Lorry Perkins
Writer, Travel Blogger
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20 Words and Phrases to Learn Before you go to Mexico & Why I Called My Luggage a Blue Rat
I have a mental block when it comes to speaking another language. I’m so nervous about saying the wrong words that I blank out when I try to speak in full sentences. Because of our travels to Riviera Maya, slowly but surely my husband and I are learning a little Spanish. Although you do not need to know the language because everyone we have encountered there speaks English well, the locals like it when you make the effort.
My Embarrassing Story
I broke my foot approximately a month before we traveled to Mexico, so the Cancun airport was kind enough to provide a wheelchair and staff member to help us through the terminal. While at the baggage claim, the gentleman assigned to us asked my husband the color of our luggage which was blue and red. He spoke English, but we tried to answer in Spanish remembering the word for blue, azul, but we both stumbled on the word for red. My husband has been studying Spanish using Duolingo for a couple of years, so when he said the word “rato” for red, I squinting at him from the wheelchair, but shrugged it off. The gentleman helping us let out a hearty laugh, so that was a clue that my husband had made an unintentional joke. With a puzzled look on my face, I began searching my brain for the right word, but both of our brains were obviously fuzzy from the 3 am wake up call that day.
A few minutes later, it came to me, and I exclaimed, “rojo”. I think everyone who has watched Sesame Street knows it is the word for red, but our sleep-deprived brains couldn’t muster up the strength to find the word easily that day. Luckily our normal encounters with our Spanish-speaking staff at the airport and resort are not that confusing. Below are a few Spanish words and phrases to help you communicate with the locals when you travel to Riviera Maya.
20 Words and Phrases to Learn Before you go to Mexico
Hello – Hola
Goodbye – Adios
Good morning – Buenos dias
Good afternoon – Buenos tardes
Good evening – Buenos noches
How are you? – Cómo estás?
Very well – Muy Bein
Thank you very much – Muchas gracias
You’re welcome – De nada
Please – Por favor
Sorry – Losiento
Beer – Cerveza
Water – Agua
Coffee with milk – Cafe con leche
My name is… – Mi nombre es…
Where is… – Dónde es…
Bathroom – Banos
Playa – Beach
Friend – Amigos
I don’t speak Spanish well. – No hablo español muy bien.
Practice these words and phrases to prepare yourself to travel to Mexico. I’ll meet you at the pool bar and place an order with the bartender for us. “Dos cerveza, por favor.”
Introducing Mandy Hornsby with Tips to Learn a New Language
I’d like to introduce to you a fellow travel blogger and share her post with tips to help you learn a new language. Her blog post, TIPS FOR LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE AS AN ADULT, explores why it is so difficult for some of us to learn a new language and ways to make it easier. Follow her blog to learn more about Gulf Coast living, genealogy, history, delicious recipes, and more. In addition, you can listen to her new podcast Don’t Tell Maw Maw.
“My besties Katy, Leah, and I created our new podcast October 2020! (One of the few good things out of this year right?) We created Don’t Tell Maw Maw in order to reconnect and share our experiences. All three of us were lucky to have guidance of several wise Maw Maws, and want to share their lessons from a modern perspective.”
“Join us bi-weekly as we discuss topics from fun to serious. Our podcast is released bi-weekly on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!”
Access all episodes here directly on Anchor here!
We are also available on social media at the following:
Facebook: Don’t Tell Maw Maw Magnolia Lounge
Instagram: @don’ttellmawmaw
Twitter: @donttellmawmaw
Born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mandy is a lover of books, travel, and history. I am a blogger by night and a librarian by day. Please stop by and see more of my adventures at My Sassy Starfish.
I love using apps like Duolingo to study a new language. It’s so useful to at least know a couple of basic words (like the ones on this list) before traveling to a new place.
[…] Mexico in her blog No Shoes Just Travel. Her post for useful travel phrases is a must read! Click here to find […]
Haha this is very useful, its so easy for pronunciation to confuse things. I think with travel being as widespread as it was pre covid a lot of people are probably hearing these mix ups on a regular basis and lighthearted about.
Do you recommend duo lingo? I used it years ago when living in Greece but spent more time learning from local friends so I didn’t fully use it.
I used to live in Honduras so that I’m fluent in Spanish. However, I know this feeling from other languages. When I learned Turkish in Izmir, I said the darndest things. the good thing is that I’m not embarrassed and don’t let it discourage me. It’s like they say: To have another language is to possess a second soul.
Interesting story 🙂
It certainly helps to speak a few words in the local language for better communication.
Thanks for sharing the words and phrases.
Your story is hilarious and unfortunately too relatable for me. My native language is Vietnamese but because I hardly use it when I go to Vietnam I make loads of cringey mistakes. Perhaps even worse than calling my suitcase a blue rat haha. Thanks for the tips!
We spend three months a year in Mexico so we are in free Spanish classes in our Vacation Club!
I love this! I speak a little Spanish and I love practising it every time I travel. It really does make a difference to show a little effort towards the locals and their language.
It is a must to learn the basic words of the language of your destination. For me at least😊
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