Your Spanish Phrasebook

[mcornelio]

Speaking to Airport Taxi Drivers
How much do you charge?
Cuánto cobra?

Let us negotiate a price before you take my luggage.
Negociamos el precio antes de que me lleve las maletas.

Your uncle's hotel sounds very nice, but I have reservations at the Holiday Inn.
El hotel de su tío debe ser muy lindo, pero tengo reservaciones en el Holiday Inn.

Please slow down.
Más despacio, por favor.

At high speeds, I get carsick.
A altas velocidades, me mareo.

This window doesn't work. May I break it?
La ventana no funciona. La puedo romper?

Mother of God, pigs!
Madre de Dios, cerdos grandes!

Yes, the crazy animal deserved to die. But must he ride beside me?
Si, la bestia loca mereció morirse. Pero es necesario que esté sentada junto a mi?

I will change the tire, but don't expect a tip.
Cambiaré la llanta, pero no cuente con una propina.

At the Hotel Desk
I would like your least expensive room.
Quisiera la habitación más barata.

I would like a better room.
Quisiera una mejor habitación.

Please explain the rope's function.
Por favor, explíqueme para que sirve la cuerda.

I would like any room not damaged during the recent earthquake.
Quisiera una habitación que no sufrió daños en el temblor reciente.

The river is lovely, but I prefer a room with a shower.
El río es muy bonito, pero prefiero una habitación con baño.

Don't lie to me. I know the difference between a piranha and a carp.
No me miente! Reconozco la diferencia entre una piraña y una carpa.

At Local Markets
I would like to change my American dollars.
Quisiera cambiar mis dólares americanos.

Your currency is very pretty. Who's the guy with the top hat?
Su dinero es muy bonito. Quién es el hombre con la chistera de Monopoly?

No chicken hearts today, madam. Do you sell peanut butter?
No a los corazones de gallina hoy, señora. Se vende crema de cacahuate?

The people of Taiwan are excellent craftsmen!
La gente de Taiwan son artesanos excelentes!

No, thanks. The sombrero impairs my vision.
No, gracias. El sombrero me bloquea la vista.

Will you throw in a couple of mangos?
No puede regalarme un par de mangos?

A Night on the Town
My compliments to the chef. The peccary is excellent!
Felicitaciones al cocinero. El jabalí está riquísimo!

The rum is good, but I prefer the local beer.
El ron es bueno, pero prefiero la cerveza de aquí.

The local women do what to cause fermentation?
Las mujeres de aqui hacen qué cosa para causar la fermentación?

Keep those brewskies coming!
Siga trayendo mas fermentarskis!

I don't question your abilities, but I am already married.
No dudo sus habilidades, pero estoy casado.

My apologies. I thought you asked me to dance.
Discúlpame. Creí que me invitó a bailar.

My friend is drunk, and I am lost.
Mi amigo está borracho, y yo estoy perdido.

My friend is lost, and I am drunk.
Mi amigo está perdido, y yo estoy borracho.

At the Hospital
I am sick.
Estoy enfermo.

Relax! That is not gunfire; that is my stomach.
Cálmese! No son balazos; es el estómago.

Everything was working fine when I left Miami.
Todo funcionaba bien cuando me salí de Miami.

If I break the pill in two, may I take it orally?
Si rompo la píldora en dos, puedo tomármela por boca?

I prefer to believe that I was infected by a mosquito.
Prefiero creer que me infectó un mosquito.

Damn your oath! I've got things inside me that need to be killed!
Al demonio con su juramento! ÃTengo bichos adentro que necesitan ser matados.

I was never asked to do that in the United States, and I am not going to do it here.
Yo no lo hice en los Estados Unidos, y no lo voy a hacer aquí.

If you've got the medicine, I've got the cash.
Si tiene la medicina, tengo el efectivo.

In a Fix with Guerrillas, Thugs, or the Costa Rican Transit Police
Have I broken a law?
He violado una ley?

May I offer you a gift of money?
Puedo ofrecerle un regalito de dinero?

I love your uniform!
Me encanta su uniforme!

Your automatic weapons are so clean!
Sus ametralladoras están tan limpias!

Did I say American? I meant Canadian.
Dije americano? Quería decir canadiense.

Once again, those French bas s in Quebec have screwed up!
Otra vez, esos bueyes franceses en Quebec lo han jodido todo!

You can have our women, but leave the plane tickets.
Pueden llevarse a nuestras mujeres, pero dejen nuestros boletos de avión.

Don't shoot! We are rock stars!
No disparen! Somos los Beatles!

Over the River and into the Woods
I would like to rent a canoe.
Quisiera alquilar una canoa.

Sharks ate most of the crocodiles? That's very reassuring.
Los tiburones comieron la mayoria de los cocodriles? Eso me contenta.

I would like to rent a gun.
Quisiera alquilar una pistola.

The rainforest is beautiful.
La selva es muy hermosa.

What is the name of that bird?
Cómo se llama aquel pájaro?

What is the name of that snake?
Cómo se llama aquel serpiente?

A hamburger for me, and some antivenin for my friend.
Para mi una hamburguesa, y para mi amigo un poco de an oxina.

At Border Crossings/at Customs/in Jail
Note: Key words and phrases for which you need to be alert include Pinche pendejo! Disparen ahora! Arreste a los gringos! Don't worry about translations. When the big crunch comes, the less you know the better. It's like dealing with a bear: play dumb. But if you hear any combination of the above, let panic be your guide.

Yes, I have a receipt.
Sí, yo tengo un recibo.

I have a prescription for that. Really!
Yo tengo una prescripción. Sincero!

Did I say $20? I meant $50!
Dije veinte dólares? Quise decir cincuenta!

I have a powerful friend at the American embassy.
Yo tengo un amigo importante en la embajada de los Estados Unidos.

Assassinated? Then my work is done here. The capitalist pig deserved to die.
Asesinado? Bueno! Bueno! El puerco capitalista mereció morir.

Nice jail you got. Better than my hotel room.
El cárcel es magnífico. Mucho mejor que mi hotel.

[Spam]

I want Taco Bell

Yo quiero Taco Bell

[2Blonde]

Don't shoot! We are rock stars!
No disparen! Somos los Beatles!

[MissAllThat]

Oh gosh, this reminds me of the last time I was in Mexico.

[ashbeeigh]

I got "¡Adios huera!" and ¿Dónde estas los tomaños? Today....Where are the screws?

[Bob Lanier]

Damn your oath! I've got things inside me that need to be killed!
Al demonio con su juramento! ÃTengo bichos adentro que necesitan ser matados.

[SA Gunslinger]

I had friends in SA that used the term "frajo" describing a cigarrette. I used that term in Mexico and they looked at me like I was nutz.

Am I missing something?

My favorite spanish term is "mentiendes mendes." I don't even know what that really means.