Spanish-English Essential Phrases for Communication

Spanish-English Phrase Tally Sheet

These notes provide a comprehensive list of common Spanish phrases with their English equivalents, suitable for an individual or pair-work study session, as indicated by "En parejas" (In pairs) and "Yo lo usé!" (I used it!).

Phrases for Understanding and Confusion

• ¡No comprendo! / ¡No entiendo!: I don't understand!

• Pues, no (lo) sé: Well, I don't know (it).

• Estoy un poco confundido.: I'm a little confused.

• No entiendo ni jota.: I don't understand what the heck you're talking about. (Literally: I don't understand even a 'jota' - meaning nothing at all).

Expressions of Surprise and Disgust

• ¡Qué extraño!: How strange!

• ¡Qué asco!: How gross!

• ¡Imaginate!: Imagine that!

• ¡No me lo creo!: I can't believe it!

Phrases for Agreement and Disagreement, and Indifference

• ¡Lo que sea!: Whatever! (Whatevs!)

• ¡No es justo!: It's not fair!

• ¡De acuerdo!: Agreed!

• ¡Quizás!: Perhaps!

• Creo que sí.: I think so. (I believe so.)

• No me importa.: I don't care. (It's not important to me.)

Exclamations and General Attitudes

• ¡Así es la vida!: That's life!

• ¡Qué chido! ¡Qué guay! ¡Qué padre! ¡Qué chévere! ¡Qué chulo!: Cool! (These are various colloquial ways to express "cool" or "awesome" in different Spanish-speaking regions).

• (No) vale la pena.: It's (not) worth it.

• ¡Qué chistoso!: Funny!

• ¡Ya no puedo más!: I can't take it anymore!

Questions Regarding Actions

• Pero, ¿qué has hecho?: What did you just do? (But, what have you done?)