Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
When your teens start learning Spanish, they don’t just need grammar rules; they need real words they can actually use. That’s where this blog comes in.
Whether they’re navigating class, chatting with friends, or running errands with you, these beginner-friendly Spanish phrases will help them speak with confidence from day one. Instead of memorization, your teen will get expressions they can practice daily, phrases that help them start conversations, ask questions, and express their feelings.
For parents who want to be part of the learning journey but don’t speak Spanish themselves, these phrases are easy to review together. They’re a simple, meaningful step toward the bigger goal: real fluency, valuable skills, and a teen who feels proud of their progress.
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1. Say Hello Like You Mean It (Introductions & Greetings)
Starting a conversation takes courage, especially in a new language. These greeting phrases make that first step easier.
- ¿Cómo te llamas?– What’s your name? Use this when meeting someone new. ¿Cómo te llamas? – What’s your name?
- Me llamo… – My name is… Your teen will say this countless times when introducing themselves. Me llamo Diego. – My name is Diego.
- Mucho gusto – Nice to meet you. A polite, warm response to meeting someone. Mucho gusto, Carla. – Nice to meet you, Carla.
- ¿Cómo estás? – How are you? Used informally among friends. ¿Cómo estás hoy? – How are you today?
- Estoy bien / cansado(a) / más o menos – I’m good / tired / so-so. Simple responses to describe how they feel. Estoy cansado hoy. – I’m tired today.
2. School Talk They’ll Actually Use (Classroom Language)
Help your child feel more confident in the classroom with these key expressions.
- ¿Puedo ir al baño?– Can I go to the bathroom? A must-have classroom request. ¿Puedo ir al baño, por favor? – Can I go to the bathroom, please?
- No entiendo – I don’t understand. This one gives them a tool to ask for help. Lo siento, no entiendo la pregunta. – Sorry, I don’t understand the question.
- ¿Puedes repetir eso?– Can you repeat that? Helps them clarify when they miss something. ¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor? – Can you repeat that, please?
- ¿Qué significa…? – What does … mean? For asking about new words. ¿Qué significa “libro”? – What does “libro” mean?
- ¿Hay tarea? – Is there homework? Keeps them on top of assignments. ¿Hay tarea para mañana? – Is there homework for tomorrow?
3. Make It Social (Friendship & Hanging Out)
Give your teen vocabulary that makes Spanish feel cool, not just academic.
- ¿Qué haces? – What are you doing? A go-to question between friends. ¿Qué haces este fin de semana? – What are you doing this weekend?
- Nada, solo estoy chillin’ – Nothing, just chilling. Blending English and Spanish is common among teens. Nada, solo estoy chillin’ en casa. – Nothing, just chilling at home.
- ¿Quieres salir? – Want to hang out? Friendly invite to socialize. ¿Quieres salir después de clase? – Want to hang out after class?
- ¡Qué padre! / ¡Qué chévere! – That’s cool! “Padre” is used in Mexico; “chévere” is common in the Caribbean and South America. ¡Qué chévere tu mochila! – Your backpack is so cool!
- Estoy aburrido(a) – I’m bored. Good for expressing common teen feelings. Estoy aburrido de esta película. – I’m bored of this movie.
4. Speak from the Heart (Emotions & Opinions)
Language is about expressing yourself. These phrases help teens say what they really feel.
- Estoy feliz / triste / enojado(a) – I’m happy / sad / angry. Core emotional vocabulary. Estoy feliz porque saqué una buena nota. – I’m happy because I got a good grade.
- Tengo hambre / sueño – I’m hungry/sleepy. Very relatable phrases. Tengo sueño. No dormí bien. – I’m sleepy. I didn’t sleep well.
- No me gusta eso – I don’t like that. Great for expressing preferences. No me gusta ese programa. – I don’t like that show.
- ¡Eso me encanta! – I love that! Positive and enthusiastic. ¡Esa canción me encanta! – I love that song!
- ¡Eso es injusto! – That’s unfair! Perfect for teen conversations. ¡Eso es injusto! Yo lavé los platos ayer. – That’s unfair! I did the dishes yesterday.
5. Talk Like You’re Out and About (Supermarket Spanish)
Real-life errands offer great opportunities for speaking Spanish.
- ¿Dónde está la leche? – Where is the milk? Everyday vocabulary in action. ¿Dónde está la leche? No la veo. – Where is the milk? I don’t see it.
- Quiero comprar frutas – I want to buy fruit. Basic shopping language. Quiero comprar frutas para el desayuno. – I want to buy fruit for breakfast.
- ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? – How much does this cost? A great survival phrase. ¿Cuánto cuesta esto? – How much does this cost?
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? – Can I pay with a card? Good for modern shopping situations. ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito? – Can I pay with a credit card?
- Necesitamos más pan – We need more bread. Useful for errands and daily conversation. Necesitamos más pan para los sandwiches. – We need more bread for the sandwiches.
- Gracias, que tenga un buen día – Thank you, have a nice day. Always polite, always welcome. Gracias, que tenga un buen día, señora. – Thank you, have a nice day, ma’am.
Mini Practice Activity: Phrase Challenge
Each day this week, have your teen pick three phrases from this list and use them aloud, whether in a roleplay with you, in a text message, or during their lesson. Keep score and celebrate wins together!
Build Confidence, One Phrase at a Time
The phrases your teen learned today are more than just vocabulary; they build blocks for honest conversations, self-expression, and meaningful connection. This list is just the beginning, but it’s a powerful one. Encouraging your child to use even a few new phrases each week can transform Spanish from a school subject into a real-life skill they own with pride.
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“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”
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