Do I need to learn Spanish for the Camino de Santiago?
We often get asked if we need to learn Spanish before embarking on your Camino de Santiago. The simple answer is no, but you should have a few useful phrases in Spanish. If you travel through Northern Spain, not everyone you meet will speak fluent English. Don’t panic; most people you meet along the route are from all around the world and will speak different languages. There are common Camino phrases that all pilgrims on the trails will be familiar with. Also, as the Camino routes pass through Galicia, you will find that most local people speak Galego, a regional dialect of Spanish.
A few examples of the typical Spanish phrases you may need include:
- Hello – Hola
- What is your name – ¿Como te llamas?
- My name is – Me llamo
- Where are you from? – ¿De donde eres?
- I’m from – Soy irlandes/irlandesa
- How are you? – ¿Cómo estás?
- I am good – Muy Bien
- I am walking the Camino de Santiago – Estoy haciendo el camino de santiago
- Where did you start walking the Camino? – ¿Donde empezaste el camino?
- Where is the yellow arrow? – ¿Dónde está la flecha amarilla?
- Where is the hotel? – ¿Dónde está el hotel?
- Can I get a stamp here? – ¿Puedo obtener un sello aquí?
To help you along the Camino way, we have designed a short Spanish phrasebook that includes standard greetings, introductions, directions, Camino-related phrases and a few words that you might need when you are out on the trails.
Download your free Camino de Santiago Phrasebook here.
For more information on any of the Camino routes, please contact one of our Travel Specialists.
