Spanish Conversation: 103 Essential Phrases And Chunks

Introduction

Learning Spanish can be challenging, but being able to have a conversation in Spanish can be rewarding. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 103 essential phrases and chunks that you can use to start a conversation in Spanish. In this article, we will provide you with tips on how to say these phrases in Spanish and some examples to help you practice.

Basic conversation phrases

Hola

The first step to start any conversation in Spanish is greeting the other person. “Hola” is a simple and easy way to say “Hi” or “Hello” in Spanish.

¿Cómo estás?

After greeting the other person, it’s appropriate to ask how they are doing. “¿Cómo estás?” means “How are you?” in English.

¿Qué tal?

Another way to ask someone how they’re doing is by using “¿Qué tal?” This phrase can be translated to “What’s up?” or “How are things?”

¿Cómo te llamas?

To get to know someone better, you can ask for their name with the phrase “¿Cómo te llamas?” This translates to “What’s your name?” in English.

Me llamo…

If the other person asked for your name, you can introduce yourself by saying “Me llamo…” followed by your name. This translates to “My name is…” in English.

Essential travel phrases

¿Dónde está…?

When traveling in a Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to be able to ask for directions. “¿Dónde está…?” means “Where is…?” and you can replace the ellipsis with any location you’re looking for.

¿Cuánto cuesta?

When shopping or negotiating prices, you can ask “¿Cuánto cuesta?” which means “How much does it cost?” This phrase can be handy when buying souvenirs or bargaining in markets.

Me gustaría…

“Me gustaría…” is a phrase that can come in handy when ordering food or drinks. It translates to “I would like…” and you can use it to ask for a specific dish or drink.

¿Por favor?

To be polite in Spanish, you can add “Por favor” to your requests. This translates to “Please” in English and can be used in a variety of situations.

Essential phrases for making plans

¿Quieres salir?

If you want to make plans with someone, you can ask “¿Quieres salir?” which means “Do you want to go out?” This phrase can be used for going out to eat, to the movies, or any other outing.

¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono?

To exchange contact information, you can ask for someone’s phone number with the phrase “¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono?” This translates to “What’s your phone number?” in English.

¿A qué hora quedamos?

When making plans, it’s important to establish a time and place. “¿A qué hora quedamos?” means “What time should we meet?” and can be used to set up dates, meetings, or any other event.

Lo siento, no puedo

If you can’t make it to a planned event, you can use the phrase “Lo siento, no puedo” which means “I’m sorry, I can’t.” It’s important to be polite and respectful when canceling plans.

Conclusion

Learning Spanish is a valuable skill that can open up new opportunities and experiences. By mastering these 103 essential phrases and chunks, you will be able to start a conversation, travel with confidence, and make plans with ease in Spanish-speaking countries. Remember to practice these phrases regularly and to be patient with yourself as learning a new language takes time and effort. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
Conversational Spanish 201