Traveling and languages are always connected. Traveling opens the world, shows you the bigger picture, and allows you to understand and know about other cultures and other people. The same happens with languages because you are not only learning words and grammar, you are also exploring and grasping a new culture that comes within.
But the thing is, we often underestimate the power of language when it comes to physically travel because we know it’s needed but in reality, if you want to dwell into the culture of a certain country, knowing its local language (at least some basics), will open you not only one, but a thousand doors to new perspectives and amazing experiences; so, it’s not only necessary, it’s essential.
In the case of Spanish speaking countries (Latin America and Spain) it’s important to understand that most of the local people don’t talk English or any other language (especially the ones that don’t live in big cities but deep within the country); this means that if you want to have a real and authentic cultural experience, you’ll need to know some words or become somehow fluent before you go.
When you learn a language, the ultimate and most important task will always be to travel to a country where it’s spoken and use it to engage with locals and immerse yourself into the culture; and once you do that, then you can say that you really know the language. With Spanish is no different, and if you want to discover the amazing cultures that it conveys, whether it might be in Spain, Argentina, México, or Colombia among many others, then you do need to know some basics before stepping foot on these magical lands.
Spanish for Traveling: The Benefits of learning Spanish for your travels
Yes, Spanish is definitely a major plus for your travels and within all its benefits, here are some of the most important and relevant ones:
Interact better with local communities (aka connection)
There’s no better way to experience a country than engaging with locals and sharing some time with them; that’s how you truly learn about a culture and why things work in a certain way, which, in turn, helps you to grow and understand life experiences and perspectives that are different than your own. Spanish will help you to connect better and faster, and it will also grant you access to many adventures and genuine connections with locals.
You will learn, you will enjoy, you will feel, you will understand, you will feel empathy and you will take much more from what is given. Speaking some Spanish in Spanish speaking countries (or the native language of any country) is a sign of respect and appreciation for their culture. In the end, you will realize that you experienced much more than just the tourism culture.
Know your way out of “stressful” situations (aka problem solver)
By knowing some Spanish you’ll also get out of trouble way easier; and by that, I don’t necessarily mean trouble or bad things, but situations like getting lost, or not knowing how to take public transport, even going to a doctor or to the authorities. Well, in those situations you’ll definitely find Spanish helpful.
Yes, we do have technology and Google but trust me, it’s simpler, easier, and faster just to ask someone in their local language as they will probably know the answer. If you are in bigger cities, you can probably find your way out of these types of situations by talking English, but it’s not guaranteed, and less so in smaller or not so touristy areas. Spanish will not only help you to have an authentic cultural experience but it could potentially save your life as well (or at least get you out of “trouble”).
Access to over 20 countries
Spanish is probably one of the most important languages to learn if you love to travel, even more so if you do it full time. It’s the official language of over 20 countries across four continents and it is estimated that the number of native speakers ranges from 350 to 400 million people with that number growing every second.
Spanish has the 2nd highest number of native speakers of any language (after Mandarin) and is the 4th most widely spoken language in the world when including native and non-native speakers; so, it’s safe to say that speaking Spanish is a huge plus for traveling and it will give you access to a bunch of amazing nations with wonderful people and some of the most amazing landscapes you’ll ever experience. Ultimately, a whole new world of widely diverse experiences is at the corner of the street if you give Spanish a chance!
Have more unique experiences and don’t get overcharged
You have probably realized that in most countries you can always get to the touristy areas if you don’t speak the language as things are translated or either have guides, signs, etc… And, you have probably realized too, that these areas are usually overcharged and more expensive than others. Remember that as a foreign, you are the “target”, and if you don’t want to spend more money than you should, then grasping some Spanish is always helpful so you can haggle and actually pay what locals usually pay.
On the other hand, what about the amazing, hidden treasures that are yet to be discovered and are not so touristy? Well, we are not saying that if you don’t know Spanish you wouldn’t have the chance to get to them, but it will definitely be easier if you do know at least some basics. You’ll be able to ask for instructions and explore those magical places that only locals know.
Access to job or volunteering opportunities
As Spanish is spoken by millions of people and is also an important language for business, you can access thousands of job or volunteering opportunities if you happen to be traveling and working at the same (like a digital nomad). You’ll be able to travel within and throughout all the Spanish speaking countries if your job requires it; also, if even if you happen to land a temporary or permanent role on some international company, you’ll be likely to succeed even more if you do know Spanish and can communicate effectively with employees, employers, and just locals in general.
Same as if you are doing a volunteer program as you’ll be able to get way more out of the experience, taking into account that it’s very possible that the people you’ll be interacting with and helping, don’t know other languages.
It’s fun!
Learning Spanish is really a looot of fun! The words, the slang, the sounds, the music, the movies, etc., everything is fun to learn if you have the attitude and mindset for it. You’ll discover that Spanish is such an expressive, passionate and generally positive language, and that people embody it with every fiber of their soul in all they do. There’s a reason why Spanish speakers are considered some of the happiest among the sun and it’s partly due to our language.
Learning Spanish will never be boring if you are consciously willing to sink in all the cultural aspects that come within and that make it unique and authentic. It’s actually not considered a fairly easy language to learn if you compare it to German or Nordic languages, for example. Also, you’ll laugh, you’ll understand the jokes and the slang, and you’ll have the time of your life!
Some extra insider tips
Now that you know a bit more about the importance of Spanish for traveling, here are some tips for before, during and after your travels.
- Before your trip, take some time to learn some of the basics of Spanish or dwell yourself into the whole learning experience. Apps and record curses like Duolingo, Busuu or Edx are good for starters and basics but cannot be your only source of learning. An excellent idea is to attend online classes.
- A great option for Spanish online lessons is Whee. They are an online school that researches ways for students to learn very fast but also have fun at the same time. They believe in the power of groups, where everyone learns from each student’s questions, realizations, and mistakes. It’s a collaborative way of learning, but with teaching, an expert involved bringing out the best of each student. So, you will learn with Spanish games and fun activities, as education should be! Besides that, the classes are also personalized, meaning that they will be focused on your interests and learning style for all levels. They also have a super cool and interesting blog that provides material for your process. You can have a free trial of the class before booking and see if you like it. Check them out here.
- During your trip, always ask if you don’t know how to express something or if you don’t know a word. Asking questions and being curious is one of the best ways to learn any language.
- Get out of your comfort zone and don’t let things stay off of your list just because they’ll be in Spanish; step up, explore, and build long-lasting memories.
- After your trip, don’t lose the hang of the language; even if you have already been there, keep learning, watch movies and hear music in Spanish, etc… You can actually do this before and even during your trip, but the reason why we recommended it after is that you’ll understand it way more as you have already experienced the Spanish speaking culture by first hand. You have torn down many prejudices because you’ve been there, and so, you can enjoy music, movies, books, etc., without much judgment and more empathy instead.
Basic Spanish for your travels
This list you’ll be really helpful for a basic start but keep in mind that these are general words, their expressions can change from country to country taking into account the slang too.
Hola – Hello
Adiós – Goodbye
Gracias – Thank you
Buenos días – Good morning
Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
Buenas noches – Good evening
Noche – Night
Por favor – Please
¿Habla inglés? – Can you speak English?
Mi nombre es or me llamo – My name is
¿Dónde encuentro…? – Where do I find…?
Soy de… – I’m from…
Mi número es… – My number is…
¿Que tan lejos es…? – How far is…?
¿Puede ayudarme, por favor? – Can you help me please?
¿Dónde está el baño? – Where is the bathroom?
¿Cómo se dice? – How do you day?
No sé – I don’t know
La cuenta, por favor – The check, please
Avión (aeropuerto) – Airplane (airport)
Carro – Car
Maleta, equipaje – Suitcase, luggage
Comida – Food
¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?
Estoy perdido – I’m lost
Cama – Bed
Agua (fría o caliente) – Water (cold or hot)
Banco – Bank
Cajero automático – ATM
Perdón – Excuse me, sorry
Soy vegetariano – I’m vegetarian
Un café, por favor – A coffee, please
Ropa – Clothes
Mar – Sea
Montaña – Mountain
Camino – Path
Sombrilla – Umbrella
Audífonos – Headphones
Cargador – Charge
At the beginning, we stated that Spanish is not only necessary but essential for your travels. And, after stating some of its benefits, tips and basic vocabulary, we hope that you are now more eager to learn it before, during or even after your travels if you are hoping to come back.
By doing so, you’ll of making the most out of your experience and will be able to have the time of your life. Spanish is a way of life, it’s a whole, wide and diverse culture within itself and there’s nothing that natives enjoy more than sharing its beauty with the world. Now, more than ever, take advantage of the fact that Spanish is continually increasing its importance and put it in your bucket list, we guarantee you’ll never regret it!
This is a post by Guest Contributor Sofia Machado
Sofía is passionate about storytelling and people, and she does believe that stories can change the world for the better. She works as a marketing and content specialist for an amazing and innovative Spanish online and offline school based in Bogotá, Colombia, called Whee Institute. She’s also the editor of a blog about Bogotá and she loves to discover the world, one story and one person at a time.
