🌍 Countries
In this section you'll learn useful Spanish vocabulary and everyday expressions for talking about countries, nationalities, languages, where people are from, and traveling to different parts of the world.
🟢 Common Countries
🇪🇸 Spain → España
🇲🇽 Mexico → México
🇺🇸 United States → Estados Unidos
🇦🇷 Argentina → Argentina
🇨🇴 Colombia → Colombia
🇵🇪 Peru → Perú
🇫🇷 France → Francia
🇯🇵 Japan → Japón
🟡 Countries & Travel Vocabulary
🌎 Country → País
🏙️ Capital city → Capital
🌐 Continent → Continente
🗺️ Map → Mapa
🧳 To travel → Viajar
🛫 Airport → Aeropuerto
🔵 Languages & Nationalities
🗣️ Language → Idioma
🌍 Nationality → Nacionalidad
🇪🇸 Spanish → Español
🇺🇸 English → Inglés
🇫🇷 French → Francés
🇯🇵 Japanese → Japonés
🧠 Talking About Countries & Nationalities
💡 Use ser de to say where someone is from.
Soy de México.
I'm from Mexico.
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
Soy de México.
I'm from Mexico.
¿De dónde eres?
Where are you from?
💡 Nationality adjectives often change to match the gender of the person being described.
Él es mexicano.
He is Mexican.
Ella es mexicana.
She is Mexican.
Some nationalities, such as estadounidense, use the same form for masculine and feminine.
Él es mexicano.
He is Mexican.
Ella es mexicana.
She is Mexican.
Some nationalities, such as estadounidense, use the same form for masculine and feminine.
💡 In Spanish, most country names are normally used without an article when talking about where you are from or where you are traveling.
Vivo en España.
I live in Spain.
Quiero viajar a Colombia.
I want to travel to Colombia.
Vivo en España.
I live in Spain.
Quiero viajar a Colombia.
I want to travel to Colombia.
💬 Talking About Countries
🇪🇸 Mi amiga vive en España, pero su familia es de Argentina.
My friend lives in Spain, but her family is from Argentina.
My friend lives in Spain, but her family is from Argentina.
🧳 El próximo verano queremos viajar a México y visitar varias ciudades.
Next summer we want to travel to Mexico and visit several cities.
Next summer we want to travel to Mexico and visit several cities.
🗣️ En casa hablamos español, pero en el trabajo uso inglés todos los días.
At home we speak Spanish, but at work I use English every day.
At home we speak Spanish, but at work I use English every day.
🌎 Me gusta aprender sobre otros países y conocer sus costumbres.
I like learning about other countries and getting to know their customs.
I like learning about other countries and getting to know their customs.
💬 Everyday Conversations
Talking about where you're from
A: ¿De dónde eres?
B: Soy de Perú, pero ahora vivo en Estados Unidos.
A: ¿Y qué idiomas hablas?
B: Hablo español e inglés.
A: Where are you from?
B: I'm from Peru, but now I live in the United States.
A: And what languages do you speak?
B: I speak Spanish and English.
A: ¿De dónde eres?
B: Soy de Perú, pero ahora vivo en Estados Unidos.
A: ¿Y qué idiomas hablas?
B: Hablo español e inglés.
A: Where are you from?
B: I'm from Peru, but now I live in the United States.
A: And what languages do you speak?
B: I speak Spanish and English.
Talking about travel plans
A: ¿A qué país te gustaría viajar algún día?
B: Me gustaría conocer Japón y pasar unos días en Tokio.
A: What country would you like to travel to someday?
B: I'd like to visit Japan and spend a few days in Tokyo.
A: ¿A qué país te gustaría viajar algún día?
B: Me gustaría conocer Japón y pasar unos días en Tokio.
A: What country would you like to travel to someday?
B: I'd like to visit Japan and spend a few days in Tokyo.
📝 Example Sentences
🇨🇴 Mis vecinos son colombianos y visitan a su familia cada vez que viajan a Colombia.
My neighbors are Colombian, and they visit their family whenever they travel to Colombia.
My neighbors are Colombian, and they visit their family whenever they travel to Colombia.
🇫🇷 Mi hermana está aprendiendo francés porque quiere estudiar un semestre en Francia.
My sister is learning French because she wants to study for a semester in France.
My sister is learning French because she wants to study for a semester in France.
🏙️ Madrid es la capital de España y recibe visitantes de muchas partes del mundo.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and receives visitors from many parts of the world.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and receives visitors from many parts of the world.
🇦🇷 Durante nuestro viaje por Argentina vimos ciudades, montañas y paisajes muy diferentes.
During our trip through Argentina, we saw cities, mountains, and very different landscapes.
During our trip through Argentina, we saw cities, mountains, and very different landscapes.
🇯🇵 Antes de viajar a Japón, mi primo aprendió algunas palabras y expresiones básicas en japonés.
Before traveling to Japan, my cousin learned some basic words and expressions in Japanese.
Before traveling to Japan, my cousin learned some basic words and expressions in Japanese.
🗺️ Marcamos en el mapa todos los países que nos gustaría visitar en el futuro.
We marked on the map all the countries we would like to visit in the future.
We marked on the map all the countries we would like to visit in the future.
🏆 Final Practice
Try saying each phrase before pressing play.
- ¿De dónde eres?
- Soy de México.
- Hablo español e inglés.
- Quiero viajar a Colombia.
- Madrid es la capital de España.
- ¿Qué idiomas hablas?