A party is one of the best places to use conversational Spanish, and the vocabulary is friendly and repetitive. This guide gives you phrases for invitations, toasts, dancing, compliments and goodbyes, with notes on slang that changes from one country to another.
Words for “party” and “celebration”
- la fiesta – party (the standard word)
- la celebración – celebration
- el festejo – celebration, festivity (common in Latin America)
- la reunión – gathering, get-together
- la juerga – a lively night out (Spain, informal)
- la pachanga – party (Mexico and some other countries, informal)
- el cumpleaños – birthday (party)
- la despedida de soltero / soltera – bachelor / bachelorette party
- el anfitrión / la anfitriona – host / hostess
- el invitado / la invitada – guest
Useful verbs: celebrar (to celebrate), invitar (to invite), bailar (to dance), brindar (to toast), divertirse (to have fun), festejar (to celebrate).
Invitations and questions
- ¿Vienes a la fiesta? – Are you coming to the party?
- ¿Dónde es la fiesta? – Where is the party?
- ¿A qué hora empieza? – What time does it start?
- ¿Qué debo llevar? / ¿Puedo llevar algo? – What should I bring? / Can I bring something?
- Estás invitado. / Estás invitada. – You’re invited.
- ¡Vamos a la fiesta! – Let’s go to the party!
- ¿Quién va a ir? – Who’s going?
- Me encantaría ir, pero no puedo. – I’d love to go, but I can’t.
Arriving and chatting
- ¡Qué bien que viniste! – So glad you came!
- Mi casa es tu casa. – My home is your home.
- Estás en tu casa. – Make yourself at home.
- Pasa, pasa. – Come in, come in.
- Te presento a mi amigo… – Let me introduce you to my friend…
- ¿De qué conoces a…? – How do you know…?
- ¿Qué tal la fiesta? – How’s the party?
- ¡Qué buena fiesta! – What a great party!
For introductions and small talk to begin conversations, see our guide to Spanish greetings and goodbyes.
Toasts and drinks
What is a catchy phrase to use at a party? A toast is the most recognizable one:
- ¡Salud! – Cheers! (literally “health”)
- ¡Chin chin! – Cheers! (informal)
- ¡Brindemos por…! – Let’s toast to…!
- ¡Por nosotros! – To us!
- ¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro! – Up, down, center, inside! A rhythmic toast in which glasses are raised, lowered, brought to the middle, then drunk.
- Otra ronda, por favor. – Another round, please.
- ¿Quieres algo de beber? – Would you like something to drink?
- Una cerveza, por favor. – A beer, please.
- Un refresco / una gaseosa – A soft drink (the second term is common in several countries)
- Soy el conductor designado. – I’m the designated driver. (The feminine form is la conductora designada.)
- No bebo alcohol. – I don’t drink alcohol.
- Ya tuve suficiente. – I’ve had enough.
In most Spanish-speaking cultures it is polite to make eye contact when toasting. Customs vary, so follow your host.
Dancing and music
- ¿Bailamos? – Shall we dance?
- ¿Quieres bailar? – Do you want to dance?
- ¡Vamos a bailar! – Let’s go dance!
- No sé bailar. – I don’t know how to dance.
- Me encanta esta canción. – I love this song.
- Pon otra canción. – Put on another song.
- el DJ, la pista de baile (dance floor), la música en vivo (live music)
Compliments, birthdays and congratulations
- ¡Felicidades! – Congratulations! / Best wishes! (also used on birthdays in Latin America)
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños! – Happy birthday!
- ¡Enhorabuena! – Congratulations! (Spain; felicitaciones in Latin America)
- ¡Qué rico! – How delicious! (Latin America)
- ¡Qué bueno está! – This is so good!
- Gracias por invitarme. – Thanks for inviting me.
- Me lo estoy pasando genial. – I’m having a great time. (Spain)
- Me la estoy pasando muy bien. – I’m having a great time. (Mexico and much of Latin America)
Slang for “partying”
What is Spanish slang for partying? There are many options, and which one is natural depends on the country:
- ir de fiesta – to go out partying (general)
- salir de juerga / irse de juerga – to go out on the town (Spain)
- ir de parranda / parrandear – to party (Caribbean, Colombia, Mexico and others)
- ir de rumba / rumbear – to go out partying and dancing (Colombia, Caribbean)
- ir de farra – to party (parts of South America)
- echar relajo – to goof off, have fun (Mexico)
- el botellón – young people drinking outdoors (Spain)
- el antro – nightclub (Mexico)
And for approval: ¡Qué padre! (Mexico), ¡Qué guay! (Spain), ¡Qué chévere! (Colombia, Venezuela, Caribbean and elsewhere) all roughly mean “How cool!” Slang goes in and out of style, so treat these as examples and listen for what locals actually say.
Hangover words
- la resaca – hangover (Spain and many places)
- la cruda – hangover (Mexico)
- el guayabo – hangover (Colombia)
- Tengo resaca. / Estoy crudo. – I have a hangover.
Leaving the party
- Me tengo que ir. – I have to go.
- Gracias por todo, lo pasé muy bien. – Thanks for everything, I had a great time.
- Fue una fiesta genial. – It was a great party.
- Nos vemos pronto. – See you soon.
- Que descanses. – Rest well.
- Buenas noches, cuídate. – Good night, take care.
Sample dialogue
- Ana: ¡Hola, Pablo! ¡Qué bien que viniste!
- Pablo: Gracias por invitarme. ¡Qué buena música!
- Ana: ¿Quieres algo de beber?
- Pablo: Un refresco, por favor. Hoy soy el conductor designado.
- Ana: Perfecto. ¿Bailamos luego?
- Pablo: ¡Claro! ¡Salud!
Tips
- Learn toasts and thank-you phrases first, since you will use them at every gathering.
- Pick the regional slang of the place you will visit, and avoid mixing several dialects.
- Be careful with slang in formal company, such as a coworker’s family event.
- Practice rhythm with a toast like arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro. Music helps too; see our list of easy Spanish songs to learn.
- If you are staying out late, keep the safety phrases above handy, including conductor designado and no bebo alcohol.