Learn Spanish for Work: Customers, Coworkers and Patients
Need Spanish at work? Key phrases for customer service, coworkers and patients, how to prepare for work conversations and practice them daily.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
In many jobs, Spanish isn't a nice extra. It's how you help customers, work with your team or care for patients. The good news: work Spanish is very predictable, so focused practice pays off quickly.
Start with your real conversations
List the 10 conversations you have most at work. For a retail worker: greeting, finding a product, prices, returns, payment. For a nurse: greeting, symptoms, pain scale, medications, instructions. Learn those first.
Customer service phrases
- Buenos días, ¿en qué le puedo ayudar? — How can I help you?
- Un momento, por favor. — One moment, please.
- ¿Me permite su identificación? — May I see your ID?
- Disculpe la espera. — Sorry for the wait.
- ¿Algo más? — Anything else?
- Que tenga un buen día. — Have a nice day.
Working with coworkers
- ¿Me ayudas con esto? — Can you help me with this?
- ¿A qué hora es la junta / reunión? — What time is the meeting?
- Ya terminé. — I'm done.
- ¿Cómo te fue? — How did it go?
- ¡Buen trabajo! — Good job!
With patients and clients
See Spanish for healthcare workers for medical phrases.
Use usted
At work, usted is the safe default with customers and patients. See tú vs usted.
Explaining you're learning
- Estoy aprendiendo español. Le voy a hablar despacio. — I'm learning Spanish. I'll speak slowly.
- Si no le entiendo, le pido a un compañero. — If I don't understand you, I'll ask a colleague.
A practice routine
- Script your top five work situations.
- Rehearse each one out loud daily.
- Use one new phrase at work each day.
- Note phrases customers use that you didn't understand.
Practice dialogue: customer service
- Cliente: Buenas tardes. Quiero devolver estos zapatos.
- You: Claro. ¿Tiene el recibo?
- Cliente: Sí, aquí está.
- You: ¿Prefiere un reembolso o un cambio?
- Cliente: Un cambio, por favor. Necesito una talla más grande.
- You: Con gusto. Permítame un momento.
Practice work situations with Lolo
Lolo's onboarding includes a "Work: customers, coworkers, patients" goal. Rehearse real-life situations like the doctor visit out loud, and use the free chat to practice your own workplace conversations. See polite Spanish phrases.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn Spanish for work?
Basic job-specific conversations can be learned in a few weeks of focused daily practice.
Should I use tú or usted with customers?
Usted is the safe, respectful default.
What if a customer speaks too fast?
¿Me lo puede repetir más despacio, por favor? Most people are happy to slow down.
