Most used language and phrases on the Camino de Santiago

Are you wondering which is the most used language on the Camino; or which short phrases for the Camino should you learn to come do the Walk? We have you covered here!

Pilgrims from all over the world come to walk the Camino de Santiago. This means you will find an abundance of all different languages and cultures as you head towards the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

In 2019, 45% of the pilgrims were Spanish while the other 55% were made up of foreigners from around the world. As a result, Spanish is the most commonly used language on the Camino.

Useful Phrases for the Camino de Santiago

Here at Andaspain, we do not feel you need to know Spanish to come walk and enjoy the Camino! Whether you are on one of our fully-guided Camino tours or a self-guided Camino tour, you can enjoy the walk and communicate with the locals.

We find you can have effective communication through utilizing the mix of languages on the trail, hand gestures, or even just a smile! However, we are sharing a list of our helpful Spanish and Portuguese phrases for the Camino de Santiago. Perhaps you want to learn some of these prior to the start of your Camino!

Useful Spanish Phrases for the Camino Frances:

Useful Phrases for the Camino Portuguese:

Hello/Hi (informal)                                   Olá (OH-lah)

How are you? (informal)                         Como vai?

How are you? (formal)                              Como você está?

Fine, thank you                                              Meu bem obrigado

What is your name? (informal)             Qual é o seu nome?

What is your name? (formal)                 Como você se chama?

My name is ______                                    Chamo-me _____

Nice to meet you                                          Prazer em conhecê-lo

Please                                                                 Por favor

Thank you                                                        Obrigado

Excuse me (getting attention)                Com licença

Excuse me (begging pardon)                  Perdone (pehr-DOHN-eh)

I’m sorry                                                           Me desculpe

Goodbye                                                           Adeus

See you later                                                   Até logo

I speak a little Spanish                              Falo um pouco de português

Do you speak English? (informal)        Fala inglês?

Do you speak English? (formal)            Você fala inglês?

Help                                                                    Ajuda!

Help! (emergency)                                      Ajuda!

Good morning                                               Bom Dia

Good afternoon                                            Boa tarde

Good evening/night                                    Boa noite

I don´t understand                                      Não entendo

Where is the bathroom?                          Onde estão os banheiros?

Where is the Camino?                              Onde está o Camino?

I´m vegetarian                                              Eu sou vegetariano

I´m allergic to…                                            Sou alérgico a…

Buen Camino

Even if you don’t pick up any of our useful phrases for the Camino de Santiago before your walk, all you really need to know is how to say “BUEN CAMINO!”

Buen Camino in Spanish – or in Portuguese, Bom caminho!    You will hear this a lot as you walk along the Camino.  It means Happy Trails! You can say it to pilgrims, or if someone says it to you, the reply is ‘Gracias, igualmente!’  or in Portugese  “Obrigado igaulmente”. 

Contact us if you would like more information on our Camino Tours!