200 essential Spanish travel words (A1–A2). Airport, hotel, directions, restaurants, shopping, transportation, emergencies, and sightseeing with example sentences and English translations.
CEFR A1 — Beginner
At this level you can introduce yourself, order food, ask directions. Vocabulary: ~500 words (cumulative).
Spanish → English220 words~22 days at 10 words/day0 downloadsA1A2
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We arrived at the airport two hours before the flight.
"Llegamos" is the preterite of "llegar" (we arrived). "Al" is the contraction of "a + el." Time expressions with "antes de" (before) take a noun or infinitive.
el vuelo
flight
Nuestro vuelo sale a las ocho de la mañana.
Our flight departs at eight in the morning.
"Nuestro" is a possessive adjective agreeing with the masculine noun "vuelo." "Sale" is present tense of "salir" (irregular yo: salgo). "A las ocho" uses the feminine article because "hora" (hour) is implied.
facturar el equipaje
to check in luggage
Tenemos que facturar el equipaje antes de pasar al control.
We have to check in the luggage before going through security.
"Tener que + infinitive" expresses obligation. "Antes de + infinitive" means "before doing." "Pasar al control" uses the contraction "al" (a + el).
la maleta
suitcase
Mi maleta pesa más de veinte kilos.
My suitcase weighs more than twenty kilos.
"Pesa" is third-person present of "pesar" (to weigh). "Más de" means "more than" with quantities. "Veinte kilos" — numbers are invariable.
el equipaje de mano
carry-on luggage
Solo llevo equipaje de mano para este viaje.
I'm only bringing carry-on luggage for this trip.
"Solo" functions as an adverb meaning "only." "Llevo" (present of "llevar") means "I carry/bring." "Para este viaje" — "para" indicates purpose.
la puerta de embarque
boarding gate
La puerta de embarque ha cambiado a la B12.
The boarding gate has changed to B12.
"Ha cambiado" is the present perfect (haber + past participle). "A la B12" uses "a" for destination/change.
la tarjeta de embarque
boarding pass
Puedes descargar la tarjeta de embarque en el móvil.
You can download the boarding pass on your phone.
"Puedes" is the tú form of "poder" (o→ue stem-changer). "Descargar" means "to download." "En el móvil" — "en" indicates location.
la aduana
customs
Hay que pasar por la aduana al llegar al país.
You have to go through customs when arriving in the country.
"Hay que + infinitive" is impersonal obligation ("one must"). "Al llegar" contracts "a + el" before the infinitive used as a noun ("upon arriving").
el control de pasaportes
passport control
La cola en el control de pasaportes era muy larga.
The queue at passport control was very long.
"La cola" means "the queue." "Era" is the imperfect of "ser," describing a past state. "Muy larga" — adjective agrees with feminine "cola."
el retraso
delay
El vuelo tiene un retraso de dos horas.
The flight has a two-hour delay.
"Tiene" is present of "tener." "De dos horas" — "de" introduces the measurement. Definite article "el" is used with "vuelo" as a specific known flight.
cancelar
to cancel
Han cancelado nuestro vuelo por la tormenta.
They have cancelled our flight because of the storm.
"Han cancelado" is the present perfect third-person plural. "Por" indicates cause/reason ("because of"). "La tormenta" — weather nouns use the definite article.
despegar
to take off
El avión va a despegar en diez minutos.
The plane is going to take off in ten minutes.
"Va a + infinitive" is the near future (ir a + infinitive). "En diez minutos" uses "en" for time until something happens.
aterrizar
to land
Aterrizamos en Barcelona a las tres de la tarde.
We land in Barcelona at three in the afternoon.
"Aterrizamos" is present tense describing a scheduled event. "A las tres de la tarde" — time expressions use "a las" + hour. "De la tarde" specifies the period.
la escala
layover / stopover
El vuelo tiene una escala de cuatro horas en Madrid.
The flight has a four-hour layover in Madrid.
"Tiene" here means "has." "De cuatro horas" specifies duration with "de." "En Madrid" — "en" for locations where something occurs.
la cinta de equipajes
baggage carousel
Espera la maleta en la cinta de equipajes número tres.
Wait for the suitcase at baggage carousel number three.
Imperative "espera" is the informal tú command. "En la cinta de equipajes número tres" — ordinal numbers follow the noun in airport/transport contexts.
el mostrador de facturación
check-in counter
El mostrador de facturación abre tres horas antes.
The check-in counter opens three hours before.
"Abre" is third-person present of "abrir." "Tres horas antes" — "antes" (before) with a time quantity. No preposition needed before "tres horas."
el pasaporte
passport
No olvides llevar el pasaporte al aeropuerto.
Don't forget to bring your passport to the airport.
"No olvides" is the negative tú imperative of "olvidar." Negative tú commands use the subjunctive form: "olvides." "Llevar" here means "to bring."
el visado
visa
Necesitas un visado para viajar a ese país.
You need a visa to travel to that country.
"Necesitas" is the tú form of "necesitar." "Para + infinitive" expresses purpose. "A ese país" — "a" indicates destination; "ese" is a demonstrative.
abrocharse el cinturón
to fasten one's seatbelt
Por favor, abróchense el cinturón para el aterrizaje.
Please fasten your seatbelts for landing.
"Abróchense" is the formal ustedes imperative of the reflexive verb "abrocharse." The pronoun "-se" attaches to the affirmative command. "Para" introduces purpose.
la sala de espera
waiting area / lounge
Esperamos en la sala de espera hasta que llamen nuestro vuelo.
We waited in the lounge until they called our flight.
"Esperamos" is preterite first-person plural. "Hasta que + subjunctive" is used for future/uncertain events: "llamen" (subjunctive of "llamar").