Which Spanish phrases matter most here?

“¿Qué pescado está bueno hoy?” (Which fish is good today); “¿Cuál me recomienda?” (Which one do you recommend); “¿Se lo preparo para freír o para el horno?” (Shall I prepare it for frying or for the oven). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Spain. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Spanish phrases for the butcher's and fishmonger's counter in Spain

At the fish counter, ask “¿Qué pescado está bueno hoy?” or “¿Cuál me recomienda?”. Say how you’ll cook it, then ask “¿Me lo puede limpiar?” or “¿Me quita las espinas, por favor?”. At the butcher’s, name the cut and how you want it: “Quería dos pechugas de pollo fileteadas”.

Try it · about two minutes

At the counter you ask what’s fresh today and how they can cut or clean it for you.

Sound on: the fishmonger speaks Spanish. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Fishmonger
Buenos días, ¿qué le pongo?
Good morning, what can I get you?
You
¿Qué pescado está bueno hoy?
Which fish is good today?
Fishmonger
La merluza se ha terminado, pero tenemos dorada.
We’ve run out of hake, but we have sea bream.
You
Uno de esos, por favor.
One of those, please.
Fishmonger
¿Se lo preparo para freír o para el horno?
Shall I prepare it for frying or for the oven?
You
Para el horno, por favor.
For the oven, please.
Fishmonger
¿Algo más?
Anything else?
You
¿Me lo puede limpiar?
Could you clean it for me?
Fishmonger
Se ha pasado un poquito, ¿lo dejo?
It’s a little over, is that OK?
You
Así está bien.
That’s fine like that.
Fishmonger
¿Se lo cobro todo junto?
Shall I ring it all up together?
You
Sí, todo junto, por favor.
Yes, all together, please.

Which Spanish phrases do you need?

¿Qué pescado está bueno hoy?
Which fish is good today?
¿Cuál me recomienda?
Which one do you recommend?
¿Se lo preparo para freír o para el horno?
Shall I prepare it for frying or for the oven?
¿Me lo puede limpiar?
Could you clean it for me?
¿Me quita las espinas, por favor?
Could you take the bones out, please?
No hace falta que lo limpie, gracias.
No need to clean it, thanks.
¿Qué pieza me recomienda para hacer al horno?
Which cut do you recommend for roasting?
¿Me lo pica, por favor?
Could you mince it for me, please?
Quería dos pechugas de pollo fileteadas.
I’d like two chicken breasts cut into fillets.
¿Me lo separa en dos paquetes, que es para congelar?
Could you split it into two packs? It’s for freezing.

What is worth knowing in Spain?

At the fish counter

1
Ask what’s fresh today, or what the seller recommends.
Which fish is good today?
2
Say how you’ll cook it: in the oven, fried or in a stew.
It’s for a stew, you see.
3
Ask for it cleaned, boned or cut.
Could you take the bones out, please?

Usted at the counter

At the counter

¿Me lo puede limpiar?

Could you clean it for me?

Informal

¿Me lo puedes limpiar?

Could you clean it for me? (informal)

Sellers at markets and counters often say usted, so ask with “puede” rather than “puedes”. If a seller uses tú, you can follow.

At the butcher’s

At a carnicería, ask for a cut by name and say how you’ll cook it. The butcher can slice, mince or fillet it while you wait.

Quería dos pechugas de pollo fileteadas.

I’d like two chicken breasts cut into fillets.

Questions about this situation

Which Spanish phrases matter most here?: “¿Qué pescado está bueno hoy?” (Which fish is good today); “¿Cuál me recomienda?” (Which one do you recommend); “¿Se lo preparo para freír o para el horno?” (Shall I prepare it for frying or for the oven). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Spain. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Spanish

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.