Whether you’re looking for a villa for sale in Moraira to relocate your family or perhaps a holiday bungalow to buy in Javea, when you buy a Villa in the Costa Blanca you will find that many of the locals do speak excellent English. However, it is not just nice to try and learn the local language it is something that will be very much appreciated by your Spanish neighbours.
The local Comunidad in any of the towns on the Costa Blanca are friendly but, tightly knit so to integrate more easily learning some pleasantries will go a long way towards being able to chat with shop owners, market stall vendors and your vecinos (neighbours), perhaps over a café con leche (coffee with milk). A friendly Buenas Dias or Hola will go a long way to connecting on a deeper level with the locals and help you to feel more at home too. Although for more intricate bureaucratic necessities we would always recommend consulting your legal representative, a smattering of Spanish will help you understand more everyday necessities like doctor’s appointments, bank statements and signage including where you can park etc.
Spain is a lively country full of traditions and regular Fiestas, speaking some Spanish will help you integrate more easily at these events and perhaps learn some of the local dancing, recipes and stories that make up the way of life in the towns of the Costa Blanca. If you are able to do this, you will find living here so much more enjoyable.
Living in the Costa Blanca is something of a dream for many people so when you do manage to achieve your goal and have bought a villa in Calpe sign up for a local group course to learn some Spanish, here you will meet other expats and be able to share experiences and make friends. Conversation clubs are also available so that you can practice with and get to know native speakers while enjoying a coffee.
If your children are at school at Lady Elizabeth for example, they will also be learning the language and like sponges may have already become more fluent than you, allow them to help you as they do their homework and make learning together as a family a regular and fun part of the week. The international schools in the Costa Blanca are known for creating a welcoming environment with family friendly activities. Perhaps enjoy a cinema night together afterwards with some tapas and a Spanish film and help each other to understand. Take excursions to places of interest in the Costa Blanca and practice asking for directions when visiting other towns and ordering food at restaurants. There are also learning activities that you might enjoy like cooking classes where you can learn about Spanish food and vocabulary together.
Unless you are living in a more remote inland part of the Costa Blanca where you will learn more quickly because of necessity, you may find learning is a slow process in the coastal resorts because so many people do speak English. Don’t let this put you off, keep trying even if you are answered in English and learn how to explain that you want to learn Spanish. The locals are friendly and welcoming and will soon be helping you to become more confident and fluent. Start with the essentials of basic greetings, essential items on your shopping list and numbers. Download a language app so that you can make a quick translation when you’re out and about. Be proud of any progress you make and celebrate with family and friends, share your experiences and make learning an enjoyable and sociable part of your life in the Costa Blanca.
You may not become fluent overnight, and some people have a better ear for language than others but, this isn’t the primary goal. Learning even just a small amount of conversational Spanish will help you to settle in and become part of the local community you joined when you chose to buy a property in the Costa Blanca. Buena Suerte!!!
To get you started here are a few useful words and phrases: -
Buenos días — Good morning
Buenas tardes — Good afternoon
Buenas noches — Good evening / Good night
Hola – Hi/Hello
¿Cómo está usted? — How are you? (formal)
¿Cómo estás? — How are you? (informal)
¿Qué tal? — How are you? (informal) / What’s up?
¿Cómo te va? — How’s it going?
¿Qué haces? — What are you doing?
¿Qué pasa? — What’s happening?
Bien, gracias — Good, thank you
Muy bien — Very well
Así, así — So, so
¿Y tú? — And you?
Me llamo — My name is
Mi nombre es — My name is
Hola, soy…. – Hello, I’m…..
¿Habla ingles? – Do you speak English
(Yo) tengo … años — I am … years old.
Adiós — Goodbye
Chao — Goodbye
Hasta luego — See you later (most likely today)
Hasta mañana — See you tomorrow
Hasta luego — See you (informal)
¡Cuídate! —Take care!
¡Que tenga un lindo día! — Have a nice day!
¡Hasta pronto! — See you soon!
¡Buen viaje! — Have a good trip!
(Yo) soy de — I come from
¡Gracias! — Thank you!
¡Muchas gracias! — Thank you very much!
¡De nada! — You’re welcome! / No problem!
Por favor — Please (generally used at the end of a sentence)
¡Perdon! — Excuse me!
¡Disculpe! — Excuse me! (to apologize in advance for being a bit of a bother)
¡Lo siento! — Sorry! (to apologize for a mistake)
¡Feliz Cumpleaños! — Happy Birthday!
¡Felicitaciones! — Congratulations!
¡Diviértete! — Have fun!
¡Buen provecho! — Bon appetit!
¡Bienvenidos! / ¡Bienvenidas! — Welcome!
Salud! — Cheers!
