Even if you don't speak Spanish, you can learn a few simple words and phrases that will ease your way wherever Spanish is spoken.

Difficulty Level: easy      Time Required: 5 minutes

1. To say "please," say "por favor." If you say "pore fah-VORE" you'll be understood, even if the pronunciation is far from precise.
2. To say "thank you," say "gracias." If you say "GRAHSS-yahss" you'll be understood.
3. To inform a person you don't speak Spanish, say "No hablo español." That's pronounced something like "no AHV-low es-pahn-YOHL."
4. To say hello, merely say "Hola" or OH-la" (rhymes with "Lola"; note that the letter H is silent in Spanish).
5. To say goodbye, say "Adiós" or "ah-THYOHSS" (with the "th" having the sound of the "th" in "that.").
6. Learn whatever else you can with a Spanish phrasebook and pronunciation guide.
   
   

1. To sound better with these phrases, learn how the Spanish letters are pronounced.
2. Don't be afraid to sound silly. In nearly any Spanish-speaking area, even the feeblest attempts to speak Spanish will be honored.
   

Related Features:

• http://spanish.about.com/blsoundclips.htm
• http://spanish.about.com/library/howto/htintroduce.htm
• http://spanish.about.com/msub14.htm
• http://spanish.about.com/library/clase/blintroduction.htm
• http://spanish.about.com/library/howto/htpronouncer.htm