South America is home to 430 million people – half of them speak Spanish. Across the continent, Spanish dominates in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina. If you can't speak the lingo, you'll feel very lost.

As Spanish is so common, local idioms have popped up in different countries. A one-size-fits-all language guide is impossible. However, we can provide some useful words, phrases, and tips that will make life much easier.

Greetings

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

Hello! → ¡Hola! → oo-lah

Hello (Good Day) → Buenos días → bwehn-nohs dee-ahs

Good Afternoon → Buenas tardes → bwehn-nahs tahr-dehs

Goodnight → Buenas noches → bweh-nahs noh-ches

Goodbye! → Ciao/Adiós! → chau/ah-dyohs

What is your name? (formal) → ¿Cómo se llama usted? → koh-moh seh yah-mah oos-tehd

Mr → Señor → seh-nyohr

Miss → Señorita → seh-nyoh-ree-tah

Mrs → Señora → seh-nyoh-rah

Pleased to Meet You → ¡Encantado[a]! → ehng-kahn-tah-doh [-dah]

Do you speak English? → ¿Habla inglés? → ah-blah een-glehs

How are you? (formal/informal) → ¿Cómo está? / ¿Qué tal? → koh-moh ehs-tag/keh tahl

Fine, thanks → Muy bien, gracias → mwee byehn grah-syahs

See you later → Hasta luego → ahs-tag lweh-goh

Getting Around

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

Where is…? → ¿Donde está…? → dohn-deh ehs-tah

Which way is it to…? → ¿Cómo se ve a…? → koh-moh seh beh ah

Yes → Sí → see

No → No → noh

Thank you → Gracias → grah-syahs

You’re welcome → No hay de que/De nada/Por nada → noh ay deh key/deh nah-da/pohr nah-dah

Alright → Está bien → ehs-tah byehn

Okay → Está bien → ehs-tah byehn

That’s fine → Está bien → ehs-tah byehn

Please → Por Favor → pohr fah-bohr

Excuse me (to get someone’s attention) → ¡Permiso!/¡Por favor! → pehr-mee-soh/ pohr fah-bohr

Excuse me (to get through a crowd) → ¡Permiso! → pehr-mee-soh

Excuse me (sorry) → Perdóneme, Discúlpeme → pehr-doh-neh-meh, dees-kool-pahr

I need… → Necesito… → neh-seh-see-toh

I’m lost → Estoy Perdido[a] → ehs-tahr pehr-dee-doh [-dah]

I’m sorry → Lo siento → loh syehn-toh

I don’t know → No sé → noh seh

I don’t understand → No entiendo → noh ehn-tyehn-doh

Slowly → Despacio/Lentamente → dehs-pah-syoh/lehn-tah-mehn-teh

What? → ¿Qué?/¿Cómo? → keh/koh-moh

When? → ¿Cuándo? → kwahn-doh

Why? → ¿Por qué? → pohr keh

Who? → ¿Quién[es]? → kyehn[-ehs]

How? → ¿Cómo? → koh-moh

Which? → ¿Cuál? → kwahl

How much? → ¿Cuánto? → kwahn-toh

How many? → ¿Cuántos? → kwahn-tohs

How long? → ¿Cuánto tiempo? → kwahn-toh tyehm-poh

Big → Grande → grahn-deh

Bigger → Más grande → mahs grahn-deh

Small → Pequeño → peh-keh-nyoh

Smaller → Mas pequeño/Chico, más chico → mahs peh-keh-nyoh/chee-koh mahs chee-koh

I want… → Quiero… → keh-rehr

I would like… → Quisiera… → kee-syeh-rah

I need… → Necesito… → neh-seh-see-tahr

Where is the lavatory? → ¿Donde se encuentra el baño? → dohn-deh seh ehn-kwehn-trahr ehl bah-nyoh

Shopping

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

What time do you open? → ¿A qué hora abren? → ah keh oh-rah ah-breer

What time do you close? → ¿A qué hora cierran? → ah keh oh-rah seh-rrahr

Open → Abierto → ah-byehr-toh

Closed → Cerrado → seh-rrah-doh

I’d like… → Quisiera… → kee-syeh-rah

Do you have…? → ¿Hay…? → ay

How much does it cost? → ¿Cuánto cuesta? → kwahn-toh kwehs-tah

Smaller → Más pequeño → mahs peh-key-nyoh

Larger → Más grande → mahs grahn-deh

It’s too expensive → Es demasiado caro → ehs deh-mah-syah-doh kah-roh

Do you have something less expensive? → ¿Tieme algo más económico? → teh-mehr ahl-goh mahs ee-koh-noh-mee-koh

Anything else? → ¿Quiere algo más? → keh-rehr ahl-goh mahs

A little more → Un poco más → oon poh-koh mahs

A little less → Un poco menos → oon poh-koh meh-nohs

That’s enough → Está bien → ehs-tah byehn

No More → No más → noh mahs

Accommodation

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

Do you have a vacant room? → ¿Tieme una habitatción disponsible? → teh-mehr oo-nah ah-bee-tah-syohn dees-poh-nee-bleh

I have a reservation → Tengo una reservación → tehn-goh oo-nah rreh-sehr-bah-syohn

I’d like… → Quisiera… → kee-syeh-rah

For one night → Por una noche→ pohr oo-nah noh-cheh

For two nights → Por dos noches → pohr dohs noh-chehs

Could you show me another room please? → ¿Puede mostrarme de habitación, por favor? → poh-dehr moh-strah-meh deh ah-bee-tah-syohn, pohr fab-bohr

I would like to change rooms → Quisiera cambiar de habitación → kee-syeh-rah kahm-byahr deh ah-bee-tah-syohn

How much is it? → ¿Cuánto cuesta? → kwahn-toh kwehs-tah

Eating Out

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

Waiter → Garzón/Mozo → gahr-sohn/moh-soh

I’d like to book a table → Quisiera reservar una mesa, por favor → kee-syeh-rah rreh-sehr-bahr oo-nah meh-sah, pohr fah-bohr

Do you have a table for…? → ¿Tiene una mesa para…? → teh-nehr oo-nah meh-sah pah-rah

I have a reservation → Tengo una reservación → tehn-goh oo-nah rreh-sehr-bah-syohn

Breakfast → Desayuno → dehs-ah-yoo-noh

Lunch → Almuerzo → ahl-mwehr-soh

Dinner → Cena → seh-nah

I’m a vegetarian → Soy vegetariano[a] → soy beh-heh-tah-ryaj-noh[nah]

I’m a vegan → Soy vegetariano[a] estricto → soy beh-gah-noh

Menu → La carte/El menú → lah kahr-tah/ehl meh-noo

Wine list → La carte de vinos → lah kahr-tah deh bee-nohs

Fixed-price menu → Menú fijo → meh-noo fee-hoh

Menu of the day → Menu del día → meh-noo dehl dee-ah

Special of the day → Plato del día → plah-toh dehl dee-ah

Mineral water still → Agua mineral sin gas → ah-gwah mee-neh-rahl seen gahs

Mineral water carbonated → Agua mineral con gas → ah-gwah mee-neh-rahl kohn gahs

With ice → Con hielo → kohn yeh-loh

Without ice → Sin hielo → seen yeh-loh

Coffee → Un Café → oon kah-feh

Tea → Té → teh

Beer → Cervaza → sehr-beh-sah

Soft drink → Bebida/refresco → beh-bee-dah/rreh-frehs-koh

A glass of red wine → una cope de vino tinto → oo-nah koh-pah deh bee-noh blahn-koh

A glass of white wine → Una copa de vino blanco → oo-nah koh-pah deh bee-noh blahn-koh

Chicken → Pollo → poh-yoh

Pork → Cerdo/Chancho → sehr-doh/chahn-choh

Fish → Pescado → pehs-kah-doh

Rice → Arróz → ah-rrohs

Sugar → Azúcar → ah-soo-kahr

Eggs → Huevos → weh-boh

Butter → Mantequilla → mahn-teh-kee-yah

Bread (toast) → Pan (tostado) →pahn (tohs-tah-doh)

Cheese → Queso → keh-soh

Salt → Sal → sahl

Time

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

Morning → La mañana → lah mah-nayh-nah

Afternoon → La tarde → lah tahr-deh

Evening → La noche → lah noh-cheh

Last night → Anoche → ah-noh-cheh

Yesterday → Ayer → ah-yehr

Today → Hoy → oy

Tomorrow → Mañana → mah-nayh-nah

Now → Ahora → ah-oh-rah

Early → Temprano → tehm-prah-noh

Late → Tarde → tahr-deh

A minute → Un minuto → oon mee-noo-toh

An hour → Una hora → oo-nah oh-rah

Half an hour → Media hora → meh-dyah oh-rah

A day → Un día → oon dee-ah

A week → Una semana → oo-nah seh-mah-nah

A year → Un año → oon ah-nyoh

Days of the Week

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

Monday → Lunes → loo-nehs

Tuesday → Martes → mahr-tehs

Wednesday → Miércoles → myehr-koh-lehs

Thursday → Jueves → hweh-behs

Friday → Viernes → byehr-behs

Saturday → Sábado → sah-bah-doh

Sunday → Domingo → doh-meeng-goh

Months of the year

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

January → Enero → eh-neh-roh

February → Febrero → feh-breh-roh

March → Marzo → mahr-soh

April → Abril → ah-breel

May → Mayo → mah-yoh

June → Junio → hoo-nyoh

July → Julio → hoo-lyoh

August → Agosto → ah-gohs-toh

September → Septiembre → sehp-tyehm-breh

October → Octubre → ohk-too-breh

November → Noviembre → noh-byehm-breh

December → Diciembre → dee-syehm-breh

Numbers

English → Spanish → Pronunciation

One → Uno → oo-noh

Two → Dos → dohs

Three → Tres → trehs

Four → Cuatro → kwah-troh

Five → Cinco → seeng-koh

Six → Seis → seys

Seven → Siete → syeh-teh

Eight → Ocho → oh-choh

Nine → Nueve → nweh-beh

Ten → Diez → dyehs

Eleven → Once → on-seh

Twelve → Doce → doh-seh

Thirteen → Trece → treh-seh

Fourteen → Catorce → kah-tohr-seh

Fifteen → Quince → keen-seh

Sixteen → Dieciséis → dyeh-see-seys

Seventeen → Diecisiete → dyeh-see-syeh-teh

Eighteen → Dieciocho → dyeh-see-oh-choh

Nineteen → Diecinueve → dyeh-see-nweh-beh

Twenty → Veinte → beyn-teh

Twenty-five → Veinticinco → beyn-tee-seeng-koh

Thirty → Treinta → treyn-tah

Forty → Cuarenta → kwah-rehn-tah

Fifty → Cincuenta → seeng-kwehn-tah

Sixty → Sesenta → seh-sehn-tah

Seventy → Setenta → seh-tehn-tah

Eighty → Ochenta→ oh-chehn-tah

Ninety → Noventa → noh-ben-tah

One-hundred → Ciento uno → syehn-toh oo-noh

Two-hundred → Doscientos → doh-syehn-tohs

Three-hundred → Trescientos → treh-syehn-tohs

Four-hundred → Cuatrocientos → kwah-troh-syehn-tohs

Five-hundred → Quinientos → kee-nyehn-tohs

Six-hundred → Seiscientos → sey-syehn-tohs

Seven-hundred → Setecientos → seh-teh-syehn-tohs

Eight-hundred → Ochocientos → oh-choh-syehn-tohs

Nine-hundred → Novecientos → noh-beh-syehn-tohs

One-thousand → Mil → meel

Two-thousand → Dos mil → dyehs meel

Ten-thousand → Diez mil → dyehs meel

One-hundred-thousand → Cien mil → syehn meel

One million → Un millón → oon mee-yohn

Spanish is the main language of Colombia, spoken by 99.5% of the population. Yet, there are 36 languages spoken throughout the country. Colombia's Spanish differs from others' with very clear pronunciations. There are also lots of slang terms. Some that you might pick up on include:

Buenas → Slang for ‘Hello’ or ‘Good day!’

Que Chévere! → Slang for ‘How Cool!’

Que Bacano/Tan Bacano → Slang for ‘How Cool!’ or ‘How Awesome!’

Parce/Parcero →Another way of saying ‘Mate’, ‘Man’ or ‘Pal’.

Man/Manes → Slang for ‘Man’, equivelant to ‘Hombre!’

Rumbear → Slang for partying.

¿Que Más? → Slang for ‘What else?’ Colombians use this term to say ‘How’s it going?’

A La Orden → Expect to hear this from staff in restaurants and bars, it means ‘At your service’ or ‘How can I help?’

Paisas → Slang term that refers to people from Medellín and the surrounding region.

Rolos → Slang term that refers to people from Bogotá and the surrounding region

Casteños → Slang term that refers to people who live near the coast

English is Colombia's second most spoken language, including a Creole dialect, the official language throughout the San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina archipelago. About 5% of Colombia's population speaks English fluently.

After English, the majority of Colombia's lesser spoken are indigenous. Many of Colombia's indigenous languages come from a common Amerindian dialect. You're unlikely to encounter any of Colombia's indigenous people unless traveling through the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the La Guajira peninsular, or areas around Calí.

No one can expect to be fluent in trying to speak smaller indigenous languages. However, knowing a few basic phrases will go a long way, and your time with Colombia's indigenous peoples will be all the better for it.

Arhuaco

In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, several tribes have found a home in the area for thousands of years: The Arhuaco, the Kogi, the Wiwa, and the Kankuamo. Though there are differences, the predominant language of these tribes is Arhuaco, from the Chibchan language family.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the cradle of all creation in their culture. They believe that life, by nature, upsets the natural balance of the world around them. They believe they must maintain balance in all things. This task has been made difficult by the region's colonization and a now-extinct paramilitary presence.

You can find a couple of basic Arhucan phrases below:

Dusano → Hola! → Hello

Nun → Me llamo… → My name is

Ey → Si → yes

Duni → Gracias → Thank you

Mujer → Mujer → Female

Cheyrwa → hombre → Male

Eygwi anachukwa → Hasta luego → See you later!

Eygwandy → No hay de que/De nada/Por nada → You’re welcome

Kwe → Está Bien → Okay

Tutu → Mochilla → Bacpack

Azi → ¿Cómo? → How?

Azi → ¿Cómo? → What?

Binzari → ¿Cuándo? → When?

Beku → ¿Donde? → Where?

Yari → ¿Por qué? → Why?

Inu → ¿Quien? → Who?

Bindi → ¿Cuánto? → How Much

Iwa Jwia → Hoy → Today

Say → Ayer → Yesterday

Sige’ → Mañana → Morning

Jwiku → Mediodiá → Midday

Sinku → Tarde → Afternoon

Seya’ → Noche → Night

Je → Agua → Water

Kafe → Un Café → Coffee

Zamu → Comida → Food

Zun → Comer → To Eat

Zarokwun/Zarosi → Cocinar → To cook

In’gwi → Uno → One

Mowgwa → Dos → Two

Maykunu → Tres → Three

Ma’keywa → Cuatro → Four

Asewa → Cinco → Five

Chinwa → Seis → Six

Koga → Siete → Seven

Abetta → Ocho → Eight

Ikawa → Nueva → Nine

Uga → Diez → Ten

Wayuunaiki

The official language of an Amerindian ethnic group in Colombia's La Guajira peninsula, Wayuunaiki is the language of the Wayuu tribe, comprising 380,000 people.

Known as the people of the sun, sand, and wind, the Wayuu arrived in La Guajira around 150 AD and have become the largest indigenous group in Colombia.

As the Wayuu seek to preserve their culture and traditions, they have faced hostility and persecution from Colombia's people, its government, and Mother Nature. Today, the Wayuu are independent of the governments and laws of Colombia.

The Guajira Peninsula has always been harsh, filled with barren deserts and dune-lined coasts. Food and water to sustain the Wayuu are scarce. It's a situation compounded by global warming and, more recently, COVID-19. Add these woes to a lack of health services and a high poverty rate, and living conditions for the Wayuu are very poor. Criminally so.

1 in 10 children under the age of five dies from malnutrition. A rate six times higher than Colombia's national average, despite accounting for less than 7% of the child population.

There will be opportunities along Colombia's Caribbean Coast to volunteer in Wayuu communities. We hope a few useful phrases will help you get more from your stay and help you make more of a difference.

Jama → Hola! → Hello

Aa → Si → Yes

Anayaawalaa → Gracias → Thank you

Jierü → Señorita/Señora → Woman

Toolo → Señor → Man

Apütawaa Apüla → Hasta Luego/Ciao/Adiós → See you later!

¡Ajutuushi E’nnewaa! → No hay de que/De nada/Por nada → You’re welcome

Ajaa → Está bien → Okay

Jamaa? → ¿Cómo?→ How?

Kasa? → ¿Qué?/¿Cómo? → What?

Jouja? → ¿Cuándo? → When?

Eemüüin? → ¿Donde? → Where?

Jamüshi? → ¿Por qué? → Why?

Jera? → ¿Cuánto? → How much?

So’uka’i → Hoy → Today

Wataa’a → Mañana → Tomorrow

Aliikainka → Ayer → Yesterday

Wattaa’a Maalü → La Mañana → Morning

Aliika → La tarde → Afternoon

Aipa’a → Noche → Night

Water → Agua → Water

Kepein → Un Café → Coffee

Eküülü → Comida → Food

Ekaa → Comer → To eat

A’lakajaa → Cocinar → To Cook

Waneeshia → Uno → One

Piama → Dos → Two

Apünüin → Tres → Three

Pienchi → Cuatro → Four

Ja’rai → Cinco → Five

Aippirua → Seis → Six

Akaratshi → Siete → Seven

Mekiisalü → Ocho → Eight

Mekietsalü → Nueve → Nine

Ekii → Diez → Ten

Páez

In Colombia's southwest, you may encounter indigenous peoples called the Páez, also known as the Nasa. However, this is unlikely unless you spend an extended time in the Cauca region surrounding Calí. The Páez number some 70,000 people. In recent years they have encountered increasing persecution from the rest of Colombia, with 36 members of the tribe murdered in 2019. Agriculture is a cornerstone of the tribe, and they are renowned for growing potatoes, coffee, cassava, plantains, coca, and hemp. The tribe speaks a language of the same name. The Páez language – also referred to as Pazean – is considered a language isolate. Meaning it is the only surviving member of an otherwise extinct language family.

Ewcha (Greeting a man)/Ewchacue (Greeting a woman) → ¡Hola! → Hello

Ũu → Si → Yes

Mee → No → No

Wech → Gracias → Thank you

U’y → Señorita/Señora → Woman

Pihc → Señor → Man

Ĩ’née → No hay de que/De nada/Por nada → You’re welcome

Ma’wẽ → ¿Cómo? → How?

Quĩj → ¿Qué?/¿Cómo? → What?

Ma’wẽn → ¿Cuándo? → When?

Mtee → ¿Donde? → Where?

Mjĩte → ¿Por qué? → Why?

Manz → ¿Cuánto? → How much?

Ãchj → Hoy → Today

Cuscay (Cuscus) → Mañana → Tomorrow

Jũ’na → Ayer → Yesterday

Cusíi → La mañana → Morning

Fi’nze → La tarde → Afternoon

Cus → Noche → Night

Yu’ → Agua → Water

Cafe → Un Café → Coffee

Ũ‘ → Comida → Food

Iiũ’- → Comer → To eat

Mityjáj → Cocinar → To cook

Teech → Uno → One

E’nz → Dos → Two

Tecj → Tres → Three

Pajnz → Cuatro → Four

Tajts → Cinco → Five