Vocabulary you need to learn before traveling to Spain

Basic Spanish phrases that will save your life

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

© gettyimages.com

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When planning a trip to the Pyrenees, do not think that you will get by with knowledge of English - a very small percentage of Spaniards speak this language, so travelers often find themselves in situations like in that joke “mine doesn’t understand yours.”

We hope that our readers will definitely not get into such a mess, because tochka.net I have prepared a small dictionary for them.

1. Basic Spanish Phrases - General Rules

Never be shy to speak Spanish with Spaniards, even if your knowledge of the language is reduced to a primitive minimum. Even simple words“hello-bye” or “how are you, friend” will be enough to win over the Spaniards. Remember that in Spanish there is no reduction of sounds, i.e. All vowel sounds must be pronounced clearly, regardless of whether they are stressed or not. Otherwise, you may not be understood or understood in the way you would like.

• Also remember that the letter "H" sound (ache) is not pronounced in Spanish. For example, the greeting hola is pronounced "ola".
• The letter v in Spanish is read as “b”, or rather something between “b” and “v”.

1. Basic Spanish phrases - greetings and polite words

• hola ("ola")- Hi Hello. Sometimes it may seem that the Spaniards were born with this word on their lips. They greet everyone constantly: acquaintances, strangers, in a store, cafe, etc.
• por favor ("por favor")- Please. Any request well-mannered person by Spanish standards, etiquette should be accompanied by this phrase.
• gracias ("gracias")- Thank you. Pay attention to the pronunciation, the correct one is “graSias”.
• si ("yes"), no ("no"). In this country it is customary to use “but, gracias”, “si, por favor”.
• vale ("bale")- okay, that's fine
• adios ("adyos")- goodbye, bye. In Spain, it is customary to always say goodbye to everyone with this word. Hasta luego is also often used. “Hasta la vista” is now not used in most regions, although everyone understands it.

1. Basic Spanish phrases - in a restaurant

• la carta ("la card")- menu, list of dishes. If you say “menu, por favor,” they may misunderstand and bring you a set lunch.
• sin hielo ("sin hielo")- without ice. A very useful and important phrase. So, if you don’t specify, you will most likely be served a drink with ice, which will take up from a third to half the volume of the glass. Therefore, when ordering, immediately specify: “una cola sin yelo, por favor” - cola without ice, please.
• cerveza ("service")- beer. Word jarra ("harra") means mug. However, if you say, for example, “una harra grande, por favor,” it immediately implies that you are ordering a large glass of beer. If the waiter doesn’t really understand you, say “una jarra de servesa, por favor” - a glass of beer, please.
• vino ("wine")- wine (emphasis on the first syllable). If it is not specified which one, the default is red. For example, “una copa de vino, por favor!” - a glass of wine, please. "Dos Copas" - two glasses.
• cenicero ("cenicero")- ashtray. Ask the waiter: “el senicero, por favor” - please bring an ashtray.
• servicios ("servicios")- toilet. To know how to ask “where is the toilet,” learn the following: “los servicios, por favor?” Also the words "toilet" mean lavabo and aseo.
• cuenta ("cuenta")- check. "Bill please" in Spanish would be "la cuenta, por favor."

1. Basic Spanish phrases - in the store

• Estoy mirando ("estoy Mirando")- I look. A special phrase for overly kind sellers who are attached to you with a desire to help. Say in response “estoy mirando, gracias,” which means “I’m looking at what you have, but haven’t chosen it yet, thank you.” A win-win option - stay nice and get rid of the seller.
• cuanto vale? ("quanto bale?")- what is the price? If you use it with queria eso, you will feel like a fish in water when shopping in Spain. You can also ask: “caria eso, quanto bale, por favor?”, “quanto bale eso, por favor?”
• probarme - (“probarme”)- try it on yourself. If you ask: “karia probarme, por favor”, it means “Please, I would like to try on these clothes.”
• probadores ("probadores")- dressing room. Ask, “probadores, por favor,” and they will tell you where the fitting booth is.
• tarjeta ("tarheta")- card. "Con tarheta" will mean "can I pay with a card."
• en efectivo ("en effective")- cash. At the checkout in stores they will ask you “con tarheta o en effecivo?” - Do you want to pay by card or cash?

1. Basic phrases of the Spanish language - note

• linda (“Linda”), guapa (“guapa”)- beautiful, pretty. If you want to compliment a Spanish woman, use these words.
• Spaniards often use terms of endearment, adding the softening suffix -ita. For example, mamasita ("mamacita") - mummy, gordita ("gordita") - plump, solecito ("solesito")- Sun.

1. Basic Spanish Phrases - Emergency Situations

• ayúdeme ("ayudeme")- help me
• llame ("lyame")- call
• policía ("policy")- police. For example, in an emergency, shout: “liame a la policeia” - “call the police.”
• urgencias ("urgensias")- ambulance
• llame a un médico ("llame a un medico")- Call a doctor
• me siento mal ("me siento mal")- I feel bad

1. Basic Spanish Phrases - Funny Phrases

• Te he traído la grasa ("te e traído a grasa")- I brought you lard. Knowing this phrase in Spanish will probably touch the hearts of any resident of the Pyrenees.
• Mañana ("manyana")- Tomorrow. Don't be surprised, but remember this word. The Spaniards simply adore it and use it at every step, as if following the principle: “Why do something today if it can be done tomorrow?”
• Me encanta sangria ("Me encanta sAngria")- I love sangria. Sangria is a delicious national drink of the Spaniards.

Spanish for tourists. Useful phrases from everyday life:

About 10% of the world's population speaks Spanish. Perhaps this is the only reason you should think about learning this language. If you want to learn Spanish, take your time and start with common phrases. Once you feel more confident after studying at home, you can expand your knowledge by immersing yourself in a language environment or by enrolling in special lessons or courses. This will help you deepen your skills and become fluent in the language.

Steps

Learn common phrases

Introduce yourself. Greetings are the easiest to remember. Not only will it allow you to become more familiar with the language, but it will also give you the opportunity to communicate with other people in Spanish.

• Hola(Oh-la) is "hello" in Spanish. Even if you know very little Spanish, chances are you've already heard this word and understand it. But there are other greetings, such as buenos días(buEN-os DI-az), which means “good morning”, or buenos nights(buEN-os NO-ches), which means “good evening.”
• After the greeting, you can learn "¿Cómo estás?" (KO-mo es-TAS), which means “How are you?” This can be answered estoy bien(ES-toy bi-EN), which means “I’m fine.”
• You can also use mucho gusto(MU-cho GUS-to), which means “nice to meet you.” After that, learn how to say “my name is”: me llamo(meh YA-mo). By putting these phrases together, you can greet someone in Spanish: “Mucho gusto, me llamo Juan,” which means “Nice to meet you, my name is Ivan.”

1. If you speak English, look for borrowings from Spanish. They may not be pronounced exactly the same as Spanish speakers, but if you're fluent in English, chances are you're already familiar with some Spanish words.

   • Make a list of Spanish words you already know to enrich your vocabulary. In the future, these words will serve as the basis for further language learning.
   • You probably already know many names for Spanish food, such as taco(taco) and burrito(burrito).
   • There are also many words that are the same in both languages ​​(although their spelling and pronunciation may differ). For example, animal(animal) and chocolate(chocolate).

2. Learn the gender of nouns. Just like in Russian, in Spanish all objects are distinguished by gender. In general, if a noun ends in o- this is masculine, and if on a- female (but there are some exceptions).

   • Just as in the Russian language, all nouns have a gender, even inanimate ones (the same pronouns are used with them as with animate ones).
   • Remember, gender depends on specific word, and not from the total value. This situation can arise when you are talking about an animal. For example, when talking about a dog, you need to say "el perro" (el PE-rro), which indicates the masculine gender, even if the dog is feminine.

3. Learn Spanish pronouns. Just like in Russian, verbs are declined depending on the pronoun used. However, in Spanish it is not necessary to name a pronoun or even include it in a sentence. The reader or listener will figure out which pronoun you meant by using the verb conjugation.

   • For example, if you want to say that you want something, you can use "yo quiero" (YO ki-YER-O), which means "I want", or just say "quiero", and the pronoun will be clear from the context.
   • Here is a list of Spanish pronouns: yo - I, nosotros - We, el - He, ella - she, A ellos And ellas - They. Use ellas, if you are addressing a group consisting only of women, and ellos- for groups consisting entirely of men or mixed groups.
   • In addition, in Spanish there are formal and informal ways of addressing one person. Use tú(you) if you are talking to someone familiar or close to you in age (or younger). If the person is older than you, has a higher position, or is a complete stranger to you, use a polite, formal form usted. The plural of “you” (meaning “all of you”) is ustedes. In addition, in Spain there is another formal appeal to plural: vosotros or vosotras(You). In other Spanish-speaking countries it is only used ustedes(You).

4. Learn basic sentence structure in Spanish. It is quite similar to the structure existing in English language, but has some differences. If you understand how to construct your thoughts correctly, you will find it easier to think and speak in Spanish.

5. Learn words and phrases used in certain situations. Depending on the reason you're learning Spanish, certain words may be most helpful initially. Starting from a familiar area will help you lay the foundation you need.

   • Think about the words and phrases you use frequently throughout the day. For example, you say “please” and “thank you” several times a day. If you are not familiar yet por favor(por fa-VOR) and gracias(gra-SI-as), learn these easy-to-learn words, as well as other polite phrases.
   • If someone tells you gracias, can answer de nada(de NA-da), which means “please” (or, more literally, “you’re welcome”).
   • Also on early stages you will need to learn "yes" and "no" in Spanish (if you haven't already). These are the words: si(si) and no(But).

   Immersing ourselves in the language environment

   1. Visit Spanish speaking countries. Once you've mastered basic conversational phrases, go somewhere where official language is Spanish in order to learn and understand it even faster.

      • Immersion may be the fastest way to learn any language. If you think about it, this is how you mastered your native language. Chances are, you learned to speak long before you went to school and learned about the rules of grammar. You also began to speak more or less correctly even before you learned to read and write.
      • Immersion in a language environment is suitable for you if you want to communicate in it. Once you find yourself in a Spanish-speaking country, you will not learn to read and write. You will still need to learn grammar and spelling, but these skills will become easier with speaking skills.
      • In Spanish-speaking countries there is great amount schools and educational programs that will help you immerse yourself in the language and experience Spanish or Latin American culture. However, if you cannot afford to travel abroad, you can use other in effective ways immersion in a language environment without leaving home.

   2. Watch shows in Spanish. When listening to Spanish speech, it can be difficult to grasp the meaning due to problems understanding individual words. Watching programs in Spanish will help you train your hearing and identify sounds.

      • Start by watching movies or shows you are familiar with with subtitles in Spanish. Since you already have a general idea of ​​what the characters are saying, you will begin to pick out words and understand their meaning.
      • Use subtitles to improve your listening comprehension of Spanish and train your brain to associate certain letters with certain sounds.
      • Once you've mastered the familiar plots, move on to shows or movies you haven't seen before and see how well you understand them.

   3. Chat with native Spanish speakers. Since there are so many people around the world who speak Spanish, you don't have to go to Spain or Latin America to find a native speaker who is willing to talk to you.

      • By communicating with a native speaker and listening to their speech, you will be able to better understand sentences as a whole, rather than individual words. In addition, he will correct your mistakes before you embarrass yourself or end up in an unpleasant situation due to being misunderstood.
      • Don't forget that in different countries different pronunciation. Some Spaniards speak very differently from Mexicans, and some Mexicans speak differently from Colombians. A similar difference exists between British and American English.
      • If you're just starting to learn a language, look for people from Mexico or Ecuador, as they tend to speak slower.

   4. Listen to music in Spanish. Since, unlike ordinary speech, the words of a song sound slower and are often repeated, music is great way begin to recognize individual words and associate their sound with their spelling in your mind. Try listening and singing the same song at the same time until you master the pronunciation and begin to understand the words.

      • If you have satellite radio, you can find many radio stations with Spanish music, as well as talk radio stations. Depending on your location, you can even tune your radio to AM or FM dial.
      • In addition to radio, mountains of music in Spanish can be found on the Internet. Start by searching the top 40 in a specific Spanish-speaking country, such as Mexico or Colombia.
      • Choose songs you like and look up the lyrics online. As the song plays, you can read the lyrics to better associate the sound and spelling of the words in your mind.

   5. Change the language on your electronic devices. Use the settings on your smartphone, computer, or tablet to change the default language from Russian to Spanish. Since you are already familiar with the device menu, you will recognize the names of these words in Spanish.

      • Many websites and social networks allow you to change the default language. You can even change the language of your browser or use a special extension to translate Russian-language sites into Spanish. However, be careful, as translations are not always accurate and may not convey the correct meaning.
      • You can also look for sites in Spanish and try reading them. Many new sites have videos with transcripts so you can read and listen at the same time.

   6. Label household items. If you have a visual reminder of the name of something you deal with every day, eventually that word will become firmly imprinted in your mind. This will expand your vocabulary.

      • All you need for this is a pen or marker, paper and tape. Make sure the adhesive surface won't rub off the paint or damage the item, as you'll likely want to remove the sticky notes later. Alternatively, use regular stickers.
      • Don't try to put stickers on everything at once. It can be tedious. Select 5-10 items, see what they are called in Spanish, and label them. Once you've learned them, put the stickers away and move on to another group of things. If you forget something, just go back and repeat the process.

      Sign up for courses

      • There are also programs that require quite a significant initial investment. If you have the money and you think this program will benefit you in the future, buy it. But don’t forget that you can learn Spanish without any financial costs.
      • Websites and mobile applications good for practicing vocabulary and basic phrases, but usually provide fairly scattered knowledge of the Spanish language. Be prepared to immerse yourself in the language (at home or abroad) if you want to become truly fluent.
      • Typically, these programs are good if your goal is to learn to read and write Spanish. If your main goal is communication, you're better off having real conversations.

   7. Set aside time every day to practice. You can't learn Spanish overnight, it takes time. Decide how long your lessons will last and try to do them at the same time every day so that language practice becomes a habit.

      • Using a calendar on your computer or smartphone is a great option because you can set notifications to remind you when it's time to study.
      • Don't spend too much time learning a language at once, otherwise you will become bored or your progress will slow down. Make sure you learn something new every session. For example, if you practice a language for 15 minutes every evening, spend 5 minutes reviewing the material covered the day before, 5 minutes covering a new topic, and another 5 minutes practicing it.

   8. Set measurable goals. The thought of mastering every nuance of a language can be a little overwhelming, especially when you think about how long it took you to learn your native language. Break everything down into small, achievable goals to track your progress.

      • Goals can be related directly to the language or to your learning methods. For example, if you're immersed in the language and watch Spanish-language shows, your goal might be to watch one episode of the series every night. The language goal is to learn 5 new verbs every week.
      • Write down your goals and evaluate your progress every week. If you don't achieve your goal, try not to get discouraged. Just re-evaluate and determine what went wrong. If you can adjust it somehow, make adjustments and try again next week.
   • Learning a second language can be challenging. Don't be too hard on yourself if you forget something or make a mistake. And you will make mistakes. Be patient and try to train a little every day.
   • Enrolling in a course will help you master the Spanish language. It will be easier for you to learn and you will be able to get feedback on your progress.
   • Try to visit a Spanish-speaking friend daily to learn more about the language and the inside tricks.

You have booked your ticket. Your luggage is already packed. You can't wait to start your trip to a country where everyone speaks Spanish.

There's another one simple thing Here's something you can do that will come in handy on your trip: learn a few phrases in Spanish! Traveling will definitely be much more exciting and rewarding if you can communicate with native speakers.

In this article, we have selected the most popular Spanish phrases that will help you “survive” while traveling.

Greetings

Hispanic culture is based on politeness, and you should always be polite and say “hello” and “how are you?” And don't worry about making mistakes, people around you will do their best to understand you and make sure you understand them. Just try your best and they will be happy to see your efforts.

• Good morning – Buenos Days(Buenos dias)
• Good afternoon - Buenas tardes(buenas tardes)
• Good evening – Buenas nights(buenas noches)
• Hola (ola)- this is “hello”. You can say hello this way to people you already know.
• What do you think?(komo esta) - a way to ask “how are you?” in case you are unfamiliar with the person, What do you think?(como estas) - if you know him.
• If you are asked “how are you?”, answer “ok, thank you” - “Bien, gracias”(bien, gracias) because you are also a polite person.
• Never forget the key words: please - por favor(por favor) - and thank you - gracias(gracias).
• When you introduce yourself to someone, you say “Mucho gusto”(mucho thick), and you will hear the same thing in response. It means "nice to meet you."
• If you suddenly hit an insurmountable language barrier, switch to universal English, just make sure from your interlocutor: ¿Habla ingles?(abla ingles)? - Do you speak English?

Useful basic vocabulary

Even the simplest words and phrases to remember will be of great use to you in everyday communication. You can always use “I want”, “I like”, “Do you have...?”, and if you don’t know how to complete a phrase (for example, you can’t remember the right noun), just point to the item.

• I want, I don't want - Yo quiero, yo no quiero(yo kyero, yo no kyero)
• I would like (more politely) - Me gustaria(me gustaria)
• Where is? – What do you think?(donde esta)?
• What is the price? – ¿Cuánto cuesta?(cuanto cuesta)?
• How much time? – ¿Qué hora es?(ke ora es)?
• You have? – ¿Tiene?(tiene)?
• I have it, I don’t have it - Yo tengo, yo no tengo(yo tengo, yo no tengo)
• I understand, I don't understand - Yo entiendo, yo no entiendo(yo entiendo, yo no entiendo)
• You understand - ¿Entiende?(entiende)?

Simple verb forms: where is, I want, I need

You can express many thoughts and requests using simple verb forms. The important thing is that you can say a variety of things by using “I want,” “I need,” “I can,” “I could,” or “where is,” and then simply adding a noun. It may not be so easy for you, but you will definitely be understood.

• I want a ticket to a hotel, a taxi - Yo quiero un boleto, un hotel, un taxi(yo kyero un boleto, un hotel, un taxi)

How do I get there?

If you're a little lost or unsure of how to get somewhere, you need a few simple phrases to help you find the right path. "Where is?" in Spanish it sounds like “¿dónde está?” (donde esta?), let's look at this question in action based on a few examples:

• Where is the railway station? – ¿Dónde está la estación de ferrocarril?(donde esta la estacion de ferrocarril) or “autobuses” (autobuses).
• Where is the restaurant? – How about a restaurant?(donde esta un restaurante)?
  - Train? – ¿Un tren?(un tren)?
  - Street …? – ¿La calle...?(la saye)?
  - Bank? – ¿Un banco?(un banko)?
• I am looking for the restroom. – How about?– (donde esta el banyo)?
• I want a hotel, I want a hotel with a bathroom - Yo quiero un hotel, yo quiero un hotel con baño(yo kyero un hotel, yo kyero un hotel kon banyo)
• I need - Yo necesito(yo neseshito). A very useful phrase, just add a noun:
  Yo necesito un hotel, un cuarto, un cuarto con baño– (yo neseshito un hotel, un cuarto son banyo)
• Where is the exchange office located? where is the bank located? – ¿Dónde está una casa de cambio?(donde esta una casa de cambio);
  How about it?(donde esta el banco)?
• Money – Dinero (dinero).

Driving directions

Once you ask a question about how to get somewhere, you will hear the answer in Spanish. Remember some simple instructions in Spanish that someone might give you, such as telling you to turn right or left or to go straight ahead. Listen to these keywords:

• Right side - a la derecha(a la derecha)
• Left-hand side - a la izquierda(a la izquierda)
• Straight ahead - derecho(derecho)
• On the corner - en la esquina(en la esquina)
• In one, two, three, four blocks - a una cuadra, a dos, tres, cuatro cuadras– (a una cuadra, a dos, tres, cuatro cuadras)

At a restaurant: what do you want to eat or drink?

These are probably the phrases you'll need most when you're in a restaurant. Order something using something you already know "quiero"(quiero) or "quisiera"(kissier) – “I want” or “I would like.” And don't forget to talk “por favor” And "gracias"!

• Table - Una mesa(una masa)
• Table for two, three, four - Una mesa para dos tres, cuatro(una mesa para dos, tres, cuatro)
• Menu – Un menú(un menu)
• Soup - Sopa(sop)
• Salad - Ensalada(ensalada)
• Hamburger (also necessary!) – Hamburguesa(amburgesa)
• With ketchup, mustard, tomato, lettuce - Con salsa de tomate, mostaza, tomate, lechuga– (con salsa de tomate, mostaza, tomate, lechuga)
• Snack – Una entrada(una entrada)
• Dessert - Un postre(un postre)
• Drink - Una bebida(una babyda)
• Water – Agua(agua)
• Red wine, white wine – Vino tinto(Bino Tinto), vino blanco(bino blanco)
• Beer - Cerveza(serveza)
• Coffee - Un café(un cafe)
• Call a waiter or waitress - ¡Señor! or ¡Señorita!(senior or señorita)
• Check - La cuenta(la cuenta)

Miscellaneous information

• Credit cards. Many places in small towns still don't accept credit cards, so be sure to have plenty of cash with you. You may ask if they accept credit card, – una tarjeta de credito(una tarheta de credito). If you have questions, you can always use nouns as a question. For example, you could take out your credit card and ask ¿Tarjeta de credito? They will understand.
• Universal word: No funciona(but functional) – no, it doesn’t work. You can use this in many other circumstances. Just point to a shower or something and say: “¡No funciona!”
• Practice saying everything out loud, so, firstly, you will remember some phrases without having to “peep” them, and secondly, you will learn to pronounce them quickly and, at the same time, smoothly. Simple listening talking man will also help you understand people.
• Take a small pocket dictionary with you. Of course, you don't want to look for the right verb conjugation in the middle of a conversation, but you will always find the right noun quickly. Download this dictionary before your trip, it will definitely come in handy more than once.

1 – uno (uno)
2 – dos (dos)
3 – tres (tres)
4 – cuatro (cuatro)
5 – cinco (cinco)
6 – seis (seis)
7 – siete (siete)
8 – ocho (ocho)
9 – nueve (nueve)
10 – diez (dies)

P.S. You will learn more useful phrases in the online course.

Spanish is one of the most popular languages ​​in the world, it is spoken in Spain and in other countries Latin America, although they speak dialects and variations of classic Spanish. Classical Spanish is the basis and is perfectly understood in Peru, Chile, Portugal, Mexico, Cuba and other South American countries. In general, that turns out to be more than half a billion people in the world. So learning 100 phrases in Spanish will be useful.

The language of Lorca and Cervantes

The Spanish language sounds beautiful, is melodic and easy to learn. The spelling and pronunciation are almost identical; learning it yourself at the tourist level is quite simple. In everyday speech, Spaniards use approximately 700-1000 words, of which approximately 150-200 are verbs. And for tourism purposes, in order not to get lost in the cities of Spain or to understand airport employees, about 100 phrases consisting of 300-350 words are enough.

They are conventionally divided into several groups: words of gratitude and phrases for polite communication in a restaurant, airport and on the road. You will also need numbers, pronouns and the most popular verbs, directions and names of places, days of the week and time. You also need to learn the words necessary in difficult and dangerous situations, ask for help or help passers-by.

Sounds and pronunciations in Spanish

To speak Spanish, start learning with the basics - phonetics and the alphabet. Language has features and complexities. The Spanish alphabet is almost identical to the English one, with the exception of 1 detail - the letter “Ñ” has been added, it is read “n”. Otherwise they are the same. Let's look at the details of the phonetic features of Spanish letters:

• at the beginning of a word the letter “H” is not pronounced, in the word “Hola!” (hello), it is pronounced “Ola” with the first vowel removed;
• in classical Spanish, the letter “C” is often pronounced with a whistle, somewhat similar to the English combination “th”;
• the letter “E” is read “E”, at this moment foreigners can be heard strongly;
• the letter "L" in Spanish is soft;
• Basically, words are read as they are written, there are exceptions, but they are few;
• stress is placed according to the rules, unlike the Russian language - at the end of the word there is a consonant letter (except for N and S), then the stress is on the last syllable, vowel or letters N and S, then on the penultimate one;
• the letter “C” is read “K” in combination with the vowels a, o, u; and “C” - with the letters e, i;
• the letter "G" is read "Г" in combination with a, o, u; and with the letters e, i – pronounced “X”;

• special combinations “GUE”, “GUI” are read as “Ge” and “Gi”, and “QUE” and “QUI” are read as “Ke” and “Ki”;
• the letter “V” is pronounced like the middle between “v” and “b”;
• the letters “S” and “Z” are read like the Russian “S”, and in Spain they are pronounced similar to “ts”.

These features are easy to remember, otherwise the languages ​​are similar and it is not difficult for Russians to learn Spanish and speak it in a way that is understandable for the natives of Spain.

The difficulty lies in the first 2-3 months of training, when pronunciation is difficult; at this time it is better to study with a teacher. You can independently instill the incorrect sound of some words and letter combinations; it is then difficult to relearn.

How to learn a foreign language?

Regardless of the country and language, its study must contain certain points and stages, then memorization and understanding will be achieved to the required extent. You can't learn sentences without knowing how individual words are pronounced, and you can't start talking without getting basic knowledge in the construction of phrases. It is best to do everything gradually, including all stages:

• setting up pronunciation, studying basic words and sounds - here you can create a dictionary where new phrases and expressions are recorded with transcription and translation;

• solving and performing exercises on phonetics and spelling;
• writing words and expressions to consolidate knowledge with rote memory;
• listening to music and watching movies in Spanish with subtitles;
• reading books by Spanish authors and translating them - start with simple children's stories familiar to you from childhood, then move on to more complex ones;
• communication with native speakers in chat, in social networks, language centers, trips to a Spanish-speaking country.

Skipping any of the stages will negatively affect the speed and completeness of language learning; it is better if everything is in a complex. Communicating in Spanish will allow you to collect all the knowledge you have acquired and try to reproduce phrases so that you are understood. This is an opportunity to hear and try to understand real Spanish speech, because it is very different from the book.

Words of greeting and phrases of gratitude

First of all, write down the words of greeting and farewell in your dictionary; they are the basis for any language and for communication in any country. Spain is no exception; here everyone greets politely in shops, cafes, and when meeting acquaintances and friends. As in Russian, Spanish has several variants of phrases for varying degrees of “kinship” with the interlocutor.

When meeting a friend and a well-known peer, you can say ¡Hola! (Ola!) - Hello! But to a stranger or an adult interlocutor they say ¡Buenos días! (Buenos Dias!), ¡Buenas tardes! (Buenos tardes!) or ¡Buenas noches! (Buenos noches!), which translates accordingly to “Good morning/day/night!”

Usually after the greeting I add a polite question “How are you?” or its variations, to which they do not talk about their problems, they simply say “Okay! And how are you?" It sounds like this:

What do you mean? ke tal How are you?
What do you think? komo estás How are you doing?

These two phrases can be used to communicate with an acquaintance or friend, but to a stranger or group of people you should say:

What do you think? komo está How are you doing? (if there is only one person), or
What's the point? komo estan How are you doing? (if you are addressing a group of people).

The answer options again depend on the interlocutor:

Bien, ¿y tú? [bean, and tu] Okay, what about you? - this is what you can say to a friend, but in other options you need the following wording:

Bien, gracias ¿y Usted? [been, gracias and ustet] Okay, thanks! And you?

In addition to standard greetings, you can use or hear the following phrases: ¿Qué tal la vida/ el trabajo/ la familia/ los estudios? (que tal la vida/el trabajo/la familia/los estudios), which means - How is your life/work/family/studies?

In response to these phrases, you can respond with the standard “Bien!”, or you can diversify your communication:

• ¡Excelente! (exelente) Great!
• ¡Muy bien! (muy bien) Very good!
• Más o menos. (mas o menos) More or less.
• Regular. (regular) Normal.
• Mal. (male) Bad.
• Muy mal. (muy mal) Very bad.
• Fatal. (fatal) Terrible.

But after these phrases, polite Spaniards will begin to ask questions and demand details; if you are not ready for this, then limit yourself to the standard wording.

Say goodbye or wish Have a good day in a famous phrase

• “¡Chao! (whao) Bye!” or “¡Adiós! (adós) Bye! Goodbye!" if the interlocutors are older than you or unfamiliar, then it is better to choose one of these:

• ¡Hasta luego! asta luego Goodbye!
• ¡Hasta pronto! asta pronto See you soon!
• ¡Hasta mañana! asta mañana See you tomorrow!
• Nos vemos. nose vemos See you later! See you.

If suddenly you are faced with a complete misunderstanding of your interlocutor, then you can tell him about it in the following words:

• No entiendo But entiendo I don’t understand.
• Mas despacio, por favor. Mas-despacio, por-favor Could you speak more slowly?
• No comprendo. But comprendo I don't understand.

These words are enough to look polite person when communicating with residents in Spanish cities. If you have difficulties in understanding, you can switch to English, if it is easier for you to select phrases in this language, besides, you can meet Russian-speaking people, there are a lot of them in all countries of Europe and Latin America.

The right words if you don't know the way

The Spaniards are quite responsive and will gladly give directions to a tourist, but you must know how to ask and what they can tell you. In order not to memorize complex phrases and phrases, 3 options are enough and you will be understood:

Where is…

I need…

For example, you need to ask directions to a bank or hotel, you can ask the question this way:

• ¿Dónde está la calle/un banco/un hotel? (Donde esta la saye/un banko/un hotel?) – Where is the street/bank/hotel?
• Yo necesito la estación de ferrocarril. (yo nesesito la estacion de ferrocarril) - I need a station.

Other options that can be used to find the road:

¿Cómo llego a...? - How do I get to…?
¿Qué tan lejos es…? - How far is...?

In response, they may offer you a map or show you the direction, or they may explain in detail how to get there and where to turn; the following expressions are used for this:

• Right side, to the right (a la derecha) a la derecha;
• Left side, to the left (a la izquierda) a la izquierda;
• Straight ahead (derecho) derecho;
• On the corner (en la esquina) en la esquina;
• Far (Lejos) Lejos;
• Near/near (Serca) Cerca;
• In one/two/three/four blocks (a una cuadra/a dos,/tres/cuatro cuadras) a una cuadra/a dos/tres/cuatro cuadras.

Even if you do not understand the Spanish answer well, you can ask to repeat it again or say that you do not understand. As a rule, they will be happy to draw a map, guide you to a place, or explain in more detail and more clearly.

In Spain they treat tourists well and are happy when you manage to pronounce words correctly. They will help you on the street and in the store, and the police officers will also escort you to the right place.

Phrases for emergency situations

Unforeseen situations can happen to anyone, no one is immune from this. You or your friends, as well as a person on the street, may need help. You wouldn’t walk past people in trouble simply because you don’t know how to call a doctor in Spanish, would you? When traveling with children, a quick response to a situation is often required, and searching for the correct phrase in a phrasebook or online translator will make it very difficult to solve the problem. What basic phrases might you need to find help:

• ¡Ayúdame! (Ayudame!) Help me!
• Help! (Socorro!) Socorro!
• Stop! (Stop!) (Pare!) Pare!
• Necesito un doctor/ dentista/ official de police. - I need a doctor/dentist/policeman.
• ¿Hay una farmacía cerca? - Is there a pharmacy nearby?
• ¿Puedo utilizar su telefono? - Can I use your phone?
• ¡Llame a la policía/ ambulancia/ los bomberos! (Yame a-lapolicia/a-unambulansya/a-los-bomberos!) - Call the police/ambulance/fire department!
• Fire! (fuego) Fuego!
• I'm lost. (meh perdido) Me he perdido.

These phrases will be enough to ask passers-by for help in an emergency. If you know them by heart, it may save someone’s life or health and make your trip much calmer and safer.

As a conclusion!

Spanish is a beautiful, sonorous and musical language; learning it is pleasant and easy. Phrases for tourists are just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg, and a real understanding of this music will come after a year or two of mastering it. When you can understand your interlocutor, and not guess by gestures what they told you, when you can watch Spanish films without subtitles and translation, then you can confidently go to a foreign country and enjoy its culture and inner world.

Where you can learn Spanish:

1. Language schools, courses and individual lessons with a teacher are the most popular and most productive way.
2. Online programs and smartphone applications for self-study– long and requires self-discipline.
3. Video and audio lessons, exercises and assignments online and in books will require adjustments from a specialist or help at an entry-level level.
4. Visiting a country or communicating with native speakers is quick, but it will only give you spoken language; they won’t teach you how to read and write.

If learning Spanish is your dream, then supplement your learning by reading the history of the country, books by national authors, and searching for information about its culture and characteristics. Then the picture will be more complete. If you need a language to do work, then deepen your study with technical knowledge and specialized words. To do this, you will need special literature, magazines, newspapers, websites and blogs on the desired topics, and you should start studying them only after completing the basic part.

Classes can take from six months to infinity, depending on the intensity and density of classes, the degree of immersion in learning, repeating acquired knowledge and adding new words and phrases.

Brief Russian-Spanish phrasebook

First few words

No. No. But

Please. For your sake. por favor

Thank you. Gracias. gra sias

Thank you very much. Muchas gracias. mu chas gra sias

I'm sorry. Perdoneme. peer to name

Do you speak English? Habla usted ingles? a blah stead in glaze

Where is...? Donde esta...? don de es ta

Where are...? Donde estan...? don de es tan

Emergencies

Help! Socorro! co ko rro

Call the police. Llama a la police. lya ma a la poly si a

Fire! Fuego! wow oh

Find a doctor. Busque un doctor. bus ke un dok tor

I'm lost. Me he perdido. me e per di do

Stop the thief! Al ladron! al lad ron

Greetings and politeness formulas

Hello, good morning). Buenos dias. Buenos dias

Good afternoon (evening). Buenas tardes. bu e us tar des

Good night. Buenas nights. bu e us but ches

Bye. Adios. a dios

See you later. Hasta luego. and became lu e go

This is Mr. Perez. Este es el Senor Peres. es te es el se nior pe res

This is Ms. Perez. Esta es la Senora Peres. es ta es la se nieur a pe res

This is Senorita Perez. Esta es la Senorita Peres. es ta es la seño ri ta per res

How are you? Como esta usted? ko mo es ta us ted

Very good. And you? Muy bien. Y usted? muy bien. and us ted

Search for mutual understanding

Do you speak Russian? Habla usted ruso? a blah u stead ru so

Do you speak English? Habla usted ingles? a blah u stead in glaz

I understand. Comprendo. com pren do

I don't understand. No comprendo. but com pren before

You understand? Comprende usted? com pren de us ted

Does anyone here speak English? Hay alguien aqui que hable ingles? ay al gyen a ki ke a ble in glaz

Can you speak slowly? Puede usted hablar mas despacio? pu e de us ted ab lyar mas des pa sio

Could you repeat that? Podria usted repetir eso? under ri a us ted rape tyr e so

Standard requests

Could you give me...? Puede darme...? pu e de dar me

Could you give us...? Puede darnos...? pu e de dar nose

Could you show me...? Puede usted enseñarme...? pu e de us ted ense nyar me

Could you tell me...? Puede usted decirme...? pu e de us ted de cir me

Could you help me? Puede usted ayudarme? pu e de us ted ayu dar me

We would like... Quisieramos.. quisi e ramos

Give it to me please... Por favor, deme... por fa vor de me

Show me... Enseñeme... en se neme

Passport control and customs

Passport control. Control de pasaportes. con trol de pasa por tes

Here's my passport. Aqui esta mi pasaporte. a ki es ta mi pasa por te

I'm here to relax. Estoy aqui de vacaciones. Es toi a ki de waka sio nes

I'm here on business. Estoy aqui de negocios. Es toy a ki de ne go sias

Excuse me, but I do not understand. Lo siento, no comprendo. lo xien to no com preng do

Customs Aduana hell and na

I have nothing to declare. No tengo nada que declarar. no ten go na da ke dekla rar

This is for my personal use. Es de mi uso personal. es de mi u co person nal

This is a gift. Es un regalo. es un re ga lo

Money exchange

Where is the nearest exchange office? Donde esta la oficina de cambio mas cercana? don de es ta la ofi si na de kam bio mas ser ka na

Can you change these traveler's checks? Puede cambiarme estos cheques de viajero? pu e de kambi yar me es tos che kes de vya he ro

I want to exchange dollars for pesetas. Quiero cambiar dolares en pesetas. ki e ro kambi yar do la res en pe se tas

Hotel

Could you reserve a room? Podria reservarme una habitacion? under ri a rather var me u na abita syon

room for one una habitacion sencilla at abita syon sen sy lya

room for two una habitacion doble at abita sien doble

not very expensive no muy cara but muy cara

Where can I get a taxi? Donde puedo coger un taxi? dong de pu e do ko her un tak si

What is the rate until...? Cuanto es la tarifa a...? kwan to es la ta ri fa a

Take me to this address. Lleveme a cenar. lie veme a se nar

Take me to the airport. Lleveme al aeropuerto. lie veme al aeropo er to

Take me to the train station. Lleveme a la estacion de ferrocarril. lie veme a la estas yon de ferrocar ril

Take me to the hotel... Lleveme al hotel... lie veme al o tel

to the left a la izquierda a la isquierda da

to the right a la derecha a la de re cha

Stop here please. Pare aqui, por favor. pa re a ki por fa thief

Could you wait for me? Puede esperarme, por favor. pu e de espe rar me por fa thief

Could you give it to me? Puede darme esto? pu e de dar me es to

Could you show it to me? Puede usted enseñarme esto? pu e de us ted ense nyar me es to

I would like... Quisiera.. kisi e ra

Give it to me please. Demelo, por favor. de melo por fa thief

Show me this. Enseñemelo. en se nomelo

How much does it cost? Cuanto cuesta esto? kwan to ques ta es to

What is the price? Cuanto es? kwan to es

Please write this. Por favor, escribalo. por fa vor es kri balo

Too expensive. Muy caro. mui ka ro

Sale Rebajas re ba hass

Can I try this on? Puedo probarmelo? pu e do about bar melo

0 cero se ro

4 cuatro quat ro

5 cinco sin co

7 siete sie te

9 nueve well uh ve

10 diez sharp

11 once he se

12 doce to se

13 trece trese

14 catorce ka tor se

15 quince kin se

16 dieciseis dieci seis

17 diecisiete diesi sie te

18 dieciocho dieci o cho

19 diecinueve diecinue e ve

20 veinte veinte

21 veintiuno veinti u but

22 veintidos veinti dos

30 treinta trey nta

31 treinta y uno treinta and u but

32 treinta y dos treinta and dos

40 cuarenta ka ren ta

50 cinquenta sin quen ta

60 sesenta se sen ta

70 setenta se ten ta

80 ochenta o chen ta

100 cien (before nouns and adjectives) / ciento cien / cien to

101 ciento uno cien to u but

200 doscientos dos cien tos

300 trescientos tres cien tos

400 cuatrocientos quattro cien tos

500 quinientos quini en tos

600 seiscientos seis cien tos

700 setecientos sete cien tos

800 ochocientos ocho cien tos

1000 mil miles

2000 dos mil dos mil

10000 diez mil diez miles

100000 cien mil cien miles

1000000 un million