A hotel porter in Bogotá helps you carry your heavy luggage to your room and smiles. What do you say to thank him?
Polite Expressions
A little politeness goes a long way — and in Spanish, a handful of key phrases can make you sound warm, confident, and respectful right away. From saying thank you to apologizing for bumping into someone, these are the expressions you will use every single day in Latin America. ¡Vamos a ver cuántas ya conoces!
You thank a shopkeeper in Lima by saying "¡Gracias!" She smiles and replies. Which of these is the most natural response?
You are ordering at a café in Mexico City and want to be polite. What Spanish word do you add to any request to say "please"?
You need to squeeze through a group of people blocking an entrance at a busy market in Quito. What is the most polite thing to say as you pass?
A man in a busy Santiago market accidentally bumps into you and immediately says "¡Perdón!" What is he communicating?
Your friend calls and tells you she just missed her connecting flight in Bogotá. You want to express genuine sympathy. What do you say?
The person sitting next to you on a bus in Buenos Aires suddenly sneezes. What is the polite thing to say?
You walk past a coworker's desk in a Montevideo office and notice she is eating her lunch. What polite phrase do you say as you pass?
You need to get the attention of a busy cashier at a store in San José, Costa Rica. She has her back turned. What do you say?
A hotel receptionist in Lima responds to your thank-you by warmly saying "¡Con mucho gusto!" What does she mean?