Go beyond "quiero más queso"

10 Spanish phrases worth knowing

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As the fourth most spoken language in the world and the second most spoken in the United States, Spanish is definitely one of the most ubiquitous languages. Whether you are on holiday in a Spanish-speaking country, or you need to speak to someone who only speaks Spanish, it is always a good idea to learn a few phrases to make communication easier. The following ten are some of the most used phrases when visiting unfamiliar places. Did you know any of these?

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A dialogue has to start somewhere. And what better way to start one than saying "hello" in a friendly manner, right? Spanish-speaking folks are no different and a kind greeting is always a good way to introduce yourself.

The Spanish word for "hello" is Hola (ow·luh). And a perfectly agreeable way to follow that would be a "nice to meet you," which in Spanish translates to es un placer conocerte (ehs oon plah-sehr koh-noh-sehr-teh).

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The second part of an introduction is presenting yourself (that is if you are not just simply asking for directions or something along those lines). At this stage, you might want to let your new acquaintance know your name.

You can do so by saying Mi nombre es… (mee nohm-breh ehs) followed by your name. This is the Spanish way of saying "my name is."

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Another advisable thing to know if you are traveling to a Spanish-speaking region is "Where is this address?" Whether you have a map or not, being able to get assistance from the locals is always a good thing.

If you have a map or can, somehow, show the address you need to get to, the correct way of saying this in Spanish is Dónde queda esta dirección? (don·De ke·Da e·sa Deer x ee on)

If you can pronounce the address, then the way to ask is Dónde queda…? ((don·De ke·Da) and complete the dots with the address.

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This phrase is a linguistic Swiss Army knife that can be used to get the correct word for absolutely anything you need. Being able to say "How do you say…?" in a foreign language is extremely valuable and luckily, very simple.

To say this in Spanish, you must say ¿Cómo se dice…? (Koh Moe Ze Dee Ze) followed by the thing you need to say in Spanish.

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This phrase can be of paramount importance if nature calls and you are surrounded by Spanish-speaking individuals. Knowing how to properly ask for a toilette in the local language is, perhaps, not your highest priority when it comes to learning local phrases but maybe it should be, just in case.

The right way to ask for a bathroom in Spanish is to say ¿Dónde queda el baño? (Don Deh Keh Dah L Bah Neeo), which translates to "Where is the bathroom?"

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As a cautionary measure, if you are not fluent in Spanish, it might be a good idea to disclose this information to the person you are speaking to. By doing so, you are excusing yourself for any confusion possible.

To say that you don’t speak the language very well, you can try with No hablo muy bien tu idioma (No Ah Bloh Mooi Bee In Too E deeo Mah). Or you can also say, No hablo bien en Español, which means "I don´t speak Spanish very well."

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These are pretty basic things to know. Being kind can take you a long way and it’s free so, why not use it, right? The correct way to say "please" in Spanish is Por favor (Pohr Fah Voor). And the right way to say "thank you" is Gracias (Grah See As).

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Likewise, other two very important things to learn are "I’m sorry" and "excuse me." Being courteous and well-mannered is universally appreciated and help will always be more readily available for a person who shows this kind of behavior.

The right way to say "I’m sorry" in Spanish is Perdón (pehr-dohn). And the correct way to phrase "excuse me" is disculpas (dees-kool-pahs).

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This one can also be crucial if you require assistance and the only people who can provide it are Spanish-speaking individuals. The simple phrase "I need help" can be used for someone who needs advice choosing a wine or someone who is in serious danger.

The correct way to say "I need help" in Spanish is, necesito ayuda (Neh Seh See Toh A Joo Dah).

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The final entry on this list matches the final words of your conversation with a Spanish-speaking person. Or, at least, a version of these words, since there are many ways to say goodbye in any language.

The phrase we are using here is a polite farewell that can be used with someone you have just met, similar to saying, "Goodbye, it was nice meeting you" and it is pronounced Hasta luego, fue un placer conocerte (Fooh Eh Oon Plah Sir Koh No Sir Teh).

WILL OUR SENSE OF STYLE AGE BETTER THAN THESE EXAMPLES?

Carpeted Walls & Water Beds: 10 Furniture Fads Best Forgotten

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Judging the past in hindsight might be a bit unfair but, sometimes, it can be fun. If you’ve ever guessed the age of a photograph or a movie by the furniture and decor showcased in it, then you might know what we are talking about.

Each decade has its own fads and passing styles of home decor. And while some of these aesthetic statements might seem tasteful even today, many documented instances did not age so well. The following list offers some of these unfortunate examples for your perusal and, let’s be honest, amusement.

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Having your walls feel as soft and warm as your thick floor carpet might seem like a good idea for about a second. But any person with a minimum sense of practicality will understand the issues that would come with such a decision.

In the 1970s, however, carpet was just about everywhere. When people ran out of floor space to carpet, they started putting it on the walls. The aim was to create a comforting, homey feel, but as people everywhere discovered, it was a nightmare to clean. It was disastrous to vacuum as the wool fibers would get stuck inside the cleaners.

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Sleeping on water, lulled by the rolling waves beneath you, in your own bedroom, was a thing. Never mind the fact that water beds weighed over a thousand pounds on average, and filling them up included bringing in a hose from the backyard. Or the nightmare that ensued if they spring a leak. For some reason, people liked them.

Fortunately, these days, sleeping atop a rubber sack filled with H20 has gone the way of pet rocks, platform shoes, and TV antennas.

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Carpeting everything seems to be the '60s motto. And yes, this included bathrooms. Toilet lids, seats, those mini rugs that hugged the base of the toilet, you name it, it was all covered in spectacularly unhygienic, germ-catching rugs.

Yes, it can be comfy and not as cold as tile or linoleum on bare feet. But that is not enough reason to transform your bathroom into a sanitary trap, a hub for mold, mildew, and toxic spores.

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Bathroom sinks, toilets, bidets, and bathtubs are usually bought and installed together in a home. And, for some obscure aesthetic reason, back in the ’70s, avocado was a very popular color choice for these elements.

Maybe it had something to do with Art Nouveau and the whole "back to nature" thing of the early 20th century? We don’t really know. But luckily, this also has gone the way of the Dodo.

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Dripping walls and rugged ceilings, as if you were living in a grotto, were wildly popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s. And the complicated process of removing such ghastly features has made them survive to these days in many places.

To be fair, these types of ceilings were said to offer better acoustics and sound absorption, but dust and dirt cling to the rough and uneven surface, making it a nightmare to clean.

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Curtain-matching window valances were all the rage back in the day. Heavy drapery and darker ambiances were very much appreciated until the ‘90s but not so much today, when light is paramount.

The ‘70s and ‘80s family sitcoms that revolved around a central living room or kitchen where most of the events took place were swarmed with these types of fabric. Lucky for us, not anymore.

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Glass bricks were once a ubiquitous feature in not just banks and modern dentist waiting rooms but, for some reason, also in family homes. The excuse was allowing light in without losing privacy but, really?

Whether in the form of windows or shower screens, these glass blocks were used as room separators in the 1980s and '90s. Since then, we've found more efficient ways to keep spaces light.

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Having inflatable furniture in your home is akin to using patio furniture in your living room. But worse, since patio furniture will not explode if met with a needle. If you remember those neon inflatable chairs and sofas teenagers loved in the ‘90s, you know what we are talking about.

The noise, the heat, the color, the smell, the shape. Just about everything about this seemingly practical solution to home decor was truly horrible.

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Wicker furniture was a popular choice among people who thought it would be great to live every day as if in a holiday resort. It was a staple of groovy 1970s interior design, usually accompanied by beaded curtains, wall-to-wall carpeting, and plenty of macrame.

Downsides? It breaks easily, it creates debris as it loses its fibers, it makes a screechy noise, and, let's face it, it looks like something out of a Stephen King novel.

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Never mind the nightmare of looking for round sheets. There is a reason why beds are square, and it has to do with the human body shape. Whoever invented round beds must have slept alone for his or her entire existence since having to share one of these contraptions with somebody else is nothing short of, again, a nightmare.

Lucky for us, round beds are long gone, at least in most of the civilized world.