Getting around a new city is one of the first challenges for any traveler or language learner. This vocabulary list provides the essential words you'll need to navigate cities and towns in Latin America. From asking for directions to finding a place to eat, these words are the building blocks for your first real-world conversations in Spanish. You'll use them to find your hotel, grab a coffee, or meet a friend at the park. Many of these words are cognates, meaning they look and sound similar to their English counterparts, which makes them easy to learn. Words like 'hospital', 'restaurante', and 'hotel' will be instantly recognizable. As you learn, pay attention to the gender of each noun ('el' for masculine, 'la' for feminine), as this is crucial for building correct sentences. While most of these terms are universal in the Spanish-speaking world, this list defaults to the most common vocabulary used in Latin America. For example, we use 'la parada de autobús' for the bus stop. Knowing these core words will give you the confidence to explore any Spanish-speaking city with ease.
the city
Vivo en una ciudad grande. — I live in a big city.
the town, village
Mi abuela vive en un pueblo pequeño. — My grandmother lives in a small town.
downtown, the city center
Vamos al centro para cenar. — Let's go downtown for dinner.
the street
El hotel está en esta calle. — The hotel is on this street.
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the avenue
La avenida principal tiene muchas tiendas. — The main avenue has many stores.
the square, plaza
Nos vemos en la plaza central a las dos. — See you at the main square at two.
the corner
La farmacia está en la esquina. — The pharmacy is on the corner.
the building
Trabajo en ese edificio alto. — I work in that tall building.
the hospital
¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? — Where is the nearest hospital?
the bank
Necesito ir al banco para sacar dinero. — I need to go to the bank to get money.
the hotel
El hotel tiene una piscina. — The hotel has a pool.
the restaurant
Hay un restaurante mexicano muy bueno aquí cerca. — There is a very good Mexican restaurant near here.
the cafe
Tomamos un café en mi lugar favorito. — We're having a coffee at my favorite place.
the supermarket
Compro la fruta en el supermercado. — I buy fruit at the supermarket.
the market
Los domingos vamos al mercado al aire libre. — On Sundays, we go to the open-air market.
the store, shop
Esa tienda vende ropa muy bonita. — That store sells very nice clothes.
the pharmacy
Necesito comprar medicina en la farmacia. — I need to buy medicine at the pharmacy.
the post office
Tengo que enviar una carta en la oficina de correos. — I have to send a letter at the post office.
the park
A los niños les gusta jugar en el parque. — The kids like to play in the park.
the movie theater
¿Quieres ir al cine este fin de semana? — Do you want to go to the movies this weekend?
the museum
El museo de arte abre a las diez de la mañana. — The art museum opens at ten in the morning.
the school
Mi hijo va a la escuela en autobús. — My son goes to school by bus.
the university, college
Mi hermana estudia medicina en la universidad. — My sister studies medicine at the university.
the library
Voy a la biblioteca para estudiar. — I'm going to the library to study.
the church
La iglesia del pueblo es muy antigua. — The town's church is very old.
the airport
Mi vuelo sale del aeropuerto internacional. — My flight leaves from the international airport.
the station (train, subway)
¿Cuál es la próxima estación? — What is the next station?
the bus stop
Espero el autobús en la parada. — I wait for the bus at the bus stop.