Skip to Content

Top 5 Sayings You Need To Know In Spanish Before Going To Mexico

Share The Article

Last Updated


Traveling to a country where English is not the official language can intimidate many tourists. A language barrier can often complicate what should be a relaxing experience. That is why it is best to prepare yourself with a few common words and phrases in your destination’s language to avoid travel language anxiety. And although most tourist-centric areas in Mexico will pose no problems for travelers, it's still helpful to know some basic phrases to better connect and communicate with locals.

A tourist wishes she spoke more Spanish as she looks around a market in Mexico

25% of Americans traveling abroad go to Mexico each year. Most of those visitors are not fluent in Spanish. If it is your first time traveling to Mexico and you only speak English, you’ll find that knowing a few critical sayings in Spanish can make your vacation much more enjoyable.

Along with learning some key phrases, visitors should also familiarize themselves with other cultural elements that differ from their home country. For instance, learn the current conversion rate for the Mexican Peso, research whether your phone service will cover usage in Mexico or if you’ll need a tourist sim card. Be aware of common scams, local laws, and current travel advisories.

A group of young people sit on a bench and practice speaking Spanish together

Visiting Mexico doesn’t mean you need to learn the entirety of the Spanish language. You can choose to learn a selection of helpful words or a few essential phrases to help you get by when you encounter a situation where there is no shared language. We’ve broken down the most useful sayings you should consider learning in Spanish before your next Mexican vacation.

Learn Your Manners

Mexican locals are well used to tourists with little or no Spanish. While most tourist areas will cater to English speakers, a little bit of Spanish politeness goes a long way. Top friendly phrases are:

Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week

Easily Earn Points For Free Travel

A tourist in a floral dress shakes hands with someone at a hotel
  • Hello – Hola
  • Goodbye – Adios
  • Please – Por favor
  • Thank you/no thank you – Gracias/ No, gracias
  • Nice to meet you – Mucho gusto
  • Excuse me – disculpe

Know How To Ask For Help

Whether you need help in an emergency or with something less vital, like directions, carrying luggage, or finding something in a store, knowing how to ask for help is important. The Spanish word for help is ayuda, but it is used differently in different situations.

a tourist receives directions from a woman wearing a denim shirt
  • Can you help me? – ¿Me puede ayudar? Use this phrase for non-vital help requests.
  • Help me! – ¡Ayúdeme! Use this in a dire or emergency situation.

Find Out The Essentials

While you should familiarize yourself with how to get around your destination and the location of important places, it is helpful to know how to ask for these places as well.

  • Where is…? ¿Dónde está…?  Airport/aeropuerto, pharmacy/farmacia, bathroom/baño, bank/banco, hospital/hospital, hotel/hotel
mexican taxi cab driving down a street

Know How To Order Your Favorites

You’ll likely find yourself eating out at restaurants. While many restaurants offer an English menu, you should learn how to order your favorite items in Spanish. It is also a good idea to know how to communicate any dining restrictions or allergies in Spanish too.

patrons sit on small red plastic benches in front of a taqueria in Mexico City ordering food in Spanish
  • I would like to order…. –  Me gustaría… (common favorites are beer/cerveza, wine/vino, water/agua, coffee/café)
  • I’m allergic – Soy alergica/alergico (common allergens are: dairy/lácteos, nuts/nueces, eggs/huevos, wheat/trigo, shellfish/mariscos)
  • I don’t eat meat – No como carne

Basic Cost Question

You don’t want to find yourself alarmed at how much you’ve spent on vacation once you get home. It is wise to ask the price of items before you take out your wallet. It is especially important to determine taxi fare, the cost of tourist boats, and other negotiable or unmarked prices before agreeing to pay.

  • How much does this cost? – ¿Cuánto cuesta?
Tourists should learn Spanish phrases before visiting this idyllic beach bar in Mexico

Bonus Phrases In Spanish

Perhaps it is most important to learn how to convey that you don't speak Spanish. Asking someone if they speak English can open up the doors to better communication in certain situations.

  • Do you speak English? ¿habla Inglés?
  • I don’t speak Spanish – No hablo espanol
  • I don’t understand – No entiendo

Additional Spanish Language Tools

There are many tools available to help you learn a new language. Apps like Duolingo and Babbel have become popular and entertaining ways to learn the basics of a foreign language. Google Translate is also a helpful way to navigate communication barriers. Finally, if learning a few simple things in Spanish is not your thing, try visiting a country where English is the primary language.

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!


SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.


Health Freedom

Friday 30th of December 2022

Muy bueno. Muchas gracias!

Terry Miller

Thursday 29th of December 2022

These are helpful phrases but it would be even better if a pronunciation guide was added to each phrase. I.E. how to you actually say: "¿Dónde está…?" and what does that upside question mark mean?

Dennis

Monday 2nd of January 2023

@Terry Miller, In written Spanish, a sentence that is a question is preceded by an inverted question mark and ended with a question mark that is not inverted.