Navigating a Spanish Speaking Country

If you've ever traveled to a foreign country where you didn't speak the native language, you know how difficult it can be to figure out how to get what you need or what anyone else is saying to you. Simple things like ordering a meal in a restaurant become extraordinarily difficult challenges of communication. Most people who don't speak the language end up looking like monkeys as they mime and point and speak very loudly even though the person they're speaking to isn't deaf. If you happen to be traveling in a Spanish speaking country here are some of the phrases and words you'll need most often. Don't forget to bring a small dictionary with you. You never know when you'll need an uncommon word.

Por favor.
In case you didn't know, this means please. Simply being polite can get you very far and win you appreciation. Even if you are a gringo.

Gracias.
Another one of those polite phrases that can win you favor. Many native speakers will forgive a language impediment if you are plenty polite.

Donde esta.
This means "Where is." Finish out the phrase with any noun of your choosing. For example, Donde esta el bano? Means "Where is the bathroom?" Other nouns you can add to the end of this phrase include "embajada" which means embassy. When traveling, you should always know where the embassy of your home country is. You never know when you might need to pay them a visit. You can also use "la playa" which means the beach, "mi cuarto" which means my room, and "la tienda" which means the store.

Direcciones.
When asking where something is you'll need to be able to understand the directions people might give you. "A la derecha" means to the right. "A la izquierda" means to the left. "Derecho" means straight. "Una cuadra" means one block. "Enfrente" means opposite, not in front of. "Cerca" is near and "lejos" is far.

Necesito.
This is pretty simple. It means "I need." Like "donde esta" you can add any noun to the end of this phrase. For example, you could say "Necesito agua" which means, I need water. You can also add an infinitve verb. An infinite in Spanish is the unconjugated version of the verb. All infinitives will end in -ar, -er, or -ir. For example, you can say "Necesito pensar." Which needs, I need to think.

Cuanto cuesta?
This means essentially "how much." Literally it means "how much cost". The easiest way to use this is to say "Cuanto cuesta este?" which means How much is this? By pointing and referencing the object you mean, you'll be able to get your point across. If you you know the name of the object in Spanish you can use that.

Of course, it's always advisable to learn some of the language before you travel or to travel with someone who does. But if you absolutely cannot then learn the absolute basics and carry a small phrase book. Remember that certain communications are universal. Everyone recognizes and responds well to a smile.