The nuances of ordering food in Spanish and three phrases I use as a native speaker As a beginner Spanish student, putting your language skills into practice is an exciting step forward. Whether you’re traveling abroad or visiting a local Spanish-speaking restaurant in your own city, ordering food in Spanish is a great way to build confidence and feel more connected to the language and culture. A few weeks ago, I went with my students to a local restaurant to celebrate the end of term. When the waiter brought us the menus, one of my students asked: 'What is the least robotic phrase I can use to order my food?' That question got me thinking because, most of the time, I don’t even use a specific phrase at all. I just take the menu and start telling the waiter what I want, followed by a simple ‘por favor.’ "Dos empanadas, una croqueta rellena y una porción grande de fritas, por favor." Phrases like 'quisiera' and 'me gustaría' are polite and grammatically correct, but they can feel overly formal or textbook-like in everyday conversation. Native speakers tend to use more straightforward and natural expressions that flow better in casual settings. However, there's something important you need to consider: the way we order food and drinks can differ from country to country. In Spain, it is very common to say '¿Me pones un café?', while in Colombia and Costa Rica people often say '¿Me regalas un café?'—which I find rather amusing, considering that the verb 'regalar' means 'to give away'. As a native ✨Rioplatense speaker✨, these are 3 phrases I'd casually use to order food and drinks in a restaurant. "Un chivito canadiense, por favor." (A chivito canadiense, please.) "Una botella de vino blanco, por favor." (A bottle of white wine, please.) "Voy a pedir una napolitana con fritas." (I'm going to order a napolitana with chips). "Para mí unos canelones con tuco." (For me, cannelloni with tuco sauce).

💙 HOW TO SOUND MORE NATURAL WHEN YOU SPEAK SPANISH Filler words or 'muletillas', as we call them in Spanish, are a great tool to sound more natural in conversation. Native speakers of any language use them all the time without even realising it. As their name suggests, they serve to fill pauses, but also to soften statements, react, indicate hesitation or uncertainty, and even give you the time to think and organise your ideas. These are some commonly used filler words in Spanish. 1. Ehhh... (Ahhh... / Umm...) → Perfect word to insert into the conversation when you're thinking, searching for the right word in your mind, or pausing briefly. 2. Este... (Umm...) → This filler is similar to 'ehhh...', but we also use it when we're hesitating about what we want to say. 3. Entonces... (So...) → Used to connect ideas or to indicate a consequence. 4. Bueno... (Well...) → It can be used as a way to start a sentence or to transition into a new topic. Like 'well' in English, it can signal that the speaker is about to provide an explanation or make a point. 5. O sea... (Like... / I mean) → We use this one to clarify or rephrase something we just said. 6. La cosa es que... (The thing is...) → This phrase introduces an explanation or the main point the speaker wants to make. 7. A ver... (Let's see... / Let me see) → We often use this one as a way to signal that we are about to check or consider something. 8. Y nada... (Anyways...) → This phrase is used to wrap up a conversation or a statement. We use it a lot when we don't have anything more to add after explaining something. 9. Es que... (It's like...) → This expression is used to introduce an explanation or justification, sometimes even softening a statement or providing context. 10. No? (Right?) → This is a tag question used at the end of a statement to seek agreement or confirmation from the listener.

🔗 Linking words of addition in Spanish (from A1 to C2) Linking words are used to connect ideas in a sentence. We use them for different purposes, like contrasting information, showing cause and effect, providing explanations and examples, summarising our thoughts, and many other things. Linking words of addition in particular, add more information in both writing and speaking, and these are some common ones we use in Spanish to make your conversations and texts flow better. 1. Y/E - And Ejemplos: Me gusta la playa y la montaña. Mi ciudad tiene muchos museos e iglesias. We use "e" instead of "y" for pronunciation purposes. It's easier to say "e iglesias" than "y iglesias." (Try it!) 2. También - Also Ejemplo: No sólo tengo un perro, también tengo dos gatos. 3. Incluso - Even Ejemplo: Compré frutas, verduras e incluso flores en el mercado. 4. Además - Besides Ejemplo: El salario es muy bueno. Además, se puede trabajar desde casa. 5. Además de - In addition to Ejemplo: ¿Qué te gusta hacer en tu tiempo libre además de leer? 6. Al mismo tiempo - At the same time Ejemplo: Es una chica muy ocupada. Está estudiando para sus exámenes y, al mismo tiempo, trabaja a tiempo parcial. 7. Por otro lado - On the other hand Ejemplo: Me gusta vivir en la ciudad porque hay muchas actividades culturales; por otro lado, el campo ofrece tranquilidad y naturaleza. 8. Igualmente - Equally Ejemplo: Disfruto de la música clásica; igualmente, me encanta el jazz. 9. Asimismo - Likewise Ejemplo: El proyecto mejorará la infraestructura local; asimismo, creará nuevos empleos en la comunidad. 10. Por añadidura - Additionally Ejemplo: La empresa ha aumentado sus ganancias este año; por añadidura, ha ampliado su presencia internacional. Learning to use linking words effectively can really boost your Spanish skills, making your speech and writing smoother and more natural. Try using some of these in your next conversation or writing piece to see the difference!

Don't be afraid of making mistakes! If you're a language student, you're going to make mistakes, and that's a fact. Sometimes you'll mix up verb tenses or make literal translations from your native language that don't make any sense. Every now and then, you'll say something embarrassing that you'll never forget, like the hilarious mistake you can see in this video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9upZRlIckA/ Believe it or not, it's more common than you think! If you're not familiar with these phrases, 'tengo miedo' means 'I'm scared', whereas 'tengo mierda' is something completely different: 'I have 💩' From a very early age, we're told that mistakes are a bad thing, that we should be embarrassed by them or try to hide them. Nothing could be further from the truth! Making mistakes is an essential part of learning any language, and here's why: When you make a mistake, it shows you exactly where you need to focus. Is it grammar? Vocabulary? Pronunciation? Each mistake is a clue that will lead you to improvement. And let's be real, there are some mistakes you'll never forget. If you ask for 'polla' instead of 'pollo' at a restaurant, you'll remember that one forever! The embarrassment will burn the correct word into your memory. Mistakes also push you out of your comfort zone. If you're not afraid of messing up, you'll try new words, phrases, and grammar. This experimentation is what speeds up your learning. Sticking to what you know is safe, but it doesn't help you improve. Plus, mistakes make you more resilient. Learning a language is a marathon, not a sprint. Each mistake you overcome builds your confidence and determination, showing you that you can handle setbacks and keep going. And here's a fun fact: native speakers make mistakes too. Sometimes, you might even know more about certain aspects of the language, like the subjunctive, than they do.