General openers asking where things are and directions:
You don’t need a magic bullet to get a conversation rolling. If you are traveling in a Spanish speaking country a natural way to open a conversation is to ask for directions or a recommendation:
Can you help me with some directions?
¿Me puede ayudar con una dirección?
pweh-deh ah-yoo-dahr-meh kohn oo-nah dee-rehk-see-ohn?
|
I’m lost. Where is _____? Is _____ [near/far]? How far is _____? |
I’m looking for ____. Whereabouts is _____? How do I get to _____? |
Recommendations:
What’s there _____ around here?
¿Qué hay de _____ por acá?
¿kEH igh _____ pohr ah-kAH?
What do you recommend _____ around here?
¿Qué recomiendas _____ por aquí?
¿kEH reh-koh-mee-ehn-dahs _____ pohr ah-kEE?
|
to do to see |
to do at night to eat |
What kind of things do the tourists do around here?
¿Qué clase de cosas hacen los turistas por aquí?
¿kEH klah-seh deh koh-sahs ah-sehn lohs too-rees-tahs pohr ah-kEE?
Where’s a _____ around here?
¿Dónde está _____ por aquí?
¿dOHn-deh eh-stah _____ pohr ah-kee?
Can you recommend a _____ around here?
¿Puede recomendarme _____ por aquí?
¿Pweh-deh reh-koh-mehn-dahr-meh _____ pohr ah-kee?
|
(good) bar (good) cafe (good) dance club / disco (good) hotel (good) movie (good) park |
(good) beach (good) concert (good) internet cafe (good) market (good) museum (good) restaurant |
If you were asking about bars or clubs-
Where are the good nightspots around here?
¿Dónde están los locales nocturnos buenos por aquí?
¿dOHn-deh ehs-tAHn lohs loh-kah-lehs nohk-toor-nohs bweh-nohs
pohr ah-kEE?
What places have a lot of [guys/girls]?
¿Cuáles lugares tienen muchos/as [tipos/chicas]?
¿kwAHl-ehs loo-gahr-ehs tee-eh-nehn moo-chohs/ahs tee-pohs/cheekahs?
I recommend to throw this one in if you are talking to a cabbie:
We aren’t looking for prostitutes.
No buscamos prostitutas.
noh boos-kah-mohs prohs-tee-too-tahs.
What are good places that have people [our/my] age?
¿Cuáles lugares buenos tienen personas de [nuestro/a /mi] edad?
¿kwAHl-ehs loo-gah-rehs bweh-nohs tee-eh-nehn pehr-soh-
nahs deh [nwehs-troh/ah / mee] eh-dahd?
What type of music do they play?
¿Qué clase de música tocan?
¿kEH klah-seh deh mOO-see-kah toh-kahn?
What type of dancing do they have?
¿Qué clase de baile tienen?
¿kEH klah-seh deh bigh-leh tee-ehn-ehn?
Is there a cover charge?
¿Cobran por entrar?
¿koh-brahn pohr ehn-trahr?
How much?
¿Cuanto vale?
¿kwahn-toh vah-leh?
Meeting Spanish speaking locals in bars and clubs
Here are a few openers you can use in any bars or clubs in a Spanish speaking country to strike up a conversation. These are casual conversation starters you can use to get some small talk going. In most cases it’s better to start with these kind of questions instead of personal questions right away. They work well for someone you find attractive or if you just want to hang out with some locals.
What’s the best national beer from this country?
¿Cual es la mejor cerveza nacional de este país?
¿kwahl ehs lah meh-hohr sehr-veh-sah nah-see-oh-nahl deh ehs-teh pah-EEs?
What are the local drinks from this country?
¿Cuales son los tragos nativos de este país?
¿kwah-lehs sohn lohs trah-gohs nah-tee-vohs deh ehs-teh pah-EEs?
What kind of drinks are popular here?
¿Qué tipo de tragos son populares aquí?
¿kEH tee-poh deh trah-gohs sohn poh-poo-lah-rehs ah-kEE?
Is this music popular around here?
¿Es esta música popular por aquí?
¿ehs ehs-tah MOO-see-kah poh-poo-lahr pohr ak-EE?
The above are good ways to start a conversation since you’re showing interest in their country and what makes it different from others. Most people enjoy talking about things that are unique from their country. Below are some bland, general questions you can also ask:
Are there other places like this around here?
¿Hay otros lugares así por aquí?
¿igh oh-trohs loo-gahr-ehs ah-SEE pohr ah-KEE?
What time does this place close?
¿A qué hora cierra este lugar?
¿ah KAY oh-rah see-ehr-ah ehs-teh loo-gahr?
Where’s the bathroom here?
¿Donde queda el baño por aquí?
¿dohn-deh kay-dah ehl bah-nyoh pohr ah-KEE?
To get the most out of your time spent traveling in other countries you want to mix with the locals. If you’ve met some cool people or have met someone you’re attracted to and want to hang out with them you can ask them to have a drink with you:
Let’s have a drink.
Vamos a tomar un trago.
vah-mohs ah toh-mahr oo-n trah-goh.
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