
Learning a language, whether in the classroom or on your own, is a rewarding and fun experience. It allows you to watch movies and understand lyrics in another language, and it can even help you make new friends. When you reach an advanced level, however, a world of opportunities opens.
If you’re dreaming of an academic or professional career in Spain or another Spanish-speaking country, you’re already aware that it can be the pathway to a brilliant future. More than 500 million people around the planet speak the language—just imagine the possibilities!
Need a little help getting there? Here are some advanced Spanish phrases that can put you on track. Also, stick around for some bonus everyday Spanish idioms that will make you sound like a native. Enjoy!

Here’s to a brilliant career doing business in Spanish!

- Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
- Power Phrases for Your Cover Letter
- Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings
- Bonus: Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
- Final Thoughts
1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
Academic writing is one of the most formal ways to express yourself. Once you’ve reached an advanced level in Spanish, you’ll be able to produce fluid and coherent texts for the academic sphere. Here are some advanced Spanish phrases for essays that will make your work look great:
En este ensayo… / En esta redacción… “In this essay…” |
In Spanish, “essay” can be translated as either ensayo or redacción, the latter being less formal and more commonly used in school. Ensayo, then, is often used in higher education and research.
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En referencia a… / En cuanto a… “In reference to…” |
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De acuerdo con… / Según… “According to…” |
You can use either of these two expressions when citing other authors in your work.
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En mi opinión… / Según mi punto de vista… / A mi parecer… “In my opinion…” |
Great academic writing does not prohibit you from expressing your mind on the matter. However, don’t forget to make it clear when a statement is your own opinion by including these useful expressions.
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Por una parte… “On the one hand…” |
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Por otra parte… “On the other hand…” |
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Por el contrario… “On the contrary…” |
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Tal y como está indicado… “As stated…” |
To better structure your essay, it’s important to use expressions that point out the data or argument you think is most relevant. You can use variations of the expression above, such as: Tal y como demuestran los datos… (“As the data show…”) Tal y como ha sido previamente mencionado… (“As it has been previously mentioned…”)
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Cabe destacar que… “It should be noted that…” |
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En resumen… “To sum up…” |
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En conclusión… “In conclusion…” |
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- ➜ Would you like additional words and phrases to use in your essays and in the classroom? Then check out the lesson Academia on SpanishPod101.com!

Ace your essay in Spanish!
2. Power Phrases for Your Cover Letter
In Spain, a cover letter goes a long way when applying for a job. Now that so many people have a good education and are well-experienced, showing who you really are in a few paragraphs can turn the tables in your favor. However, try to maintain a formal structure and use sophisticated vocabulary with these advanced Spanish phrases:
Entre mis competencias, cabe destacar… “Among my competencies, it should be noted…” |
Cuento con una dilatada experiencia en… “I have extensive experience in…” |
Uno de mis puntos fuertes es… “One of my main strong points is…” |
A very common question in Spanish job interviews is: ¿Cuáles son tus puntos fuertes y cuáles son tus puntos débiles? (“Which are your strong points and weak points?”) Be prepared to give a good answer! |
Trabajo bien bajo presión. “I work well under pressure.” |
Trabajo bien… (“I work well…”) is a handy expression for any type of situation in the workplace.
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Me especializo en el campo de… “I specialize in the field of…” |
Estoy realmente interesado en esta oportunidad. “I’m really interested in this opportunity.” |
Admiro la cultura de trabajo de su empresa. “I admire your company’s culture.” |
There are different things you might admire about a company that you can pinpoint in an interview or in your cover letter:
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Espero que les interese mi perfil. “I hope you’re interested in my profile.” |
Estoy disponible para aclarar cualquier duda. “I’m available to clarify any doubts.” |
Showing interest in continuing the conversation with your potential interviewer is always a good idea. An alternative phrase would be: No duden en contactarme para cualquier cuestión. (“Don’t hesitate contacting me for any inquiries.”) |
Espero aprender más sobre su proyecto. “Looking forward to learning more about your project.” |
- ➜ Are you looking for a job in Spain? Don’t miss this blog post from SpanishPod101, where we give you the best advice, insight, and tips.

A good cover letter can get you your dream interview.
3. Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings
The business world has its own expressions and slang. Learning how to properly communicate in the workplace can make all the difference when trying to succeed in business. With these advanced Spanish phrases, you’ll learn how to express yourself in a meeting and also how to address others in a professional manner.
Gracias por asistir a esta reunión. “Thank you for coming to this meeting.” |
After the greetings, it’s polite to thank your coworkers, superiors, or clients for making time for the meeting. |
En mi presentación, hablaré de… “In my presentation, I will talk about…” |
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Me gustaría añadir que… “I’d like to add that…” |
Cumpliremos todos los términos del acuerdo. “We’ll fulfill all the agreement’s terms.” |
Nos estamos retrasando con este tema. “We’re lagging behind with this issue.” |
Tenemos que cerrar este proyecto. “We have to come to a close with this project.” |
In order to succeed with your business endeavors, it’s important to be assertive so that everyone is on the same page when talking about work. |
Tu aportación es muy interesante. “Your insight is very interesting.” |
Es una idea brillante. “It’s a brilliant idea.” |
Encouraging words always go a long way, even in the business world. Another way to celebrate someone’s good ideas is by saying: ¡Qué buena idea! (“What a good idea!”) Further, you can congratulate them for a job well done with: ¡Buen trabajo! |
¿Podrías resumir tu argumento? “Could you sum up your point?” |
Gracias por su tiempo. “Thank you for your time.” |
Te contestaré lo antes posible. “I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.” |
- ➜ Do you want to learn some more advanced phrases in Spanish for the workplace? Then visit the lesson Spanish Business Phrases on SpanishPod101.com!

Thank your coworkers for coming to your meeting!
4. Bonus: Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
Spanish idioms are very present in everyday conversations. Do you want to know what your teacher means when (s)he tells you to “put on the batteries”? Or maybe what the young people mean when they say “molar”?
Fear not! We’re here to help you master advanced Spanish phrases, idioms, and slang expressions.
Ponerse las pilas “To get your act together” Literally: “To put on the batteries” |
Si quiere aprobar el curso, tiene que ponerse las pilas. “If he wants to pass his classes, he has to get his act together.” |
¡Es la caña! “He / She / It rocks!” Literally: “It’s the cane!” |
Marta me cae muy bien, ¡es la caña! “I like Marta a lot. She rocks!” |
Estar en las nubes “To be in the clouds” |
Estás en las nubes, no has escuchado nada de lo que he dicho. “You’re in the clouds; you haven’t listened to anything I’ve said.” |
Hablar por los codos “To talk up a storm” Literally: “To talk through the elbows” |
Mi abuela nunca se calla, habla por los codos. “My grandma never shuts up; she talks up a storm.” |
Tirar la toalla “To throw in the towel” |
Cuando vio que se complicaba el camino, tiró la toalla y se fue. “When he saw that the path got complicated, he threw in the towel and left.” |
Echar una mano “To give a hand” |
Miguel me echó una mano para estudiar el temario. “Miguel gave me a hand studying the syllabus.” |
No me importa ni un pimiento “I don’t care at all” Literally: “I care less than a pepper” |
No me importan ni un pimiento sus excusas. “I don’t care at all about her excuses.” |
Dejar plantado “To stand (someone) up” |
Su pareja le dejó plantado. “His partner stood him up.” |
En un abrir y cerrar de ojos “In a split second” Literally: “In an opening and closing eyes time” |
Me comí el pastel en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. “I ate the cake in a split second.” |
Otro gallo cantaría “Things would be different” Literally: “Another rooster would sing” |
Si hubieras estudiado, otro gallo cantaría. “If you had studied, things would be different.” |
Tener mala leche “To be nasty” Literally: “To have bad milk” |
Antonia me da miedo, tiene muy mala leche. “Antonia frightens me; she’s very nasty.” |
Molar mucho “To be cool” |
¡Esta fiesta mola mucho! “This party is very cool!” |
- ➜ Spanish is a rich language, and idioms play an important role in how we communicate each day. Don’t miss the lesson Spanish Idioms on SpanishPod101.com to learn more.

Otro gallo cantaría… (“Things would be very different…”)
5. Final Thoughts
In this guide to advanced Spanish phrases, you learned a variety of expressions that will help you improve your speaking and writing for the academic and business worlds. You even picked up several Spanish idioms!
Studying and working in a Spanish-speaking country is possible for an advanced student such as yourself. However, it’s best to keep on learning and to memorize even more advanced phrases in Spanish. You can continue your studies with the variety of advanced Spanish lessons available on SpanishPod101.com, each one designed with both progress and fun in mind! In fact, we have advanced pathways for different varieties of Spanish:
And don’t forget to check out the free vocabulary lists and other useful tools on SpanishPod101.com. They will make your path to mastery both fun and convenient. Create your free lifetime account to get started!
¡Que te diviertas! (Have fun!)

Intermediate Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations

Once you’ve mastered the basics of a language, you’re ready to move on to the next level and start handling more complex interactions. Learning intermediate Spanish phrases will allow you to have everyday conversations, get around with confidence in a Spanish-speaking environment, and make new friends!
However, even if you’ve studied the grammar and memorized long vocabulary lists, sometimes it’s difficult to actually put your skills to the test. Have you ever found yourself having a conversation in Spanish and going completely blank, forgetting every lesson you’ve learned? If the answer is yes, don’t worry. SpanishPod101 is here to help.
In this guide, you’ll find a list of intermediate Spanish phrases for everyday conversations. Using these structures and expressions will help you navigate conversations about what you did last weekend, react to shocking information, and even give good restaurant recommendations.

Learn how to invite new friends to brunch!

- Talking About Past Events
- Making and Changing Plans
- Explaining and Listing Reasons
- Making Recommendations and Complaints
- Reaction Phrases for Everyday Conversations
- Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
- Final Thoughts
1. Talking About Past Events
Meeting new people often involves talking about past events. Whether you’re just making some chitchat about the weekend or talking about your childhood memories, what you did in the past will surely be a topic of conversation.
To talk about the past, of course, it’s crucial that you learn how to use the past tenses. You should quickly get the hang of it, though, as we use the preterit tense very often in Spanish.
These intermediate Spanish phrases will help you kickstart a conversation about past events:
Llegué a España el mes pasado. | I arrived in Spain last month. |
El fin de semana pasado lo pasé genial. | Last weekend, I had so much fun. |
The Spanish expression pasarlo bien (or pasarlo genial) is a common way to say that you had a great time at a past event. If you wanted to say you didn’t have a good time, then you would just have to change bien or genial to mal or one of its synonyms.
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Ayer por la noche no pude dormir. | Last night, I couldn’t sleep. |
Crecí en un pueblo muy pequeño. | I grew up in a very small town. |
María y yo nos conocimos en Madrid. | María and I met in Madrid. |
Terminé la carrera hace dos años. | I finished my degree two years ago. |
Remember that the Spanish word carrera means both “professional career” and “educational degree.” It’s actually one of the most common false friends for native Spanish speakers! Oh, and it also means “race” in the context of sports! |
Cuando era joven tenía una moto roja. | When I was young, I had a red motorcycle. |
Mi padre me enseñó a tocar el piano. | My father taught me how to play the piano. |
- ➜ SpanishPod101’s verb conjugation series is the perfect tool for mastering verb tenses in Spanish. Don’t miss it!

Llegué a España el mes pasado. (“I arrived in Spain last month.”)
2. Making and Changing Plans
Once you’ve started to make new friends with your newly acquired intermediate Spanish skills, it’s time to make plans with them.
Apart from learning the future tense, it’s important that you learn to use some courtesy expressions; this will help you ask politely about your friends’ availability or their interest in planning things together. These expressions would also be helpful in a business environment or even when making an appointment with the doctor.
Here are some common phrases in intermediate Spanish to get you started:
¿Qué planes tienes este fin de semana? | What are your plans for the weekend? |
Podríamos cenar comida mexicana. | We could have Mexican food for dinner. |
Espero que puedas venir a mi fiesta. | I hope you can make it to my party. |
This is a polite expression you can use when you invite someone to an event. It’s a way to express that you really want them to be there. Here’s an example:
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¿Quieres venir conmigo a la playa? | Do you want to come with me to the beach? |
Necesito cambiar la hora de la visita. | I need to change the appointment time. |
¿Podrás llegar a tiempo a la reunión? | Will you make it on time for the meeting? |
Llámame mañana por la tarde para hablarlo. | Call me tomorrow afternoon to discuss it. |
- ➜ If you want to learn more about making plans in Spanish, check out this useful lesson on SpanishPod101.com.
3. Explaining and Listing Reasons
If you want to start having more interesting conversations, a big step forward is learning to express your opinions and the motivations behind your actions. This way, once you’ve described the things you’ve done, you can also explain why so the other party can understand and get to know you better.
Don’t forget that, when dealing with a whole new language and culture, you’re probably going to make some errores de novato (“beginner mistakes”). So if a Spanish person ever tells you that you’re putting too much water into the paella, you can always try to explain yourself.
Below are a few intermediate Spanish words and phrases you can use to give reasons and explain your actions.
Pensé que sería buena idea. | I thought it’d be a good idea. |
Creo que deberíamos hacerlo. | I think we should do it. |
En mi opinión, he hecho lo correcto. | In my opinion, I did the right thing. |
There are several other ways to state your opinion in everyday Spanish:
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Decidí probar tu recomendación. | I decided to try what you recommended. |
Lo escogí por tres razones: En primer lugar… En segundo lugar… Por último… | I chose it because of these three reasons: First of all… Secondly… Last but not least… |

Pensé que sería buena idea poner más agua en la paella.
(“I thought it’d be a good idea to put more water in the paella.”)
4. Making Recommendations and Complaints
When you learn a new language, you’re bound to discover a whole new world, sometimes even physically. Learning Spanish allows you to travel to beautiful places, including Spain and many Latin American countries. Once you know how to recommend the hottest spots in town (and how to advise your friends to avoid tourist scams), you’ll be one step closer to mastering everyday Spanish conversations!
Here are just a few useful Spanish phrases for intermediate learners who are ready to explore—and review—their new surroundings.
No te pierdas las vistas desde el castillo. | Don’t miss the view from the castle. |
Tienes que probar el salmorejo de mi abuela, es el mejor del mundo. | You should eat my grandma’s salmorejo. It’s the best. |
Nos encantó el hotel, te lo recomiendo. | We loved the hotel; I recommend it. |
No me gustó nada el museo. | I didn’t like the museum at all. |
Barcelona es muy bonita, pero es muy cara. | Barcelona is very beautiful but very expensive. |
¡Deberías aprender español! | You should learn Spanish! |
Of course, if you encourage a friend to start learning Spanish, don’t forget to show them all the amazing beginner resources at SpanishPod101.com! |

No me gustó nada el museo. (“I didn’t like the museum at all.”)
5. Reaction Phrases for Everyday Conversations
Maybe, while you’re going through the intermediate Spanish phrases in this guide, you’re wondering: What about when it’s the other person who’s explaining something? How do I respond to them?
It’s common to freeze when a conversation doesn’t exactly follow the script we had memorized. But actually, that’s what makes it a real conversation!
These Spanish phrases for intermediate speakers will be useful for those times when you need to react to what someone else is saying:
1 – Great!
A: El fin de semana pasado lo pasé genial. – Last weekend, I had so much fun.
B: Qué bien, ¡me alegro por ti! – Great, I’m happy for you!
2 – Sorry.
A: Ayer por la noche no pude dormir. – Last night, I couldn’t sleep.
B: ¡No me digas! Cuanto lo siento. – You don’t say! I’m so sorry.
3 – Interesting.
A: Crecí en un pueblo muy pequeño. – I grew up in a very small town.
B: Qué interesante. – How interesting.
4 – I can’t believe it.
A: Cuando era joven tenía una moto roja. – When I was young, I had a red motorcycle.
B: ¿De verdad? No me lo puedo creer. – Really? I can’t believe it.
5 – Cool!
A: Mi padre me enseñó a tocar el piano. – My father taught me how to play the piano.
B: ¡Qué guay! – How cool!
Mind that guay is a very colloquial word. Other colloquial expressions that also mean “How cool!” include ¡Cómo mola! and ¡Qué pasada!
- ➜ With SpanishPod101, you can learn the one hack for speaking real-life Spanish in every conversation.
6. Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
Even though Spaniards are known to be pretty easygoing, they do value good manners and expect you to use the most common courtesy expressions. Of course, por favor (“please”) and gracias (“thank you”) go a long way, but it’s wise to learn some other intermediate Spanish phrases in order to work on your politeness.
Also, you’ll quickly realize that Spanish people love to be hosts and will try to make you feel at home all the time. It’s only fair that you learn the most common Spanish phrases for being polite so that you can do the same for them when they visit you!
Buen provecho. | Enjoy your meal. / Bon appetit. |
Perdona que te interrumpa. [Informal] Perdone que le interrumpa. [Formal] | Sorry for the interruption. |
Although both expressions are polite, the use of the formal version will always sound even more well-mannered.
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Bienvenido a mi hogar. Bienvenido a mi casa. | Welcome to my home. |
Siéntete como en casa. | Make yourself at home. |
Llámame si necesitas cualquier cosa. | Call me if you need anything. |
Bienvenido a mi hogar. / Bienvenido a mi casa. | Welcome to my home. |
Disfruta de tu estancia. | Enjoy your stay. |
Espero noticias tuyas. | I hope to hear from you. |
Saluda a tus padres de mi parte. | Send my regards to your parents. |
In Spain, it’s a courtesy to ask the person you’re talking to about their loved ones. When you say your goodbyes, you can take the opportunity to send them your regards. Another (less formal and more affectionate) way to do this is to send hugs or kisses on your behalf, similar to the English expression “Give them my love.” A: ¿Cómo se encuentra tu mujer después de la operación? – How’s your wife doing after her surgery? B: Ay, mucho mejor, ¡gracias! – Oh, she’s much better, thank you! A: Por favor, dile que le mando un abrazo. – Please, tell her I send her a hug. B: Claro, ¡de tu parte! – Of course, on your behalf! |
¡Que tengas buen viaje! | Have a nice trip! |

¡Bienvenidos a nuestro hogar! (“Welcome to our home!”)
7. Final Thoughts
In this guide, you have learned the most common Spanish phrases for intermediate speakers. These examples will help you ace your everyday conversations about past events, future plans, recommendations and complaints, and much more. They’ll also be useful for reacting to what someone else says and following Spanish etiquette.
If you want to take your Spanish learning journey further, don’t forget to check out SpanishPod101.com. We have plenty of free vocabulary lists to expand your intermediate Spanish vocabulary, as well as useful lessons for intermediate-level and upper intermediate-level students.
Happy learning!

Basic Spanish Phrases for Beginners

When you first start learning any language, the first few lessons can feel overwhelming. If Spanish grammar seems too challenging or vocabulary lists just aren’t for you, why don’t you start by picking up some simple Spanish phrases for beginners?
Fortunately, you’ll be able to handle the most basic interactions by learning just a few of these ready-to-go expressions and sentence patterns. Saying hello and goodbye, making small talk, ordering in a restaurant…it’s really not so complicated. You’ll see!
In this guide from SpanishPod101, you’ll find more than 50 easy Spanish phrases for beginners that’ll help you navigate a variety of situations using this beautiful language.

If you want to meet Spanish people, you’ll need to learn some
basic phrases—and how to give two kisses!

- Greetings and Self-introductions
- Courtesy Phrases & Social Expressions
- Dining & Shopping Phrases
- Asking for Help
- Final Thoughts
1. Greetings and Self-introductions
First things first, let’s start by learning beginner phrases in Spanish for greeting others and introducing oneself in a conversation. This is one of the most basic interactions in any language, and learning these expressions will help you start off on the right foot. You probably know the meaning of the word hola, so you’re already on your way to mastering greetings and self-introductions in Spanish!
Let’s start with the most common greetings:
Hola. | Hello. |
Buenos días. | Good morning. |
Buenas tardes. | Good afternoon. |
Strictly speaking, you should change buenos días to buenas tardes right after noon. However, you’ll be surprised to learn that many Spanish people will say buenos días for a couple more hours. This is because many people don’t consider it to be the afternoon until they’ve had lunch, which in Spain tends to be quite late! |
Buenas noches. | Good evening. / Goodnight. |
Buenas noches is both a greeting and a farewell expression. Here are a couple of examples:
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As we’ve just seen, buenas noches is a common farewell expression. Here are some others:
Adiós. | Bye. |
Hasta luego. | Bye. / See you later. |
In some regions in Spain, hasta luego is even more common than adiós. Even though it literally means “until later,” Spanish people don’t necessarily mean that they’ll see the other person ever again. It can be a bit confusing sometimes! |
Hasta pronto. | See you soon. |
Nos vemos. | See you. |
Que vaya bien. | Wish you well. / Have a nice one. |
Que tengas un buen día. [informal] Que tenga un buen día. [formal] | Have a nice day. |
Cuidate. | Take care. |
- → Do you want to learn other ways to say goodbye in Spanish? Here’s SpanishPod101’s guide.
If you’re meeting someone for the first time, here are some useful Spanish phrases you can use to introduce yourself:
Me llamo… | I’m… |
Soy… | I am… |
Mi nombre es… | My name is… |
The three expressions above mean basically the same thing. However, Me llamo… is the most common one, and Mi nombre es… is the most formal one.
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¿Cómo te llamas? | What’s your name? |
Encantado de conocerte. [masculine] Encantada de conocerte. [feminine] | Nice to meet you. |
Mucho gusto. | Nice to meet you. |
¿De dónde eres? | Where are you from? |
Soy de… | I’m from… |
- → Please visit our complete guide on how to introduce yourself in Spanish for even more phrases and sentence patterns.

¿Cómo va? (“How’s it going?”)
2. Courtesy Phrases & Social Expressions
Once you’ve gotten past the greetings and introductions, it’s important to keep the conversation alive (as long as you can, anyway!). In this section, you’ll learn the most basic Spanish phrases for beginners that will help you master polite conversations with native Spanish speakers.
Here are the most important courtesy phrases in Spanish:
Gracias. | Thank you. |
Muchas gracias. | Thank you so much. |
De nada. | You’re welcome. |
Por favor. | Please. |
Disculpa. [informal] Disculpe. [formal] | Excuse me. |
Perdón. | Sorry. |
Perdón can be used in various forms. If you want to directly appeal to the person you’re saying sorry to, you can say the informal version (perdona) or the formal one (perdone). These words can also be used as a way to say “excuse me.” But if you’re apologizing for something really serious, you should say perdóname (“forgive me”).
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Lo siento. | I’m sorry. |
No te preocupes. | Don’t worry. |
No pasa nada. | That’s okay. |
To get a conversation flowing, you’ll need some additional phrases. Here are some useful small talk expressions to get you started:
¿Qué tal? | How’s it going? / How are you doing? |
¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
¿Cómo va? | How’s it going? |
The three expressions above mean more-or-less the same thing, and they can be used in most conversations. However, each one has a slightly different shade. ¿Qué tal? is a very generic expression that can be used as a greeting. You might be asking about how the other person is, asking about a situation, or maybe just greeting the other person without expecting any response. ¿Cómo estás? is also used mainly as a small talk phrase. You wouldn’t expect the other person to get too deep with their answer, unless it’s someone close to you or if you’re having an intimate conversation. ¿Cómo va? is even more casual and generic than the two expressions mentioned above. It can be used as a greeting, too. ¡Hola, Amanda! ¿Cómo va? |
Estoy bien, gracias. | I’m well, thank you. |
Que te recuperes pronto. | Get well soon. |
Me alegro de verte. | It is good to see you. |
Saluda a … de mi parte. | Say hello to … on my behalf. |
In Spain, it’s polite to ask about the other person’s family or common acquaintances. Before finishing the conversation, you can tell him/her to give them your best.
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- → Still confused about how to be polite in Spanish? Learn how to avoid impoliteness (and other mistakes) by reading through our guide!

Que te recuperes pronto. (“Get well soon!”)
3. Dining & Shopping Phrases
If you travel to Spain, dining out and popping into the local shops will give you some great opportunities to practice your Spanish. If you go to a restaurant, it’ll be important to know how to politely ask for a table or order some food; in shops, you’ll need to know how much the item you like costs!
Here are some simple Spanish phrases for beginners that will be very useful to you:
¿Podría ayudarme, por favor? | Could you help me, please? |
¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
¿Cuánto es? | How much is it? |
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay with a credit card? |
¿Puedo pagar con efectivo? | Can I pay with cash? |
¿Tienen mesa para … personas? | Do you have a table for … people? |
When you go to a restaurant with a party of people, it’s polite to ask if they have room for all of you. Alternatively, you could say: Querría una mesa para … personas. (“I’d like a table for … people.”) |
Tengo una mesa reservada. | I have a reservation. |
Querría pedir… | I’d like to order… |
No como… | I don’t eat… |
Soy vegetariano / vegano. [masculine] Soy vegetariana / vegana. [feminine] | I’m a vegetarian / vegan. |
Historically, the gastronomy of many Spanish regions has been very meat-oriented. Nowadays, things are changing, and vegetarianism and veganism are increasingly popular in Spain. This means that there are now more vegetarian and vegan options in restaurants than were previously available. However, don’t forget to say soy vegetariano or soy vegano before ordering your food if you don’t want to find unexpected chorizo (Spanish sausage) or jamón (ham) on your plate! |
- → Feeling hungry? Here’s the Ultimate Guide to Spanish Food on SpanishPod101’s blog.

Querría pedir la ensalada. (“I’d like to order a salad.”)
4. Asking for Help
Some of the most common situations where you might have to rely on Spanish are, unfortunately, those where you’re in need of assistance. If you’re lost or feeling sick, having these simple Spanish phrases for beginners at hand will be crucial.
¿Hablas inglés? | Do you speak English? |
No te entiendo, lo siento. | I don’t understand you, I’m sorry. |
No hablo muy bien el español. | I don’t speak Spanish properly. |
¿Cómo se dice … en español? | How do you say … in Spanish? |
¿Dónde está…? | Where is…? |
¿Cómo puedo llegar a…? | How can I get to…? |
¡Ayuda! | Help! |
¡Socorro! | Help! |
Necesito un médico. | I need a doctor. |
Llamad a una ambulancia. | Call an ambulance. |
- → Learn how to ask for directions with this guide from SpanishPod101, and check out our vocabulary list Words and Phrases to Help You in an Emergency.

¿Cómo puedo llegar a la estación? (“How can I get to the station?”)
5. Final Thoughts
In this guide to basic Spanish phrases for beginners, you’ve learned more than 50 of the most common Spanish expressions for different contexts. It’ll be a useful tool for you as you navigate your very first conversations in Spanish, and you can always refer back to it even as you progress in your studies.
If you want to take your Spanish-learning journey further, don’t forget to check out SpanishPod101.com. We have plenty of free vocabulary lists to expand your Spanish vocabulary, as well as useful lessons for every level. We recommend creating your free lifetime account today and getting started with our Level 1 Spanish pathway.
Good luck!

The Advanced Spanish Words You Definitely Need

Speaking Spanish in casual conversations is a rewarding experience. Sure, native Spanish speakers converse at a really fast pace. But, if you ask them to slow down, they will—and they will probably try to help you understand and be part of the conversation.
At the end of the day, there’s a reason why Spanish-speaking countries are said to have some of the friendliest people!
But what happens when, instead of an informal chat over some wine and tapas, you have to face a doctor’s appointment or a super important business meeting? Formal situations will call for advanced Spanish words, which might be scary for those who are still learning.
Namely, you’ll have to step up your game in order to succeed in conversations related to higher education, business, the law, and even medicine.
Don’t worry, though! You can be prepared for all those kinds of situations! SpanishPod101 is here to help with this guide to the advanced Spanish words you’ll need to thrive in a variety of contexts. Also, stick around for some bonus expressions that will help you ace your next Spanish essay.
¡Que lo disfrutes! (“Enjoy!”)

Do business in Spanish like a pro!

- Advanced Academic Words
- Advanced Business Words
- Advanced Medical Words
- Advanced Legal Words
- Bonus: Alternative Words for Acing a Spanish Essay
- Final Thoughts
1. Advanced Academic Words
One of the reasons people move to Spain is to study, whether that means studying the Spanish language itself or pursuing another subject of interest. However, one must keep in mind that the academic environment is much more formal than everyday Spanish life.
Especially if you have to write essays, compose a thesis, or discuss a topic in class, you’ll need to master some advanced Spanish vocabulary related to the academic world. Of course, if you forget some of the most common classroom phrases in Spanish, you can always head over to SpanishPod101.com to review them!
Here you’ll find the essential words related to studies and training, so you’ll be prepared for everything from exams to seminars. We have also included a section on advanced Spanish words that’ll help you defend your work or thesis.
You’ll notice that many words are similar to their English counterparts, as formal or niche words tend to evolve less in languages. This means you’re one step ahead in mastering advanced Spanish!
1 – Studies and Training
Estudios | Studies |
Formación | Training / Studies |
Formación is a common word used to describe one’s academic curriculum in formal situations (i.e., a job interview). It’s more generic than estudios, as it applies to both formal and informal training/education.
|
Curso | Training course |
Conferencia | Conference |
Seminario | Seminar |
Examen | Exam |
Redacción | Essay |
Trabajo | Paper |
Avaluación | Assessment |
Carrera | Degree |
False friend alert! The word carrera, very similar to the word “career,” does mean the same as its English counterpart in work-related contexts. However, in the academic world, carrera also means “degree”!
|
Graduado | Graduate |
Doctorado | PhD |
Competencias | Competences |
Plan de estudios | Syllabus |

¿Cuál es el plan de estudios de tu carrera? (“What’s the syllabus of your degree?”)
2 – Defending Your Thesis
Investigación | Research |
Investigador | Researcher |
Autor / Autora | Author |
Sujeto | Subject / Exhibit |
Muestra | Sample |
Análisis | Analysis |
Experimento | Experiment |
Demostración | Demonstration / Proof |
Comprobación / Verificación | Verification |
Resultado | Result |
Campo | Field |
Método | Method |
Justificación | Justification |
Reflexión / Consideración | Consideration |
Opinión | Opinion |
Argumento | Argument |
Take into account that the Spanish word argumento never refers to a quarrel. Instead, if you wanted to indicate that two scholars are having “a heated argument,” you would say they’re having una discusión acalorada. |
Ambiguo | Ambiguous |
Polémica / Controversia | Controversy |

Los investigadores (“The researchers”)
2. Advanced Business Words
Similar to entering the Spanish academic world, finding a job that requires you to speak fluent Spanish is a challenging opportunity. First things first: You need to learn all the essential words related to the workplace.
You already know the basics, of course. But if you need to review, you can refer to the Spanish Job Vocabulary lesson on SpanishPod101.com.
Here are the advanced words in Spanish that will help you handle business like a pro!
Empresa | Business / Company |
Empresa is the most common word used to refer to a business or company. However, you will hear the word compañía more and more frequently due to influence from the English language. |
Multinacional | Multinational company |
Asesoría | Consulting |
Reunión | Meeting |
Convención | Convention |
Fiscalidad | Taxation |
Factura | Bill |
Tesorería | Treasury |
Contabilidad | Finances / Accounting |
Oferta | Offer |
Contraoferta | Counteroffer |
Estrategia | Strategy |
Campaña | Campaign |
Informe | Report |
Salario | Salary / Wage |
Convenio | Collective bargaining |
In Spain, there are hundreds of convenios that apply to all kinds of different jobs. They establish a minimum wage, acceptable job conditions, and workers’ rights for each profession. Don’t forget to check out your convenio if you’re looking for a job in Spain! |
Contrato | Contract |

¡Estás contratado! (“You’re hired!”)
Producto | Product |
Suministro | Supply |
Servicio | Service |
Venta | Sale |
Ganancias | Profit |
Pérdidas | Loss |
Auditoría | Audit |
Declaración de la renta | Tax return |
Trabajador asalariado | Worker (of a company) |
Trabajador autónomo | Self-employed worker / Freelancer |
From a fiscal point of view, there are two main types of workers in Spain: those who are employed by a company (trabajador asalariado) and those who are self-employed (trabajador autónomo). |
Mercado | Job market |
- → Want to learn more advanced Spanish for business or review the basics? SpanishPod101 has plenty of lessons that can help you prepare for the Spanish workplace.
3. Advanced Medical Words
Some of the most important advanced Spanish words are those related to the field of medicine. You never really think about these words until you urgently need to use them!
Having to visit the doctor is normally an unpleasant (and often unexpected) situation that can make us feel vulnerable, especially if we don’t understand the words he or she is saying. “Radiografía? What’s that supposed to mean? It sounds bad…!”
Don’t panic. Here is an advanced Spanish vocabulary word list that will prepare you for any medical situation!

Knowing medical vocabulary in Spanish will definitely help you feel more at ease!
Visita | Appointment |
Radiografía | X-ray test |
Biopsia | Biopsy |
Ecografía | Sonogram |
Médico general | General practitioner |
Médico de cabecera / Médico de familia | Family doctor |
Médico de cabecera or médico de familia refer to general practitioners who are assigned to the different users of the public healthcare system. As they know each of their patients and their background, they deal with most of the issues that don’t require a specialist. It’s important to have your own médico de cabecera if you live in Spain. |
Médico especialista | Specialist |
Médico residente | Resident doctor |
This term applies to doctors who, after graduating medical school and passing a very demanding entry exam, specialize in their field of choice for four years. |
Enfermero/a | Nurse |
Auxiliar de enfermería | Nursing assistant |
Dentista / Odontólogo/a | Dentist / Odontologist |
Dermatólogo/a | Dermatologist |
Cardiólogo/a | Cardiologist |
Traumatólogo/a | Orthopedic surgeon |
Ginecólogo/a | Gynecologist |
Urólogo/a | Urologist |
Ambulancia | Ambulance |
Gripe | Flu |

Tengo la gripe… (“I got the flu…”)
Gastroenteritis / Virus estomacal | Stomach flu |
Infección de orina / Cistitis | Urinary tract infection / Cystitis |
Insolación | Sunstroke |
Intoxicación alimentaria | Food poisoning |
Embolia | Stroke |
Ataque al corazón / Infarto | Heart attack |
Ataque de ansiedad | Panic attack |
Demencia | Dementia |
Coma | Coma |
Receta médica | Medical prescription |
Don’t forget your receta when going to the pharmacy! In Spain, many common drugs cannot be bought without a medical prescription. |
Medicamento | Drug / Medication |
Tratamiento | Treatment |
- → Did something go wrong during your medical appointment? Here’s how you can complain about it in Spanish!
4. Advanced Legal Words
Dealing with legal or bureaucratic situations is a classic example of when you would need to know advanced words in Spanish. Legal vocabulary is highly formal and technical, and it’s easy to feel frustrated if, for example, you can’t tell the difference between the abogado and the procurador.
With this advanced Spanish words list, you’ll learn the most important concepts of the legal world. Knowing these words will prepare you to face any situation involving the public administration or the court system.
Don’t forget to get yourself a good attorney, too!

¡Silencio en la sala! (“Order in the court!”)
Denuncia | Report |
Demanda | Lawsuit |
Solicitud | Request |
Representante legal | Legal representative |
Abogado | Attorney |
Abogado de oficio | Public defender |
In Spain, you have the right to have a defense attorney (abogado de oficio) assigned to you free of charge. |
Procurador | Lawyer |
Testigo | Witness |
Acusado | Defendant |
Denunciante | Accuser |
Fiscal | Prosecutor |
Juez | Judge |
Tribunal | Court |
Jurado | Jury |
Juicio | Trial |
Sentencia / Condena | Sentence |
Recurso / Apelación | Appeal |
Depending on the legal or bureaucratic process, the appeal will be called a recurso or an apelación. |