Do I have to learn Spanish when traveling to South America? Advice from a native English-speaker

Do I have to learn Spanish when traveling to South America?

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to answer this question, as there are many factors to take into account. For example, it depends on where you’re going and for how long. However, in my personal opinion, I think the answer is: no, you don’t have to know Spanish when traveling to South America, but it’s definitely going to help enhance your experience if you do. Let’s get into why!

My Experience in South America

I’m currently writing this article while living in Peru, and I spent the last month prior to now in Argentina. Therefore, I’ve had plenty of time to think about this topic and encounter specific examples of Spanish being useful. I learned some Spanish in high school, and I took group classes every day for a month in Buenos Aires before coming here. At this point, I’m still learning more advanced grammar, but I can have conversations pretty fluently. With that being said, let’s first answer a common question.

Will I still enjoy my time in South America if I don’t know any Spanish?

Of course! Firstly, if you’re traveling to one of the more populated or touristy areas there will likely be people who speak English. Also, with the help of translation apps, we can pretty much communicate with anyone. Though it might be awkward to whip out your phone, if you really need help, you aren’t going to be stranded without anyone to assist you.

If you’re traveling to more remote places, there might be a decrease in English-speakers, but this is really part of the fun when visiting a foreign country. I’ve met so many bilingual people from other countries and realized we are privileged in America! Why should we assume that everyone must conform to our language? Or that the country will not be “enjoyable” if we can’t read menus? So, the answer to this specific question is – YES, you will still enjoy your time in South America without Spanish!

Where should I start if I don’t know any Spanish?

Despite still being able to enjoy yourself, you will still have to communicate with people at a basic level. If you don’t have time to extensively learn Spanish before your trip to South America, there are definitely a couple topics and phrases I would be familiar with.

• Basic greetings and manners (Hello, goodbye, thank you)
• Numbers! Not understanding the currency of a foreign place can be the most challenging part of traveling, so being familiar with the numbers will help you feel more comfortable when at restaurants, grocery stores, etc.
• “No hablo Espanol” is a pretty standard go-to-phrase if you’re really freaking out 🙂
• Location words! Knowing how to ask where things or places are can help you feel safer in otherwise stressful situations, such as asking where your airport gate is

Depending on how long your trip is, you will inevitably pick up on more basic words with time. That being said . . .

Why is it better to learn Spanish when traveling to South America?

As I prefaced earlier, while I did say it’s not going to make-or-break your experience in South America, there are so many benefits to learning Spanish before and during your travels. Here’s why!

You will feel safer.

There is a misconception in the United States that everywhere in South America is dangerous and scary (at least this was my experience when I told people I was leaving for Argentina). However, like anywhere else on Earth, there are good and bad places in every country and city. With this in mind, understanding Spanish can help avoid scams and other bad situations. Foreigners can be targets anywhere and being able to properly communicate with cab drivers, guides, and anybody else can be helpful. This can ensure you don’t get ripped off or end up in an unsafe area. Even more importantly . . .

Your cultural immersion is that much greater!

The absolute best part about knowing Spanish is being able to communicate with the locals! Of course, if you’re at a resort or similar setup where you will be around mostly other tourists, this may not apply to you. However, if you’re looking for an authentic South American experience, the ability to communicate is game-changing. There are so many experiences I would have missed out on here had I not known Spanish.

For example, in Argentina, my boyfriend and I had dinner with a local couple that we were connected with through an old friend. We simply went to their house and ate pizza, but it was one of the best days I had there. We learned so much about the culture, their perspective on America, etc. The woman spoke very little English and being able to speak with her still was very special. Here in Peru, we also had dinner with the family of a friend from home and I had the exact same experience. They gave us tips and tricks about where to visit, what foods to try, and so much other helpful information.

In the photo above, we met this man who was selling hand-woven tapestries. As opposed to a strictly-business transaction, we were actually able to ask him questions and learn about his technique. He told us about the towns he was depicting in the tapestries and about how the technique of using the loom “kept him young.” The interaction was much more intimate and special because of our ability to ask about his work. The Hispanic cultures are extremely warm, generous, and funny, and you are only truly able to feel this through communicating with locals.

Where should I start if I want to learn more than the basics?

If you do want to extend your Spanish knowledge past the basic information needed just to get by, you have a couple of options.

Take a Spanish class!

If you have the time, taking a Spanish class has more benefits than merely learning the language. Of course, it is the best way to learn the grammar and practice both speaking and listening. Because the teachers speak great English, they are also the best people to ask for advice about the place you’re in! In both Buenos Aires and Lima, we learned so much about the cultures from asking our teachers.

Sound like a local!

Learning Spanish from locals, as opposed to online sources, also provides insight to the local dialect. For example, in high school I was taught to order for food by saying, “Puedo tener . . .” I was quickly corrected in class and learned that this phrase is exactly how locals know you don’t speak Spanish – how embarrassing!

Meet other travelers!

The other unexpected benefit from taking Spanish classes were the other travelers we met! Everybody in class came from a different state, each with their own story behind why they were there. Over the course of a couple weeks, we became pretty close, and these were also great people to ask questions to / advice from!

If you happen to be traveling to Buenos Aires or Lima, here are the places we chose for classes!

• Buenos Aires, Argentina: Wanderlust Spanish
• Lima, Peru: Peruwayna Spanish Schol

Online Platforms

There are obviously apps that you can download like Duolingo and Conjugato, both of which are helpful if you don’t have the time to take a class or merely want to freshen up on conjugations before your trip. They are also convenient pastimes for places like the airport, when you’re in an uber, etc.

Push yourself!

Just as important as learning the language is pushing yourself to use it! It’s very easy to rely on google translate or to assume you can’t say what you want to say, but really making the effort to try goes a long way. My boyfriend and I challenged ourselves one day to only talk to each other in Spanish, even at home, and turning it into a game can make it fun!

So, do you have to learn Spanish before traveling to South America?

Hopefully I’ve eased any anxiety you felt about traveling to South America without knowing any Spanish, while also convincing you that it’s a great idea to do so! While it’s not going to cause you to have a bad trip, the benefits received from learning Spanish are entirely worth the time and effort. Plus, who doesn’t want to be able to say they’re bilingual?!