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Daderot / Wikimedia Commons · PD
100 Spanish phrases for Puerto Rico
The essentials for getting around, plus the boricua expressions you will actually hear. Tap the speaker to hear a phrase in your device's Spanish voice.
Spanish and English are both official languages in Puerto Rico. Spanish dominates daily life; English is widely understood in San Juan's tourist areas, hotels and business. Phrases marked PR are especially Puerto Rican.
Basics & greetings Start every exchange with a greeting
Buenos días
Good morning
Used until about noon. Greeting before asking for anything is expected, in shops, buses and elevators.
Buenas tardes
Good afternoon
From noon until dark.
Buenas noches
Good evening / good night
Both a greeting and a goodbye after dark.
BuenasPR
Hi (all-purpose)
The quick, friendly version of all three. You will hear it constantly.
¿Cómo estás? / ¿Cómo está?
How are you? (informal / formal)
Use "está" with older people and officials.
Bien, gracias, ¿y tú?
Fine, thanks, and you?
Mucho gusto
Nice to meet you
Often with a handshake; friends and family greet with a kiss on the right cheek.
Por favor
Please
Gracias / Muchas gracias
Thank you / Thank you very much
De nada
You're welcome
You may also hear "a la orden" (at your service).
A la ordenPR
At your service / You're welcome
Very common in Puerto Rican shops and restaurants.
Con permiso
Excuse me (to pass)
Say it when squeezing past someone.
Disculpe / Perdón
Excuse me / Sorry
To get attention or apologize.
¿Habla inglés?
Do you speak English?
English is an official language and widely understood in tourist areas, less so in the countryside.
No entiendo. ¿Puede hablar más despacio?
I don't understand. Can you speak more slowly?
Puerto Rican Spanish is fast and often softens or drops a final "s": "los amigos" can sound like "lo amigo".
Hasta luego / Nos vemos
See you later
¿Qué hora es?
What time is it?
Puerto Rico is on Atlantic Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving.
Puerto Rican expressions What you will hear on the street
¿Qué es la que hay?PR
What's up?
Classic boricua greeting, often shortened to "¿Qué hay?" Reply: "Aquí, tranquilo."
WepaPR
Woo-hoo! / Yes!
All-purpose cheer of joy, at a party, a game or a good plate of food.
BoricuaPR
Puerto Rican
From Borikén, the Taíno name for the island. Said with pride.
PanaPR
Buddy, friend
"Es mi pana" = he/she is my friend.
CorilloPR
Group of friends, crew
"Vamos con el corillo."
JanguearPR
To hang out
From English "hang out". "¿Vamos a janguear esta noche?"
ChéverePR
Cool, great
Used across the Caribbean.
BrutalPR
Awesome
A positive word here: "La playa estaba brutal."
NítidoPR
Great, neat, all good
"Todo nítido" = everything's fine.
Acho / Ay, benditoPR
Oh man! / Aw, poor thing
"Bendito" expresses sympathy; "acho" (from "muchacho") is surprise or frustration.
DalePR
Go ahead / OK / Let's do it
Agreement, encouragement, or "go!".
AhoritaPR
In a little while (maybe)
Can mean soon, later or never. Ask "¿ahora mismo?" if you need now.
Al garetePR
Out of control, adrift
"Esa fiesta estaba al garete."
Mano / manitoPR
Bro
Short for hermano.
Está cabrónPR
That's intense (good or bad)
Very common but vulgar; know it rather than use it at work.
JíbaroPR
Country person from the mountains
A symbol of traditional Puerto Rican identity, from music to coffee.
ChavosPR
Money; cents
"No tengo chavos." A peseta is a quarter.
ZafacónPR
Trash can
Unique to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
GuaguaPR
Bus
Also a van or minibus.
MahonesPR
Jeans
PantallasPR
Earrings
Elsewhere "pantalla" means screen.
ParquearPR
To park
Spanglish in daily use; "estacionar" is the textbook word.
RevolúPR
A mess, chaos
"¡Qué revolú!"
Estar en la luna
To be distracted, spaced out
FuáPR
Bam! / Just like that
Sound word for something sudden.
Getting around Roads, directions and transport
¿Dónde está…?
Where is…?
"¿Dónde está el baño?" = Where is the bathroom?
¿Cómo llego a…?
How do I get to…?
A la derecha / a la izquierda
To the right / to the left
Derecho / recto
Straight ahead
Cerca / lejos
Near / far
La carretera / la autopistaPR
The road / the highway (toll road)
Distance signs are in kilometers; speed limits are in miles per hour.
El peajePR
The toll
Tolls are electronic (AutoExpreso); rentals usually include a tag.
La gasolinera / echar gasolinaPR
Gas station / to fill up
Gas is sold by the liter.
Un taxi, por favor
A taxi, please
¿Cuánto cuesta ir a…?
How much is it to go to…?
Ask before you ride if there is no meter.
La lancha / el ferryPR
The ferry boat
"La lancha de Culebra."
El tapónPR
Traffic jam
As in "hay un tapón en la 52".
Food & drink Order like a local
La cuenta, por favor
The check, please
Servers will not bring it until you ask.
Una mesa para dos
A table for two
¿Qué me recomienda?
What do you recommend?
MofongoPR
Mashed fried plantain with garlic
Often stuffed with shrimp, chicken or pork.
TostonesPR
Twice-fried green plantain slices
Arroz con gandulesPR
Rice with pigeon peas
The island's signature rice, essential at Christmas.
LechónPR
Spit-roasted pork
Famous along the "Ruta del Lechón" in Guavate, Cayey.
Alcapurria / bacalaítoPR
Fritters: stuffed taro-plantain / salt cod
Classic beach-kiosk (kiosko) food.
Pastelillo / empanadillaPR
Turnover
Filled with meat, cheese, crab or pizza toppings.
PiquePR
Hot sauce (vinegar-based)
Homemade bottles of peppers in vinegar sit on many tables.
China / jugo de chinaPR
Orange / orange juice
In Puerto Rico, "naranja" usually means a sour orange.
GuineoPR
Banana
Plátano is the plantain.
ParchaPR
Passion fruit
Called maracuyá elsewhere.
Un cafecito / un pocilloPR
A small coffee
Puerto Rico grows its own coffee in the central mountains.
Una cerveza bien fríaPR
A very cold beer
Medalla Light is the local beer.
Piña coladaPR
Piña colada
San Juan claims its invention in the 1950s; the drink is the official drink of Puerto Rico.
CoquitoPR
Coconut and rum holiday drink
Puerto Rico's Christmas eggnog.
Soy alérgico/a a…
I'm allergic to…
Mariscos = shellfish; maní = peanuts.
Beach & nature Sun, sea and safety
¿Es seguro nadar aquí?
Is it safe to swim here?
Ask locals; many beaches have no lifeguard.
La corriente / la resaca
The current / rip current
Rip currents are the biggest danger at Puerto Rico's beaches.
Bandera roja
Red flag
Do not swim.
Las olas están grandes
The waves are big
El arrecife
The reef
Do not stand on coral.
Bloqueador solar
Sunscreen
Una sombrilla
A beach umbrella
El sendero
The trail
"¿El sendero está abierto?" = Is the trail open?
La cascada / el charcoPR
Waterfall / river swimming hole
"Charco" is the Puerto Rican word for a river pool.
El coquíPR
The coquí tree frog
The national symbol, heard every night.
Money & shopping It's U.S. dollars
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much does it cost?
¿Aceptan tarjeta?
Do you take cards?
Small kiosks may be cash only.
En efectivo
In cash
El IVUPR
Sales tax
Usually 11.5%; see our IVU calculator.
Un peso / cinco pesosPR
A dollar / five dollars
Puerto Ricans often call dollars "pesos".
Una pesetaPR
A quarter (25¢)
El cambio / la vuelta
The change
¿Me da un recibo?
Can I have a receipt?
Emergencies & health Dial 911
¡Ayuda!
Help!
Llame al 911
Call 911
911 works across Puerto Rico.
Necesito un médico
I need a doctor
¿Dónde está el hospital / la farmacia?
Where is the hospital / pharmacy?
Me duele aquí
It hurts here
Perdí mi pasaporte / mi cartera
I lost my passport / my wallet
U.S. citizens do not need a passport to visit.
Me robaron
I was robbed
Se fue la luzPR
The power went out
Literally "the light left". Useful during outages.
No hay agua
There is no water
¿Dónde está el refugio?
Where is the shelter?
For hurricane emergencies.
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