a auga
Water
Usage
For asking for drinking water; auga covers water in general
Grammar Note
auga is feminine (a auga). The dictionary marks Spanish-style agua as less recommended
a comida
Food
Usage
Means food in general; useful when looking for something to eat
Grammar Note
comida is feminine. Lunch is xantar and dinner is cea, different words
o diñeiro
Money
Usage
Used when paying or changing money. Colloquially also cartos
Grammar Note
diñeiro is written with ñ, unlike Spanish dinero and Portuguese dinheiro
o baño
Toilet
Usage
For finding the toilet; signs may say aseo or servizos
Grammar Note
baño has ñ (Portuguese banho has nh). The longer form is cuarto de baño
o medicamento
Medicine
Usage
For talking about medicine at a pharmacy or hospital
Grammar Note
medicamento is masculine. Synonyms in the dictionary: fármaco, menciña
a equipaxe
Luggage
Usage
For luggage at airports and hotels; bagaxe is a synonym
Grammar Note
equipaxe is feminine and singular. Ends in -xe, not Spanish -je
a chave
Key
Usage
For example when you have lost a hotel key
Grammar Note
chave is feminine. Spelled as in Portuguese; Spanish llave has ll
o billete
Ticket
Usage
Used for train, bus and entry tickets; it also means banknote
Grammar Note
billete is masculine and differs from Portuguese bilhete
o pasaporte
Passport
Usage
Asked for at immigration and hotel check-in
Grammar Note
pasaporte is masculine, with one s unlike Portuguese passaporte
o teléfono
Phone
Usage
Means the phone itself; a mobile is also called móbil
Grammar Note
teléfono is masculine, with the accent on té
o cargador
Charger
Usage
When asking to borrow or find a charger
Grammar Note
cargador is masculine, from the verb cargar (to load, to charge)
a estación
Station
Usage
Means a train or bus station; the same word also means season
Grammar Note
A feminine noun in -ción; the plural is estacións, not Portuguese -ções
o hospital
Hospital
Usage
To find or ask for a hospital when ill or hurt
Grammar Note
hospital is masculine and the h is silent. Plural: hospitais
a policía
Police
Usage
Call them in a theft or accident. An individual officer is also a policía
Grammar Note
As an institution it is feminine (a policía). Accent on í
a tenda
Shop
Usage
Any shop where you can buy things
Grammar Note
tenda is feminine, without the ie of Spanish tienda
o cuarto
Room
Usage
A hotel room or bedroom; habitación is also used
Grammar Note
cuarto is masculine and spelled with cu-, unlike Portuguese quarto
a rúa
Street
Usage
Means street; signs write Rúa before street names
Grammar Note
rúa is feminine, with the accent on ú. Spanish calle is not used
a familia
Family
Usage
For talking about family
Grammar Note
familia is feminine. Father is pai, mother nai, child fillo / filla
o nome
Name
Usage
For giving your name in bookings and forms
Grammar Note
nome is masculine, without the b of Spanish nombre
a cabeza
Head
Usage
To describe a headache, for example
Grammar Note
cabeza is feminine. My head hurts is Dóeme a cabeza
o ollo
Eye
Usage
To describe eye trouble
Grammar Note
ollo is masculine and uses ll. Plural: ollos
o dente
Tooth
Usage
For toothache or pointing out a tooth at the dentist
Grammar Note
dente is masculine, without the ie of Spanish diente
a gorxa
Throat
Usage
To describe a sore throat
Grammar Note
gorxa is feminine and uses x. garganta is a near synonym
a barriga
Belly / stomach area
Usage
To describe stomach trouble
Grammar Note
barriga is feminine. My stomach hurts is Dóeme a barriga
as costas
Back
Usage
To describe back pain
Grammar Note
costas is feminine and always plural. Spanish espalda is not used
a zona lumbar
Lower back
Usage
To describe lower-back pain
Grammar Note
lumbar is an adjective meaning of the loins, same for both genders. zona is feminine
a perna
Leg
Usage
To describe leg pain or injury
Grammar Note
perna is feminine, without the ie of Spanish pierna
o pé
Foot
Usage
To describe foot pain or injury
Grammar Note
pé is masculine and takes an accent. Plural: pés
a man
Hand
Usage
To describe hand pain or injury
Grammar Note
man is feminine and does not end in -o. Plural: mans
o peito
Chest
Usage
To describe chest pain
Grammar Note
peito is masculine; Spanish ch in pecho corresponds to it in Galician
o hotel
Hotel
Usage
For finding lodging or asking the way to it
Grammar Note
hotel is masculine and the h is silent. Plural: hoteis
o aeroporto
Airport
Usage
For asking how to reach the airport
Grammar Note
aeroporto is masculine and ends in -porto, unlike Spanish aeropuerto
a parada do autobús
Bus stop
Usage
For asking where to board or get off a bus
Grammar Note
do is the contraction of de + o. parada is feminine
o metro
Subway / metro
Usage
For asking about subway stations or lines
Grammar Note
metro is masculine. The same spelling also means the metre
a embaixada
Embassy
Usage
For finding an embassy, e.g. after losing a passport
Grammar Note
embaixada is feminine. Its x matches the j of Spanish embajada
o caixeiro automático
ATM
Usage
The machine for cash withdrawals; colloquially just caixeiro
Grammar Note
caixeiro is masculine; a woman cashier is caixeira. Its ix corresponds to the j of Spanish cajero
o cambio de divisa
Currency exchange
Usage
The place or service for exchanging foreign money; the plural divisas is also common
Grammar Note
divisa here means foreign currency and is usually plural. cambio is masculine
a lavandaría
Laundromat
Usage
For finding a laundry or a coin laundrette
Grammar Note
lavandaría is feminine. The dictionary treats lavandería as a synonym
o camión de bombeiros
Fire engine
Usage
Means the fire engine; in an emergency call 112
Grammar Note
camión is masculine, plural camións. bombeiro is masculine, bombeira feminine
o consulado
Consulate
Usage
For finding a consulate for visas or papers
Grammar Note
consulado is masculine and spelled as in Spanish
More Galician phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
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- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
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- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
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- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
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- Car Rental & Driving
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- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
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- Remote Work
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- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
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- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences