Essential Galician Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Galician words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Ola.
Bo día.

Hello.
Adeus.
Goodbye.
Vostede fala inglés?
Do you speak English?
Non entendo.
I don't understand.
Un pouco.
A little.
Si. Non.
Yes. No.
Canto custa?

How much is it?
Demasiado caro. De acordo.
Too expensive. OK.
Por favor.
Please.
(Moitas) grazas.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Como se chama? What is your name? Chámome ... My name is ... Como está vostede? How are you? Moi ben. E vostede? Fine. And you? Onde é ...? Where is ...? Onde é o retrete? Homes/Señoras Where is the toilet? Men/Women Síntoo moito. Desculpe. Sorry. Excuse me. Non hai problema. No problem. Quero ... I want ... Non quero ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

De onde é?
Where are you from?
Son de Australia.*
I am from Australia.
A conta, por favor.
The bill, please.
Estou perdido. (man)
Estou perdida. (woman)
I'm lost.
Pare! Espere!
Stop! Wait!
Aquí, alí, alá.
Here, there, over there.
Taxi. Hotel. Aeroporto. Estación.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Gústame ...
I like ...
Non me gusta ...
I don't like ...

un**, dous**, tres, catro, cinco.
one, two, three, four, five.
seis, sete, oito, nove, dez.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

**Use un before a masculine noun.
Use unha before a feminine noun.
Use dous before a masculine noun.
Use dúas before a feminine noun.

*Or choose your country:
América - America
Canadá - Canada
Inglaterra - England
Irlanda - Ireland
Nova Zelandia - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Saúde!
Cheers!

bo / malo
good / bad
grande / pequeno
big / small
preto / lonxe
near / far
menos / máis
less / more
un outro / bastante
another / enough

Son vexetariano. (man)
Son vexetariana. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Non como carne.
I don't eat meat.
... polo.
... chicken.
... peixe.
... fish.

Son alérxico ós froitos secos. (man)
Son alérxica ós froitos secos. (woman)
I am allergic to nuts.
... ós cacahuetes.
... to peanuts.
... ó peixe.
... to fish.
... ó marisco.
... to seafood.
... ós ovos.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Consonants:
b and v in the middle of a word are a bilabial fricative, like a v using both lips together (β)
c before e or i is pronounced as th as in thick (θ)
ch is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
d in the middle or end of a word is like the in this (ð)
g in the middle of a word is like gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ) or its approximant (ɰ)
gu before e or i is pronounced as g
h is silent
ll is pronounced as ly as in million (ʎ), or y as in yet (IPA j)
m and n at the end of a word are pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ)
nh is pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ)
ñ is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
qu is pronounced as k
rr is a trilled r
v is pronounced b at the start of a word
x is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
z is pronounced as th as in thick (θ)