Believe it or not, you can most likely survive, or even thrive, if you know some of the key, basic Spanish phrases. If you’re pressed for time before a big meeting or trip, turning your focus to learning these types of phrases is your best bet. The phrases roll up into 7 basics buckets of communication;
- Spanish greetings
- Excuse me
- How to get around
- Eating out
- Going shopping
- Help
- Thanks – see you later
Getting comfortable with Spanish phrases can take some time. But remember, you don’t have to tackle them all at once. As you move forward on your language journey, set realistic goals. Can you commit to learning 2 phrases from each category a week? Or every couple of days?
Here’s some good news: Rosetta Stone takes the learning experience online. Whether via smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop, you’ll be able to advance your skills in the Spanish language—including grammar and vocabulary—in a way that allows you to build confidence in everyday speaking situations.
Learn Spanish Words and Phrases
Here are some other basic building blocks that offer a great way to start. These are essential words and phrases such as who, what, when, where, why, yes, no, please, and more. Mastering these basics can put you on the path to having everyday conversations in Spanish.
- Sí = Yes
- No = No
- ¿Quién? = Who?
- ¿Qué? = What?
- ¿Por qué? = Why?
- ¿Dónde? = Where?
- Hola = Hello
- Me gusta = I like
- No me gusta = I don’t like
- Adiós = Goodbye
- Por favor = Please
- Gracias = Thank you
- Lo siento = Sorry
- Salud = Bless you
And here are the top 12 most common Spanish verbs you’ll want to know:
- Estar = To be
- Ser = To be
- Tener = To have
- Haber = To have (auxiliary)
- Hacer = To do, make
- Ir = To go
- Venir = To come
- Decir = To say, tell
- Ver = To see
- Saber = To know
To hone your pronunciation, you’ll need immediate feedback on your efforts. Feedback will guide you in making needed corrections. Rosetta Stone helps you dial in your pronunciation with our TruAccent™ speech-recognition engine. TruAccent compares your voice to native and non-native speakers—in real-time—so you get the feedback you need for the most accurate pronunciation. It’s also adjustable, which allows you to tweak your accent as needed. TruAccent is a powerful tool for helping you learn and speak the Spanish language.
After you have learned to pronounce basic words and short phrases, it’s a natural transition to move to the longer phrases that make up so much of everyday conversation. Rosetta Stone’s brief, 10-minute lessons are built in just this way—first teaching the basics, then tackling the longer phrases. This approach helps you acquire the skills to speak Spanish with confidence.
Try Our Award-Winning App
Surround yourself with Spanish whenever, wherever with the Rosetta Stone app.
Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation.
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
