Madrid phrasebook: speaking Spanish as a visitor
Madrid is the capital of Spain, and the Spanish you hear there is the Castilian standard taught in most European courses. One feature you will notice straight away is the distinción: the letter z, and c before e or i, are pronounced like the English 'th' in 'think', so gracias sounds closer to 'GRAH-thyahs'. Latin American speakers use an 's' sound instead; both are correct, and you will be understood either way.
Madrileños tend to speak quickly and informally. In shops and bars it is normal to greet with a short hola or buenas as you walk in, and the informal tú is used far more widely in Spain than in many Latin American countries. Meal times run late: lunch is the main meal of the day and dinner commonly starts after nine in the evening, so a restaurant that looks empty at seven is not a bad sign.
Conversation lifelines
When a conversation in Madrid moves faster than you can follow, these keep it going instead of switching to English:
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| No entiendo | no en-TYEN-doh | I don't understand |
| Otra vez, por favor | OH-trah beth por fah-BOR | again, please |
| Más despacio, por favor | mas dehs-PAH-thyoh por fah-BOR | slower, please |
Travel phrases for Madrid
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Uno | OO-noh | one |
| Tres | trehs | three |
| Cien | thee-EN | one hundred |
| El menú | ehl meh-NOO | the menu |
| Agua | AH-gwah | water |
| ¿Dónde están los servicios? | DOHN-deh ehs-TAHN lohs sehr-BEE-thyohs | where are the toilets? |
| A la derecha | ah lah deh-REH-chah | to the right |
| ¡Socorro! | soh-KOH-rroh | help |
| Llame a la policía | YAH-meh ah lah poh-lee-THEE-ah | call the police |
Flight search and trip essentials
Compare flights on Kiwi.com, our flight-search partner. Enter the airport code below as your destination when the search opens.
| Destination | Airport code (IATA) |
|---|---|
| Madrid, Spain | MAD |
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Situations to practise before you go
Getting around
Key pieces: ¿Dónde está…? · izquierda/derecha · el baño
When you're lost, one question saves the day: ¿Dónde está…? (Where is…?). Then understand the answer.
- ¿dónde está? (DOHN-deh ehs-TAH) — where is?
- a la izquierda (ah lah ees-kee-ER-dah) — to the left
- a la derecha (ah lah deh-REH-chah) — to the right
- todo recto (TOH-doh REK-toh) — straight ahead
- el baño (ehl BAH-nyoh) — the bathroom (ñ = ny)
- el aeropuerto (ehl ah-eh-roh-PWER-toh) — the airport Memory hook: ≈ aeroport.
- un taxi (oon TAHK-see) — a taxi Memory hook: ≈ taxi.
To say “where are the toilets?” in Spanish: ¿Dónde están los servicios? (DOHN-deh ehs-TAHN lohs sehr-BEE-thyohs). Built from dónde está = where is; el baño = the bathroom.
To say “Where is the airport?” in Spanish: ¿Dónde está el aeropuerto? (DOHN-deh ehs-TAH ehl ah-eh-roh-PWER-toh). Built from dónde está = where is; el aeropuerto = the airport.
To say “To the left, please” in Spanish: A la izquierda, por favor (ah lah eeth-KYER-dah, por fah-BOR). Built from a la izquierda = to the left; por favor = please.
To say “I want a taxi” in Spanish: Quiero un taxi (kee-EH-roh oon TAHK-see). Built from quiero = I want; un taxi = a taxi.
To say “Straight ahead” in Spanish: Todo recto (TOH-doh REK-toh). Built from todo = all; recto = straight.
Transport & tickets
Key pieces: el autobús · el tren · un billete · ¿a qué hora sale?
To ask when something leaves: ¿A qué hora sale? (sale = it leaves).
- el autobús (el ow-toh-BOOSS) — the bus Memory hook: = autobus.
- el tren / el metro (el tren / el MEH-troh) — the train / subway Memory hook: = train / metro.
- un billete (oon bee-YEH-teh) — a ticket
- la parada (lah pah-RAH-dah) — the stop Memory hook: parar = to stop.
- la próxima (lah PROHK-see-mah) — the next Memory hook: 'proximate'.
To say “Where is the bus stop?” in Spanish: ¿Dónde está la parada del autobús? (DOHN-deh ess-TAH lah pah-RAH-dah del ow-toh-BOOSS). Built from dónde está = where is; la parada = the stop; del autobús = of the bus.
To say “I want a ticket for the train.” in Spanish: Quiero un billete para el tren. (KYEH-roh oon bee-YEH-teh PAH-rah el tren). Built from quiero = I want; un billete = a ticket; para el tren = for the train.
To say “What time does it leave?” in Spanish: ¿A qué hora sale? (ah keh OH-rah SAH-leh). Built from a qué hora = at what time; sale = it leaves.
To say “Is this the next stop?” in Spanish: ¿Es la próxima parada? (ess lah PROHK-see-mah pah-RAH-dah). Built from es = is it; la próxima = the next; parada = stop.
To say “I need the subway.” in Spanish: Necesito el metro. (neh-theh-SEE-toh el MEH-troh). Built from necesito = I need; el metro = the subway.
Hotel & booking
Key pieces: una habitación · para dos noches · la llave · ¿está incluido?
A hotel room is una habitación. To say 'for two nights': para dos noches.
- una habitación (OO-nah ah-bee-tah-SYON) — a room Memory hook: 'habitation'.
- la noche (lah NOH-cheh) — the night Memory hook: 'nocturnal'.
- la llave (lah YAH-veh) — the key Memory hook: 'clavis' → clef.
- el desayuno (el deh-sah-YOO-noh) — breakfast
- incluido (een-kloo-EE-doh) — included Memory hook: 'included'.
To say “I want a room for two nights.” in Spanish: Quiero una habitación para dos noches. (KYEH-roh OO-nah ah-bee-tah-THYON PAH-rah dohss NOH-chess). Built from quiero = I want; una habitación = a room; para dos noches = for two nights.
To say “A room with a bathroom.” in Spanish: Una habitación con baño. (OO-nah ah-bee-tah-THYON kohn BAH-nyoh). Built from una habitación = a room; con = with; baño = bathroom.
To say “Here is the key.” in Spanish: Aquí está la llave. (ah-KEE ess-TAH lah YAH-veh). Built from aquí está = here is; la llave = the key.
To say “Is breakfast included?” in Spanish: ¿Está incluido el desayuno? (ess-TAH een-kloo-EE-doh el deh-sah-YOO-noh). Built from está incluido = is included; el desayuno = breakfast.
To say “Is the wifi included?” in Spanish: ¿Está incluido el wifi? (ess-TAH een-kloo-EE-doh el WEE-fee). Built from está incluido = is included; el wifi = the wifi.
Politeness & survival
Key pieces: por favor · perdone · ¿podría…? · lo siento · ¿me puede ayudar?
¿Podría…? is the polite 'could you…?'. Use it to soften any request.
- perdone / disculpe (pair-DOH-neh / deess-KOOL-peh) — excuse me (to get attention) Memory hook: 'pardon'.
- ¿podría…? (poh-DREE-ah) — could you…?
- con permiso (kohn pair-MEE-soh) — excuse me (to pass) Memory hook: 'permission'.
- lo siento (loh SYEN-toh) — I'm sorry
- ¿me puede ayudar? (meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR) — can you help me? Memory hook: 'aid'.
To say “Excuse me, where is the bathroom?” in Spanish: Perdone, ¿dónde está el baño? (pair-DOH-neh DOHN-deh ess-TAH el BAH-nyoh). Built from perdone = excuse me; dónde está = where is; el baño = the bathroom.
To say “Could you help me?” in Spanish: ¿Podría ayudarme? (poh-DREE-ah ah-yoo-DAR-meh). Built from podría = could you; ayudarme = help me.
To say “Can you help me, please?” in Spanish: ¿Me puede ayudar, por favor? (meh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR por fah-BOR). Built from me puede = can you (to me); ayudar = help; por favor = please.
To say “I'm very sorry.” in Spanish: Lo siento mucho. (loh SYEN-toh MOO-choh). Built from lo siento = I'm sorry; mucho = a lot.
To say “Excuse me (to get by).” in Spanish: Con permiso. (kohn pair-MEE-soh). Built from con = with; permiso = permission.
Example dialogue
Ordering at a café
Server: ¡Hola! ¿Qué desea? (OH-lah, keh deh-SEH-ah) — Hello! What would you like?
You: Hola. Quiero un café, por favor. (OH-lah. kee-EH-roh oon kah-FEH, por fah-VOR) — Hello. I want a coffee, please.
Server: ¿Algo más? (AHL-goh mahs) — Anything else?
You: Sí, un vaso de agua también. (see, oon BAH-soh deh AH-gwah tahm-bee-EN) — Yes, a glass of water too.
Server: Muy bien. Son tres euros. (mwee bee-EN. sohn trehs EH-oo-rohs) — Very good. That's three euros.
You: Aquí tiene. Gracias. (ah-KEE TYEH-neh. GRAH-thyahs) — Here you go. Thank you.
Meeting someone
Person: Hola, ¿cómo te llamas? (OH-lah, KOH-moh teh YAH-mahs) — Hello, what's your name?
You: Me llamo Alex. (meh YAH-moh Alex) — My name is Alex.
Person: Mucho gusto. ¿De dónde eres? (MOO-choh GOOS-toh. deh DOHN-deh EH-rehs) — Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
You: Soy de Estados Unidos. ¿Y tú? (soy deh ehs-TAH-dohs oo-NEE-dohs. ee too) — I'm from the United States. And you?
Person: Soy de México. ¡Bienvenido! (soy deh MEH-hee-koh. bee-en-veh-NEE-doh) — I'm from Mexico. Welcome!
You: Gracias. Mucho gusto. (GRAH-thyahs. MOO-choh GOOS-toh) — Thank you. Nice to meet you.
Spanish etiquette that helps in Madrid
Meals run late
In Spain lunch (la comida) is often 2–3pm and dinner after 9pm. In Latin America times vary, but a leisurely shared meal is the norm everywhere.
Relaxed time
Social events often start later than stated. Being 15–30 minutes late to a party is normal and not rude — but for business, punctuality is expected.
One language, many flavors
A banana is plátano, banana, or guineo depending on the country. Vocabulary varies, but neutral Spanish is understood everywhere.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.