01 — Survival Chunks
Ready-to-fire phrases for landing and getting through a day. Memorize these whole. Don't take them apart, don't think about grammar — just learn the sound and the situation, the way you learned "what's up" without analyzing it.
How to read this:
- Spanish — what you say
- English — what it means
say it like— plain-English pronunciation. CAPS = the stressed part (push on it).- 👉 — when/where you actually use it
One sound note for your whole trip: in Argentina, ll and y sound like "sh" (or "zh"). So calle (street) = "KA-sheh", playa (beach) = "PLA-sha". Everywhere else they sound like English "y" ("KA-yeh"). I'll flag it where it matters. More on this in 02 (the regional doc).
0. The 8 you fire on day one (learn these first)
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hi | OH-la | the "h" is silent, always |
| Gracias | Thanks | GRA-syas | — |
| Por favor | Please | por fa-VOR | tack onto any request |
| Perdón | Sorry / excuse me | per-DOHN | bumping someone, getting attention |
| ¿Cuánto? | How much? | KWAN-toh | point at thing, say this |
| ¿Dónde está…? | Where is…? | DON-deh es-TA | + the place |
| No entiendo | I don't understand | no en-tee-EN-doh | your most-used phrase, guaranteed |
| ¿Hablás inglés? | Do you speak English? | a-BLAS in-GLES | Argentine version (vos). Elsewhere: ¿Hablas inglés? (a-BLAS) — sounds nearly the same |
1. Airport / immigration
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estoy de vacaciones | I'm on vacation | es-TOY deh ba-ka-see-OH-nes | the #1 answer to "why are you here" |
| Voy a estar acá un mes | I'll be here a month | boy a es-TAR a-KA oon mes | swap mes for unas semanas (weeks) |
| Me quedo en un hostel | I'm staying at a hostel | meh KEH-doh en oon OS-tel | they may ask your address |
| Soy turista | I'm a tourist | soy too-REES-ta | — |
| No tengo nada que declarar | Nothing to declare | no TEN-goh NA-da keh deh-kla-RAR | customs line |
| ¿Dónde retiro las valijas? | Where's baggage claim? | DON-deh reh-TEE-roh las ba-LEE-shas | valija = suitcase (Argentina). Elsewhere maleta (ma-LEH-ta) |
| ¿Dónde está la salida? | Where's the exit? | DON-deh es-TA la sa-LEE-da | — |
| ¿Hay wifi acá? | Is there wifi here? | eye WEE-fee a-KA | hay = "there is", say "eye" |
👉 Immigration tip: they mostly want short answers. "Vacaciones," "un mes," "hostel," done. Smile, don't over-explain.
2. Taxi / Uber / getting a ride
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Me llevás a…? | Can you take me to…? | meh sheh-VAS a | Argentina (vos + sh). + destination |
| ¿Cuánto sale ir a…? | How much to go to…? | KWAN-toh SA-leh eer a | ask BEFORE getting in |
| ¿Usás el taxímetro? | Do you use the meter? | oo-SAS el tak-SEE-meh-troh | protects you from getting ripped off |
| Acá está bien | Here is fine | a-KA es-TA bee-EN | to stop / get out |
| Pará acá, por favor | Stop here, please | pa-RA a-KA | pará = stop (Argentina vos) |
| ¿Tenés cambio? | Got change? | teh-NES KAM-bee-oh | before you hand over a big bill |
| Quedate con el vuelto | Keep the change | keh-DA-teh kon el VWEL-toh | the tip move |
| ¿Está lejos? | Is it far? | es-TA LEH-hos | — |
| Espérame un segundo | Wait one sec | es-PEH-ra-meh oon seh-GOON-doh | — |
👉 In BA, use Uber/Cabify when you can — no haggling, no meter games. For street taxis, always ask ¿Cuánto sale? first.
3. Hostel / hotel check-in
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | I have a reservation under… | TEN-goh OO-na reh-SER-ba a NOM-breh deh | + your name |
| ¿Tenés una cama disponible? | Got a bed available? | teh-NES OO-na KA-ma dis-po-NEE-bleh | walk-in to a dorm |
| ¿Cuánto la noche? | How much a night? | KWAN-toh la NO-cheh | — |
| ¿A qué hora es el check-out? | What time's checkout? | a keh OH-ra es el chek-OWT | "check-out" said in English, fine |
| ¿Puedo dejar las valijas? | Can I leave my bags? | PWEH-doh deh-HAR las ba-LEE-shas | early arrival / late departure |
| ¿El desayuno está incluido? | Is breakfast included? | el deh-sa-YOO-noh es-TA in-kloo-EE-doh | — |
| ¿Dónde está el baño? | Where's the bathroom? | DON-deh es-TA el BA-nyo | the ñ = "ny" like canyon |
| No anda el agua caliente | The hot water's not working | no AN-da el A-gwa ka-lee-EN-teh | no anda = it doesn't work (super common) |
| No hay papel | There's no paper | no eye pa-PEL | the bathroom emergency |
| ¿Me das otra toalla? | Can I get another towel? | meh das O-tra to-A-sha | toalla = "to-A-sha" in Arg, "to-A-ya" elsewhere |
4. Directions / getting around
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde queda…? | Where is…? | DON-deh KEH-da | queda feels more natural than está for places |
| ¿Cómo llego a…? | How do I get to…? | KO-mo SHEH-goh a | Arg: "SHEH-goh". Else: "YEH-goh" |
| ¿Está cerca o lejos? | Is it near or far? | es-TA SER-ka oh LEH-hos | — |
| ¿Es por acá? | Is it this way? | es por a-KA | point and ask |
| Todo derecho | Straight ahead | TOH-doh deh-REH-cho | careful: derecha (with -a) = right turn |
| A la derecha / a la izquierda | To the right / left | a la deh-REH-cha / a la is-kee-ER-da | — |
| ¿Está lejos a pie? | Far on foot? | es-TA LEH-hos a pee-EH | decide walk vs ride |
| Me perdí | I'm lost | meh per-DEE | say it, people help |
| ¿Hay una parada de colectivo cerca? | Bus stop nearby? | eye OO-na pa-RA-da deh ko-lek-TEE-bo SER-ka | colectivo/bondi = bus in Arg |
👉 Bus = different word everywhere: colectivo or bondi (Argentina), micro (Chile/parts), bus/buseta (Colombia), camión (parts of Central Am). When in doubt just say "bus" — understood widely.
5. Buying a SIM card
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiero una SIM con datos | I want a SIM with data | kee-EH-roh OO-na seem kon DA-tos | the core sentence |
| ¿Tenés chip para turista? | Got a tourist SIM? | teh-NES cheep PA-ra too-REES-ta | chip = SIM card in most of South America |
| ¿Cuántos gigas trae? | How many GB does it come with? | KWAN-tos HEE-gas TRA-eh | "gigas" = GB |
| ¿Necesito mi pasaporte? | Do I need my passport? | neh-seh-SEE-toh mee pa-sa-POR-teh | often yes — bring it |
| ¿Me lo activás? | Can you activate it for me? | meh loh ak-tee-BAS | have them set it up in-store |
| No me anda el internet | My internet's not working | no meh AN-da el in-ter-NET | go back to the store with this |
| ¿Cómo recargo? | How do I top up? | KO-mo reh-KAR-goh | adding more credit/data |
👉 Big carriers: Claro, Movistar, Personal (Arg), Entel/WOM (Chile), Claro/Tigo (Colombia & Central Am). Buy at an official store, not a street kiosk, the first time.
6. Restaurant / café
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Una mesa para dos | Table for two | OO-na MEH-sa PA-ra dos | walking in |
| ¿Me traés la carta? | Can you bring the menu? | meh tra-ES la KAR-ta | carta = menu (NOT menú, which = set meal) |
| ¿Qué me recomendás? | What do you recommend? | keh meh reh-ko-men-DAS | great for trying local food |
| Para mí, esto | For me, this | PA-ra mee, ES-toh | point at the menu, done |
| Lo mismo para mí | Same for me | loh MEES-moh PA-ra mee | when ordering after a friend |
| Sin hielo | No ice | seen ee-EH-loh | — |
| ¿Tiene algo sin carne? | Anything without meat? | tee-EH-neh AL-goh seen KAR-neh | veg-ish option |
| Está riquísimo | It's delicious | es-TA ree-KEE-see-moh | makes the staff smile |
| La cuenta, por favor | The check, please | la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR | or just mime writing in the air |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay by card? | PWEH-doh pa-GAR kon tar-HEH-ta | ask first — some places cash only |
| ¿Está incluida la propina? | Is the tip included? | es-TA in-kloo-EE-da la pro-PEE-na | tipping ~10% is normal, often not auto |
| Un cafecito | A little coffee | oon ka-feh-SEE-toh | sounds friendly/local |
| Agua sin gas / con gas | Still / sparkling water | A-gwa seen gas / kon gas | they WILL ask which |
👉 Argentina coffee: un cortado (espresso w/ a splash of milk) is the default order. Café con leche for a bigger milky one. Sitting down for coffee is a whole ritual — nobody rushes you.
7. Market / shopping / haggling
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? | How much is this? | KWAN-toh KWES-ta ES-toh | point + say |
| ¿Cuánto sale? | How much? (casual) | KWAN-toh SA-leh | more local-sounding |
| ¿Me hacés un precio? | Can you give me a deal? | meh a-SES oon PREH-see-oh | the opening haggle move |
| Está muy caro | That's too expensive | es-TA mwee KA-roh | say it, then pause |
| ¿No me lo dejás más barato? | Won't you give it cheaper? | no meh loh deh-HAS mas ba-RA-toh | the follow-up |
| Te doy [X] | I'll give you [X] | teh doy | name your number |
| Llevo dos | I'll take two | SHEH-boh dos | bundle to push the price down |
| Solo estoy mirando | Just looking | SO-loh es-TOY mee-RAN-doh | shake off a pushy seller |
| ¿Tenés más chico / más grande? | Got smaller / bigger? | teh-NES mas CHEE-koh / mas GRAN-deh | sizes |
| Me lo llevo | I'll take it | meh loh SHEH-boh | the "deal done" line |
👉 Where haggling works: street markets, ferias, artisan stalls, taxis-without-meters. Where it doesn't: supermarkets, real shops, restaurants — fixed prices, don't try. Buying multiple = your best leverage.
8. Money / ATM / paying
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde hay un cajero? | Where's an ATM? | DON-deh eye oon ka-HEH-roh | cajero (automático) = ATM |
| ¿Aceptan tarjeta? | Do you take card? | a-SEP-tan tar-HEH-ta | ask before you order/grab |
| ¿Solo efectivo? | Cash only? | SO-loh eh-fek-TEE-bo | very common answer is "sí" |
| ¿Tenés cambio de…? | Got change for…? | teh-NES KAM-bee-oh deh | breaking big bills is a daily struggle |
| No me anda la tarjeta | My card's not working | no meh AN-da la tar-HEH-ta | foreign cards sometimes get declined |
| ¿Cuál es el tipo de cambio? | What's the exchange rate? | kwal es el TEE-po deh KAM-bee-oh | relevant in Argentina, big time |
| ¿Hay comisión? | Is there a fee? | eye ko-mee-see-ON | ATMs love hidden fees |
👉 Argentina money reality: there's an official rate and a blue (informal) rate, and they differ a lot. Cash USD often gets you way more. Cuevas (informal exchange spots) and apps like Western Union are how travelers get the better "blue" rate. This is the single biggest money hack of your whole trip — read the dedicated money doc before you go.
9. Pharmacy / feeling sick
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde hay una farmacia? | Where's a pharmacy? | DON-deh eye OO-na far-MA-see-a | pharmacists give real advice in LatAm |
| Me siento mal | I feel bad / sick | meh see-EN-toh mal | the catch-all |
| Me duele la cabeza | My head hurts | meh DWEH-leh la ka-BEH-sa | swap body part below |
| Me duele la panza / el estómago | Stomach hurts | meh DWEH-leh la PAN-sa / el es-TO-ma-go | panza = belly, very common |
| Tengo fiebre | I have a fever | TEN-goh fee-EH-breh | — |
| Tengo diarrea | I have diarrhea | TEN-goh dee-a-REH-a | yes, you'll need it eventually |
| ¿Tenés algo para…? | Got something for…? | teh-NES AL-goh PA-ra | + the symptom |
| Soy alérgico a… | I'm allergic to… | soy a-LER-hee-koh a | (women: alérgica) + penicillin/etc |
| Necesito un médico | I need a doctor | neh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh | the serious one |
👉 Pharmacists are your first stop in South America — they can recommend and sell a lot without a prescription. Farmacia de turno = the one open late/24h on rotation; ask "¿cuál está de turno?"
10. Emergencies / police / trouble
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¡Ayuda! | Help! | a-YOO-da | shout it |
| ¡Cuidado! | Watch out! | kwee-DA-doh | warning someone |
| Llamá a la policía | Call the police | sha-MA a la po-lee-SEE-a | — |
| Llamá a una ambulancia | Call an ambulance | sha-MA a OO-na am-boo-LAN-see-a | — |
| Me robaron | I got robbed | meh ro-BA-ron | the report line. Past, done to you |
| Me robaron el celular / la billetera | They stole my phone / wallet | …el seh-loo-LAR / la bee-sheh-TEH-ra | swap the item |
| Perdí mi pasaporte | I lost my passport | per-DEE mee pa-sa-POR-teh | head to your embassy |
| ¿Dónde está la comisaría? | Where's the police station? | DON-deh es-TA la ko-mee-sa-REE-a | comisaría = station |
| Necesito un abogado | I need a lawyer | neh-seh-SEE-toh oon a-bo-GA-doh | the "real trouble" line |
| Déjame en paz | Leave me alone | DEH-ha-meh en pas | firm, for hasslers |
| No quiero, gracias | I don't want it, thanks | no kee-EH-roh GRA-syas | for pushy touts/scammers |
👉 Don't physically resist a robbery. Phones/wallets are replaceable; the chunk you actually need is me robaron afterward, for the police report (often required for insurance). Keep a cheap backup phone and a photo of your passport.
11. "I don't understand" — the survival toolkit
This is the section that saves you when nothing else works. Lean on these hard early on.
| Spanish | English | say it like | 👉 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No entiendo | I don't understand | no en-tee-EN-doh | your bread and butter |
| Más despacio, por favor | Slower, please | mas des-PA-see-oh por fa-VOR | the most useful request you own |
| ¿Podés repetir? | Can you repeat? | po-DES reh-peh-TEER | Arg vos. Else: ¿Puedes repetir? |
| ¿Cómo se dice… en español? | How do you say… in Spanish? | KO-mo seh DEE-seh… en es-pa-NYOL | say the English word in the gap |
| ¿Qué significa…? | What does… mean? | keh sig-nee-FEE-ka | for a word you just heard |
| ¿Cómo se escribe? | How's it spelled? | KO-mo seh es-KREE-beh | for names/addresses |
| Hablo poco español | I speak a little Spanish | A-bloh PO-koh es-pa-NYOL | sets expectations, buys patience |
| Estoy aprendiendo | I'm learning | es-TOY a-pren-dee-EN-doh | people get warmer instantly |
| ¿Me lo escribís? | Can you write it down? | meh loh es-kree-BEES | for prices, addresses, names |
| Un momento | One moment | oon mo-MEN-toh | buys you time to think |
| ¿Cómo? | What? / Huh? | KO-mo | the polite "didn't catch that" (not ¿Qué?, which can feel blunt) |
| Dale | OK / sure / got it | DA-leh | Argentina's all-purpose "alright" — learn it day one |
👉 The magic combo: "Hablo poco español, estoy aprendiendo. ¿Más despacio, por favor?" Drop that and almost anyone will slow down and root for you. Trying counts for everything down here.
Memory hooks (light Latin bridge — see the etymology course)
- farmacia ← Greek/Latin pharmac- → same root as English "pharmacy." Easy.
- médico ← Latin medicus → "medical / medic." Easy.
- policía ← Latin/Greek polis (city) → "police, politics, metropolis."
- agua ← Latin aqua → "aquarium, aquatic." Hear the aqua hiding in agua.
Don't study these — just notice them. The full Latin→Spanish bridge lives in ../etymology/.
Next up: 02 for how the language shifts country by country across your route (vos, che, weon, cachai, parce…), so the same survival chunk lands right whether you're in BA, Santiago, or Medellín.