Useful Spanish Phrases
Here are a few words and phrases in Spanish you may find useful. Practice saying these before you come to camp. You might not be able to learn them all, but the nationals appreciate any effort we make to speak their native language; it shows respect for them and their culture.
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Cristo (Jesús) te ama………………………………………….. Jesus loves you
Dios te ama………………………………………………………. God loves you
Dios le bendiga…………………………………………………. God bless you
¿Tiene una Biblia?…………………………………………….. Do you have a Bible?
La Biblia dice…………………………………………………… The Bible says . . .
Jesucristo es el camino………………………………………. Jesus Christ is the way
Soy Cristiano(a)………………………………………………… I am a Christian (mas. and fem.)
¿Eres Cristiano(a)?……………………………………………. Are you a Christian (mas. and fem.)
¿Conoces a Cristo personalmente?………………………. Do you know Christ personally?
Iglesia……………………………………………………………… Church
Pastor………………………………………………………………. Pastor
¿Como está?…………………………………………………….. How are you doing?
Bien gracias. ¿Y tú?…………………………………………… Fine thanks. And you?
Encantado………………………………………………………… Pleased to meet you
¿Habla inglés?………………………………………………….. Do you speak English?
Si, un poco……………………………………………………….. Yes, a little
No hablo español (muy bien)……………………………… I don’t speak Spanish (very well)
Repita por favor………………………………………………… Please repeat
No entiendo……………………………………………………… I don’t understand
No sé……………………………………………………………….. I don’t know
Me llamo________……………………………………………. My name is_________
¿Cómo se llama?………………………………………………. What is your name?
El es mi amigo, ______……………………………………… This is my friend, _______
Vivo en ___________……………………………………….. I live in ________________
¿De dónde eres?………………………………………………… Where are you from?
Soy de _______………………………………………………… I am from ________
¿Cuántos años tiene usted?…………………………………. How old are you?
¿Cuántas personas viven en su casa?…………………… How many people live in your house
¿Qué te gusta hacer?………………………………………….. What do you like to do?
Me gusta (see following words) ……………………… I like (see following words)
leer = to read cantar = to sing bailar = to dance ver la tele = to watch TV
escuchar música = to listen to music jugar = to play (béisbol [baseball], vólibol [volleyball], básquetbol [basketball], tenis [tennis], golf, fútbol americano [American football – to distinguish from fútbol, which is soccer]
¿Donde está el baño?………………………………………… Where is the bathroom?
¿Qué hora es?…………………………………………………… What time is it?
¿Cuánto cuesta?………………………………………………… How much does it cost?
¡Hace calor!……………………………………………………… It’s hot!
Tengo sed………………………………………………………… I am thirsty
Vamos a comer…………………………………………………. Let’s eat
Agua……………………………………………………………….. Water
Refresco…………………………………………………………… Soft drink
Chicle (or chiclet)……………………………………………… chewing gum
Tienda……………………………………………………………… Store
Gracias…………………………………………………………….. Thank you
Muchas gracias…………………………………………………. Thank you very much
Por favor………………………………………………………….. Please
De nada……………………………………………………………. You’re welcome
Con permiso (when taking leave of someone)………. Excuse me
Perdóne……………………………………………………………. Forgive me
¡Hola!………………………………………………………………. Hello
Buenos días………………………………………………………. Good morning
Buenas tardes……………………………………………………. Good afternoon
Buenas noches………………………………………………….. Good evening
Adiós amigo(a)(os)……………………………………………. Goodbye friend(s)
¡Adiós! Pasé un rato agradable……………………………. Goodbye! I had a great time
Si…………………………………………………………………….. Yes
No…………………………………………………………………… No
Bueno………………………………………………………………. Good
Muy bien………………………………………………………….. Very good
No muy bien…………………………………………………….. Not very good
Malo (mala)……………………………………………………… Bad (masculine and feminine)
No esta mal………………………………………………………. Not bad
Question words:
¿Quién? (¿Quienes?)…………………………………………. Who? (Singular and plural)
¿Qué?………………………………………………………………. What?
¿Cuándo?…………………………………………………………. When?
¿Dónde?…………………………………………………………… Where?
¿Por qué?…………………………………………………………. Why?
¿Cómo?……………………………………………………………. How?
¿Cuánto?………………………………………………………….. How much?
More handy words:
Baño………………………………………………………………… Bathroom
Cuarto……………………………………………………………… Bedroom
Cama……………………………………………………………….. Bed
Mesa……………………………………………………………….. Table
Silla…………………………………………………………………. Chair
Ducha………………………………………………………………. Shower
Toalla………………………………………………………………. Towel
Almohada………………………………………………………… Pillow
Marioneta…………………………………………………………. Puppet
Drama……………………………………………………………… Drama
Normally you pronounce each vowel (even if there are two vowels side-by-side in a word). Here’s how Spanish vowels are pronounced compared to English:
a-ah e-ĕ i-ē o-oh u-ooooo
An “n” with a “~” over it (ñ) sounds like n and y together: español pronounced “espanyol”
Double “ll’s” are pronounced as a “y”: llama pronounced “yama”
An accent over a vowel: that part of the word is stressed: cómo pronounced “COmo”