150 Survival Spanish Phrases — Speak from Day One

Spanish vocabulary for getting around by road: el coche, el conductor, el motor, el neumático, el volante, el freno, plus road signs and traffic rules and the phrases used at a petrol station or a car rental desk.

Spanish phrases for situations where hesitation costs time: ¡ayúdeme por favor!, ¡llame a la policía!, ¡llame a una ambulancia!, es una emergencia. Plus describing what happened and where, and the questions an operator asks first.

Spanish vocabulary for renting abroad: alquiler, inquilino, propietario, contrato de arrendamiento, depósito, estudio. Covers reading a listing, understanding a lease and the questions worth asking before anything is signed.

Spanish phrases for the phone, where there is no body language to fall back on: ¿puedo hablar con…?, ¿quién llama por favor?, llamo por mi pedido. Covers transfers, leaving a message and working through a customer service call.

Spanish phrases for a medical appointment abroad, from necesito ver a un médico and quisiera pedir una cita to describing exactly where it hurts and for how long. Includes understanding the diagnosis and the prescription that follows.

Spanish vocabulary for looking after an animal: la mascota, el cachorro, el hámster, el loro, la tortuga, la raza. Plus feeding, grooming and daily care, and the words for describing a symptom to a vet and understanding the treatment.

Spanish vocabulary for celebrations: la boda, el cumpleaños, la fiesta, la celebración, el día festivo, el regalo, la invitación. Plus everyone involved in a wedding and the toasts and congratulations that are expected.

Spanish vocabulary for building and renovating: la renovación, la reparación, remodelar, el contratista, el albañil, el arquitecto. Covers tools and materials, and how to explain a job or buy the right thing in a hardware shop.

Spanish vocabulary for music: la canción, el cantante, la banda, el concierto, la guitarra, el piano, la batería. Covers genres and instruments plus everything around a live show, from tickets and the queue to the encore.

Spanish vocabulary for everyday technology: el teléfono inteligente, el portátil, la tableta, el cargador, la batería, la pantalla, el teclado. Plus apps and accounts and the words for describing a fault or changing a setting.

Spanish vocabulary for life online: publicación, muro, me gusta, compartir, comentario, seguidor and the verbs for posting, following and unfollowing. Plus the abbreviations and slang that fill comment threads and private chats.

Spanish phrases for professional email: estimado señor o señora, le escribo para informarle, adjunto encontrará. Covers greetings and closings, requests, follow-ups and delivering bad news without sounding blunt.