The Spanish language is known to be the second widely spoken native language and the fourth most spoken language both globally. It is also called Español or Castellan (Castilian), differentiating it from other local dialects from different Spanish regions like Asturian (Asturias), Catalan (Catalonia), and Basque (Basque Country), among others. Initially brought by the Romans to the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish language takes influence on other languages such as Arabic, English, Germanic Gothic, and French.

Language Skills
According to a non-profit organization in the Spanish government named after, possibly, the most famous writer in Spanish literature called Miguel de Cervantes, 572 million Spanish speakers use it as their first or second language. On the other hand, there are approximately 437 million Spanish speakers who converse the language as their native tongue, and about 21 million people (students of Spanish) categorized it as their foreign language.

Listed below are some of the basic greeting phrases to begin your Spanish experience:

TRIVIA: There are three periods of time in Spanish. These are the la mañana, la tarde, and la noche. The la mañana starts at the time you get up until lunch. Lunchtime in Spanish culture usually occurs at 2 PM. La mañana is the time you say, “¡Buenos días!”. The next period, la tarde, begins right after lunchtime until sundown. It is the period where you say, “¡Buenas tardes!”. Then right after the sunset comes the la noche period. “¡Buenas noches!” is also used in greeting someone you'll not be seeing until tomorrow.

Body Language
The Spaniards are known to be expressive when it comes to communicating their thoughts and feelings. They tend to speak louder and make a lot of gestures - which are often misunderstood as intimidating or offensive one way or another, especially for others who are just meeting Spanish people for the first time. But little did they know, it is just the passion that is innate in the Spanish blood. Speaking of which, any form of signal to show that you are paying attention to the conversation - may it be eye contact or making hand gesticulations in return - is highly appreciated. Spaniards will kiss (more like kissing the air while touching cheeks) you on both cheeks (from left to right) as their way of greeting someone. This act is most common among women. Their body language during a conversation shows how acquainted both parties are. As the relationship gets closer, Spanish people prefer the embrace (abrazo) that usually comes with a pat on the shoulder or the elbow. In this stage, they tend to do more physical contact like a quick touch on the shoulders, elbows, and upper part of the arms, putting their arms around you that can signal camaraderie being developed. These moments only mean to show hospitality and congeniality. Another tip, avoid pointing the index finger directly toward someone because it is considered rude in Spain. When introducing yourself to start a conversation with a Spaniard, avoid immediately asking: "What do you do for a living?". This approach tends to turn off most of the Spanish population as it shows a disingenuous gesture. Rest assured, Spaniards are high-spirited; there is a minimal to zero chance of a dull moment in a conversation with them.

Topics for Discussion
Speaking of what should or should not bring up in a chat with Spanish people, here are some of the topics you can consider on breaking the ice:

• Food - Spaniards take pride in their delectable cuisine and wines. As a newcomer in Spain, complimenting their food would be one of the best ways to hold a conversation.

• Music - They also love their music as much as they love their food. Enjoying their music from flamenco to rock, or jazz to classical, and sharing your thoughts about it may encourage a more engaging talk.

• Culture/City - Another way of making an impression to a local during conversation is to acknowledge their culture and the city you are currently in. Mention their stunning architecture, their marvelous literary history, and even sports like soccer or tennis to add flavor to your discussion.

Now you have the idea of what are good topics for discussion in Spain, do not forget that mentioned above is the topic you should avoid: money. Talking about their economic situations is not comfortable for them. This topic can trigger to put the conversation to an end. Take note, also, that talking about family should be saved in the second meeting. This aspect is considered really personal for them and they opt to share information about their family life in a deeper relationship.

Spaniards are also self-conscious about getting embarrassed in public. As a foreigner in Spain, you must practice politeness at all times. Mocking their accent - and any other accent - alongside their improper pronunciation of words not in their native language is an ill manner.

To help you kick off that small talk, we listed some Spanish sentences you will definitely hear in a conversation:

You can also visit websites like Duolingo - an innovative platform to learn different languages of the world - to learn more about the Spanish language and prepare you for a wonderful Spanish experience.