Tourists in Spain warned against using 'common' Spanish phrases that could get them in trouble
Visiting another country and learning local phrases can be a fun and fulfilling experience, but in Spain, a number of linguistic slip-ups are causing red faces.
According to Statista, over 18 million Brits visited Spain last year - and many may have left locals scratching their heads - or smirking when their back is turned.
Claudio Guasti, head of culture and communication at City Lit, has shared four of the most common - and hilarious - mistakes Brits make when speaking Spanish abroad.
Here's what to watch out for - and what to say instead - when visiting the popular holiday hotspot this year:
1. Avoid accidentally telling people you are aroused if you are warm
If you're feeling warm and want to express that in Spanish, avoid saying 'estoy caliente.'
While this might seem like a direct translation of 'I'm hot,' it actually refers to feeling sexually aroused in Spanish when describing a person.
The correct phrase to use is 'tengo calor,' which means, 'I have heat,' and is the appropriate way to say you feel hot due to the weather.
'Caliente' can still be used to describe food or drinks, for example: 'Quiero un té caliente', which means 'I'd like a hot tea', and 'El café está muy caliente', which means 'coffee is very hot'.
2. Avoid accidentally telling people you're married, instead of tired
Two similar-sounding Spanish words can cause confusion are 'cansado' and 'casado'.
'Estoy cansado' (for men) or 'estoy cansada' (for women) means 'I am tired'.
Meanwhile, 'estoy casado/casada' means 'I am married'.
It's an easy mix-up that could lead to confusion and awkwardness in conversation, so take care to use the correct term, especially when discussing how you feel.
3. Avoid accidentally saying you are pregnant, instead of embarrassed
A common language mistake is assuming 'embarazada' means 'embarrassed' because of the similarity in spelling. In fact, 'embarazada' means 'pregnant'.
To say you're embarrassed in Spanish, the correct phrase is 'estoy avergonzado' if males or 'estoy avergonzada' if female.
Using the wrong word in this case may lead to confusion or misunderstanding, so it's helpful to memorise the correct expression.
4. Avoid using 'hasta la vista' when saying goodbye - no one says this!
While the phrase 'hasta la vista' is recognised due to its appearance in popular films, it is not commonly used by native Spanish speakers in everyday conversations.
More appropriate and natural phrases for saying goodbye include 'hasta luego' (see you later) or 'adiós' (goodbye).
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