The Advantages of Knowing Spanish in Spain

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. If you are an Anglophone (meaning English is your mother tongue), and you travel a lot, you are probably used to just about everyone being able to speak at least a smidgen of English.

Welcome to Spain! Just like the Americans, the English and the French, the Spanish are renowned for not really being able to speak other languages very well. Of course there are regional languages, like Catalan and Gallego, which some people know. And the folks living along the French border tend to speak a bit of French, but by and large, in Spain, you need to speak Spanish if you intend on getting anything done.

Outside of the hospitality industry, you’ll find life can be pretty difficult if you don’t have a rudimentary command of Spanish. Clerks and functionaries working in offices and government agencies will fire a string of Castilian Spanish at you when you show up with a problem or a request. You can ways try the old, “No hablo español. Hable más lento, por favor.” You’ll be surprised by how far that usually gets you, because it doesn’t get you very far. If you’re luck, the person you’re speaking with might throw in a few words of English, but more likely than not, he or she will just repeat what was already said to you in Spanish, only at twice the volume.

Besides dealing with the day-to-day necessities of life, some command of Spanish will let you integrate into the community better, chat with locals at the taverns and restaurants, and soak up all the culture and life Spain has to offer. If you plan on spending an extended period of time in Spain, it’s just good manners to know some phrases in Spanish, and make an effort to use them when speaking with Spaniards. A little work on your part will let you reap tons of benefits down the road, make new friends, and learn about what’s cool and going on outside the worn and beaten path most tourists follow.

El español es fácil. Spanish isn’t that hard. After some study, and time with the locals drinking wine and eating tapas, the words will be flowing off your tongue.