Spanish · Mexico

Spanish phrases for Mexico

These Spanish phrases for Mexico use usted, the polite “you”, as in ¿Habla inglés?, which suits staff, drivers and anyone older than you. Spanish is written in the Latin alphabet, with upside-down marks that open questions and exclamations. Mexican Spanish has its own everyday words: a city bus is a camión, a ticket is a boleto, a round trip is viaje redondo and a PIN is a NIP. The official taxi rank is the sitio de taxis. Disculpe gets attention politely, and aquí está bien is the natural way to ask a taxi to stop.

Each phrase shows the English, the Spanish and, in bold, a pronunciation guide written for English speakers.

Essentials

Yes

Sí

SEE
No

No

NOH
Please

Por favor

por fah-VOR
Thank you

Gracias

GRAH-syahs
Do you speak English?

¿Habla inglés?

AH-blah een-GLEHS

Formal
I don't understand

No entiendo

noh ehn-TYEHN-doh
Please speak slowly

¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?

PWEH-deh ah-BLAHR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh, por fah-VOR

Formal
How much does it cost?

¿Cuánto cuesta?

KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah
Where is the bathroom?

¿Dónde está el baño?

DOHN-deh ehs-TAH ehl BAH-nyoh

Greetings

Hello

Hola

OH-lah
Good morning

Buenos días

BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs
Goodbye

Adiós

ah-DYOHS
How are you?

¿Cómo está?

KOH-moh ehs-TAH

Formal

Respectful form for someone you don't know well.
Nice to meet you

Mucho gusto

MOO-choh GOOS-toh

Literally: “Much pleasure”

Courtesy

Excuse me

Disculpe

dees-KOOL-peh

Formal

Polite way to get attention or pass by.
I'm sorry

Lo siento

loh SYEHN-toh

Literally: “I feel it”
You're welcome.

De nada.

deh NAH-dah
Cheers!

¡Salud!

sah-LOOD

Restaurants

A table for two, please.

Una mesa para dos, por favor.

OO-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah dohs por fah-VOR
Do you have a menu in English?

¿Tienen menú en inglés?

TYEH-nen meh-NOO en een-GLESS
I'll have this, please.

Quiero esto, por favor.

KYEH-roh ES-toh por fah-VOR
Water, please

Agua, por favor

AH-gwah, por fah-VOR
The check, please

La cuenta, por favor

lah KWEHN-tah, por fah-VOR
Can I pay by card?

¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?

PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah

Directions

How do I get to the station?

¿Cómo llego a la estación?

KOH-moh YEH-goh ah lah es-tah-SYON
Is it far from here?

¿Está lejos de aquí?

es-TAH LEH-hohs deh ah-KEE
Can I walk there?

¿Puedo ir caminando?

PWEH-doh eer kah-mee-NAN-doh

Getting Understood

I only speak a little.

Solo hablo un poco.

SOH-loh AH-bloh oon POH-koh
Could you say that again, please?

¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?

PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh por fah-VOR

Formal
Could you write it down, please?

¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?

PWEH-deh es-kree-BEER-loh por fah-VOR

Formal

Time & Opening Hours

What time do you open?

¿A qué hora abren?

ah keh OH-rah AH-bren
What time do you close?

¿A qué hora cierran?

ah keh OH-rah SYEH-rran

Transport & Tickets

One ticket, please.

Un boleto, por favor.

oon boh-LEH-toh por fah-VOR

Mexico says “boleto”; Spain says “billete”.
Which platform?

¿De qué andén sale?

deh keh an-DEN SAH-leh
Does this go to the airport?

¿Este va al aeropuerto?

ES-teh vah al ah-eh-roh-PWER-toh
Stop here, please.

Aquí está bien, por favor.

ah-KEE es-TAH byen por fah-VOR

The natural way to stop a taxi; a literal “pare” sounds abrupt.

Hotels & Lodging

I have a reservation.

Tengo una reservación.

TEN-goh OO-nah reh-ser-vah-SYON

Mexico says “reservación”; Spain says “reserva”.
What time is check-out?

¿A qué hora hay que dejar el cuarto?

ah keh OH-rah eye keh deh-HAR el KWAR-toh
Could I leave my bags here?

¿Puedo dejar mis maletas aquí?

PWEH-doh deh-HAR mees mah-LEH-tahs ah-KEE

Airport & Border

I'm here on holiday.

Vengo de vacaciones.

VEN-goh deh vah-kah-SYOH-nes
Where is baggage claim?

¿Dónde se recoge el equipaje?

DON-deh seh reh-KOH-heh el eh-kee-PAH-heh

Shopping & Money

I'm just looking, thank you.

Solo estoy viendo, gracias.

SOH-loh es-TOY VYEN-doh, GRAH-syahs
That's too expensive.

Es muy caro.

ess mooy KAH-roh
Could I have a receipt, please?

¿Me da un recibo, por favor?

meh dah oon reh-SEE-boh por fah-VOR

Formal

Wi-Fi & Phone

Is there Wi-Fi here?

¿Hay wifi aquí?

eye WEE-fee ah-KEE
I'd like a SIM card with data.

Quiero una tarjeta SIM con datos.

KYEH-roh OO-nah tar-HEH-tah seem kon DAH-tohs

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

Passport, please.

Su pasaporte, por favor.

soo pah-sah-POR-teh por fah-VOR

Formal
How long will you be staying?

¿Cuánto tiempo se va a quedar?

KWAN-toh TYEM-poh seh vah ah keh-DAR

Formal
For how many people?

¿Para cuántas personas?

PAH-rah KWAN-tahs per-SOH-nahs
Are you ready to order?

¿Ya van a ordenar?

yah van ah or-deh-NAR
Cash or card?

¿Efectivo o tarjeta?

eh-fek-TEE-voh oh tar-HEH-tah
Go straight ahead.

Siga derecho.

SEE-gah deh-REH-choh

Formal

Mexico says “derecho”; Spain says “todo recto”.
Turn left.

Dé vuelta a la izquierda.

deh VWEL-tah ah lah ees-KYER-dah

Formal

In Spain: “gire a la izquierda”.
Turn right.

Dé vuelta a la derecha.

deh VWEL-tah ah lah deh-REH-chah

Formal

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