Most visitors manage fine in English in the centre of Valencia. A few words in the local language still change how a day feels: ordering lunch, reading a festival poster, saying thanks the way locals do. Here are the ones you will meet most.
Words for eating and drinking
- menú del día (): a fixed-price weekday lunch menu, usually a starter, a main, dessert or coffee and a drink. Look for it on a board outside.
- la cuenta, por favor (): the bill, please. Nobody brings it unasked, which is polite, not rude.
- sobremesa (): the time spent talking at the table after a meal has ended.
- tardeo (): socialising in the afternoon between lunch and dinner.
- orxata () (Spanish: horchata ()): the cold sweet drink made from tiger nuts, a Valencian speciality.
Photo: Juan Emilio Prades Bel, CC BY 4.0
Words for festivals
- falla (): one of the large satirical sculptures built for the Fallas festival, which runs from 1 to 19 March, and burned on the last night.
- mascletà (): the daytime firecracker show, loud and rhythmic, held in Plaça de l'Ajuntament () during the festival. It is felt as much as heard.
If you are planning around Fallas, read our full guide: visiting Las Fallas in Valencia.
Words you will see on signs and hear in greetings
Valencian is co-official with Spanish in the Valencian Community. You will see it on street signs and public transport, and hear it from many locals.
- bon dia (): good morning
- gràcies (): thank you
- Ajuntament (): city hall, the same building Spanish speakers call the Ayuntamiento ()
You do not need Valencian to get by. Using one greeting is simply a warm gesture, and it is usually noticed.
Photo: Elke Wetzig (Elya), CC BY-SA 3.0
Three phrases to say before you leave your hotel
- Una mesa para dos, por favor. () A table for two, please.
- ¿Dónde está el metro? () Where is the metro?
- No hablo mucho español. () I do not speak much Spanish. Said with a smile, it usually gets you a friendly slower answer.
Stay connected from the airport
Maps, translation and booking apps all need data from the moment you land.
A travel eSIM like this is data only and does not give you a Spanish phone number. For a short visit, that is normally enough.
If you plan to stay longer
A few words are fine for a trip. If you are thinking about living here, our guide to learning Spanish before you move gives a 90-day plan, and our overview of the languages of Valencia explains when Spanish and Valencian each matter.
About the author
Michael Bastin
Founder, ValenciaMove - Valencia since 2016
Michael has lived in Valencia since 2016 and helps people move here.
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