13 — Language
Essential Mexican Spanish.
Even basic phrases buy you better service and a much warmer welcome. These are the ones you’ll actually use.
Phrases that save your day
Say it, and doors open
- Hello / good morning Hola / Buenos días OH-lah / BWAY-nohs DEE-ahs
- Thank you Gracias GRAH-see-ahs
- Excuse me Disculpe / Con permiso dees-COOL-peh / con per-MEE-soh
- The check, please La cuenta, por favor lah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR
- How much is it? ¿Cuánto cuesta? KWAN-toh KWES-tah
- How do I get to the stadium? ¿Cómo llego al estadio? KOH-moh YEH-goh al es-TAH-dee-oh
- I don’t speak Spanish No hablo español noh AH-bloh es-pah-NYOL
- I need help Necesito ayuda neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-YOO-dah
- Call an ambulance Llame una ambulancia YAH-meh OO-nah am-boo-LAHN-see-ah
- What do you recommend? ¿Qué me recomienda? keh meh reh-koh-mee-EN-dah
Local expressions
Slang worth knowing
- ¿Qué onda? What’s up? Casual greeting between friends
- Chido / Padre Cool / awesome Reacting to anything good
- Güey Dude / bro Friends only — informal
- Órale Wow / okay / let’s go All-purpose; tone is everything
- No manches No way / you’re kidding Surprised reaction
- Neta For real? Confirming something true
- ¡Salud! Cheers! Toasting (also for sneezes)
- ¡Aguas! Watch out! Informal warning
- Chela / cheve Beer Ordering at a cantina
- Provecho Enjoy your meal Said by strangers as you eat
Football vocabulary
For the cancha and the cantina
- Partido Match Every conversation, every day
- Goooool Goal Held for as long as your lungs allow
- Tiro libre Free kick On TV commentary
- Árbitro Referee Usually shouted, usually unhappily
- Penal Penalty ¡Es penal!
- Tarjeta amarilla / roja Yellow / red card Match drama
- Prórroga Extra time Knockout stage
- Selección National team “La Selección” is Mexico’s
- Hinchada Fan base The chanting section
- Cancha Pitch / field El partido en la cancha