Basic Words

1. Si

   Yes

   Usage

   Affirmative reply. Unlike Spanish sí, Galician si has no accent mark. Answers often simply repeat the verb

   Grammar Note

   Written plainly as si. The same spelling is also the musical note B

2. Non

   No

   Usage

   Negative reply; also works to turn down an offer

   Grammar Note

   Placed before the verb to negate it (Non entendo). Spanish no is non in Galician

3. Por favor

   Please

   Usage

   Added to any request or order; it can go before or after the request

   Grammar Note

   Written as two words, spelled as in Spanish. When asking vostede, also use the polite imperative form

4. Grazas

   Thank you

   Usage

   Basic thanks. It has no masculine/feminine split. The usual reply is De nada

   Grammar Note

   Spelled with z, not Spanish gracias, and not Portuguese obrigado/obrigada

5. Con permiso

   Excuse me

   Usage

   Said when squeezing past someone or entering a room

   Grammar Note

   con means with; the fixed phrase literally means with permission

6. Desculpe

   Sorry / Excuse me (polite)

   Usage

   Polite apology or attention-getter to vostede. To a friend say Desculpa

   Grammar Note

   Imperative of desculpar addressed to vostede; the ti form is Desculpa

7. Está todo ben

   It's all right

   Usage

   Reply to an apology, or a way to say nothing is wrong

   Grammar Note

   estar expresses a temporary state. ben is the adverb; the adjective is bo

8. Non entendo

   I don't understand

   Usage

   Say it as soon as you lose the thread

   Grammar Note

   non goes before the verb and the subject eu is dropped. There is no e→ie stem change as in Spanish

9. Entendo

   I understand

   Usage

   Shows that you followed an explanation

   Grammar Note

   First person singular present of entender; the stem does not change

10. Xa rematei

    I've finished

    Usage

    Tell staff that you have finished a meal or a procedure

    Grammar Note

    xa is written with x (Spanish ya). The simple past of rematar ends in -ei

11. Agarde, por favor

    Please wait

    Usage

    A polite way to ask someone to wait

    Grammar Note

    agardar and esperar both mean to wait. To a friend say Agarda

12. Un momento

    Just a moment

    Usage

    A short way to ask for a brief wait

    Grammar Note

    un agrees with masculine momento; before a feminine noun it is unha

13. Un adulto, por favor

    One adult, please

    Usage

    Used at a ticket desk to say how many people

    Grammar Note

    adulto is the masculine form (feminine adulta). For more: Dous adultos

14. Non teño reserva

    I don't have a reservation

    Usage

    Opening line when you ask for a table or room without booking

    Grammar Note

    teño is the first person of ter (Spanish tengo). Negate with non before the verb

15. Teño unha reserva

    I have a reservation

    Usage

    Say it first at reception, then give your name

    Grammar Note

    reserva is feminine, so the article is unha, not un

16. Axúdeme, por favor

    Help me, please

    Usage

    A polite request for help in trouble or emergencies

    Grammar Note

    In affirmative commands me attaches directly to the verb, with no hyphen. Compare Portuguese Ajude-me

17. Outra vez, por favor

    Once more, please

    Usage

    Ask someone to repeat what you did not catch

    Grammar Note

    vez is feminine, so the word is outra; before a masculine noun it is outro

18. Fale devagar, por favor

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    A polite request when someone speaks too fast

    Grammar Note

    devagar is an invariable adverb. To a friend say Fala devagar

19. Falo un pouco de galego

    I speak a little Galician

    Usage

    Telling people you try Galician is warmly received

    Grammar Note

    Language names are lowercase. The word is galego, not Spanish gallego

20. Fala inglés?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Polite form to vostede (third-person verb). To a friend: Falas inglés?

    Grammar Note

    Only the closing ? is used, with no ¿. inglés ends in -s (Portuguese inglês)

21. isto

    this

    Usage

    Points to something near the speaker

    Grammar Note

    isto / iso / aquilo are neuter pronouns that stand alone for a thing

22. iso

    that

    Usage

    Points to something near the listener

    Grammar Note

    Used for things farther than isto and nearer than aquilo

23. aquilo

    that over there

    Usage

    Points to something away from both speaker and listener

    Grammar Note

    The counterpart of Spanish aquello, but ending in -ilo

24. aquí

    here

    Usage

    Means the place where the speaker is; also used in directions

    Grammar Note

    Accent on í. Spelled the same as in Spanish

25. aí

    there (near you)

    Usage

    Means a place near the listener

    Grammar Note

    aí sits between aquí and alí in distance. Spanish spells it ahí

26. alí

    over there

    Usage

    Means a place far from both people

    Grammar Note

    Only one l (Spanish allí has ll). Accent on í

27. eu

    I

    Usage

    Subject I. Usually dropped because the verb ending shows the person

    Grammar Note

    Equivalent of Spanish yo; used for emphasis or contrast

28. vostede

    you (formal)

    Usage

    Polite you for strangers and elders. The verb takes third person

    Grammar Note

    Plural is vostedes. For close people use ti; tu is not Galician

29. xuntos

    together

    Usage

    Used for several people doing something together. For all women: xuntas

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural of the adjective xunto. Written with x, not Spanish j in juntos

30. agora mesmo

    right now

    Usage

    Means right now; adds urgency to a request

    Grammar Note

    mesmo adds emphasis. Spelled mesmo, not Spanish mismo

31. unha persoa

    one person

    Usage

    Used to state a head count. persoa is feminine

    Grammar Note

    persoa is always feminine, even for a man. Plural: persoas

32. dúas persoas

    two people

    Usage

    Used to state a head count, e.g. at restaurants or hotels

    Grammar Note

    The feminine of dous is dúas, with the accent on ú

33. tres persoas

    three people

    Usage

    Used to state a head count

    Grammar Note

    tres has the same form for both genders

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