How much Spanish do you need to know to travel to Spain?

Question

I am going to Spain in a few months, and have taken Spanish in high school and a class in college. I haven't used my Spanish for several years. I can understand some, and remember basic phrases. Will this be enough to get by?

Answer 1

Go to download.com and download Virtual Teacher. This is a little programme showing flash cards with every day Spanish words. It is very unobtrusive and you can have it as small or as large as you like.Looking at these words you will be amazed at actually how much you do know. Any words you find difficult to remember write them down in a little notebook with the English translation. If you are travelling around Spain then learn directions ie, straight on, Lt at the crossroads etc. Take a phrasebook/dictionary and a map. Try to speak a little Spanish, whether you are in a coastal resort or inland, it will be much appreciated. Bring your sun screen and your smile

Answer 2

You know it really helps to know the Spanish lingo when your in Spain, what I experienced there was alot of the Spanish people just dont go out of their way to accomidate english speaking people.

Answer 3

spain is a very developed country, tourism is one of is bigest industries, so you can speak english without problems. any way,if,like you tell, you can understand a litle,you will fell bether, but it is not absolutle necesary.

Answer 4

Depends what part of Spain you are going to you will be OK on the Costa's but not inland

Answer 5

There's no need for that, unless you go to rural areas. Just some basic knowledge will be enough, and if not, people will make an effort to understand you.

Answer 6

depends upon wher eyou go. if you go to very touristy places and stick to hotels. you´ll be fine not knowing much. of course if you dont understand most of what they say, and you cant express yourself very well, it coudl be at least slightly embarrassing. i want to go to portugal, for example, but i dont speak portuguese, i dont know if peopel will laugh in my face if i try to speak to them in spanish or not. while i understand them, i dont know if its enough. if you doubt you have enough spanish, then rent some movies and remember what spanish sounds like, try to find someone to practice with. or just talk to yourself, as strange as that sounds its very helpful.

Answer 7

We are latin people so I'm absolutely sure that we'll make our best to understand you, either in Spanish, English or wathever...we're not like like the French in Paris... ;)

Sure you'll be fine.

Que te lo pases muy bién en España!

Answer 8

You don´t need to know much Spanish to visit Spain. You can get by with the basics and since there are lots of tourists even if they don´t understand you, people will figure out were you want to go.

I agree with other answers, depending on what part of Spain you are going, more or less English speakers you will find. Inland less than the coasts where due to lots of British tourists spending winter there, English is more common (just a fact...in some towns their mayors are retired British).

Major tourists attractions have signs and guided visits in English.

Answer 9

You dont need to know any, I just got back last month, went to barcelona, madrid and municipal cities, everyone there either speaks english or understands, taxis are very cheap there, go to barcelona for night life

Answer 10

It's enough! here we try understand you, no matter your language. And everywhere you find somenone who speak english and helps you! Don't worry for your spanish;)