Language Phrasebook: Numbers, Dates & Money Phrases
Master the essential Spanish phrases for numbers, dates, and money to navigate Patagonia's stunning landscapes and vibrant towns with confidence, from fuel stops to restaurant bills.
8 min readUpdated for 2025–2026 SeasonNavigating a foreign country often hinges on understanding numbers, dates, and money. In Patagonia, whether you're fueling up your rental car, checking opening hours for a national park, or paying for a delicious Patagonian lamb, these phrases are your linguistic toolkit. This guide will equip you with the essential Spanish vocabulary and cultural insights to handle financial transactions, schedule appointments, and understand quantities, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable journey through both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia.
Phrase Categories
Basic Numbers 0-20
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cero | seh-roh | Zero | Useful for phone numbers, codes, or stating an absence. |
| Uno/Una | oo-noh/oo-nah | One | Use 'uno' for masculine nouns, 'una' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'un auto', 'una botella'). |
| Dos | dohs | Two | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Tres | tres | Three | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Cuatro | kwa-troh | Four | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Cinco | seen-koh | Five | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Seis | seys | Six | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Siete | see-eh-teh | Seven | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Ocho | oh-choh | Eight | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Nueve | nweh-veh | Nine | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Diez | dee-es | Ten | Counting items, specifying quantities. |
| Once | ohn-seh | Eleven | Counting items, especially relevant for specific times or ages. |
| Doce | doh-seh | Twelve | Counting items, especially relevant for specific times or ages. |
| Trece | treh-seh | Thirteen | Counting items. |
| Veinte | veyn-teh | Twenty | Useful for age, quantities, or larger prices. |
Higher Numbers & Quantities
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treinta | treyn-tah | Thirty | Used for ages, quantities, or prices. |
| Cincuenta | seen-kwen-tah | Fifty | Common for prices or quantities. |
| Cien | see-en | One hundred | For distances, prices, or larger counts. |
| Mil | meel | One thousand | Essential for higher prices (e.g., pesos), distances. |
| Un millón | oon meel-yohn | One million | In Argentina, due to inflation, large prices can reach millions. |
| ¿Cuántos/Cuántas? | kwan-tohs/kwan-tas | How many/much? | Use 'cuántos' for masculine plural nouns (e.g., 'kilómetros'), 'cuántas' for feminine plural nouns (e.g., 'horas'). |
| Un kilo de... | oon kee-loh deh... | A kilo of... | For purchasing items by weight (e.g., 'un kilo de carne'). |
| Medio litro de... | meh-dee-oh lee-troh deh... | Half a liter of... | For purchasing liquids (e.g., 'medio litro de leche'). |
Money & Payments
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | kwan-toh kweh-stah | How much does it cost? | The most fundamental question for any purchase. |
| La cuenta, por favor. | lah kwan-tah, por fah-vor | The bill, please. | Polite request for the check in a restaurant or cafe. |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta de crédito? | pweh-doh pah-gar kon tar-heh-tah deh kreh-dee-toh | Can I pay with a credit card? | Crucial for larger transactions like car rentals or hotel stays. |
| ¿Aceptan dólares estadounidenses? | ah-sep-tan doh-lah-res es-tah-doh-oo-nee-den-ses | Do you accept US dollars? | Less common, but useful to ask in highly touristy areas or for emergencies, especially in Argentina's informal markets. |
| Necesito cambiar dinero. | neh-seh-see-toh kam-bee-ar dee-neh-roh | I need to exchange money. | When looking for a 'casa de cambio' (exchange house). |
| Quisiera pagar. | kee-see-eh-rah pah-gar | I'd like to pay. | A polite way to signal you're ready to complete a transaction. |
| ¿Está incluida la propina? | es-tah een-kloo-ee-dah lah proh-pee-nah | Is a tip included? | To understand local tipping customs, especially in restaurants. |
| Efectivo | eh-fek-tee-voh | Cash | Often preferred, especially in smaller establishments or for specific discounts. |
| Solo tengo X pesos. | soh-loh ten-goh X peh-sohs | I only have X pesos. | Useful if you are trying to negotiate or indicating you have limited funds. |
Dates & Time
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Qué hora es? | keh oh-rah es | What time is it? | Essential for planning, meeting times, and checking opening hours. |
| ¿Qué día es hoy? | keh dee-ah es oy | What day is today? | For calendar reference and scheduling. |
| Hoy | oy | Today | Referring to the current day. |
| Mañana | mah-nyah-nah | Tomorrow | Referring to the next day. Note: can also mean 'morning' or 'later' depending on context. |
| Ayer | ah-yer | Yesterday | Referring to the previous day. |
| Hora | oh-rah | Hour | Unit of time, as in 'two hours' (dos horas). |
| Día | dee-ah | Day | Unit of time, as in 'three days' (tres días). |
| Mes | mes | Month | Unit of time, as in 'one month' (un mes). |
| Año | ah-nyoh | Year | Unit of time, as in 'next year' (el próximo año). |
| A las X. | ah las X | At X o'clock. | To specify a time, e.g., 'A las tres' (At 3 o'clock). |
Driving & Car Rental Specifics
| Phrase | Pronunciation | Meaning | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuántos kilómetros a X? | kwan-tohs kee-loh-meh-trohs ah X | How many kilometers to X? | Asking about distances to your destination (e.g., 'a El Calafate'). |
| Lleno, por favor. | yeh-noh, por fah-vor | Full tank, please. | At a gas station, for a complete fill-up. |
| ¿Cuánto por litro? | kwan-toh por lee-troh | How much per liter? | To understand the price of fuel. |
| ¿Cuánto por la reparación? | kwan-toh por lah reh-pah-rah-see-ohn | How much for the repair? | In case of car trouble, asking a mechanic about costs. |
| El alquiler del auto cuesta X por día. | el al-kee-ler del ow-toh kweh-stah X por dee-ah | The car rental costs X per day. | Confirming the daily rate for your rental vehicle. ('Auto' is common in Latin America for car.) |
| Necesito X litros de diésel. | neh-seh-see-toh X lee-trohs deh dee-es-el | I need X liters of diesel. | Specifying the type and quantity of fuel needed for a diesel vehicle. |
Pronunciation Tips
- 1Vowel Sounds: Spanish vowels are short, clear, and consistent. 'A' as in 'father', 'E' as in 'bed', 'I' as in 'machine', 'O' as in 'go', 'U' as in 'flute'.
- 2Rolling the 'R': Practice rolling your 'R's for words like 'caro' (expensive) or 'pero' (but), and especially for 'RR' (e.g., 'carro' - car/cart in some regions).
- 3The 'LL' and 'Y' sounds: These vary by region. In most of Patagonia, they sound like the 'y' in 'yes' or 'j' in 'jump'. In some parts of Argentina (Rioplatense Spanish), they might sound like 'sh' in 'shoe' (e.g., 'yo' pronounced 'sho').
- 4The 'C' and 'Z': In Latin American Spanish (including Patagonia), 'c' before 'e' or 'i' and the letter 'z' are pronounced like an 's' in 'see', not like the 'th' sound in Spain.
- 5The 'H' is Silent: The letter 'H' is always silent in Spanish (e.g., 'hora' sounds like 'oh-rah').
- 6Stress: The general rule for word stress is: if a word ends in a vowel, 'n', or 's', the stress is on the second-to-last syllable. If it ends in any other consonant, the stress is on the last syllable. Accent marks (tildes) override these rules and indicate where the stress falls.
Cultural Notes
- 1Currency Matters: In Chile, you'll use Chilean Pesos (CLP). In Argentina, it's Argentine Pesos (ARS). Be aware that exchange rates in Argentina can be volatile, and you might encounter parallel 'blue' market rates which often offer better value for USD cash (though unofficial).
- 2Cash vs. Card: While credit cards are widely accepted in cities and larger tourist towns, cash is king in smaller establishments, rural areas, and for smaller purchases. Always carry a good amount of local cash, especially when venturing off the main tourist routes or visiting remote gas stations.
- 3Tipping Etiquette: In restaurants, a 10% tip (propina) is customary if service is not already included in the bill. You can ask '¿Está incluida la propina?' for clarity. For tour guides or helpful gas station attendants, a small cash tip is appreciated.
- 4Flexible Time: The concept of time in Latin America can be more fluid than in some Western cultures. 'Mañana' (tomorrow) can sometimes mean 'later,' 'soon,' or 'not today.' Patience and flexibility are key.
- 5Formal vs. Informal: When discussing financial matters or asking about prices with service personnel (shopkeepers, hotel staff, gas station attendants), it's generally respectful to use the formal 'usted' form, though 'tú' is increasingly common in casual interactions, especially with younger people.
- 6Gasoline Names: Be aware of regional variations for fuel. In Chile, gasoline is typically 'bencina', while in Argentina, it's 'nafta'. Diesel is 'diésel' in both.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to use cash or credit cards in Patagonia?
While credit cards are accepted in many places, especially in larger towns and hotels, it's highly advisable to carry local cash (Chilean Pesos in Chile, Argentine Pesos in Argentina). Smaller businesses, rural areas, and some gas stations may be cash-only. In Argentina, cash can sometimes get you a better price due to the unofficial 'blue dollar' exchange rate system.
What currency should I bring for my trip to Patagonia?
You should use the local currency for each country: Chilean Pesos (CLP) in Chile and Argentine Pesos (ARS) in Argentina. While US Dollars can sometimes be exchanged or even accepted in tourist areas, especially in Argentina, generally, local currency is preferred and often provides a better exchange rate.
How do I ask for the price of gasoline/diesel specifically for my car rental?
At a gas station, you can say 'Lleno, por favor' (Full tank, please). If you need a specific type, 'Necesito X litros de bencina (Chile)/nafta (Argentina) súper/premium' (I need X liters of super/premium gasoline) or 'Necesito X litros de diésel' (I need X liters of diesel). To ask the price per liter, '¿Cuánto por litro?'
Are there differences in how numbers are pronounced or used in Chile versus Argentina?
While the numerical system itself is the same, accents and speed of speech can differ. Argentinians, particularly in the Buenos Aires region, have a distinct 'Rioplatense' accent. The main differences you'll encounter are more in related vocabulary, such as 'bencina' (Chile) vs 'nafta' (Argentina) for gasoline, or the specific names of their respective pesos.
How are large numbers expressed, especially for prices in Argentina?
Due to historical inflation, it's common to hear very large numbers in Argentina. For example, a price of $1,500,000 ARS might be referred to as 'un millón quinientos mil pesos' (one million five hundred thousand pesos). Familiarize yourself with 'mil' (thousand) and 'millón' (million) to quickly grasp prices.
What's the best way to handle tipping in restaurants or for services?
In both Chile and Argentina, a 10% tip (propina) is customary in restaurants if service isn't already included. You can ask '¿Está incluida la propina?' to clarify. For other services like tour guides or gas station attendants, a small cash tip is appreciated but not always expected.