Tienen hambre? | Are you hungry? |
| Ahora tengo hambre | Now I'm hungry |
| Necesito un descanso | I need a break |
| La conozco | I know her |
| No conozco (a su esposa) | I don't know (her wife) |
| No sé que hacer | I don't know what to do |
| Estaba pensando en otra cosa | I was thinking about something else |
| Ya sé por qué estás aquí | I know why you are here |
| Se acabó | It's over; it's finished/done |
| Ya casi termino | I'm almost finished |
| Ya casi llego | I'm almost there |
| Todavía no / aun no | Not yet |
| Todos los dias | Every day pero hablamos mucho todos los dias |
| Otra vez | Again, once more |
| Te escucho bien | I can hear you well |
| Ahi esta el autobus | There's the bus |
| El fin de semana | The weekend |
| Muy distintas rutinas | Very different routines |
| Cosas | Things |
| Ellas no beben alcohol. | They don't drink alcohol |
| Ella casi nunca bebe cafe | She almost never drinks coffee |
| Te mira mal | Gives you dirty look |
| Si me dicen algo finjo demencia | If they tell me something, I play dumb |
| Que puedo fingir? | What can I fake/pretend? |
| De que país me pega ser? | What country do I look like I'm from? |
| Que soy muy bajita pa ser holandesa | I'm too short to be Dutch |
| Me queda mejor la camiseta roja o la azul? | Do I look better in the red or blue shirt? |
| No fue tan grave | It wasn't too serious |
| Gracias por traerme/traernos | Thanks for bringing me/us |
| De repente, ... | Suddenly, ... |
| Eso es lo que pasa cuando ... | This is what happens when... |
| El apodo cariñoso | Nickname |
| Tienes dos pies izquierdos | You have two left feet |
| Según Laura, ... | According to Laura, ... |
| Desde su punto de vista | From your point of view |
| De tal manera | In such a way |
| Estoy avergonzado | I'm embarassed |
| Me asusté muchisimo | It scared me a lot |
| Bastante parecido a conversar | Quite similar to a conversation |
| Prestar mucha atención a los detalles | Paying close attention to details |
| Sigue la receta al pie de la letra | Following the recipe to the "T" |
| Los cambios no fueron de un día para otro | The changes didn't happen overnight |
Grammar Patterns & Notes 14
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Llevo dos años estudiando español | I have been studying Spanish for 2 years. Notice the use of llevo |
| Espero que no llueva. | I hope it doesn't rain. Notice the use of subjunctive after espero que |
| A medida que pasó el tiempo | As time went by |
| Hoy descubriremos cuáles son los buenos modales a la hora de comer | Today we discover what good table manners are. |
| Me encanta que les guste la idea | I love that you all like the idea (subj.) |
| Como dice el dicho, 'más vale tarde que nunca' | As the saying goes, "better late than never" |
| Y para ahorrarte cosas bochornosas creo que yo debo hablar primero | And to spare you some embarrassing things, I think I need to talk first |
| Y tengo que bajar la montaña, no subir. | And I have to go down the mountain, not up. bajar/subir for down/up |
| Eso no es exactamente lo que quise decir. | That's not exactly what I meant to say. |
| Esto es realmente lo mejor que tenemos. | This is really the best that we have. |
| ¡Exactamente! ¡Pon las cosas ahí! | Exactly! Put the things there! |
| Igual, si pones eso ahí podría ser un problema. | Still, if you put that there it could be a problem. |
| Realmente no sé exactamente qué quiere. | I don't really know exactly what she wants. |
| Esto no es realmente lo que quiero. | This isn't really what I want. |