I am going to Spain. Can one get around Spain without speaking Spanish. I only speak English.?

Question

I am going to Spain. Can one get around Spain without speaking Spanish. I only speak English.?

Answer 1

The spanish do speak some english so you have no worries there, maybe certain words that us english say they might not be able to understand.

Answer 2

wat the one under me said.

Answer 3

I am sure they have to have some places were they speak english.  If not then take a friend who speaks the language.  Or buy a frase book.  They help out alot.

Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Well, most people speak a very poor english. The idea of buying a phrase book is good, actually.

Anyway, the Spanish are mostly nice people and will welcome you. So, with some spanish phrases, some english, some gestures and imagination, you'll get by just fine.

Answer 5

yes you can but it will be hard

Answer 6

yes but you would need a translation book

Answer 7

Yes, you can! Ive been there once & I didnt use not a word in spanish( exept OLA!-which means hey & goodbuy at the same time) in addition to my average English! Plus on the top if you have a professional guide with your group-there won't be any problems! Have a good trip!

Answer 8

Absolutely. Take a phrase book with youy and you will pick up spanish as you go.

Answer 9

Sure with some difficulty.

Answer 10

Yes,but mark my word doing it it will be very difficult.

Answer 11

You'll probably get by but it's best to buy a language book to help you communicate and get around Spain better.

There are books that cost $10 or less on Barnes & Noble. You can also visit http://www.freetranslation.com in case you want to learn some Spanish phrases.

Languages spoken in Spain:

Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%; note - Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other languages are official regionally.

CUIDADO! :)

Answer 12

I went to a French-speaking country and only knew how to say YES and THANK YOU. It was a wonderful experience. I carried a dictionary with me all the time and mis-pronounced most of the words, and some people would laugh in a enjoyable way (not making fun of me), but everyone I met was kind. People who are deaf or mute or intellectually challenged meet this challenge every day of their lives. People will treat you according to the way you present yourself.

Answer 13

It will be hard but not impossible, in fact, that ads to the fun of traveling.  If you're in one of the major cities (Madrid or Barcelona) you're bound to run into other English-speaking tourists who might be bilingual and can be of great help.  With a few exceptions (The Netherlands/Switzerland), most Europeans are not big on learning a 2nd language so don't count on that locals will be bilingual.

Answer 14

Most Europeans speak English in addition to their native language.  If you stick to tourist sights, you'll be fine.

Answer 15

You should at least learn the basics. It's only polite.

Answer 16

English is taught all over the world..and since u are going to spain..they exspect people from america to come and visit..by reading your question i am guessing u don't know anyone over there..like a friend or family member cause if that was the case u would already have a trusting guide to take u around...many hotels over there speak english they also can provide a tour guide for u not all hotels do this but some do..trust me u will have fun..take lots of pictures..but also be safe and at least before u go over there pic up a small pocket size paper back book that will help u just a tad..and also learn quick about what your american money is worth over there..(think doubble)most top noch places will not rip u off but if u venture off the beaten path u will come across a crook here and there..like anywhere else on this planet

Answer 17

by a basic survival spanish book ($10) and use a lot of gestures and you'll be fine.

Answer 18

Spanish people are very proud of their language, and common people usually doesn't learn english. They prefer french or german. Besides, even if they speak english, their pronouncing is very hard to catch. Cases like Antonio Banderas are very, very rare. Also, depending on the region you visit, they speak other languages apart form spanish (catalan, vasco, valencian).

Buy a book of traveling spanish, and learn to say "Por favor" (please), and "Gracias" (thank you).

Answer 19

I went to Spain last summer. I am basically bilingual (English first language, learned Spanish in school) but traveled with my aunt who speaks no spanish. It was definitely helpful to know Spanish, especially because we just rented a car from Madrid and drove to all major cities. I found that most people in large cities knew English but in small towns they did not. I have been to other european countries and Spain had the least English-speaking people. But don't worry, gestures are universal, and many words are familiar between both cultures.

Answer 20

u will survive but dont expect some1 to know english..much more ppl in portugal speek inglish...but when u get drunk ,every1 speeks same language.

Answer 21

english is a global langauge, however learning survival spanish would help in some areas of spain.  the basics:  where is the police station? where is the pub? where can I get laid? stuff like that.

Answer 22

Believe it or not the majority of people ages 35 and below in Spain speak enough english that it wouldn't be too dificult to get around without knowing a lot of Spanish. I lived there for 5 years and my ex-wife still lives there. English is a mandatory subject beginning in about 6th grade and this has been going on for quite some time. If you are going to spend some time in Southern Spain near Rota, Malaga, Cadiz, and even Seville you will have very little problems. The Military bases in the south employee many Spaniards and most businesses know that accepting and knowing English is important to their profits; in fact in Southern Spain many menus and signs are in Spanish / English. Also Southern Spain is very touristy. The population of Rota is about 30,000. 5,000 are American military and their families. Between the end of May and the end of August the population is about 180,000 (most of these are tourists from England, Germany, and other parts of Europe.)

The more North you get or some small farming and fishing villages there will be less people who speak English or accept americans graciously. Do purchase a small helpful phrase book before going. If you don't you'll wish you did.