Short answer: some, in some places. Where English works, where it does not, and a printable phrase list for taxis, markets, restaurants and pharmacies.
Short answer: some English, in some places. Guanajuato Capital is a Mexican university city, not an expat town. In hotels, museums, tour offices and the better restaurants you will usually find someone who speaks English. On buses, in markets, in taxis, at the pharmacy counter and in most neighbourhood kitchens, you will not.
Where English usually works
- Hotel and hostel reception in the centro
- Museums with ticket desks, and licensed guides
- Restaurants aimed at visitors, and specialty cafés
- The university area, where students often practise willingly
- San Miguel de Allende, 90 minutes away, where English is far more widespread
Where it usually does not
- City buses and taxis
- Markets and street stalls
- Pharmacies and small clinics
- Bus station ticket windows outside the main lines
- Anywhere in Salvatierra, Acámbaro, Dolores Hidalgo or the smaller towns
Print this: the 25 phrases that cover most situations
Basics
- Hello / Good morning — Hola / Buenos días
- Please / Thank you — Por favor / Gracias
- Excuse me — Disculpe
- I do not speak much Spanish — No hablo mucho español
- Do you speak English? — ¿Habla inglés?
- Could you write it down? — ¿Me lo puede escribir?
- More slowly, please — Más despacio, por favor
Money and shopping
- How much is it? — ¿Cuánto cuesta?
- Too expensive — Muy caro
- Do you take cards? — ¿Aceptan tarjeta?
- Cash only? — ¿Solo efectivo?
- The bill, please — La cuenta, por favor
Getting around
- Where is...? — ¿Dónde está...?
- To the centre, please — Al centro, por favor
- How much to...? — ¿Cuánto a...?
- Stop here, please — Aquí, por favor
- Is it far on foot? — ¿Está lejos a pie?
Food
- A table for two — Una mesa para dos
- Without meat — Sin carne
- Not spicy — Sin chile / No picante
- Water without ice — Agua sin hielo
- I am allergic to... — Soy alérgico a...
Help
- I need a doctor — Necesito un médico
- Help, please — Ayuda, por favor
- Where is the pharmacy? — ¿Dónde está la farmacia?
Practical tips that matter more than vocabulary
- Use your phone offline. Download Spanish for offline translation before you arrive; mobile data is patchy in the tunnels and inside thick stone buildings.
- Write the address down. Taxi drivers know landmarks better than street numbers — name the nearest plaza, church or hotel.
- Point at the menu. Nobody minds. Menus in the centre are often bilingual; market fondas are not.
- Numbers first. Learn 1 to 20, plus 50 and 100. It covers prices, quantities and bus fares.
- Ask students. Around the University the odds of a fluent English speaker are high, and they are usually happy to help.
- At the pharmacy, show the packet or a photo. Many medicines have different brand names in Mexico.
Related reading
- Is Guanajuato safe?
- Guanajuato safety, city by city
- Digital nomad guide to Guanajuato Capital
- Living in Guanajuato as an American
- Money and banking in Guanajuato
Frequently asked questions
Do they speak English in Guanajuato, Mexico?
Some people do, mainly in hotels, museums, tour offices and visitor-facing restaurants in the centre. In markets, taxis, buses and pharmacies, Spanish is expected.
Can you visit Guanajuato without speaking Spanish?
Yes. Thousands of visitors do every year. A translation app, written addresses and about twenty basic phrases will get you through comfortably.
Is English more common in San Miguel de Allende than Guanajuato?
Yes, considerably. San Miguel has a large English-speaking foreign community, so English is common in shops, restaurants and services there.
Do taxi drivers in Guanajuato speak English?
Usually not. Show the address on your phone or name the nearest plaza, church or hotel.
Is Spanish in Guanajuato hard to understand?
Central Mexican Spanish is clear and relatively slow compared with Caribbean or southern Spanish accents, which makes Guanajuato a popular place to study the language.
Are menus in Guanajuato in English?
Many restaurants in the centre have bilingual menus. Market fondas and street stalls do not, so a photo translation app helps.
