Traveling to Spain, especially the beautiful Costa Blanca region, is a dream come true for many. But while the beaches, tapas, and sunshine are world-class, there’s one thing that can take your experience to the next level: speaking a bit of Spanish. Even just a few phrases can go a long way — locals appreciate the effort, and you’ll feel more confident navigating daily situations.
Below is your survival Spanish kit for restaurants, hotels, shops, and more. Don’t worry — we’ve added phonetic pronunciation and emojis to make it fun and easy!
1. Restaurant Spanish: Order Like a Pro 🍽️
Requesting a table:
- Una mesa para dos, por favor.
[oo-nah MEH-sah PAH-rah DOHS, por fah-BOHR] – A table for two, please. - ¿Tienen mesa libre?
[TYEH-nen MEH-sah LEE-breh?] – Do you have a free table?
Ordering food:
- ¿Qué me recomienda?
[keh meh reh-koh-mee-EHN-dah?] – What do you recommend? - Quisiera una paella, por favor.
[kee-SYEH-rah OO-nah pah-EH-yah, por fah-BOHR] – I would like a paella, please. - Sin gluten / soy vegetariano.
[seen GLOO-ten / soy beh-heh-tah-ryah-NO] – Gluten-free / I’m vegetarian.
Drinks:
- Una cerveza, por favor.
[OO-nah sehr-VEH-thah, por fah-BOHR] – A beer, please. - Una copa de vino tinto/blanco.
[OO-nah KOH-pah deh VEE-noh TEEN-toh / BLAHN-koh] – A glass of red/white wine.
Asking for the bill:
- La cuenta, por favor.
[lah CWEN-tah, por fah-BOHR] – The bill, please. - ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
[PWEH-doh pah-GAHR con tar-HEH-tah?] – Can I pay by card?
2. Hotel Essentials: Check-in Without Stress 🛎️
At reception:
- Tengo una reserva a nombre de…
[TEHN-goh OO-nah reh-SEHR-bah ah NOHM-breh deh…] – I have a reservation under the name of… - ¿Dónde está el ascensor?
[DOHN-deh es-TAH el ah-sen-SOHR?] – Where is the elevator? - ¿Hay wifi gratuito?
[eye WEE-fee grah-too-EE-toh?] – Is there free Wi-Fi?
Room requests:
- ¿Podría darme una toalla extra?
[poh-DREE-ah DAR-meh OO-nah toh-AH-yah EX-trah?] – Could I have an extra towel? - No hay agua caliente.
[noh eye AH-gwah kah-lyen-teh] – There’s no hot water.
Breakfast & services:
- ¿A qué hora es el desayuno?
[ah keh OH-rah es el deh-sah-YOO-noh?] – What time is breakfast? - ¿Tienen servicio de lavandería?
[TYEH-nen sehr-BEE-syoh deh lah-vahn-deh-REE-ah?] – Do you have laundry service?
3. Shopping & Markets: Buy It Right 🛍️
At a store:
- ¿Cuánto cuesta?
[CWAN-toh CWES-tah?] – How much does it cost? - ¿Está rebajado?
[es-TAH reh-bah-HAH-doh?] – Is it discounted? - ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta o en efectivo?
[PWEH-doh pah-GAHR con tar-HEH-tah oh en ef-ec-TEE-voh?] – Can I pay with card or cash?
At a market:
- Solo estoy mirando.
[SOH-loh es-TOY mee-RAHN-doh] – I’m just looking. - ¿Me puede dar medio kilo de naranjas?
[meh PWEH-deh dar MEH-dyoh KEE-loh deh nah-RAHN-hahs?] – Can I have half a kilo of oranges? - ¿Está fresco?
[es-TAH FRES-koh?] – Is it fresh?
Useful words:
- Fruta [FROO-tah] – fruit
- Queso [KEH-soh] – cheese
- Jamón [hah-MOHN] – ham
- Pan [pahn] – bread
4. Asking for Directions: Don’t Get Lost 🗺️
- ¿Dónde está el baño?
[DOHN-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh?] – Where is the bathroom? 🚻 - ¿Está lejos?
[es-TAH LEH-hos?] – Is it far? - ¿Puede ayudarme, por favor?
[PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR-meh, por fah-BOHR?] – Can you help me, please? - Estoy perdido/a.
[es-TOY pehr-DEE-doh / pehr-DEE-dah] – I’m lost. (masc./fem.)
5. Politeness Always Wins 🤝
- Hola [OH-lah] – Hello
- Adiós [ah-DYOS] – Goodbye
- Gracias [GRAH-syahs] – Thank you
- Por favor [por fah-BOHR] – Please
- Disculpe [dees-KOOL-peh] – Excuse me / Sorry
- Buenos días [BWEH-nos DEE-ahs] – Good morning
- Buenas tardes [BWEH-nas TAR-des] – Good afternoon
- Buenas noches [BWEH-nas NOH-ches] – Good evening/night
6. Bonus Tips & Fun Facts ✨
- Fun fact: Saying “gracias” with a smile almost guarantees a smile back. It’s magic in Spain!
- Practice saying “th” instead of “s” in some Spanish accents (like cerveza → ther-VEH-tha in mainland Spain).
- Locals love when tourists try Spanish, even if it’s imperfect. You’re not being judged — you’re being appreciated.
7. Mini Phrasebook – Downloadable PDF 📥
(Coming soon – PDF with the phrases above in print-friendly format.)
Organized by category, with phonetics and English translations — great for mobile or print.
8. Final Thoughts & Call to Action ☀️
Learning just a few Spanish phrases before visiting Costa Blanca will absolutely enrich your stay. You’ll feel more confident, connect more deeply with locals, and maybe even surprise yourself.
Which phrase will you try first? Let us know in the comments!
And don’t forget to check out our other Spanish learning articles for more language tips, expressions, and cultural insights.
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