Mastering Spanish meals vocabulary is a mandatory first step in your solution to ordering meals in Spanish.
However to have a fundamental dialog along with your waiter, you’ll must be taught some Spanish phrases and expressions.
On this put up, you’ll be taught precisely how you can order meals in Spanish with over 100 must-know phrases, plus cultural notes and pattern dialogues.
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Ordering Meals in Spanish: Fast Reply
Earlier than diving into the numerous helpful Spanish phrases you need to use when consuming out, let’s get these fundamentals down:
Whereas there are a number of methods to start your order, in Spanish, you’ll be able to truly simply go forward and state what you need when the waiter signifies they’re able to take your order.
In English we like to start out by saying “may I’ve…” or “can I please order…” however in Spanish this isn’t mandatory. For instance, you could merely simply say: El pollo asado, por favor (The roast hen, please).
However in the event you’re an English speaker, it would really feel unusual to order with out some formalities main into it—and in that case, you need to use a few of the phrases we shared above!
Now that you just’ve discovered the necessities, let’s have a look at ordering meals in Spanish in additional element.
Spanish Phrases for Arriving on the Restaurant
The second you arrive at a restaurant is commonly essentially the most aggravating, but it surely’s additionally the simplest to deal with!
Simply be taught a few greetings in Spanish. Make use of the phrases beneath and also you’ll be able to get the dialog began.
What you’ll be able to say:
What you would possibly hear:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Bienvenidos a… | Welcome to… |
| Sí, claro | Sure, positive |
| Por aquí, por favor | This manner, please |
| Lo siento. No encuentro su nombre en la lista | I am sorry, I can not discover your identify on the checklist |
| Lo siento, no nos queda ninguna mesa libre | I am sorry, we haven’t any free tables left |
| Lo siento, no nos queda ninguna mesa libre en la terraza | I am sorry, we haven’t any free tables on the terrace |
| Lo siento, la cocina ya está cerrada | I am sorry, the kitchen is already closed |
| Disculpe las molestias | Sorry for the inconvenience |
| Siéntese donde quiera | Sit wherever you need |
| ¿Para comer, o solo para beber? | Are you going to eat, or simply drink? Lit. To eat or simply to drink? |
| Debe esperar unos [number] minutos | It’s important to wait round [number] minutes |
| ¿Tienen una reserva? | Do you’ve gotten a reservation? |
| Puede esperar en la barra | You’ll be able to wait on the bar |
Take into account that completely different Spanish-speaking nations can have varied meal occasions for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper. For instance, Spaniards eat supper round 10-11 p.m., whereas Venezuelans do round 7-8 p.m.
Ensure you get to know the locals’ consuming habits and meal occasions beforehand to keep away from disagreeable surprises.
In some nations, it’s widespread for eating places to have separate locations for individuals who need to eat lunch or dinner and those that solely need to have a drink.
Pattern Dialogue
Waiter: Buenas tardes. Bienvenidos a Casa Pepe. (Good afternoon. Welcome to Casa Pepe.)
You: Hola, buenas tardes. Una mesa para dos, por favor. (Hi there, good afternoon. A desk for 2, please.)
Waiter: ¿Para comer? (Are you going to eat?)
You: Sí. ¿Tienen alguna mesa libre en la terraza? (Sure, we’re. Do you’ve gotten any free desk on the terrace?)
Waiter: Un momento, por favor. Déjeme revisar. (Only a second, please. Let me examine.)
Waiter: Nos queda una. Por aquí, por favor. (We now have one left. This manner, please.)
You: Gracias. (Thanks.)
Cultural Notes
There are numerous methods to discuss with a waiter in every Spanish-speaking nation and, in some cases, you’ll be able to even use a couple of phrase in the identical nation.
Right here you’ve gotten some examples:
- Camarero in Spain, Ecuador and Peru (not often)
- Mesero in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile (in a bar), Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru
- Mesonero in Venezuela
- Salonero in Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica
- Mozo in Argentina, Uruguay and Peru
- Garzón in Chile (in a restaurant)
If memorizing six (and extra) other ways to say “waiter” sounds formidable to you, I like to recommend choosing one or two Spanish dialects you need to concentrate on. It’s good to acknowledge the opposite phrases, however when you have a favourite dialect, you’ll solely want to make use of one or two your self.
Additionally, use an immersion program like FluentU. With this language studying program you’ll be able to watch tons of genuine Spanish movies (like music movies, vlogs and information stories) from completely different nations, permitting you to be taught new phrases which are related to you and within the dialect(s) you select.
Every video comes with interactive subtitles and different studying instruments, so that you be taught way more successfully than while you go it alone.
Plus, it’s obtainable as an iOS and Android, making it a versatile examine possibility.
Ordering Your Meals & Drinks in Spanish
The next move will likely be to order what you need to eat and drink.
That is in all probability when the most important a part of your dialog will happen, and the second your Spanish food and drinks vocabulary will most come in useful.
What you’ll be able to say:
Notice: You usually use copa when referring to wine and vaso when referring to water and smooth drinks.
What you would possibly hear:
Notice: The verb tomar actually means to take or to eat. In Spain, it may be used to discuss with each consuming and consuming. Nonetheless, in Latin America it’s usually used to discuss with consuming alcohol so, when unsure, use comer (to eat) and beber (to drink) as an alternative.
Pattern Dialogue
Waiter: Buenas tardes. ¿Les pongo algo para beber? (Good afternoon. Shall I convey something to drink?)
You: Para mí una cerveza y para ella agua sin gasoline, por favor. (I’ll have a beer and he or she’ll have nonetheless water, please.)
Waiter: Ahora/Ahorita mismo se lo traigo. (Straight away.)
Waiter: ¿Están listos para pedir? (Are you able to order?)
You: Un momento, por favor. (One second, please.)
Waiter: No hay problema. Vuelvo en unos minutos. (No downside. I’ll be again in a couple of minutes.)
(…)
Waiter: ¿Saben ya qué van a tomar/comer? (Are you aware what you’re going to have?)
You: Sí. Para mí pollo con ensalada. Para ella espaguetis a la carbonara. (We do. I’ll have the hen with a salad. She’ll have the spaghetti carbonara.)
Waiter: Perfecto. ¿Cómo quiere el pollo? (Excellent. How would you like the hen cooked?)
You: Muy hecho, por favor. (Nicely-done, please.)
Waiter: Muy bien. ¿Algo más? (Very effectively. The rest?)
You: No, gracias. Eso es todo. (No, thanks. That’ll be all.)
Cultural Notes
You’ll most definitely be requested the way you need the meat cooked in the event you order a meat dish.
You’ll be able to say:
- Poco hecho/Poco cocido — uncommon
- Al punto — medium
- Bien hecho/Muy hecho/Muy cocido — well-done
Spanish Phrases to Use Through the Meal
You would possibly want one thing through the meal or the waiter involves your desk to examine if all the pieces’s positive.
Use these moments to follow your Spanish additional!
What you’ll be able to say:
What you would possibly hear:
Pattern Dialogue
Waiter: ¿Todo bien por aquí? (Is all the pieces OK round right here?)
You: Sí. Está todo riquísimo, gracias. (It’s. The whole lot’s scrumptious, thanks.)
Waiter: Perfecto, me alegro. ¿Está el pollo bien cocinado? (Excellent. I’m glad [to hear]. Is the hen cooked correctly?)
You: Sí. Justo como me gusta. (It’s. Simply how I prefer it.)
Waiter: Excelente. ¿Les traigo algo más? (Wonderful. Shall I convey the rest?)
You: Otra cerveza, por favor. Oh, y un poco de pan. (Another beer, please. Oh, and a few bread.)
Waiter: Marchando. (Straight away./Arising.)
Cultural Notes
Once I say tortilla to any of my Spanish college students, all of them suppose I’m speaking concerning the Mexican tortilla by default.
The humorous factor is that for me as a Spaniard, tortilla initially means a Spanish tortilla, not the Mexican skinny bread.
So, in the event you journey to Spain, be sure to say tortilla española or tortilla mexicana relying on what you need to eat.
Nonetheless, chances are high you’ll solely get Mexican tortillas in Spain in the event you go to a Mexican restaurant. Anyplace else, they’ll solely have the Spanish ones.
Asking for the Examine in Spanish
It’s time to pay and go away the restaurant.
Hopefully, you’ll be wanting to return again quickly and put your Spanish to the check once more!
What you’ll be able to say:
What you would possibly hear:
Pattern Dialogue
You: ¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor? — Might we get the examine, please?
Waiter: Ahora mismo. ¿Cómo van a pagar? — Straight away. How are you paying?
You: Con tarjeta. — With bank card.
Waiter: Perfecto. Ya vuelvo. — Excellent. I’ll be proper again. (Lit. I already come again.)
(…)
Waiter: Muchas gracias. Esperamos volver a verlos pronto. — Thanks very a lot. We hope to see you once more quickly.
You: ¡De seguro volvemos! Ha sido un placer. — We’ll be again for positive! It’s been a pleasure.
Waiter: El placer ha sido nuestro. Vuelvan pronto. — The pleasure has been ours. Come again quickly.
You: ¡Hasta pronto! — See you quickly!
Cultural Notes
Tipping (dar/dejar propina) generally is a very delicate matter for some individuals.
When touring to a Spanish-speaking nation, there’s not a longtime obligatory proportion it’s a must to tip, however the quantity that’s usually accepted as a very good tip is 10% of the whole worth of the examine.
Nonetheless, pay particular consideration to your examine.
Some locations add a tip (propina) or “service included” payment (servicio incluido) to the examine mechanically, so that you’re not anticipated so as to add an extra tip to that except you need to.
If the examine says servicio no incluido, which means the service payment hasn’t been included within the examine.
That is typically a refined solution to remind you they’d prefer to get a tip.
No matter you do, keep in mind you’re not obligated to depart a tip wherever.
If the tip is obligatory, it’ll be already included within the examine, but when it’s not obligatory, then nobody will inform you something.
Simply keep in mind to be well mannered and say thanks. For waiters, being impolite is far worse than not tipping!
See? That wasn’t laborious in any respect!
You’ve managed to reach at a restaurant, order meals and drinks, chat with the waiter and pay like a boss. A Spanish boss.
Keep curious, my good friend, and as all the time, completely satisfied studying!