Madrid Travel Spanish: Phrases for Tapas, Metro and More
Heading to Madrid? Local Spanish for ordering tapas and coffee, using the metro, greeting shops and the Spain-only words that confuse visitors.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Madrid runs on late dinners, packed tapas bars and an excellent metro. Here's the Spanish that helps you live it like a madrileño.
Greetings
- ¡Buenas! — Hi (walking into a bar or shop)
- ¿Qué tal? — How's it going?
- Vale — Okay (you'll hear it constantly)
- ¡Hasta luego! — Bye (even if you'll never see them again)
See Spain Spanish slang.
Coffee and breakfast
- ¿Me pones un café con leche? — Can I have a coffee with milk?
- Un cortado, por favor.
- Una tostada con tomate. — Toast with tomato.
- Churros con chocolate.
Tapas and dinner
- Una caña, por favor. — A small draft beer.
- Una ración de patatas bravas. — A portion of patatas bravas.
- ¿Qué tapa viene con la bebida? — What tapa comes with the drink?
- Para picar… — To nibble…
- La cuenta, cuando pueda. — The check, when you can.
- ¿Me cobras? — Can you charge me? (casual way to ask for the bill)
Dinner starts late: 9 or 10 p.m. is normal.
Metro
- ¿Dónde está la parada de metro?
- ¿Qué línea va a Atocha?
- ¿Dónde hago transbordo? — Where do I change?
- un billete sencillo — a single ticket
- la tarjeta transporte — the transport card
Shops and everyday
- ¿Me cobra? — Can you ring me up?
- ¿Tiene bolsa? — Do you have a bag? (bags usually cost a few cents)
- ¿A qué hora cierran? — What time do you close?
Vosotros
Madrileños use vosotros for "you all": ¿Qué queréis tomar? (What do you all want to drink?) You can answer with ustedes forms and be understood.
Mini dialogue at a bar
- Camarero: ¡Buenas! ¿Qué os pongo?
- You: Dos cañas y una de bravas, por favor.
- Camarero: Vale. ¿Algo más?
- You: De momento, nada más. Gracias.
Madrid tapas vocabulary
- patatas bravas — fried potatoes with spicy sauce
- tortilla de patatas — Spanish potato omelet
- croquetas — croquettes
- jamón ibérico — cured Iberian ham
- bocadillo de calamares — fried squid sandwich, a Madrid classic
- pincho — small snack on bread
Practice the Madrid call
Lolo's "Ask for directions" situation is set in Madrid: stop someone on the street, find the metro and confirm the route, out loud. See travel Spanish phrases and Mexican vs Spain Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
What does "¿qué te pongo?" mean?
"What can I get you?", literally "What do I put for you?". It's how bartenders and waiters ask in Spain.
What is a "caña"?
A small glass of draft beer, the standard order in Madrid bars.
Do people in Madrid speak English?
Many do in tourist areas, but trying Spanish is appreciated everywhere.
