10 Phrases to Know Before Traveling to Mexico
So you’re off to Mexico! Land of sunshine, tequila, and enough “muy calientes” to make your cabeza spin (that’s “head” for our non-Spanish speaking amigos). But before you perfect your sombrero tan, brush up on your Spanish. While those spring breakers in Cancun might get by with senorita-ing everything in sight, you, the adventurous soul that you are, deserve a more enriching experience.
Here’s a cheat sheet of 10 essential Spanish phrases to get you started, complete with phonetic spellings for your pronunciation prowess:
- ¡Hola! (Hello!) (OH-lah) – No brainer there, amigo. Unless you’re planning a ninja vacation, a friendly greeting is a good first step.
- ¿Habla usted inglés? (Do you speak English?) (AH-blah oo-STED een-GLES?) – A polite way to check if you can switch gears, just in case your Spanish needs a siesta (nap).
- ¡Muchas gracias! (Thank you very much!) (MOO-chas GRAH-see-ahs) – Because manners don’t take a vacation, and everyone appreciates a grateful gringo.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much does it cost?) (KWAN-toh KWES-tah?) – This phrase can save you from fainting at the sight of a six-figure peso bill (don’t worry, they have smaller ones).
- ¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?) (DON-deh es-tah el BAHN-yo?) – Because nature calls, and understanding this one might just save your fiesta.
- ¡Me encanta! (I love it!) (Meh en-CAHN-tah) – Perfect for complimenting that incredible taco al pastor, a stunning sunset, or maybe even someone’s sombrero!
- ¡Un poco más, por favor! (A little more, please!) (oon POH-coh MAHS, por fah-VOR) – This applies to everything from guacamole to conversation practice.
- ¡Buen provecho! (Enjoy your meal!) (Bwen pro-VEH-cho) – Wish your fellow diners a tasty experience and they’ll probably wish you one in return (hopefully not “¡Buen viaje!” which means “have a good trip,” and might be a hint they want you to leave).
- No picoso, por favor. (Not spicy, please.) (No pee-COH-soh, por fah-VOR) – Unless you’re a fire-breathing dragon, this might be a good one to have on hand. Mexican spice is no joke.
- ¡Salud! (Cheers!) (Sah-LOOD) – Raise a glass (or a bottled cerveza) and toast to new adventures, newfound Spanish skills, and the inevitable tequila headache to come.
There you have it! With these ten phrases, you’ll be well on your way to charming the locals, navigating the markets, and maybe even scoring a piñata full of pesos. Just remember, a little effort goes a long way. ¡Buen viaje!