English to Spanish: 100 Common Words & Phrases

Imagine walking into a small coffee shop in Miami. The person behind the counter greets you in Spanish, and you recognize the word hola. You smile, but when they ask another question, you're suddenly unsure how to respond. You might know a few Spanish words already. Turning those words into an actual conversation is the next step. Learning english to spanish doesn't have to begin with complicated grammar lessons or hundreds of vocabulary flashcards. A few practical expressions can help you greet someone, order food, ask questions, and feel more comfortable speaking with Spanish-speaking friends, neighbors, or coworkers. This guide brings together 100 common Spanish words and phrases, organized around everyday situations. You'll also learn how to use them naturally, avoid frequent translation mistakes, and practice without feeling overwhelmed.

Why Learning Everyday Spanish Is a Good Place to Start

Spanish is part of everyday life in many communities across the United States. You may hear it in restaurants, stores, workplaces, schools, or conversations with neighbors and friends.

Being able to say something simple, such as ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?) or Muchas gracias (Thank you very much), can make a conversation more welcoming.

But memorizing a translation isn't always enough.

Take the English expression "Good evening." Spanish speakers commonly use buenas tardes during the afternoon and earlier evening, while buenas noches is used later in the evening and at night. The best choice depends on the time and context.

That's why this article includes not only translations but also explanations of when and how to use them.

Two people practicing everyday English and Spanish greetings in a café

Figure 1: Everyday conversations in coffee shops and communities begin with familiar greetings and active listening.

Basic Spanish Greetings and Goodbyes

Greetings are some of the easiest expressions to practice because you'll encounter opportunities to use them almost every day.

No.	English Expression	Spanish Translation
1	Hello	Hola
2	Good morning	Buenos días
3	Good afternoon	Buenas tardes
4	Good evening / Good night	Buenas noches
5	Goodbye	Adiós
6	See you later	Hasta luego
7	See you tomorrow	Hasta mañana
8	How are you? (informal)	¿Cómo estás?
9	How's it going?	¿Qué tal?
10	Nice to meet you	Mucho gusto

Using Greetings in a Real Conversation

Imagine meeting a new neighbor:

You: ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? (Hello! How are you?) Neighbor: Muy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? (Very well, thank you. And you?) You: Bien, gracias. (Good, thank you.)

An important distinction: ¿Cómo estás? is informal. When speaking more formally to an elder or professional, ¿Cómo está usted? is an appropriate alternative.

Polite Spanish Words and Expressions

Good manners travel well between languages. These expressions are particularly useful in restaurants, stores, offices, and everyday social situations.

No.	English Expression	Spanish Translation
11	Please	Por favor
12	Thank you	Gracias
13	Thank you very much	Muchas gracias
14	You're welcome	De nada
15	Excuse me (getting attention, formal)	Disculpe
16	I'm sorry	Lo siento
17	No problem	No hay problema
18	Of course	Por supuesto
19	With permission / Excuse me (passing by)	Con permiso
20	Have a good day	Que tengas un buen día

What's the Difference Between Disculpe and Con permiso?

Both can translate to "excuse me," but they aren't always interchangeable.

Use disculpe when politely attracting someone's attention, apologizing, or asking a question in a formal context.
Use con permiso when passing through a crowded space or politely interrupting someone to move past.

Everyday Spanish Conversation Phrases

Once you know basic greetings, the next step is introducing yourself and talking about familiar things.

No.	English Expression	Spanish Translation
21	My name is...	Me llamo...
22	What's your name? (informal)	¿Cómo te llamas?
23	I am from the United States	Soy de Estados Unidos
24	Where are you from? (informal)	¿De dónde eres?
25	I speak English	Hablo inglés
26	I'm learning Spanish	Estoy aprendiendo español
27	I don't understand	No entiendo
28	Could you repeat that? (informal)	¿Puedes repetirlo?
29	Please speak more slowly (informal)	Habla más despacio, por favor
30	It's nice to see you	Me alegra verte

Common Spanish Questions

Knowing how to ask questions allows you to move beyond memorized greetings and begin finding information.

No.	English Question	Spanish Translation
31	What is this?	¿Qué es esto?
32	Where is it?	¿Dónde está?
33	Who is that?	¿Quién es?
34	When?	¿Cuándo?
35	Why?	¿Por qué?
36	How?	¿Cómo?
37	How much does it cost?	¿Cuánto cuesta?
38	Do you speak English? (informal)	¿Hablas inglés?
39	Can you help me? (informal)	¿Puedes ayudarme?
40	What does this mean?	¿Qué significa esto?

Five common Spanish question words with English meanings

Figure 2: Overview of the 5 essential Spanish question words (Qué, Dónde, Cuándo, Por qué, Cómo) with example sentences.

People, Family, and Personal Words

These simple words can help you identify people, talk about family members, and describe relationships.

No.	English Word	Spanish Translation
41	I	Yo
42	You (informal singular)	Tú
43	We	Nosotros / Nosotras
44	Friend	Amigo / Amiga
45	Family	Familia
46	Mother	Madre
47	Father	Padre
48	Brother	Hermano
49	Sister	Hermana
50	Child	Niño / Niña

If you'd like a refresher on how nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and other word types operate across languages, read our Word Classes in English guide.

Ordering Food and Drinks in Spanish

Imagine visiting a Spanish-speaking restaurant or ordering from someone who prefers Spanish. Learning a few food expressions can make the experience comfortable and enjoyable.

No.	English Expression	Spanish Translation
51	Water	Agua
52	Coffee	Café
53	Tea	Té
54	Milk	Leche
55	Bread	Pan
56	Rice	Arroz
57	Chicken	Pollo
58	I would like a coffee	Quisiera un café
59	The menu, please	El menú, por favor
60	The check, please	La cuenta, por favor

Spanish Phrases for Travel and Directions

Travel expressions are useful for navigating a new city, asking about transportation, and finding important places.

No.	English Phrase	Spanish Translation
61	Where is the bathroom?	¿Dónde está el baño?
62	Where is the hotel?	¿Dónde está el hotel?
63	I need a taxi	Necesito un taxi
64	Where is the bus stop?	¿Dónde está la parada de autobús?
65	Turn left	Gira a la izquierda
66	Turn right	Gira a la derecha
67	Go straight ahead	Sigue recto
68	I am lost	Estoy perdido / perdida
69	Is it far?	¿Está lejos?
70	I need directions	Necesito indicaciones

Traveler practicing Spanish directions near a bus stop

Figure 3: Key travel phrases and directions: Gira a la izquierda (left), Gira a la derecha (right), and Sigue recto (straight).

Shopping and Everyday Transactions

Shopping conversations often involve prices, preferences, quantities, and payment.

No.	English Phrase	Spanish Translation
71	I want this	Quiero esto
72	I need this	Necesito esto
73	It's expensive	Es caro
74	It's cheap / inexpensive	Es barato
75	Do you have another size? (formal)	¿Tiene otra talla?
76	I'm just looking	Solo estoy mirando
77	Can I pay by card?	¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
78	Cash	Efectivo
79	How much is everything?	¿Cuánto es todo?
80	I'll take it	Me lo llevo

Numbers, Dates, and Time

Numbers and time expressions are useful for appointments, prices, transportation, and everyday conversation.

No.	English Concept	Spanish Translation
81	One	Uno
82	Two	Dos
83	Three	Tres
84	Four	Cuatro
85	Five	Cinco
86	Today	Hoy
87	Tomorrow	Mañana
88	Yesterday	Ayer
89	What time is it?	¿Qué hora es?
90	It's three o'clock	Son las tres

Helpful Spanish Phrases for Difficult Situations

A few additional expressions can help you communicate more clearly when you're confused, uncomfortable, or need assistance.

No.	English Expression	Spanish Translation
91	I need help	Necesito ayuda
92	Call the police	Llame a la policía
93	I need a doctor	Necesito un médico
94	Where is the hospital?	¿Dónde está el hospital?
95	I'm sick	Estoy enfermo / enferma
96	I'm tired	Estoy cansado / cansada
97	I'm hungry	Tengo hambre
98	I'm thirsty	Tengo sed
99	Be careful!	¡Cuidado!
100	Everything is fine	Todo está bien

How to Pronounce Spanish Words More Naturally

One encouraging thing about learning Spanish is that its spelling and pronunciation are generally more consistent than English. Start with the five vowels:

Spanish vowel pronunciation chart with example words for beginners

Figure 4: The 5 pure Spanish vowel sounds: A (ah), E (eh), I (ee), O (oh), and U (oo).

The letter h is normally silent in native Spanish words (e.g., Hola begins with an "O" sound).
The letter j produces an aspirated sound similar to an English "h".
The letter ñ, as in baño, sounds like the "ny" in canyon.
Written accent marks (tildes) indicate where syllable stress falls and distinguish homographs.

Three Common English-to-Spanish Translation Mistakes

Translating Word-for-Word

Saying "I am hungry" is expressed as Tengo hambre ("I have hunger"). Expecting Spanish to mirror English syntax leads to unnatural expressions.

Ignoring Formal & Informal

Distinguish between ¿Cómo estás? (informal for friends) and ¿Cómo está usted? (formal for elders and professional settings).

Unchecked Automated Tools

A word like mañana can mean "tomorrow" or "morning" depending on context. Check our companion English-to-Spanish translation guide for advanced grammar rules.

A Simple Seven-Day Practice Plan

Day	Practice Focus	Small Daily Goal
Monday	Greetings	Introduce yourself aloud in front of a mirror
Tuesday	Polite phrases	Practice a short cafe or store dialogue
Wednesday	Questions	Ask five simple questions (Qué, Dónde, Cuándo, etc.)
Thursday	Family & people	Describe three friends or family members
Friday	Food & shopping	Practice ordering food and requesting the check
Saturday	Travel & time	Ask for directions (izquierda, derecha) and tell time
Sunday	Review	Combine phrases into a complete one-minute dialogue

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most useful Spanish words for beginners?

Start with hola (hello), gracias (thank you), por favor (please), sí (yes), no (no), perdón (excuse me), and ayuda (help). Then learn complete expressions such as ¿Cómo estás? and No entiendo.

Is English to Spanish difficult to learn?

Spanish introduces concepts like grammatical gender and verb conjugation, but pronunciation is consistent and everyday conversational phrases can be used immediately.

Should I learn Spanish words or complete sentences first?

Learn both, but prioritize useful phrases. Knowing that agua means water is helpful; knowing quisiera agua, por favor allows you to make a polite real-world request.

Start Speaking With What You Already Know

You don't have to wait until your Spanish is perfect to begin using it. Start with a greeting. Ask a simple question. Practice ordering a coffee. Learn how to say that you don't understand something. Little by little, conversations begin to feel natural and enjoyable.

Which Spanish expression would you like to learn next? Share it in the comments below, or tell us about a phrase you've heard but never fully understood!

Further Learning & Related References:

HND English Translation Guide → • HND English Word Classes Breakdown → • SpanishDictionary.com Vowel Guide →

English to Spanish: 100 Common Words and Phrases for Beginners