Basic Nouns

1. el agua

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Feminine, but takes "el" in the singular because it starts with a stressed "a". Plural "las aguas"

2. la comida

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; it also means "lunch"

3. el dinero

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; change is "el cambio", a banknote "el billete"

4. el baño

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; in Spain "el servicio" or "los aseos" is more common

5. el pañuelo de papel

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; in Latin America people often say "el kleenex"

6. la medicina

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; a specific drug is "el medicamento" (masculine)

7. el equipaje

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Masculine and uncountable; one suitcase is "la maleta" (feminine)

8. la llave

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; "ll" is pronounced anywhere from "y" to "zh" depending on the region

9. el billete

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; Latin America prefers "el boleto" or "el pasaje"

10. el pasaporte

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun despite the "-e" ending

11. el teléfono

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a mobile is "el móvil" in Spain, "el celular" in Latin America

12. el cargador

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; tool names ending in "-dor" are typically masculine

13. la estación

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun — all "-ción" nouns are. Plural "las estaciones"

14. el hospital

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the "h" is silent

15. la policía

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for the force; an individual officer is "el/la policía"

16. la tienda

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; a big one is "el supermercado" or "los grandes almacenes"

17. la habitación

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a hotel room; a room in general is "el cuarto"

18. la calle

    Street

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a town street; an out-of-town road is "la carretera"

19. la familia

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine collective noun for the whole family

20. el nombre

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a surname is "el apellido"

21. la cabeza

    Head

    Usage

    Point at your own body and at this word to show where it hurts

22. el ojo

    Eye

    Usage

    One eye is "el ojo", both are "los ojos"; use it for eye trouble

23. los dientes

    Teeth

    Usage

    For pointing out a problem at the dentist; a molar is "la muela"

24. la garganta

    Throat

    Usage

    Body part to point at for a sore throat

25. el estómago

    Stomach

    Usage

    For stomach pain; the belly as a whole is "la barriga"

26. la espalda

    Back

    Usage

    Body part to point at for back pain

27. la parte baja de la espalda

    Lower back

    Usage

    Spanish has no single word matching Japanese "koshi"; this is the least ambiguous way to say it

28. el pie

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot only; the leg is a different word, "la pierna" — point at your own body to be sure

29. la mano

    Hand

    Usage

    Body part to point at for a hurt or injured hand

30. el pecho

    Chest

    Usage

    Chest pain; the plural "los pechos" means breasts, so always show the singular

31. el hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi driver or a passer-by to name where you are going

32. el aeropuerto

    Airport

    Usage

    Names the airport as your destination for taxis or information desks

33. la embajada

    Embassy

    Usage

    Your destination if your passport is lost or you are in trouble

34. el camión de bomberos

    Fire engine

    Usage

    For asking that a fire engine be sent, or describing what is happening at a fire; also called "el carro de bomberos" or "el coche de bomberos"

35. el consulado

    Consulate

    Usage

    Your destination if your passport is lost or you are in trouble; it means the house or office where the consul works. An embassy is "la embajada"

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