Selected Travel Guide:		More Madrid Travel Guides:			Adjust Font Size:

Location
Madrid region, central Spain.

Dialling code
34.


Population
3,132,463 (city 2007).

Time zone
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
5ºC (41.5ºF).

Average July temperatures
24ºC (75.5ºF).

Language
Introduction
As soon as a Spaniard opens his/her mouth, everyone knows where they come from. The Madrileños speak Castellano (Castilian Spanish), established as the national language since the Nova Planta decrees of 1716. Although they pronounce all vowels and consonants (as opposed to the elliptic Andalusian Spanish), Madrileños frequently waive standard grammar rules, in a phenomenon known as Laismo (where personal pronoun la replaces le) or Leismo (where le replaces la).

The second decisive factor in determining accent is social class. In Madrid, the upper classes open their mouths extra wide to speak, as though they have a potato in their mouth – patata en la boca. The lower social classes have their own accent. One of its characteristics is the ‘rh’ sound replacing the ‘s’ sound – hence es que (because) becomes erh que.

Madrileños are very fond (in a patronising kind of way) of the accent from Andalusia but are less well-disposed towards the accent and language – Català (Catalan) – of their arch- rivals in Barcelona.

Phrases

Yes - Sí
No - No
Hello - Hola
Goodbye - Adios
Please - Por favor
Thank you - Gracias
My name is ... - Me llamo ...
How are you? - Qué tal estás?
I’m very well - Estoy muy bien
I feel ill - Me siento mal
How much does it cost? - Cuantó es?
Do you speak English? - Habla inglés?
I don’t understand - No entiendo
Where is ...? - Dónde está ...?
Entrance - Entrada
Exit - Salida
Danger - Peligro
Open - Abierto
Closed - Cerrado
Toilets - Servicios
Doctor - Médico
Hotel - Hotel
Restaurant - Restaurante
Beer - Cerveza
Wine - Vino
Menu - Carta
Today - Hoy
Tomorrow - Mañana
Monday - Lunes
Tuesday - Martes
Wednesday - Miércoles
Thursday - Jueves
Friday - Viernes
Saturday - Sábado
Sunday - Domingo
One - Un / uno / una
Two - Dos / dues
Three - Tres
Four - Cuatro
Five - Cinco
Six - Seis
Seven - Siete
Eight - Ocho
Nine - Nieve
Ten - Diez
Twenty - Veinte
Thirty - Treinta
Forty - Cuarenta
Fifty - Cincuenta
Sixty - Sesenta
Seventy - Setenta
Eighty - Ochenta
Ninety - Noventa
One Hundred - Cien
One Thousand - Mil


Cost of Living:

1 Euro (€1) = £0.94; US$1.37; C$1.66; A$1.93
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Reyes Magos (Epiphany)
January
Marked by a procession of the ‘the kings' with commercial floats.
City center

Carnaval (Carnival)
February
Procession, masked ball and cultural events, culminating in the ritual Burial of the Sardine in the church of San Antonio de la Florida.
Plaza Mayor

Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Week leading to Easter
Solemn religious processions and services.
Throughout the city

Fiesta del 2 de Mayo (Festival of 2 May)
2 May
Marks the day when Madrid rose up against the French in 1808, with films, poetry recitals, concerts and dance.
Various venues

Festival Flamenco
May
Flamenco dancing competition.
Teatro Albéniz, Calle de la Paz 11

San Isidro
May
Commemoration of Madrid's patron saint with procession to the church of San Isidoro, open-air dance performances, theater productions, zarzuela, pop and rock concerts and sports competitions.
Pradera de San Isidoro and various other venues

Gay Pride
Last week in June
Festival culminates in a parade through the Retiro, Sol and Casa de Campo districts, other events in Chueca district.
Website: www.gaypridemadrid.com

Veranos de la Villa (Summer in the City)
July-August
Seasonal cultural events.
Various venues

Festival de Otoño (Autumn Festival)
October-November
Madrid's most important annual arts festival.
Various venues

Feria de Artesania
December
Festive craft fair.
Paseo de Recoletos

Natividad (Christmas)
December
Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Plaza Mayor

Nochevieja (New Year's Eve)
December
Crowds gather to eat grapes and drink champagne.
Puerta del Sol

Related Madrid Content

Related Spain Content

Spain Airport Guides: Alicante Barcelona Fuerteventura Gran Canaria Ibiza Lanzarote Málaga Madrid Barajas Menorca Palma de Mallorca Seville Tenerife South - Reina Sofia Valencia	Spain City Guides: Alicante City Guide Barcelona City Guide Bilbao City Guide Granada City Guide Madrid City Guide Malaga City Guide Palma City Guide Santiago de Compostela City Guide Seville City Guide Toledo City Guide Valencia City Guide
Spain Attraction Guides:
Acueducto de Segovia (Roman Aqueduct at Segovia) Alhambra Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela Cathedral) Caves of Drach (Cuevas del Drach) Expiatory Temple of the Sagrada Familia (Temple Expiatiori de la Sagrada Familia) Garajonay National Park Guell Park (Parc Guell) Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Museo Guggenheim Bilbao)	Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial) Nou Camp Pilgrim's Way Prado Museum (Museo del Prado) Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Sevilla) Terra Mitica Universal Mediterranea