Learn to pronounce a few basic phrases in Spanish before your trip. "Please," "thank you," "I want," "What is in this?" "Give me," "Another" and "No more" are some of the most important phrases you will need. "Please" is "por favor" and is pronounced "poor fah voor." According to former Canton City Schools Spanish teacher Darleen Moss, who has taken many trips to Mexico, Spain and South America, "This word should be stated at the end of every request you make."
"Thank you" is "gracias" and is pronounced "grah see uss." "I want" is "quiero" and is pronounced "kyair oh."
Ask "What is in this?" by saying "Que tiene esto?" pronounced "kay tee ennay ess toh." "Give me" is "dame," pronounced "dah may." Your request should always be followed by "por favor." For example, if you want to order a drink, you would say "Quiero (name of the drink) por favor."
Say "otro" or "otra" for another. They are pronounced "oh troh" and "oh truh."
To order beverages, look on the menu for the "bebidas," which means "drinks." It is pronounced "bay bee dahss." "Water" is "agua," pronounced "ah gwah." "Beer" is "cerveza," pronounced "sair vay suh." Soft drinks are called "refrescos," pronounced "ray fress cos." "Lemonade" is "limonada," pronounced "lee moh nah thuh." "Coffee" is "cafe," pronounced "ca fay." "Milk" is "leche," prounounced "lay chay." "Coffee with milk and sugar" is "cafe con leche."
Ask for "tapas" if you want light lunch items or appetizers. Pronounced "tah puhs," these include small sandwiches and other finger foods. Dinner items include "paella," pronounced "pi ay yuh," which is a saffron rice dish with shellfish and chicken. "Arroz con pollo," pronounced "are ros cone poyo," is white rice with chicken. "Mole poblano" is pronounced "moh lay poh blah noh." According to Juarez, Mexico, native Maribel Butler, currently living in the United States, "Mole is a brown sauce made with ground poblano peppers, chocolate and chicken stock. It is poured over chicken but can be used with other meat." "Casamiento," pronounced "cah suh myen toh," is red beans with rice and onions, seasoned with cilantro and cumin.
Ask for "caldo," pronounced "cal doh," if you want clear soups; or "sopa," pronounced "soh puh," for cream soups.
