Reading signs, menus, price labels and notices

Terms used

• IVA — IVA is Spain's value added tax, a sales tax included in most consumer prices.
• PVP — PVP is the retail price to the public, short for precio de venta al público.
• Horario partido — Horario partido is a split schedule with a break in the middle of the day.
• Menú del día — The menú del día is a fixed-price weekday lunch, usually with starter, main and dessert.
• Cubierto — The cubierto is a cover charge some restaurants add for bread and table service.
• Cita previa — Cita previa means an appointment is required, common in public offices.

Key rules

• Shop prices: The consumer price on a label must be the final price with tax; a price marked más IVA or +IVA is a business price.
• Food dates: Caducidad is a safety date, while consumir preferentemente is only a quality date.
• Opening hours: Many shops close in the middle of the day, and hours vary by town and region.
• Cubierto: Some restaurants charge a cover for bread and table service, so check the menu.
• Cita previa: Many public offices only serve you with an appointment.

Door signs

A small set of words covers most doors and walls.

• Empujar means push. Tirar means pull.
• Entrada is the entrance. Salida is the exit. Salida de emergencia is the emergency exit.
• Abierto is open. Cerrado is closed.
• Ocupado means occupied. Libre means free.
• Privado is private. Solo personal autorizado means authorised staff only.
• Prohibido el paso means no entry. Prohibido fumar means no smoking. Prohibido aparcar means no parking.
• Se vende means for sale. Se alquila means for rent.
• Cuidado con el perro means beware of the dog. Take it seriously.

Opening hours

Hours usually look like "L-V 9:00-14:00 y 17:00-20:30" or "de lunes a viernes de 9 a 14 h". The day letters are L, M, X, J, V, S, D. X is Wednesday (miércoles). The others follow the first letter of the day: lunes, martes, jueves, viernes, sábado, domingo.

Horario partido means a break in the middle of the day, often around 14:00 to 17:00. Horario continuo or jornada continua means no midday break.

Other notices you will see:

• Festivos are public holidays. "Domingos y festivos cerrado" means closed on Sundays and public holidays.
• Cerrado por vacaciones means closed for holidays. This is common in August.
• Cerrado por descanso del personal means closed for staff rest.
• Cerrado por obras means closed for works.
• Vuelvo en 10 minutos means back soon.

Many small shops close on Sunday. Some close on Saturday afternoon or Monday. Local holidays and hours vary by town and region, so check the door sign or ask.

Price labels

In shops, the price shown to you as a consumer must be the final price with tax included. Any extra charges must be listed separately. If a price says más IVA or +IVA, it is a business price and tax will be added.

• IVA incluido means the tax is in the price.
• PVP is the retail price to the public.
• Rebajas are sales on goods previously sold at full price. When a reduction is advertised, the previous price must be shown too.
• Oferta is a special offer.
• Precio por kilo (or litro) is the unit price. Use it to compare products of different sizes.
• 2x1 means two for the price of one. 3x2 means three for the price of two.

Menus and eating out

• Menú del día is a fixed-price weekday lunch. It is usually a starter, a main course, and dessert or coffee. Bread and a drink are often included. Bebida incluida means the drink is in the price.
• Carta is the full menu, ordered dish by dish.
• Primer plato is the starter. Segundo plato is the main. Postre is dessert.
• Ración is a full portion to share. Media ración is half. Tapa is a small portion. In some cities, such as Granada and León, it comes free or cheap with a drink. Pincho is a small bite on bread, typical of the north.
• Cubierto is a cover charge for bread and table service. Some places charge it.
• Vino de la casa is house wine.
• La cuenta is the bill. Propina is a tip, and it is optional.

Food labels

Two dates look alike but mean different things.

• Fecha de caducidad (or "consumir antes de") is a safety date, found on meat, fish and fresh dairy. After it, do not eat the food.
• Consumir preferentemente antes de is a best-before date about quality. The food can usually still be eaten safely afterwards, though it may lose taste or texture.

Ingredientes are listed from the largest amount by weight to the smallest. Alérgenos are highlighted in the list, for example in bold, capitals or underline. They include gluten, milk, eggs, nuts, peanuts, soy, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, celery, mustard, sesame, sulphites and lupin.

Public and building notices

• Avería is a breakdown, as in "ascensor averiado" (lift out of order). Fuera de servicio means out of service.
• Obras are works. Obras en la vía means roadworks.
• Servicio interrumpido means service suspended. Retraso is a delay. Cancelado is cancelled.
• Huelga is a strike. Servicios mínimos are the minimum services that still run.
• Próxima parada is the next stop. Andén is the platform. Correspondencia is a connection or transfer.
• Aviso a los vecinos is a notice to neighbours. Corte de agua or corte de luz is a water or power cut.
• Junta de propietarios (or junta de la comunidad) is the owners' meeting. Cuota de comunidad is the community fee.
• Prohibido tirar basura fuera del contenedor means no rubbish outside the bin.
• Cita previa means you need an appointment. It is common in public offices.

The questions below cover the details people most often get wrong.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between caducidad and consumir preferentemente?

Fecha de caducidad is a safety date, while consumir preferentemente antes de is only a best-before date for quality. Do not eat food past its caducidad date, which appears on perishables like meat, fish and fresh dairy.

Will I be charged extra for bread when I eat out?

Yes, some restaurants charge a cubierto, a cover charge for bread and table service, so check the menu or ask before you order. A menú del día often includes bread and a drink, and bebida incluida on a sign means the drink is in the set price.

Does the price on a shelf label include IVA?

Yes, the price shown to shoppers must be the final price including IVA, the Spanish sales tax. Business prices may show más IVA or +IVA, which means the tax is added on top. Shops must also show the price per kilo or litre so you can compare products.

What does horario partido mean on a shop door?

Horario partido means the shop closes in the middle of the day, typically from about 14:00 to 17:00.