Flamenco Beach Culebra, Puerto Rico

Spanish Language Basics

Both Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico. English is widely spoken particularly in hotels, at resorts and other tourist areas. Spanish will predominate in the rural areas and off the beaten path, but no worries, you will usually find someone that speaks at least some English willing to assist you. Most road signs are in Spanish with highway markers and distances based on the metric system. Interestingly speed signs are posted in miles per hour and not kilometers per hour.

Basic Spanish Conversational Words and Phrases

Hello Hola o-la
Good Morning Buenos dias bwe-nos dee-as
Good Afternoon Buenas tardes bwe-nas tar-des
Good Evening / night Buenas noches bwe-nas no-ches
Goodbye / See you soon Hasta Luego as-ta lue-go
Yes see
No No no
Please Por favor por fa-vor
Thank you Gracias gra-syas
Many thanks Muchas gracias moo-chas gra-syas
You’re welcome De nada de na-da
Pardon me Perdón per-don
Excuse me Permiso per-mee-so
Forgive me Disculpe dees-kool-pe
How are things? ¿Qué tal? ke tal
What’s your name? ¿Cómo se llama? (pol) ko-mo se ya-ma
  ¿Cómo te llamas? (inf) ko-mo te ya-ma
My name is… Me llamo… me ya-mo
It’s a pleasure to meet you Mucho gusto moo-cho goos-to
Where are you from? ¿De dónde es? (pol) de don-de es
  ¿De dónde eres? (inf) de don-de eres
I’m from… Soy de… soy de
Where are you staying? ¿Dónde está alojado/a? (pol) don-de es-ta a-lo-ha-do/a
  ¿Dónde estás alojado/a (inf) don-de es-tas a-lo-ha-do/a

Basic Directions

Can you show me (on map)? ¿Me lo podría indicar (en el mapa)? me lo po-dree-a een-dee-kar (en el ma-pa)
Straight Derecho de-re-cho
Left Izquierda ees-kyer-da
Right Derecha de-re-cha
North Norte nor-te
South Sur soor
East Este es-te
West Oeste o-es-te
Here Aqui a-kee
There Alli a-yee
Avenue Avenida a-ve-ni-da
Street Calle ka-ye
Block Cuadra kwa-dra
Road Carretera ka-re-te-ra
Expressway Expreso es-pre-so
Toll Highway Autopista ow-toe-pees-ta

Signs

Entrada Entrance
Salida Exit
Información Information
Abierto Open
Cerrado Closed
Prohibido Prohibited
Servicios / Baños Toilets
Hombres / Caballeros Men
Mujeres / Damas Women

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Norman

"The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" - Saint Augustine