consalsa.app
Back to blog
Tianguis Spanish in Mexico City: Bargaining, Sizes, and When to Just Smile

Tianguis Spanish in Mexico City: Bargaining, Sizes, and When to Just Smile

Jun 6, 2026 3 min read

Learn tianguis Spanish for Mexico City: cuánto, se lo dejo, barato, talla, me queda, no gracias, bargaining, and polite refusal.

Quick Answer

  • At a tianguis, useful phrases are ¿cuánto cuesta?, ¿a cómo?, ¿qué talla es?, ¿me lo puedo probar?, no gracias, and ¿me lo deja en...?
  • Bargaining can happen, but it is not always expected; food and fixed-price items are often not bargaining moments.
  • Se lo dejo en... means I'll leave it for you at..., usually a seller's price offer.
  • A polite no gracias is often better than pretending you are still deciding.

What You'll Learn

  • How to ask price, size, condition, and whether you can try something on.
  • How to understand se lo dejo, barato, talla, me queda, and no gracias.
  • When bargaining is normal and when it is annoying.
  • How to leave the stall without making it awkward.

A tianguis is loud, useful, social, and sometimes cheaper than your confidence. You need price words, size words, and the courage to say no gracias before you accidentally buy a jacket because the vendor was charismatic.

The language is quick. The mood is human.

The tianguis phrase map

MomentSay this
Price¿Cuánto cuesta?
Short price question¿A cómo?
Size¿Qué talla es?
Try it on¿Me lo puedo probar?
It fitsSí me queda
It does not fitNo me queda
Polite noNo gracias

Tianguis is recognized as a market word in Spanish,1 and in Mexico it carries a whole street-market world with it. Chilango’s coverage of a citywide tianguis map is a good reminder that these markets are not a quirky one-off plan; they are part of how CDMX moves, shops, and spends weekends.2

Bargain lightly

Barato means cheap or inexpensive.3 But do not walk around saying más barato like a tiny villain.

Use:

  • ¿Me lo deja en ciento cincuenta?
    Would you leave it for me at 150?
  • ¿Es lo menos?
    Is that the lowest?

Bargaining is a conversation, not a dominance sport. Food, fixed-price items, and small vendors are not always negotiation moments.

An elderly vendor sitting at a Mexico street stall.
Respect travels farther than a clever price line. Photo from Pexels.

Sizes and trying things on

Talla means size,4 and quedar does a lot of work for fit.5

NeedPhrase
What size?¿Qué talla es?
Another size?¿Tiene otra talla?
It fitsSí me queda
Too smallMe queda chico
Too bigMe queda grande
  • ¿Me lo puedo probar?
    Can I try it on?
People walking through a busy street market in Mexico City.
The easiest tianguis skill is knowing how to leave politely when the thing is not for you. Photo by Iván Cauich on Pexels.

The clean exit

If you do not want it, say:

  • No gracias, ahorita no.
    No thanks, not right now.

Smile, step away, live your life.

Sources

  1. Diccionario de la lengua española, tianguis — Real Academia Española ↩

  2. Chilango, mapa de todos los tianguis de CDMX — Chilango ↩

  3. Diccionario de la lengua española, barato — Real Academia Española ↩

  4. Diccionario de la lengua española, talla — Real Academia Española ↩

  5. Diccionario de la lengua española, quedar — Real Academia Española ↩

Test yourself

tap an answer.

A seller says se lo dejo en cien. What are they doing?

You do not want it. What is clean and polite?

You want to ask the size. What do you say?

Don't sound gringo

Don't bargain like you're winning a game show. Ask ¿es lo menos? once, smile, and be ready to buy or leave. Respect travels farther than a clever discount line.

FAQ

What is a tianguis?

A tianguis is an open-air market or street market, a word with deep roots in Mexico.

How do I ask the price at a tianguis?

Say ¿cuánto cuesta? or the shorter ¿a cómo?

What does se lo dejo mean?

It means I'll leave it for you at this price. Sellers use it when offering or negotiating a price.

Can I bargain at a tianguis?

Sometimes, especially with clothes or secondhand goods. Do it lightly and respectfully.

How do I ask for size?

Say ¿qué talla es? or ¿tiene otra talla?

How do I say it fits me?

Say me queda. If it does not fit, say no me queda.

How do I politely refuse?

Say no gracias or ahorita no, gracias.

Words in this post

chido — Mexican Spanish for Cool, awesome, the good stuff.
fresa — Mexican Spanish for Preppy. Snobby. Posh-on-purpose.
lana — Mexican Spanish for Money. Cash. The wool.
¡no manches! — Mexican Spanish for No way. Are you serious. Oh come on.

Practice this in real life

Jump into the exact CDMX moments where these phrases show up.

mercado / tianguisMarkets reward short, warm Spanish: ask, point, confirm the price, and do not freeze because you forgot the name of the thing.

Share

From the blog

How Mexicans Say No Without Saying No
How Mexicans Say No Without Saying No Jun 12, 2026 · 3 min read
Se Me Antojó: The Mexican Spanish of Cravings, Snacks, and Food Plans
Se Me Antojó: The Mexican Spanish of Cravings, Snacks, and Food Plans Jun 12, 2026 · 3 min read
Grindr Spanish in Mexico: What "Buena Onda," "Discreto," and "Tranqui" Really Mean
Grindr Spanish in Mexico: What "Buena Onda," "Discreto," and "Tranqui" Really Mean Jun 11, 2026 · 6 min read
Salsa, Limón, Cebolla, Cilantro: How to Customize Food Without Holding Up the Line
Salsa, Limón, Cebolla, Cilantro: How to Customize Food Without Holding Up the Line Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Pica, Está Picoso, No Pica Tanto: Mexican Spanish for Spice Levels
Pica, Está Picoso, No Pica Tanto: Mexican Spanish for Spice Levels Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Mexican Spanish for Cafés and Coworking in Roma Norte
Mexican Spanish for Cafés and Coworking in Roma Norte Jun 10, 2026 · 3 min read