Back Massage in Spanish | Phrases You’ll Actually Say

In Spanish, “back massage” is “masaje de espalda,” and you can ask for it with a few simple phrases.

You don’t need perfect Spanish to get a good back massage. You need the right noun, the right body word, and a few polite lines that feel natural at a front desk or in a treatment room. This page gives you that set, plus the small details that stop awkward mix-ups.

You’ll get the core translation, how to say it so it lands, what a therapist may ask you, and how to answer with calm, clear words. If you’re traveling, booking at a hotel spa, or speaking with a Spanish-speaking therapist at home, you’ll have phrases you can say on the spot.

What “Masaje De Espalda” Means In Plain Spanish

Masaje means massage, and espalda means back. Put them together and you get masaje de espalda, the everyday phrase most people understand right away.

If you want to be more specific, add the exact area: upper back, lower back, shoulders, or neck. Spanish stays direct in this setting. You name the area, then the feel you want: lighter pressure, firmer pressure, slower pace, or focus on tight spots.

If you like checking words in an authoritative Spanish dictionary, the Real Academia Española defines masaje as pressing, rubbing, or rhythmic tapping on body areas with suitable intensity. RAE definition of “masaje”

Back Massage in Spanish For Spas And Travel

This is the part that saves you time at the counter. In many places, staff will speak some English, yet Spanish still helps when you’re choosing a service, setting pressure, or pointing to the exact spot that feels tight.

How To Ask For The Service

• Quisiera un masaje de espalda. (I’d like a back massage.)
• ¿Tienen masaje de espalda? (Do you offer back massage?)
• ¿Puedo reservar un masaje de espalda para hoy? (Can I book a back massage for today?)

How To Talk About Time And Price

• ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much does it cost?)
• ¿Cuánto dura? (How long is it?)
• ¿Tienen disponibilidad a las seis? (Do you have an opening at six?)
• ¿Incluye la espalda y los hombros? (Does it include the back and shoulders?)

How To Share Preferences Without Sounding Harsh

Politeness in Spanish often comes from soft verbs like quisiera (I’d like) and puede (can you). You can be direct about comfort while keeping a friendly tone.

• Más suave, por favor. (Softer, please.)
• Un poco más fuerte, por favor. (A bit stronger, please.)
• Ahí, justo ahí. (There, right there.)
• Despacio, por favor. (Slowly, please.)

Pronunciation That Gets You Understood

You can say these words with an accent and still be understood, yet a couple of sounds are worth practicing because they boost clarity fast.

Masaje

In most Spanish accents, the j sounds like a throaty “h.” Think “mah-SAH-heh.” The stress falls on the middle syllable: sa.

Espalda

This one is smoother than it looks: “es-PAL-da.” The es is a clean “es,” not “ehs.” The stress falls on pal.

If you want a reliable reference for the word espalda, the Real Academia Española lists it as a standard Spanish noun with common uses and expressions. RAE entry for “espalda”

Useful Phrases You Can Copy And Say Right Away

Think of this as your pocket script. You can point to a line on your phone, or practice a few before you walk in. The Spanish is natural, the tone is polite, and each phrase has one job.

What You Want To Say	Spanish Phrase	When To Use It
I’d like a back massage.	Quisiera un masaje de espalda.	Booking at the desk, phone, or message.
Please focus on my upper back.	Por favor, enfóquese en la parte alta de la espalda.	When your shoulders and upper back feel tight.
Please focus on my lower back.	Por favor, enfóquese en la parte baja de la espalda.	When the tension sits near the waist.
Softer pressure, please.	Más suave, por favor.	If it feels too intense.
A bit stronger, please.	Un poco más fuerte, por favor.	If you want firmer pressure.
That spot hurts.	Ese punto me duele.	To flag pain without alarm.
Right there.	Ahí, justo ahí.	When they find the knot.
Please avoid that area.	Por favor, evite esa zona.	If you have a tender spot.
Is this pressure okay?	¿Está bien esta presión?	What you may hear from the therapist.

Words For Back Areas, Muscles, And Pressure

Once you can name the place, you can steer the massage without long sentences. Spanish uses everyday body words here, not technical anatomy terms.

Back And Nearby Areas

• la espalda (the back)
• la parte alta de la espalda (upper back)
• la parte baja de la espalda (lower back)
• los hombros (shoulders)
• el cuello (neck)
• la columna (spine)
• los omóplatos (shoulder blades)

Pressure And Feel

These are the words that keep you comfortable on the table.

• suave (soft, gentle)
• fuerte (strong)
• más / menos (more / less)
• despacio (slowly)
• con cuidado (carefully)

Common Questions You Might Hear

Therapists often check comfort, pressure, and focus area. If you can answer these, the session runs smoothly.

• ¿Dónde le duele? (Where does it hurt?)
• ¿Quiere más presión? (Do you want more pressure?)
• ¿Así está bien? (Is this okay?)
• ¿Prefiere aceite o crema? (Do you prefer oil or cream?)

Setting Boundaries Without Awkwardness

A massage should feel safe, clear, and respectful. Spanish gives you direct ways to set limits, ask for a towel adjustment, or pause the session.

Simple Boundary Lines

• Por favor, mantenga la toalla aquí. (Please keep the towel here.)
• Quiero que sea solo en la espalda. (I want it only on the back.)
• Pare, por favor. (Stop, please.)
• Necesito un descanso. (I need a break.)

If you’re booking through a clinic or spa that uses standardized labels in multiple languages, you may see institutional terminology used to keep service names consistent. The EU’s terminology system IATE is one place where that consistency is explained in plain terms. EU Translation Centre page on IATE

Massage Types And Add-Ons You May See On A Menu

Menus can be short (“Masaje de espalda”) or packed with options. These labels help you pick what you want and avoid paying for a service you didn’t mean to book.

Menu Term In English	Menu Term In Spanish	What It Usually Means
Back massage	Masaje de espalda	Back only, sometimes with shoulders.
Neck and shoulders	Cuello y hombros	Upper back focus, often shorter sessions.
Deep tissue	Tejido profundo	Firmer, slower work on tight areas.
Relaxing massage	Masaje relajante	Lighter pressure with a steady rhythm.
Sports massage	Masaje deportivo	Targeted work after training.
Hot stones	Piedras calientes	Warm stones paired with massage.
Therapeutic massage	Masaje terapéutico	Clinic-style session that may include a brief intake.

If you want a mainstream bilingual dictionary check for “massage,” this entry shows common phrasing used in English and Spanish. Cambridge English–Spanish dictionary entry for “massage”

Mini Scripts For Real Situations

These short scripts are built for real conversations. Swap the time, body area, or pressure words as needed.

At The Front Desk

Tú: Hola, quisiera un masaje de espalda. ¿Cuánto dura y cuánto cuesta?

Recepción: Dura 30 minutos. ¿Lo quiere hoy?

Tú: Sí, por favor. ¿Tienen disponibilidad a las seis?

On The Table

Terapeuta: ¿Dónde le duele?

Tú: En la parte alta de la espalda, cerca de los hombros. Más suave al principio, por favor.

Terapeuta: ¿Así está bien esta presión?

Tú: Sí, así está bien. Ahí, justo ahí.

When Something Feels Wrong

Tú: Ese punto me duele. Menos fuerte, por favor.

Terapeuta: De acuerdo.

Tú: Gracias. Mejor así.

Common Mix-Ups And How To Fix Them Fast

Most confusion comes from one of three things: the area, the pressure, or the service name on a menu. A few small tweaks clear it up.

You Asked For “Masaje” And Got A Full-Body Booking

Some places treat masaje as a default full-body session. Add the body area right after the word.

• Quisiera un masaje de espalda.
• Solo espalda, por favor.

You Said “Fuerte” And It Became Too Intense

Spanish lets you dial pressure with tiny shifts: un poco, más, menos. Use them early. It’s normal.

• Un poco más fuerte.
• Menos fuerte, por favor.
• Más suave, por favor.

You Don’t Want Work On The Spine

If you want them to stay off the spine and work the muscles next to it, say it plainly.

• No en la columna, por favor.
• Al lado de la columna.

Simple Prep Before Your Session

A little prep makes the conversation smoother and the massage more comfortable.

1. Pick your goal. Relief in upper back, lower back, or shoulders.
2. Choose pressure words.suave, un poco más fuerte, con cuidado.
3. Decide your boundaries. Only back, towel position, stop word.
4. Save three lines. “Quisiera un masaje de espalda.” “Más suave, por favor.” “Pare, por favor.”

Back Massage In Spanish In One Clean Line

If you only remember one phrase, make it this: Quisiera un masaje de espalda. It’s clear, polite, and gets you to the right service fast. From there, you can steer pressure and focus with short words like más suave, un poco más fuerte, and ahí.