MUNDO Research Team · Vetted by Costa del Sol property professionals
Published February 2026 · Updated February 2026 · 8 min read
You do not need to be fluent in Spanish to buy property on the Costa del Sol — but knowing the right vocabulary transforms your experience. Instead of nodding blankly while your lawyer explains the escritura, you understand what is happening. Instead of relying entirely on your agent's translation of what the seller said, you catch the key points yourself.
These 50 phrases are selected specifically for the UK property buying journey — from initial viewings to notary completion, plus essential daily life vocabulary for when you are on the ground. For the broader cultural adjustment, see our culture shock guide.
At the Estate Agent (En la Inmobiliaria)
| # | Spanish | English | When You'll Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piso | Apartment/flat | The standard word for an apartment in a block |
| 2 | Chalet / Villa | Detached house | Used interchangeably on the Costa del Sol |
| 3 | Adosado | Townhouse (terraced/semi) | Attached or semi-detached house in a row |
| 4 | Ático | Penthouse | Top-floor apartment, usually with a large terrace |
| 5 | Bajo | Ground floor | Ground-floor apartment — "bajo con jardín" means with a garden |
| 6 | Dormitorio / Habitación | Bedroom | Both words are used — "3 dormitorios" = 3 bedrooms |
| 7 | Aseo | Small bathroom / WC | A bathroom without a bath or shower — just toilet and sink |
| 8 | Terraza | Terrace / balcony | Outdoor space — a major selling point in Spain |
| 9 | Garaje / Plaza de garaje | Garage / parking space | "Con garaje" = includes parking. Often sold separately |
| 10 | Trastero | Storage room | A storage unit, often in the building's basement. Valuable in apartments |
| 11 | Urbanización | Residential development / estate | A gated or communal residential complex — very common on the Costa del Sol |
| 12 | Obra nueva | New build | New construction, not yet lived in |
| 13 | Segunda mano | Resale / second-hand | A previously owned property |
| 14 | Reformado / Para reformar | Renovated / Needs renovation | "Reformado" = already renovated; "para reformar" = needs work |
| 15 | Metros cuadrados (m²) | Square metres | Property sizes are always in square metres. 100m² ≈ 1,076 sq ft |
Legal and Financial (Legal y Financiero)
| # | Spanish | English | When You'll Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Escritura (pública) | Title deed | The notarised deed that proves ownership — the most important document |
| 17 | Nota simple | Land registry extract | Summary showing owner, charges, and property description. Your lawyer gets this first |
| 18 | Registro de la Propiedad | Land registry | Where ownership is officially recorded |
| 19 | Notario | Notary | Public official who witnesses the deed signing. Not the same as a lawyer |
| 20 | Contrato de arras | Deposit contract / reservation | The binding contract with 10% deposit — legally commits both parties |
| 21 | Señal / Reserva | Reservation deposit | Initial holding deposit (EUR 3,000-6,000) before the arras contract |
| 22 | NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) | Foreign ID number | Your Spanish tax identification number — needed for any property transaction |
| 23 | Hipoteca | Mortgage | "Necesito una hipoteca" = I need a mortgage |
| 24 | Impuesto de Transmisiones (ITP) | Transfer tax | The main tax on resale property purchases (7% in Andalucía) |
| 25 | IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) | Council tax / property tax | Annual municipal property tax — equivalent of UK council tax |
| 26 | Plusvalía | Land value increase tax | Municipal tax paid by the seller based on land value appreciation |
| 27 | Comunidad de propietarios | Community of owners / HOA | The body that manages shared areas in apartment blocks and urbanisations |
| 28 | Cuota de comunidad | Community fee | Monthly/quarterly charge for shared maintenance — "¿Cuánto es la cuota?" |
| 29 | Poder notarial | Power of attorney | Authorises your lawyer to sign documents on your behalf |
| 30 | Certificado energético | Energy performance certificate | Mandatory for property sales — rated A (best) to G (worst) |
At the Property Viewing (En la Visita)
| # | Spanish | English | When You'll Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? | The essential price question |
| 32 | ¿Está incluido en el precio? | Is it included in the price? | Ask about furniture, appliances, parking, storage |
| 33 | ¿Cuántos años tiene la propiedad? | How old is the property? | Important for understanding construction quality and potential issues |
| 34 | ¿Hay problemas de humedad? | Are there damp problems? | Damp is common in older properties — ask directly |
| 35 | ¿Cuánto son los gastos de comunidad? | How much are the community fees? | Monthly or quarterly — clarify which |
| 36 | ¿Tiene plaza de garaje? | Does it have a parking space? | Essential question — parking can be scarce |
| 37 | Orientación sur / norte / este / oeste | South / north / east / west facing | South-facing is most desirable for sunlight |
| 38 | ¿Se admiten mascotas? | Are pets allowed? | Some communities restrict pets — check before buying |
| 39 | ¿Hay ascensor? | Is there a lift? | Critical for upper-floor apartments, especially for retirement planning |
| 40 | Vistas al mar / montaña | Sea views / mountain views | A major value driver on the Costa del Sol |
At the Notary and Bank (En el Notario y el Banco)
| # | Spanish | English | When You'll Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Firma | Signature / signing | "La firma de la escritura" = the deed signing ceremony |
| 42 | Cuenta bancaria | Bank account | "Necesito abrir una cuenta bancaria" = I need to open a bank account |
| 43 | Transferencia | Bank transfer | How you will pay for the property — "transferencia bancaria" |
| 44 | Cheque bancario | Banker's draft / cashier's cheque | Often required for the completion payment at the notary |
| 45 | Cita previa | Prior appointment | Required at banks, government offices, and many services. Essential vocabulary |
Daily Life Essentials (Vida Cotidiana)
| # | Spanish | English | When You'll Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Ayuntamiento | Town hall | Where you register on the padrón and handle municipal paperwork |
| 47 | Padrón | Municipal census / register | Registering your address — required for many administrative processes |
| 48 | Farmacia | Pharmacy | Your first stop for minor health issues. Pharmacists can advise and dispense |
| 49 | Ferretería | Hardware shop | Where you buy tools, paint, fixings — essential for any property owner |
| 50 | Fontanero / Electricista / Albañil | Plumber / Electrician / Builder | The tradespeople you will inevitably need. "Necesito un fontanero" = I need a plumber |
Bonus: Useful Phrases for Negotiations
- "¿Es negociable el precio?" — Is the price negotiable? (The polite way to open a negotiation)
- "Necesito consultarlo con mi abogado" — I need to check with my lawyer. (Your escape phrase for any pressure situation)
- "¿Puede ponerlo por escrito?" — Can you put that in writing? (Essential when anyone makes a promise)
- "No tengo prisa" — I am not in a hurry. (Removes pressure and strengthens your negotiating position)
- "Necesito pensarlo" — I need to think about it. (Politely declining to make an immediate decision)
Pronunciation Tips
Spanish pronunciation is much more consistent than English — what you see is generally what you say. Key rules for the phrases above:
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- J is pronounced like a strong H (jota = HO-ta)
- LL is pronounced like Y (calle = CA-yeh)
- Ñ is pronounced like NY (España = es-PAN-ya)
- H is always silent (hipoteca = ee-po-TEH-ca)
- C before E or I is pronounced like TH in "think" in Castilian Spanish, but like S on the Costa del Sol (certificado = cer-ti-fi-CA-do or ser-ti-fi-CA-do)
- Stress falls on the second-to-last syllable unless there is an accent mark (escritura = es-cri-TU-ra, padrón = pa-DRON)
How to Keep Learning
These 50 phrases give you a foundation. To build on it:
- Apps: Duolingo (free, gamified), Babbel (structured, good for beginners), SpanishDict (excellent dictionary and conjugation tool)
- Classes: Local language schools on the Costa del Sol offer group classes from EUR 50-100/month. Immersive and social
- Practice: Use these phrases with your estate agent, at the supermarket, and with neighbours. Spaniards are overwhelmingly positive and encouraging when foreigners attempt Spanish
- Media: Spanish Netflix shows with Spanish subtitles, Spanish radio in the car, Spanish newspapers online — passive exposure builds comprehension over time
The Bottom Line
You do not need perfect Spanish to buy property in Spain. But knowing these 50 phrases transforms you from a completely dependent buyer into someone who can follow their own transaction, ask the right questions, and catch potential issues. More importantly, it signals respect for the country you are buying into — and Spanish professionals respond to that with greater trust and better service.
Print this guide, save it on your phone, and refer to it during your viewing trip and throughout your purchase. By the time you pick up your keys at the notary, half of these words will be second nature.
Ready to start your property journey? Join MUNDO to browse listings across Spain's coastal regions. And for the full buying process these phrases will help you navigate, see our step-by-step buying guide.