Mexico Spanish Phrase Sheet for Travelers

A pocket phrasebook of the Spanish you will actually use in Mexico, grouped by situation: greetings, ordering food, paying, taxis and buses, hotels, health and emergencies, numbers and polite forms. Each line gives the Spanish, a plain-English pronunciation respelling and the meaning. Search the list, tap the speaker to hear a phrase if your device has a Spanish voice, or print a single category to keep in your pocket. It covers common Mexican habits like provecho, mande, con permiso and la cuenta. It is a phrase aid for visitors, not a Spanish course.

How to use the sheet, and what it does not cover

Start with the category you need and read the middle column aloud. The respelling is written for English speakers: syllables in capitals take the stress, and vowels keep their Spanish values every time. Mexican Spanish tends to be clear and unhurried, so a slow, polite attempt is received well. Most phrases come in the form of a polite request, such as "me da" or "me puede traer", which sounds natural to Mexican ears. Add "por favor" and a "gracias" and you will get far.

Mexico-specific habits worth learning first

• Con permiso is said when you need to pass someone in a crowded market, a bus or a narrow aisle. Perdón is for after you have bumped into them.
• Buen provecho (or just provecho) is said to people who are eating, including strangers at a nearby table and as you leave a restaurant.
• Mande is a polite response when someone calls you or you did not hear: "pardon?" or "yes?".
• La cuenta is the check, and you usually have to ask for it. La propina is the tip; see the tip calculator.
• Ahorita means "right now" or "in a little while" and is often vague, so ask for a time if it matters.

Audio

Where the browser offers a Spanish voice, a speaker button appears next to each phrase and uses es-MX if available, otherwise another Spanish voice. Synthetic voices vary and can misplace stress, so treat audio as a guide and rely on the respelling. Nothing is sent anywhere; the speech is generated on your device.

Printing

Use "Print this category" under a heading for a single page, or "Print all phrases" for everything. Audio buttons and navigation are hidden when printing.

What it does not cover

These are travel-survival phrases, not full conversations. Regional vocabulary differs between Mexico City, the Yucatan peninsula, Oaxaca and the north. Slang, swearing and anything you would only say to friends is left out. For deeper context on eating, paying and staying safe, use the guides linked below, including street food, money and safety. In an emergency, call 911; the tourist assistance line is 078.

Data last verified 2026-10-22. Prices, hours and rules change; confirm with the official source before you go.