If I had a dollar for every time I saw a Cinco de Mayo "Spanish Learning" Printable with a list of words like taco, fiesta, and sombrero… I’d have enough money to buy a lifetime supply of tacos... (YESSS!)
Look, I love a good taco as much as the next person ;), but if our goal is actually getting our kids to speak Spanish, a list of themed words is NOT the way to do it.
Cinco de Mayo is a perfect time to bring real-life, useful Spanish into your home—but we’re not doing it with flashcards or worksheets. At Homeschool Languages, we teach languages through everyday moments—starting with simple, useful phrases that actually stick. So, for Cinco de Mayo, we’re introducing three Spanish phrases that you can use during your celebrations AND keep using all year long!
Because if you start your language learning with the most used words in your home, your children will see the language as USEFUL, and you'll notice they bring it up more often than you do. They'll fill in the gaps with fun themed vocab as time goes on. But to get the language up and running quickly in your home, start with these instead!
(NOTE: If you're looking for French, Italian, German, or Portuguese, you'll find the new phrases at the end of this post!)
Let’s jump in!
Phrase #1: “¿Me das...?” (Can I have ?)
Why it’s useful: Because kids ask for things all. day. long.
This phrase is GOLD because it’s something your child will naturally want to say.
Instead of asking in English, they’ll start saying:
¿Me das... more guacamole?
¿Me das... water?
¿Me das... the toy?
How to start using it today:
1️⃣ At mealtime, encourage your child to ask for food using ¿Puedo tener…?
2️⃣ If they forget and ask in English, just repeat it back in Spanish and have them try again.
3️⃣ Bonus points if you do this at snack time—it’ll come up A LOT!
How to keep it going after Cinco de Mayo:
Once they’ve got the phrase down, use it every day when asking for things—snacks, books, even screen time. Before you know it, they’ll be saying it without thinking.
Phrase #2: “Pruébalo.” (Try it.)
Why it’s useful: Because every parent has had that moment where their kid refuses to take a bite of something new.
How to start using it today:
1️⃣ When introducing a new dish (or even a new activity), say “Pruébalo” instead of “Just try it!”
2️⃣ If your kiddo hesitates, try the “one-bite rule” along with Pruébalo. (It works wonders!)
3️⃣ Make it fun! Say it in a silly voice, sing it, or have them say it to YOU.
How to keep it going after Cinco de Mayo:
Use Pruébalo all year long for food, new experiences, and even learning new words in Spanish!
Trying a new vegetable? Pruébalo.
Trying to build with LEGOs in a new way? Pruébalo.
Nervous about answering in Spanish? Pruébalo.
Suddenly, it’s not just about food—it’s about trying new things with confidence!
Phrase #3: “¡Qué rico!” (How delicious!)
Why it’s useful: Because kids love sharing their opinions—and this phrase lets them do it in Spanish.
How to start using it today:
1️⃣ After a bite of something delicious, say “¡Qué rico!”
2️⃣ Encourage your child to say it when they enjoy something.
3️⃣ Make it playful—exaggerate it when something is super yummy!
How to keep it going after Cinco de Mayo:This one sticks around ALL. YEAR. LONG.
Eating their favorite snack? ¡Qué rico!
Trying a new ice cream flavor? ¡Qué rico!
Grandma’s homemade cookies? ¡Qué rico!
It’s an easy way to add Spanish to your daily conversations without forcing anything.
How These Phrases Fit Into Our Holiday Series
At Homeschool Languages, we use holidays as a way to introduce meaningful, everyday phrases that stick. Each holiday introduces a few words, and they don’t disappear afterward—they stay in your home, building over time.
By the end of the year, you’ll have hundreds of phrases woven into your daily life—just by adding a few at a time.
Want more? Our Holiday Series introduces everyday phrases with each celebration so you can naturally add them into your family’s routine all year long.
Want to keep going? Grab our first free lessons and start building Spanish into your home, one phrase at a time!
👉 Get the free lessons here!
LOOKING FOR MORE LANGUAGES?
🌮 French
✅ “Je peux en avoir ?” (Can I have some?)
✅ “Goûte-le !” (Try it!)
✅ “C'est délicieux !” (That’s delicious!)
🌯 German
✅ “Kann ich das haben?” (Can I have some?)
✅ “Probier es mal!” (Try it!)
✅ “Das ist lecker!” (That’s delicious!)
🥑 Portuguese
✅ “Posso pegar?” (Can I have some?)
✅ “Experimenta!” or "Prova isto!" (Try it!)
✅ “Que gostoso!” (That’s delicious!)
🍽 Italian
✅ “Posso averlo?” (Can I have some?)
✅ “Provalo!” (Try it!)
✅ “Che buono!” (That’s delicious!)
No matter which language you’re learning, these phrases will get used again and again—at every meal, snack, and taste test!
Want more? Our Holiday Series introduces everyday phrases with each celebration so you can naturally add them into your family’s routine all year long.
Start small, stay consistent, and watch the language grow! 🎉
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