22 Spanish Phrases to Impress Every Spanish Speaker

Why do you want to learn Spanish? Many people might say it is because they think the language is beautiful or because they think it will open them to more job opportunities. The bottom line though, most people learn another language like Spanish because they want to impress people.

One of the major reasons people want to learn Spanish to impress people is that they want to forge bonds between themselves and Spanish speakers. These bonds can be friendly or even business-related. Often, it can also be because one finds oneself attracted to a Spanish speaker.

In this post, we’re going to go a little further than just basic conversational skills in Spanish. We’re going to share with you some casual and fun Spanish phrases to impress that you can use to become friends (and maybe more) with a Spanish speaker. Enjoy!

5 Spanish Phrases To Impress Someone On A First Encounter

Of course, if you want to leave a good impression on a Spanish speaker, you need to know how to properly greet them and introduce yourself.

We have a great three-step guide to introducing yourself in Spanish that you can study, but to help get started, here are a few other basic phrases that you can use in casual everyday situations.

1. Hola, ¿Cómo te llamas?

Meaning: Hi, what is your name?

While you can always wait for a Spanish-speaking friend to make the introductions for you, it’s a little more impressive if you take the initiative.

Body language is important in Spanish-speaking cultures, so you say this make sure to smile and make eye contact. It is also appropriate to extend your hand for a handshake.

2.  Hola, ¿Cómo va tu semana?

Meaning: Hi, how’s your week going?

This friendly phrase is a great way that you can greet someone to whom you were previously introduced. It assures someone that you both remember them and is happy to see them. In addition, it is a way to signal you are interested and is an invitation for you two to have a genuine conversation.

3. Mucho gusto

Meaning: Nice to meet you

If you have just been introduced to someone, this is a Spanish phrase that you can use to make a good impression. This simple but polite phrase expresses pleasure or delight at meeting someone and implies that you are eager to learn more about your new acquaintance.

4. ¿Qué tal?

Meaning: What’s up?

This is a fun and casual way to both greet someone and acknowledge an introduction. You can greet a friend or new acquaintance by asking them “what’s up” or you can casually acknowledge someone who you have just been introduced to by asking them “what’s up”.

5. ¿Cómo vas?

Meaning: How you doing? 

The American TV show Friends is considered one of the best English TV series of all time. The English translation of this phrase was often used by the character Joey on the show as a friendly and flirty greeting. 

9 Basic Spanish Phrases To Use If You Want To Ask Someone Out

One situation where you definitely want to use your Spanish speaking skills to impress and leave a good impression is when you are talking to someone you find attractive. 

To help you make a good impression on your Spanish-speaking crush, here are a few basic phrases you can use.

1. ¿Quisieras salir conmigo?

Meaning: Would you like to go out with me? 

Three simple words that you’re going to want to learn how to pronounce correctly to impress your crush. Hopefully, the answer you will get is a short but sweet “si”.

2. ¿Te invito a tomar algo?

Meaning: Can I buy you a drink?

This is a basic Spanish phrase you can use to impress your crush if you see them hanging out at the bar. This is also a good “intro” if you see someone attractive at a bar. Offer to buy them a drink and it might be easier to not just get their name, but also their phone number.

 3. ¿Te gusta esta música?

Meaning: Do you like this music?

This is another friendly Spanish phrase you can use to strike up a conversation in a bar. If the bar you are hanging out in or the event you are attending has music, this is a good way to start small talk in Spanish. 

4. ¿Te gustaría bailar?

Meaning: Do you want to dance?

If the party or event you are attending has a dance floor, one good way to get to know someone more personally is to ask them if they would like to dance with you.

5. ¿Te estás disfrutando?

Meaning: Are you having a good time?

This Spanish phrase can be used in two ways. First, it can serve as an icebreaker or a conversation starter.

Secondly, if you are at a party or event with someone, it’s always polite to ask if they are enjoying themselves. This is especially important if you want to leave a good impression on a first date. If they feel like you are genuinely solicitous of their well-being, it’s more likely they will say “Si” to a second date.

6. Vamos a otro lado

Meaning: Let’s go somewhere else.

If your date indicates in some way that they are not enjoying themselves, offer to go somewhere else. Give them the option to choose a venue or activity that they will enjoy. 

You can also use this phrase if, for example, you’ve struck up a conversation with someone at the bar and would like to continue it in a less chaotic venue.

7. Ya vengo

Meaning: I’m coming right back.

So, you’ve bought them a drink and are now chatting about the music being played. Suddenly your phone rings and you need to excuse yourself. This is the proper phrase to use to tell your companion that, you need to excuse yourself but still want to continue with your conversation.

8. ¿Quieres que te acompañe a la casa? 

Meaning: Would you like me to walk you home?

This is a perfect phrase to end a flirty conversation with. If they answer “si”, you get a chance to spend more time with them and have a more private conversation. It’s also impressive because it shows that you care about them and are concerned for their well-being. 

9. ¿Cuándo te vuelvo a ver?

Meaning: When can I see you again.

If you can’t “walk them home”, you can always end the night with a polite declaration of interest by using this phrase. It’s a low-pressure way to tell the person you are attracted to that you had a good time and would like to continue to get to know them better.

Eight Harmless Yet Flirty Spanish Phrases To Compliment And Impress Someone

After you’ve established yourself as “friendly but interested” in someone, you might want to turn it up a bit more and let the other person realize you are serious in wanting to get to know them better. In other words, it’s time to get your flirt on.

1. Eres lindo/linda

Meaning: You’re cute

If you want to give a quick compliment to your companion, you can do worse than calling them cute. Take note that “lindo” is a gendered adjective, so if you are describing a male as cute, it’s “lindo”. If you want to tell a female they are cute, however, use “linda”.

2. Me gusta tu sonrisa

Meaning: I like your smile

Sometimes, the thing that attracts you to a person is a warm and open smile. This is a great compliment to pay anyone. If you say it correctly, you might get a smile.

3. Te ves hermosa / guapo esta noche

Meaning: You look beautiful/handsome tonight

There’s an English saying that goes “flattery will get you everywhere” and if you want to impress a Spanish speaker during a date (or if you are angling for a date) a few compliments on their appearance is the way to go.

Again, this is a gendered phrase. If you are talking to a male, use “guapo” which translates to “handsome”. If you are talking to a female, stick to “hermosa” which translates to “beautiful”.

4. ¡Tú eres chistoso!

Meaning: You’re funny!

Another of those Spanish phrases to impress that also serves as a compliment. A good sense of humor is attractive in many cultures, including in Spain and other Spanish-speaking regions. If the person you are attracted to has a good sense of humor, this is a simple yet basic way to compliment them on that.

5. Perdí mi número. ¿Puedo tener el tuyo?

Meaning: I lost my number. Can I have yours?

Say you are at a bar or a party, you’ve been having a nice conversation with someone and you’re really hoping to get to know them even better.

Unfortunately, you will have to leave the party soon, but one way you can continue chatting with your new “friend” is via text message or phone call – if you have their phone number.

You can then pull out this Spanish phrase to impress to signify your continued interest in talking to another person. Maybe, if they give you their number, you can arrange to meet up for coffee or dinner later.

6. ¡Te pareces mucho a mi próximo/a novio/a!

Meaning: You look a lot like my next boyfriend/girlfriend

This is a fun little pickup line that you can try to use on a Spanish speaker who you find attractive. Remember, Spanish is a gendered language, so make sure you use the proper words.

For example, “próximo” is an adjective that translates to “next”, while “novio/a” is boyfriend or girlfriend respectively. If you want to use an adjective to describe a female, you need to use the feminine form. In the case of “próximo” that is “próxima”.

So, if you are flirting with Juan, you use:

¡Te pareces mucho a mi próximo novio!

If you are flirting with Maria, you use:

¡Te pareces mucho a mi próxima novia!

7. Si Cristóbal Colón te viera, diría: ¡Santa María, qué Pinta tiene esta Niña!

Meaning: If Christopher Columbus saw you, he’d say: Saint Mary, that girl looks incredible.

This is a flirty and fun phrase you can use if you want to impress the “senorita” your friend just introduced you to. It also shows off a bit as it refers to Spanish history.

Cristóbal Colón is Christopher Columbus, who is famous for sailing to the Americas with three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and the Santa María. So this is a jokey, punny, phrase that references Columbus and his three ships.

8. Quisiera ser gato, para pasar siete vidas a tu lado.

Meaning: If I were a cat, I’d spend all seven lives with you.

This is a Spanish idiom and, like many other idioms, it might not make sense to a Spanish language learner. In this case, the confusion might come when you get to the phrase “siete vidas” or “seven lives”.

 In some Spanish-speaking countries, it’s believed that cats have seven lives. This is in contrast to other cultures where, if they believe that cats have multiple lives, it’s usually nine.

You could also hear this phrase but with “nueve vidas” or nine lives, but seven or nine, that doesn’t really matter. What a Spanish speaker means when they utter this phrase is that they would like to spend a lot of time with you, or their love for someone is “unkillable”. 

Conclusion

If you want to make sure that you can use these Spanish phrases to impress correctly, we suggest you try them out in a conversational practice with an online native Spanish-speaking tutor. They can help make sure you pronounce the phrases correctly so that people laugh at your jokes and not your accent.

Let your tutor know what you’re doing and what you are interested in learning and maybe they’ll have some additional suggestions on Spanish phrases to impress that you should learn. Enjoy your language learning journey!