Spanish is the most common language other than English spoken at home in the US. According to the Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey, about 44.9 million people age 5 and older speak Spanish at home, and about 18.4 million of them report speaking English less than "very well." Many local businesses get Spanish reviews, and many reply in English or not at all.
When to reply in Spanish
Reply in the language the reviewer used. If the review is in Spanish, reply in Spanish. If it mixes both, follow their lead and use whichever language most of the review is in.
You do not need to post a full second version in English. Google says Maps and Search automatically translate reviews into the language set on the reader's device. If you want English-only readers to follow along, one short English line at the end is enough.
The usual rules still apply in any language. Google's reply tips say to keep replies short, personalize them, protect privacy and avoid promotions.
Getting the tone right
- Usted or tú? Use usted by default. It is polite and safe for any business. Switch to tú only if the reviewer used it and your brand is casual.
- Keep it neutral. Your customers may come from many countries. Avoid slang that only works in one region.
- Get the details right. Use accents, ñ and the opening marks ¡ and ¿. Missing accents look careless.
- Do not post a raw machine translation. Use the templates below as a base, and have a fluent speaker check anything new before it goes live.
- Watch gender. Phrases like "lo esperamos" assume a man. The templates below use wording that works for anyone.
Spanish templates for every star rating
Replace the [corchetes] (brackets). The Copy button copies only the Spanish text. The English translation underneath is for you.
¡Muchas gracias, [Nombre]! Nos alegra mucho que le haya gustado [detalle que mencionó]. Se lo comentamos a [nombre del empleado] y le dio mucho gusto. ¡Hasta la próxima! [Su nombre], [cargo]
In English: Thank you so much, [Name]! We are so glad you liked [detail they mentioned]. We told [staff name] and it made their day. See you next time! [Your name], [role]
¡Gracias por las cinco estrellas, [Nombre]! Significa mucho para un equipo pequeño como el nuestro. [Su nombre]
In English: Thanks for the five stars, [Name]! It means a lot to a small team like ours. [Your name]
Gracias por su reseña, [Nombre]. Nos da gusto que haya disfrutado [lo que le gustó]. Tiene razón sobre [el pequeño problema] y ya [cambio real]. Ojalá la próxima vez nos ganemos la quinta estrella. [Su nombre]
In English: Thank you for your review, [Name]. We are glad you enjoyed [what they liked]. You are right about [the small issue], and we have already [real change]. Hopefully next time we earn the fifth star. [Your name]
Hola, [Nombre]. Gracias por contarnos su experiencia. Nos alegra que [lo positivo], pero lamentamos que [lo que falló]. Ya estamos [cambio real]. Si quiere contarnos más, escríbanos a [correo] o llámenos al [teléfono]. [Su nombre], [cargo]
In English: Hi [Name]. Thank you for telling us about your experience. We are glad that [the positive part], but we are sorry that [what went wrong]. We are already [real change]. If you would like to tell us more, email us at [email] or call [phone]. [Your name], [role]
[Nombre], lamentamos que su visita no haya sido lo que esperaba. [El problema, en sus palabras] no es el servicio que queremos dar. Ya hablamos con el equipo y [cambio real]. Nos gustaría hablar con usted directamente: [teléfono/correo]. [Su nombre], [cargo]
In English: [Name], we are sorry your visit was not what you expected. [The problem, in your own words] is not the service we want to give. We have already talked with the team and [real change]. We would like to talk with you directly: [phone/email]. [Your name], [role]
[Nombre], sentimos mucho lo que pasó. Queremos entender bien la situación y buscar una solución. Por favor, comuníquese conmigo al [teléfono] o a [correo] y pregunte por [su nombre]. [Su nombre], [cargo]
In English: [Name], we are very sorry about what happened. We want to understand the situation and find a solution. Please contact me at [phone] or [email] and ask for [your name]. [Your name], [role]
Hola, [Nombre]. Tomamos en serio todas las reseñas, pero no encontramos una visita que coincida con estos detalles. ¿Podría llamarnos al [teléfono] con la fecha y algunos detalles? Queremos entender qué pasó. [Su nombre]
In English: Hi [Name]. We take every review seriously, but we could not find a visit that matches these details. Could you call us at [phone] with the date and a few details? We want to understand what happened. [Your name]
If you think a review is fake, also see our guide to reporting fake reviews.
Useful phrases
- Gracias por su reseña: thank you for your review
- Nos alegra mucho que: we are so glad that
- Lamentamos que: we are sorry that
- Tiene toda la razón: you are absolutely right
- Ya hicimos un cambio: we have already made a change
- Comuníquese con nosotros: please contact us
- ¡Hasta pronto!: see you soon!
Frequently asked questions
Should I reply in Spanish or English to a Spanish review?
Reply in Spanish. It shows the reviewer you understood them. Google automatically translates reviews for readers who use other languages, so you do not need a full English copy. Add one short English line at the end if you like.
Should I use usted or tú in review replies?
Use usted by default. It is polite and works for any business and any reader. Use tú only if the reviewer did and your business has a casual style.
Can I use Google Translate for my replies?
It is fine for understanding a review, but do not post a raw machine translation. Start from tested templates and have a fluent speaker check anything new.
What if I do not speak Spanish at all?
Use the templates above and only change the bracketed details, or ask a bilingual employee or a reply service to help. A short, correct reply is better than a long one with mistakes.
Do the same Google rules apply to Spanish replies?
Yes. Google's content policies apply in every language. Keep private details out, do not offer discounts or deals in replies and never accuse the reviewer.