Top 50 phrases to get by Mexico (Advanced): Getting around and shopping

💬 For plural things, está becomes están: ¿dónde están los taxis? "where are the taxis?"

💬 Add cuesta to ask about one item: ¿cuánto cuesta? "how much does it cost?" For several items, use cuestan.

🇲🇽 In many places the toilet paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, because the plumbing can't handle it. Public restrooms often charge a few pesos.

🇲🇽 In Mexico, baño is the normal everyday word for a restroom. You can also ask for el sanitario, which may sound a bit more public-place or official.

💬 Watch the last letter: derecha is "right", but derecho means "straight ahead". In directions, a la derecha "to the right" vs. todo derecho "straight on".

🇲🇽 Mexicans often say todo derecho "all straight" when giving directions, usually with a pointing hand. It can also mean "right side" in other contexts, so listen for the gesture.

💬 Dé vuelta is the polite way to tell someone to turn; add a la derecha or a la izquierda for the direction. Spain says gire more, but dé vuelta is what you'll hear in Mexico.

💬 In Mexico, dé vuelta is a very common way to tell someone to turn. You can swap the direction: a la izquierda or a la derecha.

💬 In Mexico, dé vuelta is a very common way to tell someone to turn. You can swap the direction: a la izquierda or a la derecha.

💬 Before a place, add de: cerca del metro "near the subway". Same with lejos de "far from".

💬 In Mexico camión means "bus", though elsewhere it usually means "truck". You may also hear autobús for long-distance buses.

💬 de + el always squeezes into del: la estación del metro. Same with a + el becoming al.

💬 ¿Dónde está...? works for any place: swap in ¿Dónde está el baño? "Where is the bathroom?".

💬 Mexico says boleto for tickets; billete here usually means a bank note.

💬 Swap the number to buy more: Dos boletos, por favor. "Two tickets, please."

🇲🇽 In big cities, locals prefer official taxi stands (sitio) or ride apps over hailing taxis on the street, for safety.

💬 al is a + el merged; swap in any place: Al centro, por favor. "To downtown, please."

💬 me bajo is the natural way to say "I'm getting off" a bus, taxi, or other transport. Spanish often uses a reflexive form here where English just uses a plain verb.

🇲🇽 Agree on the price before getting into a taxi without a meter; asking upfront is normal, not rude.

🇲🇽 Mexican markets often have food stalls inside; eating at the counter is a normal, cheap lunch.

🇲🇽 Carry small bills and coins; market stalls and small shops often can't break a 500-peso note.

🇲🇽 Markets, street stalls, small shops and many taxis take only cash. Carry small bills, because change for large ones is often scarce.

🇲🇽 Markets and street stalls are often cash only. Ask ¿Aceptan tarjeta? "Do you take card?" before ordering.

💬 aceptan is the "you all" form, used when asking a business rather than one person.

🇲🇽 Quiero can sound blunt; Me da esto, por favor "Can you give me this, please" is the softer way Mexicans usually ask.

🇲🇽 Market vendors will call out offers as you pass; this phrase with a smile politely ends the pitch.

💬 The ending matches the thing: caro for masculine words, cara for feminine ones like la bolsa.

🇲🇽 Saying this at a market is a normal opening for haggling, not an insult. It's out of place in fixed-price shops.

🇲🇽 Fine at markets and with street vendors, especially if buying several items. Don't ask in supermarkets or chain stores.

💬 talla is for clothing size; for shoes Mexicans say número "number".

💬 Mexico often uses chica where Spain says pequeña; it changes to chico for masculine words.

💬 In Mexico, chico/chica often means "small," not just "boy/girl." So una talla más chica is a smaller size.

💬 Put más before any describing word to say "more": más barato "cheaper".

💬 ¿Tiene...? is the polite "do you have" for any item: ¿Tiene agua? "Do you have water?".

🇲🇽 Many Mexican cities ban free plastic bags; bring your own or expect to pay for one.

💬 dar often gets used where English uses "give" less directly: ¿Me da... ? is a very common way to ask for something in a shop. You can swap in almost anything: ¿Me da una bolsa?, ¿Me da dos boletos?.

🇲🇽 This is polite and very normal with cashiers and clerks in Mexico. It sounds more natural than a very direct Quiero un recibo.