Useful Spanish Phrases for Cancún

You can get through much of Cancún's Hotel Zone in English, but even basic Spanish makes everyday interactions easier and usually warmer. You do not need perfect grammar. A greeting, a clear question and a polite gracias will take you a long way.

This is a travel phrasebook, not a language course. Save the page offline or screenshot the sections you expect to use.

Start every interaction with a greeting

• Hola — Hello.
• Buenos días — Good morning.
• Buenas tardes — Good afternoon.
• Buenas noches — Good evening / good night.
• Por favor — Please.
• Gracias / Muchas gracias — Thank you / Thank you very much.
• Disculpe — Excuse me (useful when getting someone's attention).

In shops, hotels and restaurants, opening with buenos días or buenas tardes before asking your question is a small courtesy that sounds much friendlier than jumping straight into a request.

If your Spanish runs out

• No hablo mucho español. — I don't speak much Spanish.
• No entiendo. — I don't understand.
• ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? — Can you speak more slowly, please?
• ¿Habla inglés? — Do you speak English?
• ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? — Can you write it down, please?

Do not be embarrassed to use a translation app for anything important. For medical issues, allergies, money disputes or detailed transport instructions, accuracy matters more than showing off your phrasebook Spanish.

Prices, money and shopping

• ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does it cost?
• ¿Cuánto es en total? — How much is it in total?
• ¿Aceptan tarjeta? — Do you accept cards?
• ¿Puedo pagar en pesos? — Can I pay in pesos?
• ¿Tiene cambio? — Do you have change?
• Solo estoy mirando, gracias. — I'm just looking, thank you.

When a price is unclear, ask before agreeing to the service or ordering. A calm price check is more useful than trying to resolve a misunderstanding afterwards.

Restaurants and cafés

• Una mesa para dos, por favor. — A table for two, please.
• ¿Qué me recomienda? — What do you recommend?
• Quisiera esto, por favor. — I'd like this, please.
• Sin picante / sin chile. — Not spicy / without chilli.
• Agua sin gas / con gas. — Still / sparkling water.
• Para llevar. — To go / takeaway.
• La cuenta, por favor. — The bill, please.

Picante is subjective. If you are very sensitive to heat, say nada picante, por favor and still taste sauces cautiously.

Food allergies and dietary needs

For a serious allergy, do not rely on one memorised sentence. Carry a written card in Spanish that names the allergen and explains that cross-contact is dangerous. Useful starting phrases include:

• Tengo una alergia grave a... — I have a severe allergy to...
• No puedo comer... — I cannot eat...
• ¿Contiene nueces / cacahuates / mariscos / leche / huevo? — Does it contain nuts / peanuts / shellfish / milk / egg?
• ¿Se prepara por separado? — Is it prepared separately?
• Soy vegetariano / vegetariana. — I am vegetarian.
• Soy vegano / vegana. — I am vegan.

Taxis and getting around

• Quiero ir a... — I want to go to...
• ¿Me puede llevar a...? — Can you take me to...?
• ¿Cuánto cuesta hasta...? — How much does it cost to...?
• Aquí está bien, gracias. — Here is fine, thank you.
• ¿Dónde está la parada de autobús? — Where is the bus stop?
• ¿Este autobús va a...? — Does this bus go to...?

Show the hotel or destination name on your phone as well as saying it. Cancún has similarly named resorts and multiple pickup points, so visual confirmation helps.

At the hotel

• Tengo una reservación a nombre de... — I have a reservation under the name...
• ¿A qué hora es el check-out? — What time is check-out?
• La llave no funciona. — The key doesn't work.
• No hay agua caliente. — There is no hot water.
• ¿Puede guardar mi equipaje? — Can you store my luggage?
• Necesito ayuda, por favor. — I need help, please.

Beaches, tours and activities

• ¿Es seguro nadar hoy? — Is it safe to swim today?
• ¿Dónde está el salvavidas? — Where is the lifeguard?
• ¿A qué hora regresamos? — What time do we return?
• ¿Está incluido? — Is it included?
• ¿Necesito llevar algo? — Do I need to bring anything?
• ¿Hay chalecos salvavidas? — Are there life jackets?

For marine trips, cenotes and adventure activities, ask safety questions even if the operator is busy. Understanding the briefing matters more than pretending you followed it.

When something has gone wrong

• Necesito ayuda. — I need help.
• Es una emergencia. — It is an emergency.
• Necesito un médico. — I need a doctor.
• Llame a una ambulancia, por favor. — Call an ambulance, please.
• Perdí mi pasaporte. — I lost my passport.
• Me robaron... — ...was stolen from me.

If the situation is urgent, get professional help first. A translation app can then help you communicate details while you wait for an English-speaking staff member, doctor or official.

Numbers you will hear most often

For prices and times, learn the tens before trying to memorise every number: diez (10), veinte (20), treinta (30), cuarenta (40), cincuenta (50), cien (100) and mil (1,000). In a noisy market, ask someone to type the number into a calculator rather than guessing.

Simple pronunciation shortcuts

Spanish spelling is more regular than English. Vowels stay fairly consistent: a as in "father", e roughly as in "met", i as in "machine", o as in "more" without the English glide, and u roughly as in "rule". In Mexican Spanish, j is a strong breathy sound and ll is commonly similar to an English "y".

Do not worry about sounding native. Speak a little slower, keep the phrase short and let the listener meet you halfway.

Translation apps: use them well

Download Spanish for offline use before the trip. Type short literal sentences rather than slang, show the translated text on screen, and let the other person type a reply when necessary. For names, addresses and booking references, show the original spelling rather than translating it.

Ten phrases worth memorising

1. Buenos días.
2. Por favor.
3. Gracias.
4. Disculpe.
5. No entiendo.
6. ¿Cuánto cuesta?
7. ¿Dónde está...?
8. La cuenta, por favor.
9. ¿Aceptan tarjeta?
10. Necesito ayuda.