Getting around
Metro
Próxima estación.
Next station.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Spanish, in its Castilian form, is both the official language and the one heard every day.
In this city
- Language
- Spanish
- Also heard
- Mostly Spanish
- A local word
- Caña — A small beer, please.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Bar
Un café con leche, por favor.
A coffee with milk.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Mercado
¿Cuánto es?
How much is it?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Calle
Buenos días.
Good morning.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
This is the Castilian Spanish of the capital: the metro, the bar, and the office.
Around Malasaña, Lavapiés, La Latina, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Madrid can run on four lines: “Próxima estación.”, “Un café con leche, por favor.”, “¿Cuánto es?”, and “Buenos días.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- In a shop, usted is a safe polite you. Tú is warmer, with people your own age.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Madrid, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Caña. It means A small beer, please..
Places you can see
- Prado — A large art museum on the Paseo del Prado, strong in Spanish and European painting.
- Retiro — A large park just east of the centre, with a lake, avenues, and the Crystal Palace.
- Plaza Mayor — A rectangular square of arcades in the old centre, a short walk from the Puerta del Sol.
Food
Taverns serve potato omelette and small plates, and roast houses cook meat late in the evening.
Getting around
The Metro is large, and buses and suburban trains reach the outer neighbourhoods.
Daily life
You stay out late, because dinner in Madrid often begins when other cities are winding down.
A few everyday phrases
Spanish
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hola | Hello |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| Me llamo… | My name is… |
