I can't speak Spanish.Is English widely spoken in Spain?Will I face a language barrier when I travel to Spain?

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theycallmesir

Throughout Europe and much of the world, english is spoken, although many times not very well. You will have to listen attentively, and understand respectfully. Do not be afraid to communicate with people, even if it means pantomiming. Open-mindedness is the key.
However, it would be in your best interest to learn some useful words and phrases(namely greetings, etiquite, directions) maybe buy a disc and take it with you(or use ur comp to make mp3's from it). Remember, you will be the foreigner, not them; you will gain their respect by showing them you are attempting to communicate like they do, and they may be more inclined to speak english with you after seeing your effort. Just assuming someone speaks english may be taken as rude or inconsiderate, especially if they do not!
Spain speaks spanish, not portugese, so it would also not be in your best interest to assume people speak portugese.

carol p

the worst thing you can do is ask them if they speak english so learn the Fraze for i am sorry but i don't speak spanish which is lo sento me no hablo espanol they will try to help you more you may get english spoken in the big resorts but not inland if fact i think there are three or four different forms of spanish spoken they all learn and understand proper spanish but very few speak it

Manuel

Hi! I am writting you from Madrid.(AlcalÃ¡ de Henares)

Here you will find the best way to practice your Spanish or simply to visit Spain.

http://spainlive.iespana.es/

www.edreams.es to find tickets really cheap and If you are going to take a train www.estacionesdetrenes.com.

Check it out.

Manuel.(spainlive@gmail.com)

Randy P

I agree with others that you should try to have at least a few phrases in Spanish if you can. But I've also seen Asian tourists traveling around Europe with none of the native language, using English to talk to locals even though it is a second language on both sides! I'd be afraid to travel without at least some local language, but it seems to work somehow.

In Barcelona the native language is actually Catalan, but of course everyone speaks Spanish since they are part of Spain. I didn't find that people universally had any English. Except for in the hotel, I pretty much used my poor Spanish skills everywhere there.

As for Portuguese, I'd say she could try asking "Entiende portugues?" and see what happens. Spanish and Italian people assure me that they can understand each other well enough without translation despite significant differences in vocabulary. Portuguese looks a lot like Spanish to me but sounds completely different, so I don't know how well it would work in conversation.

foxy lady

I am not fluent in spanish but when in spain I speak the basics as the saying goes when in rome do as the romans do.After all its only polite to try.

momstime

LEARN Spanish! Its easy, and fun. check this out http://justlook.rspanish.hop.clickbank.net/

Carousel

Where I live in Spain, none of the locals speak English, so I've learnt Spanish.
Get a phrase book and learn a little before you go. Keep it very simple. The Spanish will appreciate you trying. With a few phrases and a little sign language you'll be okay. The Spanish people are the most accommodating in Europe.

Kate J

Spanish and Portuguese aren't as close as all that.

No. English isn't widely spoken in Spain...but that depends where you are going to be. Speaking Spanish will help A LOT, in getting the most out of your vacation. But tooooooooooooons of people travel to countries where they don't speak the language. You will get by with a few phrases, a smile, and tons of sign language. Millions of people do it every year.

Know how to say the polite phrases in Spanish: Hello, please and thank you, where is..., how much? will get you a long way toward getting good service in any country! And try to learn the phrases they give you...for instance, if you have coffee every morning, by the time you have finished, you should know how to ask for coffee...you know?

I would take a minimum of three days in each of those two cities, to see the highlights. You could live in them for years and not see ALL tje attractions!

(btw is your friend a man or a woman? You seem a bit confused, there)

Abbii3

English is widely spoken although it is seen as more respectable if you put in a little effort to learn spanish they will really appreciate the effort even if it is incorrect. Some spanish people may understand portuguese.

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