Essential Phrases

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If you plan on travelling to Argentina, it is very handy to have a few words of Spanish. Argentines speak Castillean Spanish or Castellano from the Castillean region of Spain. Almost all the words and vocabulary are the same, but Argentines pronounce some syllables differently and have a few different expressions. Generally, the people enunciate well and it’s relatively easy to understand them, except when they fall into the lunfardo form, an Italian-based slang spoken mainly in Buenos Aires. If you can communicate even a little then you are likely to enjoy Argentina and its culture more. Argentines are proud of their Spanish and will more than likely correct you if you pronounce it wrong.

The main difference with other Latin American Spanish is the use of vos instead of tu, so instead saying tu trabajas (you eat), the Argentines would say (vos trabajas). Another significant difference is their pronunciation of “ll” which they pronounce like a ‘sh’ instead of a ‘y’. For example, the word villa – vi-ya – would be pronounced vi-sha. For more peculiarities see Argentine Spanish in Special Themes.

Useful Phrases, Expressions, Greetings
Buenos Dias   Good Morning
Buenos Tardes   Good Afternoon
Buenos Noches   Good Evening
Hola  Hello
Chau  Bye
Adios  Goodbye
Hasta luego See you soon
Hasta mañana   Until tomorrow
Con permiso   Excuse me
Disculpe (me) o Perdon   Sorry
Por favor   Please
(Muchas) Gracias   Thank you (very much)
Si/No   Yes/No
¿Hablas Ingles?   Do you speak English?
No hablo Castellano (o Espanol)   I don’t speak Spanish
No entiendo   I don’t understand
¿Como te llamas?   What is your name?
Me llamo   My name is….
¿Como se dice….?   How do you say…?
¿Que hora es?   What time is it?
Estoy cansado/a   I’m tired
No me siento muy bien   I don’t feel well
¿De dondes es?   Where are you from?
Yo soy de…. I’m from……
¿Donde esta… el bano?   Where is… the bathroom?
No se   I don’t know
¿Como estais? o ¿Que tal?   How are you?
Muy bien   Very well
¿Cuanto sale o cuanto es?   How much is it?
Es precioso/lindo   It’s beautiful
¿Por qué?   Why?
¿Qué significa?   What does it mean?
Esta bien   It’s fine

Restaurant Talk
¿Tiene una mesa para…dos?   Do you have a table for two?
Nos trae la carta, por favor   Could you bring us the menu, please
¿Tiene la carta de vinos?   Do you have a wine list?
¿Que desea comer?   What would you like to eat?
¿Que me recomienda?   What do you recommend?
¿Que va a tomar?   What are you going to drink?
¿Con que lo/la quiere?   What would you like to go with it?
¿Con que agregado? Any side order?
La cuenta, por favor The bill, please.

Hotel Conversations
¿Tiene una habitacion?   Do you have a room?
¿Tiene bano privado?   It has a private bathroom?
¿Con desayuno?   With breakfast?
No, tiene baño compartido   No, it has a shared bathroom
¿Tiene cama matrimonial?   Does it have a double bed?
¿Hay agua caliente?   Is there hot water?
¿Cuántos días van a quedarse?   How many days are you going to stay?
¿Me puede dar un descuento?   Can you give me a discount?

Transport Questions
Ida/Vuelta   Single/Return
Quiero un pasaje ida y vuelta a… I want to buy a return ticket to…
¿A que hora sale el bus/avion/tren?   What time does the bus/plane/train leave?
¿De donde sale?   From where does it leave?
Sale a las 14.00 horas.   It leaves at 2pm
¿Cuánto tarda o Cuánto se demora?   How long does it take
¿Va directo?   It goes direct?
No, para en…….. No it stops in…

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