20 Business Spanish Phrases
Every Executive Needs
to Know
Speaking Spanish in a business context is not just about grammar — it is about knowing exactly which words to use when the stakes are high. These are the 20 phrases that open doors, build trust, and close deals in Latin American business culture.
Most Spanish courses were designed for travelers, not executives. They teach you how to order food, ask for directions, and describe the weather. Useful — but completely inadequate for a boardroom, a negotiation, or a client relationship in Latin America.
In over ten years of teaching business Spanish to executives and professionals in the United States and Europe, I have seen the same pattern again and again: technically capable Spanish speakers who freeze in professional settings because nobody ever taught them the language of the boardroom.
The phrases in this article are the ones my most successful students use every week — in meetings, on calls, in emails, and in the client dinners where real relationships are built. They are organized by the professional situation where you need them most.
Section 1 — Meetings & Presentations
These are the phrases that structure a professional meeting — opening, managing the floor, transitioning between topics, and closing with authority.
The simplest and most authoritative way to open a meeting. Short, direct, and signals that you are leading the room. Avoid overcomplicating the opening — in Latin American business culture, a confident start sets the tone for everything that follows.
Setting a clear objective at the start of a meeting is a sign of strong leadership in any culture. In Latin American professional environments — where relationship and context often precede action — stating the purpose clearly upfront is appreciated and respected.
This phrase signals respect for the speaker while asserting your presence in the conversation. In Latin American business culture, interrupting directly can be perceived as aggressive — this phrasing lets you enter the conversation smoothly and professionally.
A clean transition phrase that keeps meetings on track. It signals confidence and control of the agenda without being abrupt. Use it to move between topics, especially when a discussion is running long.
Closing a topic or a meeting with a clear summary is a hallmark of professional communication everywhere — but especially in business cultures that value consensus and shared understanding. This phrase signals you are bringing clarity before moving forward.
Inviting questions demonstrates openness and confidence. In Latin American professional culture, where hierarchy is respected but collaboration is valued, this phrase also signals that you are a leader who listens — a quality that builds lasting professional trust.
The natural way to close a meeting or call in Spanish. It is warmer than a simple goodbye and commits to continued communication — exactly the right note to end on in a relationship-driven business culture.
In Latin America — and especially in Costa Rica — relationships come before business. Before diving into agenda items, it is expected and respected to exchange a few personal words: how is the family, how was the weekend, how is the weather in their city. Executives who skip this step in favour of efficiency often do so at the cost of long-term trust. Learn to slow down before you speed up.
Section 2 — Negotiations & Agreements
Negotiation in Spanish requires precision — not just in what you say, but in how firm or flexible you sound. These phrases give you the tools to propose, push back, and agree professionally.
A formal, authoritative way to introduce a proposal. The phrase signals preparation and professionalism. In a negotiation context, opening with a clear, structured proposal sets you immediately in a position of strength.
Signalling agreement clearly and explicitly is essential in any negotiation. This phrase confirms shared ground without ambiguity — critical in multilingual business environments where misunderstandings can derail deals.
A diplomatic way to signal disagreement or hesitation without confrontation. In Latin American business culture, directness in disagreement can damage relationships — this phrasing allows you to slow down or push back without closing the door.
One of the most useful phrases in any negotiation. It signals flexibility and good faith while keeping the conversation moving forward. In Latin American culture, where harmony and consensus are valued, this framing is particularly effective.
The professional way to buy time without losing credibility. Use it when you need internal alignment before committing — it signals process and seriousness, not weakness or indecision.
Three words. Maximum impact. When you are ready to close, say this clearly and confidently. It signals decisiveness — a quality highly respected in business across Latin America. The moment you say tenemos un trato, the energy in the room changes.
In Latin American negotiations, the relationship always comes before the contract. Before you get to phrase 13, make sure you have invested in phrases 1 through 12 — especially the ones that show you are listening, flexible, and interested in a genuine partnership. A deal reached through confianza (trust) is far more durable than one reached through pressure.
Section 3 — Emails, Calls & Follow-Up
Professional communication in Spanish extends well beyond the meeting room. These are the phrases that make your written and verbal follow-up sound polished and native-level.
The standard professional opening for a business email or call in Spanish. It is formal, clear, and immediately signals a professional context. Always use usted — not tú — in formal business correspondence, especially in a first communication.
The standard email phrase for referencing attachments in formal Spanish business correspondence. It sounds natural to a native speaker and instantly signals professional competence in written Spanish — something many Spanish-language business emails from non-natives get wrong.
The classic closing for a formal Spanish business email — the equivalent of “please feel free to reach out.” It is expected in formal correspondence. Emails that end without it can feel abrupt to native speakers. Use it before your signature and it signals complete professional fluency.
The correct professional expression for following up in Spanish. Many non-native speakers write haciendo follow-up — which uses an English word and sounds unprofessional. Hacer seguimiento is the native equivalent and marks you immediately as someone who takes their Spanish seriously.
A polite, professional way to request confirmation that an email or document has been received. The use of podría (the conditional of poder) adds the appropriate level of formality and courtesy without sounding demanding.
The perfect closing for a meeting, a project, or a business relationship. In Latin American culture, where personal warmth is part of professional life, this phrase is not just courtesy — it is a genuine investment in a long-term relationship. Say it and mean it.
The standard and professional way to close an email or letter that requires a response. It is direct without being demanding, and sets a clear expectation without pressure. Use it as your second-to-last line, followed by saludos cordiales and your name.
Quick Reference — All 20 Phrases
Screenshot this table or save it for your next meeting. Or get the full picture in a private session with Gabriela.
| # | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Vamos a comenzar. | Let’s get started. |
| 02 | El objetivo de hoy es… | Today’s objective is… |
| 03 | ¿Me permite agregar algo? | May I add something? |
| 04 | Pasando al siguiente punto… | Moving on to the next point… |
| 05 | Para resumir… | To summarize… |
| 06 | ¿Tienen alguna pregunta? | Does anyone have questions? |
| 07 | Quedamos en contacto. | We’ll stay in touch. |
| 08 | Nuestra propuesta es la siguiente… | Our proposal is as follows… |
| 09 | Estamos de acuerdo en que… | We agree that… |
| 10 | Necesitamos revisar ese punto. | We need to review that point. |
| 11 | ¿Podríamos encontrar un punto medio? | Could we find a middle ground? |
| 12 | Vamos a consultarlo y le respondemos. | We’ll consult and get back to you. |
| 13 | Tenemos un trato. | We have a deal. |
| 14 | Me pongo en contacto con usted para… | I am reaching out regarding… |
| 15 | Adjunto encontrará… | Please find attached… |
| 16 | Quedo a su disposición. | I remain at your disposal. |
| 17 | Le hago seguimiento de… | I am following up on… |
| 18 | ¿Podría confirmar la recepción? | Could you confirm receipt? |
| 19 | Ha sido un placer trabajar con usted. | It has been a pleasure working with you. |
| 20 | Esperamos su respuesta. | We look forward to your response. |
Practice these phrases
before your next meeting.
Reading them is the start. Using them under pressure — in a real meeting, on a real call, with a real counterpart — requires practice. A private session with Gabriela is the fastest way to go from knowing these phrases to owning them.
Why Business Spanish Is a
Competitive Advantage
There are over 580 million Spanish speakers in the world. Latin America represents one of the fastest-growing economic regions on the planet. Every year, more US and European companies are expanding into Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and beyond.
In that environment, the executive who can run a meeting, close a negotiation, and write a professional email in Spanish — without a translator — has a measurable advantage over the one who cannot. Not just linguistically. Culturally. Because in Latin American business, speaking the language signals something deeper than competence: it signals respeto. Respect for the culture, the people, and the relationship.
The twenty phrases in this article are not a complete business Spanish curriculum. They are a starting point — the minimum viable vocabulary for a professional who takes their Latin American relationships seriously. From here, the path to genuine professional fluency requires personalized instruction, real practice, and the cultural knowledge that only a native teacher can provide.
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amazon Get Tico Talk — $4.99Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from executives learning business Spanish.
Always start with usted in formal business contexts — emails, first meetings, presentations, and any communication with senior counterparts. Usted signals respect and professionalism. In Latin America, moving too quickly to tú can seem presumptuous. Wait until your counterpart invites a more informal register before switching. In Costa Rica specifically, vos is also used informally — but that is a conversation for after the deal is signed.
Considerably more formal than their English equivalents. Spanish business emails typically include a formal salutation (Estimado/a), careful use of usted, formal closing phrases (quedo a su disposición, saludos cordiales), and a level of courtesy language that would seem excessively polite in English. When in doubt, err on the side of more formality rather than less — you can always relax the register over time as the relationship develops.
The core professional vocabulary is consistent across Latin America, but cultural norms and some expressions vary significantly by country. Costa Rican business culture tends to be warmer and more relationship-focused than, for example, Chilean or Argentine business culture. Mexicans use some different expressions from Colombians. The phrases in this article are universally understood and appropriate across the region — but private instruction with a native teacher who knows the specific cultural context of the country you are working in will give you a significant additional advantage.
For an executive with zero Spanish who commits to two private sessions per week with a native teacher, a functional business-fluent level — enough to run meetings, hold negotiations, and write professional correspondence independently — typically takes four to six months. For executives with some existing Spanish, three to four months is more realistic. The key variables are consistency of practice, quality of instruction, and how actively you use the language between lessons. Students who use Spanish on real calls and in real emails between sessions progress significantly faster.
In regular Spanish lessons, the content is general — everyday vocabulary, grammar, conversational topics. In business Spanish, every session is focused on professional communication: meeting language, negotiation phrases, email templates, presentation vocabulary, and the cultural norms of Latin American business environments. The grammar is the same — the vocabulary, context, and register are entirely different. If your goal is professional fluency, generic Spanish lessons are a slow route to a specific destination. A dedicated business Spanish program gets you there in a fraction of the time.
Yes. If your company is covering your Spanish coaching as part of a professional development or relocation budget, corporate invoicing is available. Contact Gabriela directly at gabriela@spanishfluent.com to arrange billing in the format your company requires. Sessions for multiple employees can also be scheduled and billed corporately.