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Language Basics
Panamanians are very friendly and open minded people who will be delighted in showing their lovely country to visitors. Although the service standard is not always impeccable most locals are a constant source of help, smiles and information. Especially outside of Panama City most of the Panamanians do not speak English, but still they will help you if you ask. If you make an effort to speak or say some words in Spanish, it will be a great way to thank them for their kindness.
Some basic words and phrases are:
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
| What´s your name? | ¿Cómo se llama usted? | Ko-mo seh-yah-mah oos-ted |
| My name is... | Me llamo… | Mey yah-mo… |
| Pleased to meet you. | Mucho gusto. | Moo-choh goose toe |
| How are you? | ¿Cómo está usted? | Ko-mo eestah oost-ted |
| Very well, thank you. | Muy bien, gracias. | Mooy bee-ehn grah-see-as |
| And you? | ¿ Y usted? | Ee oos-ted |
| Yes/no | Sí / no | See/no |
| OK | De acuerdo | De a-kwer-doe |
| Please | Por favor | Pore-fah-vore |
| Thank you (very much). | Muchas gracias. | Moo-chas grah-see-as |
| You´re welcome. | Con mucho gusto. | Con moo-cho-goose-toe |
| Excuse me. | Con permiso. | Con pair-mee-so |
| Pardon me. | Perdóneme. | Pair-dohn-a-meh |
| I am sorry. | Disculpe. | Dee-skool-peh |
| Good morning! | Buenos días. | Bway-nohs-dee-ahs |
| Good afternoon! | Buenas tardes. | Bway-nahs-tar-dess |
| Good evening! | Buenas noches. | Bway-nahs-no-chess |
| Mr. / Mrs. | Señor / señora | Senyohr / senyohra |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla usted inglés? | Ah-blah-oosted-inglehs |
| I don´t speak Spanish. | No hablo español. | No ahbloh espahnyol |
| I don´t understand. | No entiendo. | No en-tee-en-doh |
| I understand. | Entiendo. | En-tee-en-doh |
| I don´t know. | No sé. | No seh |
| Where is...? | ¿Dónde está…? | Dohn-deh-es-tah |
| Left | Izquierda | Iss-hey-er-dah |
| Right | Derecha | Dare-eh-chah |
| Far | Lejos | Lay-joes |
| Near | Cerca | Sehr-ka |
| Open | Abierto | Ah-bee-her-toe |
| Close | Cerrado | Sehra-doe |
| What time is it? | ¿Qué hora tiene? | Ke-ora tee-eh-ney |
| How? | ¿Cómo? | Ko-moe? |
| When? | ¿Cuándo? | Koo-and-o |
| How much does is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | Koo-anto koo-ehstah |
| I want to buy… | Quisiera comprar… | Kee-see-e-rah kom-prahr |
| Why? | ¿Porqué? | Pore-keh |
| Who? | ¿Quién? | Kee-yen |
| I am ill. | Estoy enfermo. | Es-toy en fehr moh |
| Caution | Cuidado | Koo-weedah-doe |
| Help!! | ¡Ayuda! | Ah-yoo-dah |
| ¡Auxilio! | Owk-see-lee-oh |
Local expressions:
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
| Great, terrific | ponchera | pon-cheh-rah |
| not good, awful | gallo | gah-yo |
| uncool, un-interesting | en panga | ehn pahn-gah |
| Crap (Exclamation) | chuleta | choo-leh-tah |
| Something | vaina | vah-eena |
| A place to stay/House | chantin | Chahn-teehn |
| Bus | diablo rojo | Dee-ah-bloh rr-oh-ho |
| Juice | chicha | Chee-chah |
| A beer | una pinta | Oo-nah peen-tah |
| A beer | una fría | oo-nah fr-ee-ah |
| Cigarrette | un blanco | Oon blahng-koh |
| Cool | chévere | Cheh-wreh |
| Buddy | mopri | Mo-pree |
| Traffic Jam | tranque | Tran-keh |
| What’s up | xopá | Xsoh-pah |
| Dude | pelao | Peh-lao |
| 1 Dollar | un palo | oon pah-loh |
| 1 Quarter | un cuara | oon quarta |
| 1 Dime | un daim | oon dime |
| 1 Nickel | un real | oon reh-al |
| Friend | fren | frien |
| Get drunk | jumarse | koo-mar-seh |
| Downpour | aguacero | Ahguah-zeh-roh |
| Girl, Woman | guial | Guee-ahl |
| Party | rumba | room-bah |
