How to Say 'I'd Like to Send This Letter' in Spanish and Understand Postage
Learn to mail a letter in Spanish: ask to send it, buy stamps, and discuss postage with clear, polite phrases for Latin America.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Mailing a letter in Spanish involves more than translating 'I'd like to send this letter.' You need to greet the clerk, state your request politely, ask about stamps, and understand the cost. This lesson gives you the exact phrases for a post office in Latin America, with pronunciation and regional notes. You'll practice the key verb enviar (to send), the conditional form quisiera (I would like), and vocabulary for stamps and postage. By the end, you can handle a simple letter-sending transaction in Spanish.
By the end, you can…
- politely say I'd like to send a letter in Spanish.
- ask for stamps and understand the price of postage.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Quisiera enviar esta carta.
I'd like to send this letter.
kee-SYEH-rah en-bee-AR ES-tah KAR-tah
Polite and common in Latin America. Use at the counter when handing over the letter.
¿Cuánto cuesta el envío?
How much is the postage?
KWAN-toh KWES-tah el en-BEE-oh
Asks for the cost of sending. 'Envío' means shipping or postage.
¿Me puede dar estampillas?
Can you give me stamps?
meh PWEH-deh dar es-tam-PEE-yas
In Mexico and Central America, 'estampillas' is common. In Argentina and Uruguay, say 'sellos'.
¿Dónde está el correo?
Where is the post office?
DON-deh es-TAH el ko-RREH-oh
Use to find the post office. 'Correo' also means mail.
¿Cuánto tarda en llegar?
How long does it take to arrive?
KWAN-toh TAR-dah en ye-GAR
Ask about delivery time. 'Tarda' comes from tardar, to take time.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say what you'd like to send, use 'Quisiera enviar' + item. 'Quisiera' is a polite conditional form of querer (to want). Examples: 'Quisiera enviar esta carta.' (I'd like to send this letter.) 'Quisiera enviar este paquete.' (I'd like to send this package.) For a more direct but still polite option, use 'Quiero enviar' (I want to send). Add 'por favor' to soften: 'Quisiera enviar esta carta, por favor.'
When to use it
Use 'Quisiera enviar' at the post office counter when you hand the letter to the clerk. It works in both formal and casual settings. If you need to specify the destination, add 'a' + place: 'Quisiera enviar esta carta a México.' (I'd like to send this letter to Mexico.) To ask about stamps, use '¿Me puede dar...?' (Can you give me...?) followed by the word for stamps. Remember that 'estampillas' is used in much of Latin America, while 'sellos' is standard in Argentina, Uruguay, and Spain.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buenos días. Quisiera enviar esta carta.
Good morning. I'd like to send this letter.BWEH-nos DEE-as. kee-SYEH-rah en-bee-AR ES-tah KAR-tah.Claro. ¿A dónde la va a enviar?
Of course. Where are you sending it to?KLAH-roh. ah DON-deh lah bah ah en-bee-AR?A Estados Unidos. ¿Cuánto cuesta el envío?
To the United States. How much is the postage?ah es-TAH-dos oo-NEE-dos. KWAN-toh KWES-tah el en-BEE-oh?Son cincuenta pesos. ¿Necesita estampillas?
It's fifty pesos. Do you need stamps?son seen-KWEN-tah PEH-sos. neh-seh-SEE-tah es-tam-PEE-yas?A little context goes a long way
In many Latin American countries, you buy stamps at the post office window, but some small shops also sell them. The word for post office is 'correo' almost everywhere, but in Argentina and Uruguay, 'Correo Argentino' and 'Correo Uruguayo' are the national services. If you're unsure, ask '¿Dónde puedo comprar estampillas?' (Where can I buy stamps?). Politeness matters: always start with a greeting like 'Buenos días' or 'Buenas tardes' before making a request.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Quiero enviar esta carta' as the only way to say 'I'd like to send this letter.'
Try this instead: 'Quiero' means 'I want', which can sound blunt. For a polite request, use 'Quisiera enviar esta carta.' The conditional 'quisiera' softens the request, similar to 'I would like' in English. If you want to be even more polite, add 'por favor': 'Quisiera enviar esta carta, por favor.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely say 'I'd like to send this letter' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
Quisiera enviar esta carta.
'Quisiera' is the polite conditional form of querer, and 'enviar' means to send. 'Esta carta' means this letter. You could also say 'Quiero enviar esta carta' but it's less polite.
2Ask 'How much is the postage?' in Spanish.
Show a sample answer
¿Cuánto cuesta el envío?
'¿Cuánto cuesta?' means 'How much does it cost?' and 'el envío' means 'the postage' or 'shipping'. In some regions, you might hear '¿Cuánto es el franqueo?' but 'envío' is widely understood.
3What word for 'stamps' would you use in Argentina?
Show a sample answer
Sellos
In Argentina and Uruguay, 'sellos' is the common word for stamps. In most other Latin American countries, 'estampillas' is used. Both are correct depending on the region.
Use 'Quisiera enviar esta carta' to politely mail a letter, ask '¿Cuánto cuesta el envío?' for postage, and remember that 'estampillas' or 'sellos' means stamps depending on the country.
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