Paraguay
Paraguay is a landlocked country at the center of South America and is known as the heart of the continent. The culture and society have been rebuilding for over 150 years due to a major war, and this history and resilience remains an impressive part of today’s culture.
Regions of Paraguay
Paraguay's Fast Facts
Language
Spanish and Paraguayan Guaraní
Capital City
Asuncion
Currency
Paraguayan Guarani
Budget Range
$ - $$
Find out more about the visa requirements for Paraguay here. Many countries are not required to obtain a visa.
Know Before You Go to Paraguay
Note: Both Spanish and Guaraní (the indigenous language of Paraguay) are official languages in the country. Guaraní is a spoken language and often used colloquially or in rural communities. However, most people in Asuncion speak and understand Spanish. When talking amongst each other, you may notice that they switch between the two languages.
hola
OH-la
hello
gracias
GRAH-see-ahs
thank you
por favor
POHR FAH-vohr
please
no entiendo
NOH ehn-tyEN-doh
I don’t understand
¿Hablas inglés?
hah-BLAHS een-GLEHS
do you speak english?
buenos días, buen día (inf.)
BWEN-hos DEE-as, BWEN DEE-a
good morning
buenas tardes, buenas (inf.)
BWEN-ahs TAR-des, BWEN-ahs
good afternoon (until sunset)
¡chau! / hasta luego
CHOW / AH-sta loo-EH-goh
bye! / see you later (also used as “bye”)
buenas noches, buenas (inf.)
BWEN-ahs NOH-ches, BWEN-ahs
good evening or goodnight
¿Dónde está el baño?
DOH-ndeh ehs-TAH EHL BAH-nyoh
where is the bathroom? (IMPORTANT: women’s restrooms are often indicated with an M (mujer=woman)
¿Me da ___, por favor?
MEH DA ___ POHR FAH-vohr
Can i have ___ please? (casual but polite way to order food and drinks)
Quisiera ___, por favor
KEE-see-yehr-ah ___ POHR FAH-vohr
I would like ___ please. (formal and polite way to order food and drinks)
buen provecho
BWEN proh-VE-choh
Enjoy your food or meal. People may use the phrase as they walk by someone eating when in a restaurant. Waiters will say this phrase when they serve you your meal.
Tereré is similar to the mate drink that is so popular in Argentina and Uruguay. It is a drink made by combining the the yerba mate plant and some specific herbs (chosen based on your ailment or health needs) in a small cup. Cold ice water is added to fill the cup. Tereré originates from the Guaraní people, the native populations that lived in the area. The traditions of the drink spread when the Europeans colonized the area.
Because it is a social drink, if you are talking to someone in a social setting who is drinking tereré, they may offer it to you. If you accept, they will fill the cup with the yerba mate leaves and other herbs and add cold water to it. When it is ready to be drunk, they will hand it to you to drink all the liquid from the straw. It is not polite to not finish the full cup of liquid so be sure that you drink enough to hear the bubbling sound! Also, avoid moving around the straw as it is typically placed in a particular way to best enjoy the drink. When you are done drinking all the liquid, you then hand it back to the person pouring the water and they will add more water and hand it to the next person to drink. If you don’t want any more tereré, politely say “gracias” and you will be skipped on the next pass around. (You can always refuse the drink and it will not be seen as impolite!)
All Paraguay Travel Guides + Articles
All About the Circuito de Oro (Golden Circuit) of Paraguay
An explanation about the Circuito de Oro tour that visits various historical and cultural places outside of Asuncion, Paraguay.
A Four Day Asuncion Itinerary, an Introduction to Paraguay
Visiting Paraguay? Consider this Asuncion itinerary to try local food, learn about the history, and experience the culture of this country.
All About the Circuito de Oro (Golden Circuit) of Paraguay
An explanation about the Circuito de Oro tour that visits various historical and cultural places outside of Asuncion, Paraguay.
A Four Day Asuncion Itinerary, an Introduction to Paraguay
Visiting Paraguay? Consider this Asuncion itinerary to try local food, learn about the history, and experience the culture of this country.
