Getting by in Spain with no Spanish at all

Terms used

• Extranjería — Extranjería is the immigration office that handles foreigners' residence permits and related paperwork.
• Centro de salud — A centro de salud is a local public health centre, the first stop for non-emergency medical care.
• Cita previa — A cita previa is an appointment booked in advance, often required before visiting a public office.
• Gestor — A gestor is a paid professional who handles official paperwork and procedures on your behalf.

Key rules

• Language rights: There is no right to service in English at Spanish public offices, so plan for Spanish forms and staff.
• Phone calls: Write instead of calling wherever you can, by email, online forms or WhatsApp.
• Official appointments: Bring a Spanish speaker or a paid translator, and take originals and copies of your papers.
• Vocabulary: Learn whole phrases, starting with politeness and survival phrases.

Where you will hit walls

You can get by with no Spanish, but three places cause most of the trouble: public offices, small towns and phone calls.

• Public offices. Immigration (extranjería), the police, the tax office, Social Security and your town hall work in Spanish. Forms and notices are in Spanish too. There is no right to service in English. Some staff in tourist areas and big cities speak a little, but do not count on it.
• Small towns. English is rare in shops, pharmacies, health centres and banks.
• Phone calls. Calls to utilities, landlords, clinics and delivery drivers are the hardest part. You cannot read lips or show a screen.
• Contracts and health visits. Opening a bank account, signing a rental, electricity or internet contract, and visits to a public health centre (centro de salud) all happen in Spanish. Public health centres usually have no interpreter. Private clinics and hospitals in expat areas more often offer English.

Tourist zones, airports and big-city hotels are far easier.

Tactics that prevent a crisis

1. Use writing instead of speech. Book appointments and services online or by email where you can. Written Spanish is easier than a phone call, and you can use a translation tool.
2. Prepare on paper. Write your needs, your address and key phrases in Spanish on paper or on your phone.
3. Use translation apps. Camera mode helps with forms, menus and labels. Voice mode helps in conversation. Show the screen to the other person.
4. Bring help to official appointments. Take a Spanish-speaking friend or colleague, or pay a translator or a gestor (a professional who handles paperwork for you). Book the appointment (cita previa) ahead.
5. Carry your papers. Bring originals and copies. The documents list below shows which ones.
6. Use WhatsApp. Many Spaniards and businesses use it, and it lets you write rather than talk.
7. Go at quiet times. Staff in bars and shops have more patience when it is not busy.
8. Confirm in writing. After any call or visit, send a short message repeating what was agreed.

The pocket card of phrases below is made for showing to people.

A minimal vocabulary

Learn these as whole phrases, not single words. They are in priority order.

1. Politeness: hola, buenos días, buenas tardes, por favor, gracias, perdone, lo siento, adiós.
2. Survival: sí, no, no entiendo, no hablo español, ¿habla inglés?, más despacio (slower), ¿cómo se dice...? (how do you say...?).
3. Numbers: learn 0 to 20 first, then the tens and hundreds. They help with prices and the time (hora).
4. Asking for things: quisiera (a polite way to say "would like"), necesito (need), tengo (have), ¿tiene...? (do you have...?), ¿cuánto cuesta? (how much?), la cuenta (the bill), agua, café, cerveza, pan.
5. Places: ¿dónde está...? (where is...?), baño or aseos (toilet), izquierda (left), derecha (right), recto (straight), estación, farmacia, médico, ayuda (help).
6. Everyday signs: hoy (today), mañana (tomorrow or morning), ahora (now), abierto (open), cerrado (closed), entrada (entrance), salida (exit), empujar (push), tirar (pull).

Where to start

Learn the first two groups in your first week. Add numbers next. Then set up your appointments by email, and arrange for a Spanish speaker to come with you to the first office visit.

Documents you need

• Your NIE (foreigner identification number), to carry with you to official appointments, in original and copy.

• Your padrón certificate (proof of registration at your town hall), in original and copy.

What to watch out for

• Public offices run in Spanish: Immigration, police fingerprinting, the town hall, Social Security and the tax office often have only Spanish-speaking staff and Spanish forms. You can be turned away or misunderstand what is needed. Book the appointment online or by email, and bring a Spanish-speaking friend or a paid translator or gestor.

• Phone calls are the hardest part: Calls to utilities, landlords, clinics and delivery drivers are hard without Spanish, and you cannot read a face or a screen. Use email or WhatsApp where you can, and have your key phrases and address written down in Spanish.

• Small towns have little English: In small cities and villages, shops, pharmacies, health centres and banks rarely use English. Opening a bank account or signing a rental, electricity or internet contract can go wrong. Take a helper to contracts and use a translation app to read anything before you sign.

A pocket card of phrases to show people

Copy this onto a phone note or print it and keep it in your wallet. Fill in the blanks once, then show the card whenever speaking fails. Spanish is on the left, with the meaning under it.

Who you are

Me llamo ______________ (given name) ______________ (surname) My name is…

Mi dirección es ______________________________ My address is…

Mi número de teléfono es ______________ My phone number is…

Write your name exactly as it appears in your passport, with the same spelling, order and hyphens. Use the same form on every document.

Your language level

Hablo muy poco español. I speak very little Spanish.

¿Habla inglés? Do you speak English?

No le he entendido. ¿Puede repetir más despacio, por favor? I didn't understand you. Can you repeat that more slowly, please?

Your key requests

Necesito ayuda, por favor. I need help, please.

Necesito un médico. / No me encuentro bien. I need a doctor. / I don't feel well.

Llame a una ambulancia. Call an ambulance.

Estoy perdido/a. ¿Puede ayudarme? I'm lost. Can you help me?

¿Dónde está el baño? Where is the toilet?

Allergies

Delete what does not apply.

Tengo una alergia grave. I have a serious allergy.

Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos / el marisco / la penicilina / ______________ I am allergic to nuts / shellfish / penicillin / …

Shops, bars and restaurants

Hola, buenos días. / Hola, buenas. Hello, good morning. / Hello (casual).

¿Cuánto cuesta? How much is it?

La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please.

¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta? Can I pay by card?

Gracias, hasta luego. Thank you, see you later.

Emergency number

112 is the emergency number across Spain.

Tips for using the card

• Use usted (the formal "you") with older strangers, officials and doctors. The phrases above already do.
• Say hello when you walk in and thank people when you leave. That matters more than saying "please" every time.
• In Catalonia, Galicia, the Basque Country and Valencia, people may reply in the local language. Spanish is understood everywhere.
• Add a line for any medicine you take or a health condition, if it applies to you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get service in English at a Spanish public office?

No, you have no right to service in English, and forms and notices are in Spanish. Some staff in tourist areas and big cities speak a little, but immigration, police, tax and town hall staff often do not. Bring a Spanish speaker or a paid translator to the appointment.

Will a public health centre have an interpreter?

No, public health centres usually have no interpreters, though some areas have English-speaking staff or liaison services for foreign residents. Hospitals in expat areas more often have English speakers. Private clinics more often offer English, so consider one if you need it.

Is it better to learn whole phrases than single words first?

Yes, whole phrases are better for a beginner, because you can use them straight away. Start with ones like "no hablo español" and "¿habla inglés?", then add numbers so you can follow prices and times.

How can I avoid phone calls when I speak no Spanish?

You can avoid most calls by booking online or by email, since written Spanish is easier than spoken. WhatsApp also works with many businesses. Confirm key points in writing afterwards.