39 Spanish phrases that I used most often in South America

39 Spanish phrases that I used most often in South America

Like many Brits, I've never been great with languages. It's not for lack of trying. Over the years I have made sporadic attempts to learn German, French, Greek and even Swahili, none of which have been very successful.

When I arrived in South America I was a little nervous, to say the least. My meager Spanish consisted of a few words I learned from Spanish friends in London, most of which would only be appropriate at a football match. Luckily I had Kia, whose Spanish is far more advanced than mine.

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Of course, I couldn't always rely on Kia. There were times when she wasn't by my side, and more importantly, I didn't want to spend several months in South America without interacting with the people I met. I set about practicing Spanish with the language app Duolingo, writing down a few phases here and there and testing them on the side on unsuspecting waiters and hotel workers.

However, I soon learned that popular resources often don't prepare you for life on the road in South America. While they clearly laid the foundation for longer-term learning, Spanish phrases like "the girl is drinking milk" and "the boy is reading a book" didn't arm me with the phrases and words I really needed every day.

I use the following sentences almost every day. They also helped bring home a few basic verbs and their conjugations. Four months later, I feel much more comfortable with my Spanish. I won't discuss the failure of the global economy over my morning coffee, but I can order my meals, reserve hotel rooms and get from point A to point B on a bus or two.

Of course, never forget to combine all this with a friendly greeting (hola, como esta, que tal) and a por favor, muchas gracias and a winning smile 🙂

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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