Mexican-Spanish phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Mexican-Spanish phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Mexican-Spanish with translation. | Free & useful

There is a difference between speaking Spanish and sounding Mexican. You can know every textbook phrase and still get a puzzled smile in Mexico City, because real Mexican Spanish runs on its own greetings, slang and rhythm. Say ¿Qué onda? instead of a stiff ¿Cómo está usted? and you instantly stop sounding like a tourist.

Mexican-Spanish phrases are the short expressions, greetings and idioms used every day to be polite, say thanks, greet someone or just have a warm conversation. Whether you are travelling to Mexico, reconnecting with Mexican family, or simply love the culture, the phrases below – each with English translation and pronunciation (IPA) – will help you speak the way people actually speak, not the way a textbook thinks they do.

Mexican-Spanish phrases you should know

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Languages, where you can learn Mexican-Spanish phrases and dialogues today.

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Greet someone in Mexican-Spanish

If you want to greet someone in Mexican-Spanish, it’s actually quite easy:

If you are greeted in Mexican-Spanish, the best way to respond is as follows:

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking how the person you are talking to is doing. Here’s how you do it:

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

How to greet and say goodbye like a Mexican (slang)

This is what textbooks never teach you. The phrases below are how Mexicans greet friends, react and say goodbye in real life. Use them with people your own age or younger and you’ll fit right in. (A note of caution on register: a few, like güey, are casual and best kept for friends.)

Typical Mexican sayings (dichos)

A few classic Mexican expressions that instantly sound authentic:

Looking for the European version instead? See our general Spanish phrases guide for phrases and slang as used in Spain.

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More information about the complete Learn Spanish guide and online course.

How do I say goodbye to someone in Mexican-Spanish?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Mexican-Spanish is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

How do I introduce myself in Mexican-Spanish?

When travelling in Mexico, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Mexican-Spanish and know who you’re talking to.

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

If you have problems with your Mexican-Spanish, it is good to know which languages are spoken:

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Mexican-Spanish and express your wishes and concerns:

Apologising in Mexican-Spanish

Here’s how to apologise to a Mexican-Spanish speaker:

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Useful signs and notices in Mexican-Spanish

Useful signs and messages in Mexican-Spanish that you will often see.

Numbers to 25 in Mexican-Spanish

Counting in Mexican-Spanish is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Mexican-Spanish from 1 to 25.

The colours in Mexican-Spanish

The most common colours in Mexican-Spanish with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

Days of the week, months and seasons in Mexican-Spanish

The days, months and seasons in Mexico are the same Spanish words you’ll use everywhere – only the pronunciation is the softer Latin American one. For the full lists with pronunciation and examples, see our dedicated guides:

• The days of the week in Spanish – e.g. lunes (Monday), viernes (Friday).
• The months in Spanish – e.g. enero (January), agosto (August).
• The seasons in Spanish – e.g. verano (summer), invierno (winter).

Frequently asked questions about Mexican-Spanish phrases

How do you say hello in Mexican Spanish?
The simplest greeting is Hola. To sound local, friends greet each other with ¿Qué onda? (what’s up?) or ¿Qué tal?, while Buenos días and Buenas tardes are used more formally. On the phone, Mexicans answer with ¿Bueno?

What is the difference between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish?
The grammar is the same and speakers understand each other easily. The main differences are pronunciation (Mexico uses the softer s sound rather than the Spain th), the use of ustedes instead of vosotros, and a lot of distinct slang such as güey, órale and chido.

Is güey rude?
Among friends it is completely normal and means something like dude or mate. With strangers, elders or in formal settings it can sound disrespectful, so keep it for people you know well.

What are the most useful Mexican phrases for travelers?
Start with greetings (¿Qué onda?, Buenos días), courtesies (gracias, por favor, mande), and survival phrases (¿Cuánto cuesta?, ¿Dónde está el baño?, necesito ayuda). A few slang words like órale and sale will make locals warm to you instantly.

OUR TIP: If you want to learn these Mexican-Spanish phrases interactively, we recommend the free language course demo from 17-Minute-Languages, where you can practise Mexican-Spanish phrases and dialogues today.

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Continue learning Spanish

• Learn Spanish – the complete guide and online course
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