How to say please, thank you and sorry in Spanish
Muchas gracias
“Thank you very much”
When: Any time someone hands you something or helps you
The moment
You are lost on a busy Madrid street and need to stop someone to ask for help, then thank them for it. On the metro afterwards you knock into somebody and have to apologise.
A1 · Unit 1 · First words
The lines
Thanking properly
"Muchas gracias" covers everything from your change to directions. In bars and shops the staff usually fire back "a ti" rather than the textbook "de nada".
Muchas gracias
“Thank you very much”
When to use it: Any time someone hands you something or helps you
What you’ll hear back: A ti. (Thank you — literally "to you".)
Stopping a stranger
To interrupt someone politely, open with "Perdona, una pregunta" before you ask anything. With an older person or in a formal place, say "perdone" instead.
Perdona, una pregunta.
“Excuse me, a question.”
When to use it: Stopping someone in the street to ask something
What you’ll hear back: Dime. (Go ahead.)
Words for this scene
| Spanish | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| por favor | por fah-BOR | please |
La cuenta, por favor. The bill, please. Tip: Usually goes at the end, after what you are asking for. | ||
| De nada | deh NAH-dah | You're welcome |
De nada, no ha sido nada. You're welcome, it was nothing. Tip: A quick "nada, nada" means the same and sounds more relaxed. | ||
| Lo siento | loh SYEN-toh | I'm sorry |
Lo siento, llego tarde. I'm sorry, I'm late. Tip: Save it for real apologies; a small bump only needs "perdón". | ||
Your objective
Get someone’s attention politely, ask them for help with one thing, and thank them.
- excuse me
- what you need
- thank you
Lines that get it done
- Perdona, una pregunta.
- La cuenta, por favor. · The bill, please.
- Muchas gracias
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to stop a stranger in the street to ask something. What do you open with?
- Perdona, una pregunta.
- De nada.
- Lo siento, llego tarde.
- Muchas gracias.
Show the answer
Perdona, una pregunta.
"Perdona, una pregunta" is the standard friendly way to interrupt someone in Spain.
2. The waiter hands you your change and you say "Muchas gracias." What will you most likely hear back?
- A ti.
- Por favor.
- Lo siento.
- Una pregunta.
Show the answer
A ti.
Staff often bounce the thanks straight back with "a ti" instead of "de nada".
3. You turn up twenty minutes late to meet a friend. What do you say?
- Lo siento.
- De nada.
- Por favor.
- Dime.
Show the answer
Lo siento.
"Lo siento" is a genuine apology for something you actually did.