SPANISH TO SAY · CATALAN TO READ
Shops, markets, banks and phones
Taking your turn where there is no queue, ordering at a counter, paying, taking something back, and the two words that cancel a contract in Spain.
Shops, markets, banks and phones phrases
WORDS YOU SAY
Taking your turn
In a small shop or at a market stall with no ticket machine, you do not form a line. You arrive, ask who is last, remember that person, and go after them.
¿Quién es el último?
Who's last? (say this the moment you arrive)
UNVERIFIEDMarked for a second check before publication: correct to the best of the source’s knowledge, but unverified against a citable source.
Say it like: kyen es el UL-ti-mo
Yo voy después de usted.
I'm after you.
Say it like: yo boy des-PWES de us-TED
No, gracias, solo estoy mirando.
No thanks, I'm just looking.
Say it like: no, GRA-thyas, SO-lo es-TOY mi-RAN-do
WORDS YOU SAY
Asking for things
¿Me pone…? is the standard way to order at a counter in Spain — bakery, deli, market, bar. Learn it and you sound local immediately.
¿Me pone medio kilo de arroz, por favor?
Half a kilo of rice, please.
Say it like: me PO-ne ME-dyo KI-lo de a-RROTH
¿Me pone un cuarto de jamón?
A quarter kilo of ham, please.
Say it like: me PO-ne un KWAR-to de kha-MON
¿Me pone doscientos gramos?
Two hundred grams, please.
Say it like: me PO-ne dos-THYEN-tos GRA-mos
Una barra de pan, por favor.
One loaf of bread, please.
Say it like: U-na BA-rra de pan, por fa-BOR
¿Me da dos, por favor?
Two, please.
Say it like: me da dos, por fa-BOR
Uno de estos, por favor.
One of these, please. (pointing)
Say it like: U-no de ES-tos, por fa-BOR
Nada más, gracias.
That's all, thanks.
Say it like: NA-da mas, GRA-thyas
WORDS YOU SAY
Price and availability
Asking what something costs, whether there is more of it, and whether it comes in your size.
¿Cuánto cuesta esto?
How much does this cost?
Say it like: KWAN-to KWES-ta ES-to
¿Cuánto vale?
How much is it? (shorter, just as common)
Say it like: KWAN-to BA-le
¿Tienen …?
Do you have …?
Say it like: TYE-nen
¿Le queda más?
Do you have any more left?
Say it like: le KE-da mas
¿Cuándo lo van a tener?
When will you have it?
Say it like: KWAN-do lo ban a te-NER
¿Lo tienen en otra talla?
Do you have it in another size? (clothes)
Say it like: lo TYE-nen en O-tra TA-ya
¿Lo tienen en el número treinta y ocho?
Do you have it in size 38? (shoes)
Say it like: …en el NU-me-ro TREYN-ta i O-cho
WORDS YOU SAY
Paying
How you pay, and the paperwork that comes back with it.
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?
Say it like: PWE-do pa-GAR kon tar-KHE-ta
¿Aceptan tarjeta?
Do you take card?
Say it like: a-THEP-tan tar-KHE-ta
¿Hay un mínimo para pagar con tarjeta?
Is there a minimum for card payment?
Say it like: ai un MI-ni-mo PA-ra pa-GAR kon tar-KHE-ta
¿Me da el ticket, por favor?
Can I have the receipt, please?
Say it like: me da el TI-ket, por fa-BOR
¿Me hace una factura, por favor?
Can you make me an invoice, please?
Say it like: me A-the U-na fak-TU-ra, por fa-BOR
¿Me lo pone en una bolsa, por favor?
Can you put it in a bag, please? (bags are charged)
Say it like: me lo PO-ne en U-na BOL-sa
3 sources · checked September 2026
WORDS YOU SAY
Returning something
Taking something back — because it’s broken, the wrong size, or doesn’t work.
Quería devolver esto.
I'd like to return this.
Say it like: ke-RI-a de-bol-BER ES-to
Aquí está el ticket.
Here's the receipt.
Say it like: a-KI es-TA el TI-ket
¿Me lo puede cambiar por otra talla?
Can you exchange it for another size?
Say it like: me lo PWE-de kam-BYAR por O-tra TA-ya
Está roto.
It's broken.
Say it like: es-TA RRO-to
No funciona.
It doesn't work.
Say it like: no fun-THYO-na
¿Cuántos días tengo para devolverlo?
How many days do I have to return it?
Say it like: KWAN-tos DI-as TEN-go PA-ra de-bol-BER-lo
¿Me devuelven el dinero?
Do I get the money back?
Say it like: me de-BWEL-ben el di-NE-ro
WORDS YOU READ
Shelf labels, till signs and market stalls
The words printed on shelf edges, till screens and market stalls — including the two dates, and the one sign, that carry real legal weight.
preu · import
price · total amount
Where you’ll see it: Shelf labels, the till display
unitat · peça
each · single item
Where you’ll see it: Shelf labels
quilo · pes · €/kg
kilo · weight · price per kilo
The price per quilo is the honest comparison; the big number often is not. Catalan spells it “quilo”, not “kilo”.
Where you’ll see it: Market stalls, shelf edges
oferta · rebaixes · liquidació
offer · seasonal sales · clearance
In rebaixes, the shop must show the original price or the percentage, and sale goods carry the same guarantee as full-price ones.
Where you’ll see it: Windows
data de caducitat
use-by date
After this date the food is not safe. Do not eat it.
Where you’ll see it: Food packaging
consumir preferentment abans de
best before
Quality, not safety. Usually still fine after. Two different warnings — learn which is which.
Where you’ll see it: Food packaging
targeta / efectiu
card / cash
Import mínim means there is a minimum for card.
Where you’ll see it: Till signs
tiquet
receipt
Keep it. Without it you have no right to a repair, replacement or refund.
Where you’ll see it: Handed over at the till
canvi
change (money) — and exchange (of goods)
Both meanings, same word.
Where you’ll see it: The till; the returns sign
devolució · no s'admeten devolucions
refund / return · no returns accepted
Lawful for a change of mind: if a shop says nothing, it does not have to take a perfect item back. It is not lawful for a faulty item — a defective product must be repaired, replaced or refunded whatever the sign says.
Where you’ll see it: A sign by the till
val de compra
credit note instead of cash back
Check the expiry printed on it.
Where you’ll see it: Offered on returns
garantia
guarantee
Where you’ll see it: Receipts, packaging
full oficial de reclamació
official complaint form
Ask for one by name. A shop refusing to provide one is itself an infringement you can report.
Where you’ll see it: Every business must have them
a granel
loose, unpackaged
Where you’ll see it: Pulses, nuts, rice
safata
tray
Where you’ll see it: Bakery and deli
torn / número
your turn / take a number
Where you’ll see it: Deli and pharmacy ticket machines
3 sources · checked September 2026
WORDS YOU SAY
Saying you are new
Saying plainly that this is new to you, so whoever is helping explains rather than assumes.
Soy nueva aquí.
I'm new here. (a man says nuevo)
Say it like: soy NWE-ba a-KI
Acabo de llegar a Barcelona.
I've just arrived in Barcelona.
Say it like: a-KA-bo de ye-GAR a bar-the-LO-na
Es la primera vez que hago esto.
It's my first time doing this.
Say it like: es la pri-ME-ra beth ke A-go ES-to
No conozco cómo funciona aquí. ¿Me lo explica?
I don't know how it works here. Can you explain?
Say it like: no ko-NOTH-ko KO-mo fun-THYO-na a-KI
WORDS YOU SAY
At the bank
Opening an account, asking what it costs, and getting the details in writing.
Quería abrir una cuenta, por favor.
I'd like to open an account, please.
Say it like: ke-RI-a a-BRIR U-na KWEN-ta
¿Qué documentos necesito para abrir una cuenta?
What documents do I need to open an account?
Say it like: ke do-ku-MEN-tos ne-the-SI-to…
¿Puedo abrirla con el pasaporte y el NIE?
Can I open it with my passport and NIE?
Say it like: PWE-do a-BRIR-la kon el pa-sa-POR-te i el NI-e
¿Esta cuenta tiene comisiones?
Does this account have fees?
Say it like: ES-ta KWEN-ta TYE-ne ko-mi-SYO-nes
¿Cuánto cobran al mes?
How much do you charge per month?
Say it like: KWAN-to KO-bran al mes
¿Hay comisión por sacar dinero?
Is there a fee to withdraw money?
Say it like: ai ko-mi-SYON por sa-KAR di-NE-ro
¿Qué tengo que hacer para no pagar comisiones?
What do I have to do to avoid the fees?
Say it like: ke TEN-go ke a-THER PA-ra no pa-GAR ko-mi-SYO-nes
¿Me da el número de cuenta por escrito?
Can I have the account number in writing?
Say it like: me da el NU-me-ro de KWEN-ta por es-KRI-to
¿Me puede dar un justificante de la transferencia?
Can I have proof of the transfer?
Say it like: …deh la trans-feh-REN-thya
WORDS YOU SAY
At the phone shop
Getting a SIM or a contract — and not getting locked into one you didn’t agree to.
Quería una tarjeta SIM con datos.
I'd like a SIM card with data.
Say it like: ke-RI-a U-na tar-KHE-ta sim kon DA-tos
¿Es contrato o prepago?
Is it a contract or prepaid?
Say it like: es kon-TRA-to o pre-PA-go
No quiero permanencia.
I don't want a minimum-term tie-in.
Say it like: no KYE-ro per-ma-NEN-thya
¿Cuánto pago al mes en total, con IVA?
How much do I pay a month in total, with VAT?
Say it like: KWAN-to PA-go al mes en to-TAL, kon EE-ba
¿Cómo doy de baja el contrato?
How do I cancel the contract?
Say it like: KO-mo doy de BA-kha el kon-TRA-to
Quiero dar de baja esto.
I want to cancel this.
Say it like: KYE-ro dar de BA-kha ES-to