First Phrases

Making plans with new friends · Español

Making plans with new friends in Spanish: 15 phrases

Invite someone for a coffee or an event, suggest a time and a place, swap numbers, say you are new in town, decline politely, follow up after meeting at an event, and say nice to meet you and see you next time. Short, natural phrases for making friends in a new town. Pair them with Meet & Mint: find an event to go to together.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Informal (friendly). Between people of a similar age "tú" is the normal form in Spain, also with someone you have just met; use "usted" with an older person or in a formal setting. "Quedar" is the everyday verb for arranging to meet ("quedamos" = let's meet / we've agreed). Dinner is often late, so "quedamos a las nueve" for dinner is completely normal. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How to read the sounds: Spanish is mostly read as written. In Spain, c before e/i and z sound like English th. h is silent. ñ = ny. rr is rolled. Stress is marked in CAPITALS.

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15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Informal
    ¿Te apetece tomar un café esta semana?
    Say it like: teh ah-peh-TEH-theh toh-MAR oon kah-FEH ES-tah seh-MAH-nah
    Do you fancy a coffee this week?
    Register: "Apetecer" = to feel like. "¿Quedamos para un café?" works too.
  2. 02Informal
    ¿Te vienes al evento del sábado? Podemos ir juntos.
    Say it like: teh BYEH-nes al eh-BEN-toh del SAH-bah-doh. poh-DEH-mos eer HOON-tos
    Are you coming to the event on Saturday? We could go together.
    Register: "Te vienes" = are you joining. Say "juntas" if you are both women.
  3. 03Informal
    ¿Quedamos a las nueve para cenar?
    Say it like: keh-DAH-mos ah las NWEH-beh PAH-rah theh-NAR
    Shall we meet at nine for dinner?
    Register: Late dinners are normal in Spain, so nine or later is not unusual.
  4. 04Informal
    ¿Te viene bien en el centro? Conozco un sitio majo.
    Say it like: teh BYEH-neh byen en el THEN-troh. koh-NOTH-koh oon SEE-tyoh MAH-hoh
    Does the centre suit you? I know a nice place.
    Register: "Majo" = nice, pleasant (friendly, everyday word in Spain).
  5. 05Informal
    ¿Qué día te viene mejor?
    Say it like: keh DEE-ah teh BYEH-neh meh-HOR
    Which day suits you best?
    Register: Also "¿Cuándo te va bien?".
  6. 06Informal
    ¿Me das tu número y te escribo?
    Say it like: meh das too NOO-meh-roh ee teh es-KREE-boh
    Can I have your number and I'll message you?
    Register: People mostly swap WhatsApp: "¿Tienes WhatsApp?".
  7. 07Neutral
    Soy nuevo en la ciudad y estoy conociendo gente.
    Say it like: soy NWEH-boh en lah thyoo-DAD ee es-TOY koh-noh-THYEN-doh HEN-teh
    I'm new in town and I'm meeting people.
    Register: Women say "nueva".
  8. 08Neutral
    Gracias por la invitación, pero esta vez no puedo.
    Say it like: GRAH-thyas por lah een-bee-tah-THYON, PEH-roh ES-tah beth noh PWEH-doh
    Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time.
    Register: Kind and clear; you do not have to give a reason.
  9. 09Informal
    Hoy no me viene bien, ¿lo dejamos para otro día?
    Say it like: oy noh meh BYEH-neh byen, loh deh-HAH-mos PAH-rah OH-troh DEE-ah
    Today doesn't work for me, shall we leave it for another day?
    Register: Keeps the door open without promising a date.
  10. 10Informal
    ¡Me parece genial! Allí estaré.
    Say it like: meh pah-REH-theh heh-NYAL. ah-YEE es-tah-REH
    Sounds great! I'll be there.
    Register: "Me parece bien" is a calmer yes.
  11. 11Neutral
    Fue un placer conocerte ayer en el evento.
    Say it like: fweh oon plah-THER koh-noh-THER-teh ah-YER en el eh-BEN-toh
    It was a pleasure meeting you yesterday at the event.
    Register: "Conocerte" is the tú form; "conocerle" for usted.
  12. 12Informal
    Te mando un mensaje con los detalles.
    Say it like: teh MAN-doh oon men-SAH-heh kon los deh-TAH-yes
    I'll send you a message with the details.
    Register: "Mandar un mensaje" and "escribir" are both used.
  13. 13Informal
    ¿Repetimos algún día? Lo pasé muy bien.
    Say it like: reh-peh-TEE-mos al-GOON DEE-ah? loh pah-SEH mwee byen
    Shall we do it again some time? I had a really good time.
    Register: "Pasarlo bien" = to have a good time.
  14. 14Neutral
    Encantado de conocerte.
    Say it like: en-kan-TAH-doh deh koh-noh-THER-teh
    Nice to meet you.
    Register: Women say "encantada". "Mucho gusto" is also common.
  15. 15Informal
    Nos vemos la próxima vez. ¡Hasta pronto!
    Say it like: nos BEH-mos lah PROK-see-mah beth. AS-tah PRON-toh
    See you next time. See you soon!
    Register: "Nos vemos" is the everyday goodbye among friends.

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Quick answers

How do you invite someone for a coffee in Spanish?

Say: "¿Te apetece tomar un café esta semana?" (Do you fancy a coffee this week?)

Should I use informal or formal Spanish with new friends?

Between people of a similar age "tú" is the normal form in Spain, also with someone you have just met; use "usted" with an older person or in a formal setting. "Quedar" is the everyday verb for arranging to meet ("quedamos" = let's meet / we've agreed). Dinner is often late, so "quedamos a las nueve" for dinner is completely normal. Phrases only: this card gives no safety or medical advice.

How do I say I'm new in town in Spanish?

Say: "Soy nuevo en la ciudad y estoy conociendo gente." (I'm new in town and I'm meeting people.)

How do I decline an invitation politely in Spanish?

Say: "Gracias por la invitación, pero esta vez no puedo." (Thanks for the invitation, but I can't this time.)

Making plans phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

Spanish, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you live in.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find an event to go to together: see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group before you meet. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/making-plans-with-new-friends/es/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint