Everyday Spoken Spanish Daily Phrases
The Spanish people actually speak in Spain — greetings, reactions and daily phrases, with the spoken shortcuts textbooks skip.
Spoken Spanish in Spain is fast, warm and informal by default — strangers call you 'tú', 'vale' punctuates everything, and half of politeness is intonation. These are the phrases that carry a normal day.
- 1
vale
OK / alright (the universal filler)
Tip: Spain's most-used word. Agreement, acknowledgement, 'deal': '¿Nos vemos a las ocho? — Vale.'
- 2
¡Buenas!
Hi! (informal, any time of day)
Tip: Short for buenos días/buenas tardes — works at any hour, very Spain.
- 3
¿Qué tal?
How's it going?
Tip: The default greeting; answer '¡Bien! ¿Y tú?' or just repeat '¿qué tal?' back.
- 4
¿Qué haces?
What's up? / What are you up to?
Tip: Also on WhatsApp: 'q haces'. Not an accusation — just curiosity.
- 5
¡No me digas!
No way! / You're kidding!
Tip: Literally 'don't tell me'. Standard shocked reaction; '¡Anda ya!' = come off it.
- 6
claro
sure, of course
Tip: Often doubled: 'claro, claro'. 'Claro que sí' = of course (emphatic).
- 7
oye
listen / hey (getting attention)
Tip: From 'oír'. Softens requests: 'Oye, ¿me pasas la sal?' To a stranger: 'oiga' (usted).
- 8
a ver
let's see / hmm
Tip: Opens hesitation or checking: 'A ver... ¿qué tenemos?' Everyone says it constantly.
- 9
Estoy de camino.
I'm on my way.
Tip: The classic (often optimistic) text. Also 'ya voy' = I'm coming.
- 10
Voy con retraso.
I'm running late.
Tip: Casually also 'llego tarde'. Spanish social time forgives 10–15 minutes.
- 11
¿Dónde quedamos?
Where shall we meet?
Tip: 'quedar' = to arrange to meet — the key social verb: 'hemos quedado a las nueve'.
- 12
¿Nos tomamos algo?
Shall we get a drink?
Tip: 'tomar algo' = the institution of going for a casual drink + tapa.
- 13
Me apetece.
I fancy it / I feel like it.
Tip: 'apetecer' works like 'gustar': '¿Te apetece un café?' = fancy a coffee?
- 14
Qué pereza.
I can't be bothered / what a drag.
Tip: Literally 'what laziness'. The socially acceptable way to decline effort.
- 15
¡Qué guay!
How cool!
Tip: Spain slang; Latin America says 'qué chévere/padre'. Stronger: '¡qué pasada!'
- 16
Qué pena.
That's a shame.
Tip: Also sympathy: 'qué pena, de verdad'. 'Qué faena' = what a pain (practical mishaps).
- 17
No te preocupes.
Don't worry about it.
Tip: Spoken fast as 'no te preocupes, de verdad'. Reply to apologies: 'nada, nada'.
- 18
No pasa nada.
It doesn't matter / no big deal.
Tip: Spain's all-purpose absolution — from spilled coffee to cancelled plans.
- 19
¿En serio?
Really? / Seriously?
Tip: Or '¿de verdad?'. Drawn out '¿en serioooo?' for maximum drama.
- 20
¡Menudo lío!
What a mess!
Tip: 'menudo/a' + noun = what a...: 'menudo día' = what a day.
- 21
Ni idea.
I have no idea.
Tip: Full: 'no tengo ni idea'. Shrug included.
- 22
¡Venga!
Come on! / Go on!
Tip: Encouragement, goodbye ('venga, hasta luego'), or impatience — tone decides.
- 23
¡Hasta luego!
See you later!
Tip: The default goodbye even to shopkeepers — often just a mumbled ''ta luego'.
- 24
¡Que aproveche!
Enjoy your meal!
Tip: Said to anyone eating, even strangers in a bar. Reply: 'gracias'.
- 25
¿Cómo?
Sorry? / What did you say?
Tip: The polite 'what?'. '¿Qué?' alone is blunter; '¿perdona?' is softer still.
- 26
qué va
of course not / no way
Tip: Casual denial: '¿Estás cansado? — ¡Qué va!' = not at all.