Get the sound: pronunciation in one minute
Galician spelling is mostly consistent, which is great for beginners. Focus on a few letters and you’ll read confidently. Keep your vowels short and clear, and say what you see.
Don’t stress about accents right now—copy the rhythm from short clips and you’ll improve fast. Here are quick cues that help you sound natural.
- Vowels a, e, i, o, u are pure: casa, mesa, amigo, noite, lume.
- ñ sounds like ‘ny’: mañá (tomorrow), España (Spain).
- x often sounds like ‘sh’: xente (people), caixa (box).
- ll is a soft ‘ly’: ollo (eye), mellor (better).
- Final s is clear: grazas (thanks), boas (good, plural/fem.).
Greetings and polite phrases
Master a few friendly phrases and you’re already having conversations. These are the first words most learners use daily.
Tip: smile, say it slowly, and people will help you—Galicians are famously welcoming.
- Ola! — Hi!
- Boas! — Hello!/Hi there! (any time)
- Bos días — Good morning
- Boas tardes — Good afternoon
- Boas noites — Good evening/night
- Como te chamas? — What’s your name?
- Chámome… — My name is…
- Moitas grazas — Many thanks
- Por favor / De nada — Please / You’re welcome
Numbers, time, and how to ask for a minute
Numbers appear everywhere—prices, times, tables at cafés—so learn these early. Note that 1 and 2 change with gender: un (masc.), unha (fem.); dous (masc.), dúas (fem.).
For time, the question is simple. If you need a short pause, ask for just a minute politely.
- cero, un/ unha, dous/ dúas, tres, catro, cinco, seis, sete, oito, nove, dez
- Que hora é? — What time is it?
- Á unha / Ás dúas — At one / At two
- Hoxe / Mañá — Today / Tomorrow
- Agora / Despois — Now / Later
- Podes esperar un minuto? — Can you wait one minute?
- Chego en cinco minutos — I’ll arrive in five minutes
- É a unha en punto — It’s at one o’clock
Everyday essentials you can use today
These small phrases unlock cafés, shops, and directions. Notice the word for that: ese/esa (that, near the listener), iso (that, neutral/idea).
If you don’t catch something, it’s fine—ask people to repeat. You’re learning, and that’s normal for any beginner.
- Quero un café, por favor — I want a coffee, please
- Unha auga, por favor — A water, please
- Canto custa? — How much does it cost?
- Onde está o baño? — Where is the bathroom?
- Onde está a estación? — Where is the station?
- Ese libro / Esa rúa / Iso — That book / That street / That (idea/thing)
- Non entendo — I don’t understand
- Podes repetir, por favor? — Can you repeat, please?
- Máis amodo, por favor — More slowly, please
Next steps: build a daily habit (free tools inside)
Consistency beats cramming. Aim for one minute to five minutes daily—read a sign, say a greeting, review 3 words. Small wins stack up fast for beginners.
Use free, reliable resources and keep it light and fun while you learn.
- Dicionario da RAG (free online Galician dictionary) for meanings and examples.
- Apertium (free) for Galician–Spanish machine translation—good for quick checks.
- YouTube: search “galego básico” or “aprender galego” for short lessons.
- Radio Galega and local podcasts: listen daily, even in the background.
- Galipedia (Galician Wikipedia) + Simple articles for easy reading practice.
- Make a 20‑word deck (hello, thanks, numbers, today, that, want) and review daily.
FAQ
- Is Galician closer to Spanish or Portuguese?
- Galician is a sister of Portuguese and is also very close to Spanish. If you know either language, you’ll recognize a lot. Pronunciation of x (like “sh”) and some vocabulary are distinct.
- How do I say hello and thanks in Galician?
- Say Ola or Boas for hello. For thanks, say Grazas or Moitas grazas. People will understand you even with a beginner accent—just speak slowly and smile.
- What does that translate to in Galician?
- The word that can be ese/esa (for a nearby object) or iso (neutral/idea). Example: Ese libro (that book), Esa rúa (that street), Iso non sei (I don’t know that).
- Is Galician hard for beginners?
- It’s friendly to beginners because spelling is consistent and many words look familiar if you know Spanish or Portuguese. Focus on small daily practice—one minute is enough to start.
- Where can I learn Galician for free?
- Try Dicionario da RAG, Apertium, YouTube lessons (search “galego básico”), Radio Galega, and Galipedia. Combine a free dictionary, short videos, and a tiny flashcard deck for steady progress.