Spanish for Benidorm and the Costas: Holiday Phrases You'll Use ☀️

Benidorm, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava... ☀️ Wherever you're heading on the Spanish coast, these are the phrases you'll actually use, with pronunciation the way people say it in Spain.

Yes, lots of people speak English in the big resorts. But step into a local bar, a market or a pharmacy and a little Spanish goes a long way. Even hola and gracias get you a warmer welcome. 😊

🗺️ The Costas at a glance

  • Costa Blanca (Benidorm, Alicante): Spanish everywhere, and you'll see Valencian on signs too (see the box below).
  • Costa del Sol (Málaga, Marbella, Torremolinos): Spanish, with the Andalusian accent. People often drop the "s", so más o menos can sound like "ma o meno".
  • Costa Brava and Costa Dorada (near Barcelona): Spanish and Catalan.
  • Canaries (Tenerife, Lanzarote): Spanish, with a softer accent. You'll hear guagua (WA-wa) for bus!

🍹 At the bar

  • ¿Me pones una caña, por favor? (meh PO-nes OO-na KA-nya): Can I have a small beer, please?
  • Un tinto de verano (oon TEEN-to deh veh-RA-no): Red wine with lemonade, the local summer drink
  • Otra, por favor (OH-tra): Another one, please
  • ¿Tienes algo sin alcohol? (tee-EH-nes AL-go seen al-KOL): Have you got anything alcohol-free?
  • Vale (BA-leh): OK. You'll hear it 100 times a day!

🍽️ Eating out

  • ¿Tenéis menú del día? (teh-NAYS meh-NOO del DEE-a): Do you have a set lunch menu?
  • Una ración de patatas bravas (OO-na ra-thee-ON deh pa-TA-tas BRA-vas): A portion of patatas bravas
  • Soy alérgico / alérgica a... (soy a-LAIR-hee-ko / ka): I'm allergic to...
  • La cuenta, por favor (la KWEN-ta): The bill, please

💡 Tip: tenéis is the vosotros form ("you lot"). In Spain it's the normal way to talk to a group, like the staff in a bar.

🏖️ Beach, pool and shops

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? (KWAN-to KWES-ta): How much is it?
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? (PWEH-do pa-GAR kon tar-HEH-ta): Can I pay by card?
  • Crema solar, por favor (KREH-ma so-LAR): Sun cream, please
  • ¿Dónde están los servicios? (DON-deh es-TAN los sair-VEE-thee-os): Where are the toilets?

💊 Chemist and emergencies

  • ¿Hay una farmacia cerca? (eye OO-na far-MA-thee-a THAIR-ka): Is there a chemist nearby?
  • Me duele la cabeza (meh DWEH-leh la ka-BEH-tha): I've got a headache
  • Me he quemado con el sol (meh eh keh-MA-do kon el sol): I've got sunburnt
  • In an emergency, call 112 (free, anywhere in Spain).

🟧 Valencian signs you'll see in Benidorm

Benidorm is in the Valencia region, where Valencian (a form of Catalan) is an official language alongside Spanish. Spanish works everywhere, but these pop up on signs:

Valencian Spanish English
Eixida Salida Exit
Platja Playa Beach
Obert / Tancat Abierto / Cerrado Open / Closed
Carrer Calle Street
Ajuntament Ayuntamiento Town hall
Bon dia Buenos días Good morning

🎁 Take it with you

📱 Practise before you fly: save these phrases in the Fun Learning Spanish app and practise them with games, flashcards and a daily phrase. It's free to start! 👉 Try the Fun Learning Spanish app 🚀

👩‍🏫 Want to feel confident before your trip? Book a lesson, in person in Basildon or online. Your first lesson is free.

👉 Next steps