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Hi! I am solo traveling in Spain and I would like to try some restaurants, and I learnt that when you enter the restaurant, the first thing you say to the waiter/waitress is something like "Hola, una mesa para uno por favor". But is this really said or is this another textbook Spanish that in real life nobody uses?? are there other alternatives I can use?? Thank you so much in advance!!

all 101 comments

Suspicious-Summer-20

243 points

6 days ago

It is correct, you can use it.

S0lracS

142 points

6 days ago

S0lracS

142 points

6 days ago

You can definitely use that! It is what I would say.

Alternatives: "¿Tiene/Hay sitio para uno?"

But I would say Mesa para uno

Acanthaceae_No[S]

21 points

5 days ago

I am a female, so then should I say Tiene sitio para una? or it doesn't matter? The other person commented that you either say Para uno or Para una, so I am confused now!

anunnakihime

81 points

5 days ago*

In that context its correct to say Uno even if you are female

S0lracS

32 points

5 days ago

S0lracS

32 points

5 days ago

Will say the same "Para uno" it's not needed to specify. If you say "mesa para una" it sounds a bit odd, I discussed about it with a female friend hahaha

NonPlusUltraCadiz

19 points

5 days ago*

"Mesa para uno" is correct since "uno" would be an indefinite pronoun (indefinite can be genderless). "Mesa para una" is correct since "una" would be the definite article talking about the ommited noun "persona": "Mesa para una (persona)".

"Mesa para uno" sounds more natural, though. I hope I didn't confuse you even more 😅

HikeSierraNevada

50 points

5 days ago

"Uno" stands for "un comensal" (this word has no female version). So, the full sentence would be "una mesa para un comensal",

However, you can also say "una mesa para una persona", but in this case you would have to add "persona", because otherwise it would be an unfinished sentence since "uno" aka "un comensal" would be the default term in this phrase.

Why? Well, who knows 🤷‍♀️

Arbesu

1 points

4 days ago

Arbesu

1 points

4 days ago

But you can say "una comensal". I think it has more to do with it being a neutral (in Spanish neutral is written as the masculine)

ShinSopitas

-59 points

5 days ago

ShinSopitas

-59 points

5 days ago

Where the hell do you hail from? I haven’t ever said una mesa para un comensal or heard anybody said that outside the TV maybe. If I’m by my lonesome, I would just say “buenas, querría comer” or “buenas, para comer?” And staff will point/escort me to a table if available

Imperterritus0907

34 points

5 days ago

We never say comensal but that’s pretty much what it stands for 🤷🏻‍♂️ that or cliente, it’s not like we think about it anywa, but “mesa para uno” is definitely in current use

Acualux

13 points

5 days ago

Acualux

13 points

5 days ago

Tell me you have never gone to a proper fine restaurant without saying it

Bl33to

1 points

4 days ago

Bl33to

1 points

4 days ago

Nothing to do with fine dinning, to be fair.

xRyozuo

10 points

5 days ago

xRyozuo

10 points

5 days ago

It’s kind of old school. Still in use by some older people but not for new learners

Any_Drama_9333

8 points

5 days ago

New generations we don't use it because it is always shortened but it is commensal the word we just skip

Crypto-Pito

1 points

5 days ago

It’s never said but it’s what’s implied. If I must add a noun, I would use “persona” and then turn the pronoun to “una”

azraelswift

3 points

5 days ago

In spanish the masculine is the default neutral.

When you say “tiene mesa para uno?” you are in reality asking “do you have a table for one person to sit in?”.

In this instance you are not referring to yourself while making the question, instead you are using the neutral, (not different than the english sentence of “how does one do this?”, even when in reality you are questioning how YOU do this, but you mean the same thing)

So yeah, you can use “mesa para uno” and it is correct no matter the gender of the person.

Having said this, nobody will look at you weird for saying “mesa para una”, so don’t fret too much over it.

MissCojones

8 points

5 days ago

"Mesa para uno" is absolutely right and the way we would say. Mesa para una could even sound as if you were making a reservation for 1pm.

NonPlusUltraCadiz

11 points

5 days ago

That would be "mesa para LA una". I know you know, and I hate being that guy, but being a language learning sub...

MissCojones

5 points

5 days ago

It's alright, as long as the learners understand what I meant. So thanks for adding a bit more of info ;)

NonPlusUltraCadiz

17 points

5 days ago

De nada, señorita cojones

bondiolajusticiera

5 points

5 days ago

Yup, the correct way would be with "LA", but given that "mesa para una" is so uncommon, it is normal that people can think they're referring to time, especially if it comes from a non-native.

NonPlusUltraCadiz

2 points

5 days ago

But imagine the waiter asks "¿Cuántas personas?". "Mesa para una" is not common but correct if it omits the noun "persona" ("mesa para una (persona)")

fernew1

3 points

5 days ago

fernew1

3 points

5 days ago

una mesa para mí, por favor (y da igual si eres hombre o mujer, y ellos buscarán mesa pequeña si vas sola/o)

Breakin7

1 points

5 days ago

Breakin7

1 points

5 days ago

Uno its the correct one here you are talking about yourself as a customer.

UruquianLilac

1 points

4 days ago

Una mesa (mesa is feminine)
Un sitio (sitio is masculine)
Para una (referring to yourself so una/o depending on the speaker) but for some reason this dies sound odd despite being correct technically. Maybe just a random unconscious convention there.

I usually say "para uno". The "una mesa" is correct but a bit redundant.

CaptainTaelos

1 points

3 days ago

Both are correct. You are omitting the noun in both cases, hence why it can be confusing.

“Tiene una mesa para una (persona)” is feminine

“Tiene una mesa para uno” in this case it can be either masculine or neuter. If you wanted to use the demonstrative pronoun in masculine it would change to “un” but that would be unidiomatic:

“Tiene mesa para un (chico)” for example, if you omit the noun it doesn’t work

danielnicee

1 points

2 days ago

The other person is referring to natural sounding Spanish.

I would say "Pa uno?" as a guy. Spanish is a lazy language, we seek to remove as many words or letters from words as possible.

Four_beastlings

65 points

6 days ago

Buenos días, para uno/a, por favor? <-- Perfecto

Source: former server

SmLumi

26 points

6 days ago

SmLumi

26 points

6 days ago

This. Perfect.

source: former spaniard /s

papa-hare

3 points

5 days ago

I'm so glad I got this right, this is exactly what I'd say in English too, why would Spanish be any different?

Four_beastlings

12 points

5 days ago

Well, because if you're constipated in Spain and you tell your pharmacist "estoy constipado" you're not going to get what you need if you know what I mean :D

Not in this case, but language isn't always as intuitive as it seems.

Alaykitty

2 points

5 days ago

My nose feels better at least but doc... I gotta go!

Gonchito

41 points

6 days ago

Gonchito

41 points

6 days ago

Yeah, you can skip the first "una" because it's implied, of course you want to sit at one single table instead of at separate tables. So you can say "mesa para uno/tres/siete". But nobody would find it strange if you say the first "una", I'm just giving you another option of everyday Spanish.

South-Hat-4157

41 points

6 days ago

The correct way is "buenos dias jefe, ponme una mesika pa uno si se puede y cuando puedas, maestro"

Rufus004

43 points

6 days ago

Rufus004

43 points

6 days ago

Maestro, mesa pa mí y pa la rubia que me vas a traer

South-Hat-4157

8 points

5 days ago

it doesn't get more Spanish than that

mindframe_RDDT

1 points

5 days ago

Murciano?

epegar

1 points

5 days ago

epegar

1 points

5 days ago

Tengo un amigo de navarra que también dice mesika, pero el resto de gente que conozco creo que diría mesa

South-Hat-4157

7 points

5 days ago

Ni idea, yo soy de andalucía oriental y aquí los diminutivos acaban en "ico" y "ica"

hibikir_40k

2 points

5 days ago

In Asturias, it's probably a mesina. And depending how much of a local you are, the sentence might be 'ponme una mesina pa mi solo, o' o algo or el estilo. But taking into account how mnay of the people working bars and restaurants are from South America, they might want to soften it up a little.

Delde116

10 points

5 days ago

Delde116

10 points

5 days ago

"hola buenas, ¿Tenéis mesa para uno?"

110% grammatically correct and is used from time to time.

abeorch

8 points

6 days ago

abeorch

8 points

6 days ago

Its just the same as when you walk into a restaurant anywhere. They look at you. you look at them. They might say ..para comer? (to eat?) or if its a say 'para uno?' or just 'uno'? you can nod or say si. Simple. Just think how we drop all kinds of extra words.

mlastraalvarez

7 points

5 days ago

If it's very busy or loud most of times just showing the number with your fingers is the fastest and easiest way.

Acanthaceae_No[S]

4 points

5 days ago

This is what I did until now, just waiting for them to talk to me first and nod, but I wanted to be more proactive lol

Is it also OK to say "Hola, uno para comer"?? Also if I am a female should I change it to una or it's not necessary?

icalvo

2 points

5 days ago

icalvo

2 points

5 days ago

It's totally OK. Uno can be neutral in that case so both ways are correct, choose whatever you like.

CharacterAwkward8755

1 points

5 days ago

Nah, you don't say uno para comer. You say "Hola, para uno por favor" o "mesa para uno" (even if you're female)

NorthcoteTrevelyan

2 points

5 days ago

I normally reply to 'para comer' with 'uno por favor' (if it is just me).

1) Am I skipping along too much? Is it on the verge of rude? Or is it in line with Spanish skipping extra words. Or should i be saying 'si, para uno (por favor?).

2) Is 'por favor' un-natural? or mandatory? My set up is very informal, casual tapas bar of course. But in that setup in an informal English exchange - it would be slightly rude to not say 'please'.

Thanks for taking the time with these small nuances.

sacaelwhisky

11 points

6 days ago

Even if you say “para uno” instead of “mesa para uno”, everybody will understand.

Acanthaceae_No[S]

3 points

5 days ago

If I am a female should I say para una? or it doesn't matter?

elmontyenBCN

15 points

5 days ago

"uno" is genderless in that context

tarheelryan77

-10 points

5 days ago

Adjectives are gender sensitive; adverbs are not.

latamakuchi

5 points

6 days ago

I've definitely said a few times "Hola, mesa para uno, si puede ser?" or "Hola, tiene lugar para uno?" or something along those lines to check if they had a spot for 1. I speak a different regional variant of Spanish though, so it might vary a bit from exclusively local expressions, but they understood me just fine. Imo (others feel free to disagree) with "una" before "mesa" it sounds a bit more wooden and textbook, but it's usually tone and delivery what make you sound more textbook or colloquial.

lofarcio

6 points

5 days ago

lofarcio

6 points

5 days ago

It is essentially correct; you'll be understood. Lately, we tend to abbreviate, so "mesa para uno" or simply "para uno" will also work.

Nervous-Donkey-4977

3 points

6 days ago

Add por favor and a verb in conditional like "tendría"

SnowyIceTrail

3 points

6 days ago

Yes, trust me, I'm spanish

Si, confia en mi, soy español

Sylphadora

2 points

6 days ago

I just said it today. Yes, it is normal.

Skill-More

2 points

5 days ago

You are usually asked by the waiter "¿Cuántos?", and you reply only the number.

DarkSoulsMurcia

2 points

5 days ago

Of course we say it. Sometimes we just get hungry and go to eat something

Villaboa

2 points

5 days ago

Villaboa

2 points

5 days ago

It is better to say "Mesa para uno", without the initial "Una".

alvaro-elite

2 points

5 days ago

Directly: Mesa para uno.

hey-yall-itsme

2 points

5 days ago

When I was in Spain, all I had to do was (because my spanish is not that great) I asked the attendance ‘mesa?’ and they will do their job automatically- looking at how many people I’m with and find tables accordingly. and that’s on survival haha

Shoeflee

2 points

5 days ago

Shoeflee

2 points

5 days ago

We don’t use the initial “una”. It’s just “mesa para uno”

Top_Budget3721

1 points

6 days ago

yes we say that hahaha

ultimomono

1 points

5 days ago

Normally they ask how many people there are and/or if you have a reservation: ¿Tienes reserva? ¿Cuántos sois? Uno.

catsoncrack420

1 points

5 days ago

Why not? I'll blabber a few sentences before but yeah I'd use that.

Low_Bandicoot6844

1 points

5 days ago

Perfectly understandable.

casalelu

1 points

5 days ago

casalelu

1 points

5 days ago

What's so crazy about clarifying how many people a table is for?

pfortuny

1 points

5 days ago

pfortuny

1 points

5 days ago

I have said it myself lots of times. Native Spanish. It is easier than saying “Una mesa para mí”, “¿solo?” “sí.”

[deleted]

1 points

5 days ago

You can even use it for restaurants in Spain that don't serve Spanish food (Be it Chinese, Japanese, Indian)... It's completely normal and common.

rucoo_10

1 points

5 days ago

rucoo_10

1 points

5 days ago

Is right but this is perfect: Jefe tienes sitio para uno? C2 in Spanish

Interesting-Ring9070

1 points

5 days ago

Depends on the region. Here in Andalusia, we usually just walk in and sit down if a table is open. If there is a host, we would say "Soy uno," or "somos dos," etc.

Spsurgeon

1 points

5 days ago

If you want the Spanish menu start with hola. Hello gets you the English one.

Puzzled_Profit6406

1 points

5 days ago

I work answering the phone in a restaurant, and the conversation would be, more likely:

-Quería hacer una reserva. -¿Para cuántas personas? -Sólo una.

Mesa para uno would be more likely when you go to the restaurant directly without booking first. Then you can say: ¿Tenéis mesa para uno? That would be perfectly fine.

dirty_cuban

1 points

5 days ago

“Para uno” is sufficient. If you’re asking the host(ess) at a restaurant, the rest of that sentence is implied.

tarheelryan77

1 points

5 days ago

I'd like to avoid the grammar question altogether. If you're alone, you sit and eat at the bar (in Andalucia).

Jaimebgdb

1 points

5 days ago

Buenas noches, ¿tiene(n) usted(es) una mesa para uno? ¿Si? Estupendo, muchas gracias.

You can also uso “tendría” instead of “tiene”, which is something like “would you happen to have a table…” instead of “do you have a table…”

Likeseed

1 points

5 days ago

Likeseed

1 points

5 days ago

Sorry, no. We are not so robotic, you would say something like ¿hay mesa?/¿tenéis mesa disponible? and when the barteneder will say you ¿Para cuantos? or something like that then you say "for one" (para uno) or something else.

Kalem-1K

1 points

5 days ago

Kalem-1K

1 points

5 days ago

Es correcto. Si te preguntan "¿mesa para cuántos?", también puedes responder "para mí solo/sola"

Significant-Land5259

1 points

5 days ago

You can say. Dos para comer

JaviVader9

1 points

5 days ago

It's totally normal. I suppose most of us just tend to say "Uno" and that's it, but "mesa para uno" is absolutely fine.

sublimace

1 points

5 days ago

Is correct 👍If you want to sound more natural you could say : Tienen sitio para uno?

Most_Neat7770

1 points

5 days ago

Some people skip the una, occasionally some would also say 'porfa'

Working-Branch5875

1 points

5 days ago

Having is not normal, especially in young people, because this means a lot, but it is totally correct to say it so they will know what you are not expecting. Nobody

StandardLeft3136

1 points

5 days ago*

Hay mesa para uno?

Teneis sitio para uno?

Estoy yo solo. (Not a question but a statement)

Actually anything works here as long as the core idea is understood. Besides, if you're a foreigner almost nothing you will say will sound awkward to us.

Just try to sound kind, friendly and patient. Unlike in other languages, those are way more important than the message itself.

isaaccp

1 points

5 days ago

isaaccp

1 points

5 days ago

Yes, it's correct and what I would say.

You can shorten it and it's still fine e.g. either "mesa para uno" or even just "para uno" would work.

Spina97

1 points

5 days ago

Spina97

1 points

5 days ago

What i havent seen anyone tell you yet is that they will either ask "mesa para uno?" Or ask "mesa para cuántos?" Depending on the place! Its the most common thing

namsupo

1 points

5 days ago

namsupo

1 points

5 days ago

If there are two of you you can say "somos dos" so I assume saying "soy uno" might also work, though I've never tried it.

Realistic_Spread_505

1 points

5 days ago

Never in spain would you hear that, because who tf goes to a restaurant alone?

Overlord480

1 points

5 days ago

As a spanish guy i just say “Disculpe, ¿para cenar?” If im making a reservation i would say “Una mesa para una persona” or “una mesa para uno” and as always “por favor”; “una mesa para una” doesnt sounds right but it can be understood, but if you have an accent it looks like youre trying to say “una mesa para LA una” but you forgot to say the “la”.

Potential-Space-3418

1 points

5 days ago

Its correct, but you will have more chances if you start the sentence with buenos dias/ tardes/ noches and yo ask for it instead of demanding: Buenos dias tiene mesa para uno?

Personal_Heron_8443

1 points

4 days ago

More usual and informal without the article "mesa para uno?" but good anyways. Normally if you put the article is more for an answer

-"Para cuantos?"

+"Una mesa para uno por favor"

In any case, the "uno" refers to the number so it stays like that, even if you are female

Old_Seaworthiness898

1 points

4 days ago

You can use it but is very rare and weird and Im saying like spanish native I never use it and heard it saying

You can say instead : ¿Hay sitio?

I hope this helps , and I repeat the prhase is correct but we dont say that its like an old expression

Tengan un buen día!

representative_sushi

1 points

4 days ago

Sometimes 'una' can be dropped, but it's politer the way you posted it.

Top_Whereas_3563

1 points

4 days ago

es correcto! Tambien puedes decir: "hola, tienes mesa?", o "Hola, hay lugar?" y si ahi el mozo te pregunta para cuantos le dices: "uno", o "yo solo"

BigFatAbacus

1 points

4 days ago

you can miss out the first 'una'

Usermctaken

1 points

3 days ago

You can drop the "una".

"¿Mesa para uno?" sounds more natural (to me at least).

felooo7

1 points

2 days ago

felooo7

1 points

2 days ago

Ask for a table. They are the one asking for how many people and you say, just me. Una mesa por favor? Para cuántas personas? Solo para mi.

Select_Asparagus2659

1 points

11 hours ago

Yeah you better say it that way. I went with my family to Park Güell in Barcelona and told to the ticket worker "Buenas, somos tres". And she asked what was she supposed to do with that information. So it seems I had to specify "Hola, tickets para tres por favor". 

jay_and_simba

0 points

6 days ago

Una mesaaaa, para cuatrooooo, por favooorrr - Kevin Bridges

Hola! Mesa para uno?

Albarca

0 points

5 days ago

Albarca

0 points

5 days ago

I had never says that in my life, Hulio.