Can Madrid people understand & speak English?

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jpav0923

By and large most understand a little bit. People under 30 are more likely than people over 70 to speak English. If you go to a tiny rural village, you will probably encounter linguistic difficulties if you do not understand Spanish. However, Madrid is a major cosmopolitan European city -- they are culturally sophisticated and the vast majority understand at least some English.

It would not hurt you to memorize a few basic Spanish phrases. You will be better received if you approach them in Spanish (it is a form of respect). If you launch in English, it will offend them. However, if you approach someone with a phrase such as "Disculpe, hable Ingles?", they are friendly people who will receive you warmly.

Spain/Madrid (linguistically speaking) is not on the same level as Holland or Switzerland in terms of their English. In the latter nations, 99% of the people (under the age of 50) not only speak English, they speak it fluently. This is not the case in Madrid. However, with a little respect and courtesy, you can get by.

IslandGuy

Nope, most don't. You'll have a better chance in Barcelona as far as big cities go. And of course, in all tourist resorts in the Med & Balearic / Canary islands. In Mallorca for some reason everybody seems to speak German (!!).

Actually, Spain's 3 other official languages are widely ignored and derided by castellano-speakers.

derf

Did not find it a problem in the tourist areas

Pope my ride!

Yes, we are not all stupid here, and we do speak english rather than american, the spanish we speak is castillano, as opposed to catalan, basque, galician or andalucian, spoken elsewhere. English is not a second language here, if you wanted to live and work here, you would need to speak spanish, we have a large ex-pat community that is mostly english speaking. English is taught in schools, and most people will understand basic conversational english.

maria g

English is taught at school but it doesn't mean they speak it. You may find some fluent speakers but if you aren't lucky be sure they will try to understand you in a helpful way.

Mary Eda

Unfortunately in Madrid very few people speak english but this does not prevent them from being very friendly or having a dance with you. Their dance style is very smooth and fluid with some intricate moves. Unlike in the UK there is very little if none at all, clashing on the dance floor as the castillians keep their dancing tight. I wish that people would in the UK and respect other dancers dance space. Overall the castillians are very good salsa dancers which goes to show that Beny Moores lyric 'Castellanos Que Bueno Baila Usted' was correct even in the forties.

That really depends on the person...

I have found though that a lot of Spanish people are unable to speak English - as opposed to say, Holland, where most can.

Goddess of Grammar

I've only been to the airport, and there I found most did not, so I'd guess not many.

geoff t

The english language is a problem in Madrid,but despite this the people are very helpful.

dragor321

Yes we spanish do speaking english we are not total morons like some off the answers imply.
Perhaps most people who have answered think they speak english

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