Official language is Spanish. English is also spoken in resorts.
Idioms
Eight = Ocho Eighty = Ochenta Goodbye = Chau Exit = Salida Beer = Cerveza Please = Por favor Thank you very much = Gracias Tuesday = Martes Thursday = Jueves Doctor = Médico Thirty = Treinta Three = Tres One = Un / uno / una Entrance = Entrada One Hundred = Cien One Thousand = Mil Friday = Viernes Five = Cinco Fifty = Cincuenta Danger = Peligro Open = Abierto Closed = Cerrado Good Morning = Buenos Dias Good Day = Buenas Tardes’ Good Evening = Buenas Noches Hello = Hola Today = Hoy Hotel = Hotel I understand not that one. = No entiendo I feel sick. = Me encuentro mal Ja = Sí My name is… … = Me llamo… I’m doing very well. = Estoy muy bien Wednesday = Miércoles Monday = Lunes Tomorrow = Mañana Nine = Nueve Ninety = Noventa No = No Restaurant = Restaurante Saturday = Sábado Six = Seis Sechzig = Sesenta Seven = Siete Seventy = Setenta Sunday = Domingo Menu = Carta Do you speak German/ English? = ¿Habla inglés? Excellent! = Chevere! Toilets = Servicios Forty = Cuarenta Four = Cuatro Wine = Vino How are you? = ¿Qué tal estas? How much is it? = ¿Cuánto it? Where is …? = ¿Dónde esta? Ten = Diez Twenty = Veinte Two = Dos Toilets = Servicios Forty = Cuarenta Four = Cuatro Wine = Vino How are you? = ¿Qué tal estas? How much is it? = ¿Cuánto it? Where is …? = ¿Dónde esta? Ten = Diez Twenty = Veinte Two = Dos
Many shops are closed during Carnival week (including Ash Wednesday) and Easter.
Duty free shopping
Overview
Duty-free caps for DUTY FREE SHOPS in Uruguay (persons over 18 years of age): products with a value of up to USD 650 purchased in duty-free shops in the arrivals area (Decree 317/017 and its amendments). The following maximum quantities of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products can be brought into Uruguay duty-free by travelers arriving from non-MERCOSUR countries (persons aged 18 and over): 6 liters of alcoholic beverages and 4 packs of cigarettes. This resolution does not cover wine, sparkling wine and similar beverages. Baggage allowance of up to US$500 may be imported duty-free into Uruguay by travelers by sea or air. Baggage allowance of up to US$ 300 may be imported duty-free into Uruguay by travelers no more than once per month overland. Persons under the age of 18 are entitled to 50 percent of the baggage allowance.
Prohibited Imports
It is forbidden to import plant and animal products as well as e-cigarettes and accessories. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Uruguay
Consulate General in Hamburg, honorary consulates in Bremen, Frankfurt/M., Essen, Munich and Stuttgart.
Mahlerstrasse 11/2/2
Vienna
Austria
+43 (0)1 535 66 36.
Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00.
Business
Business etiquette
Knowledge of Spanish is useful but most business people also speak English. Scheduling appointments is common and punctuality is expected. Business cards should have a Spanish translation on the back. Business life comes to a standstill during the carnival period. Business hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-12.00pm and 2.30-6.30/7.00pm. Authorities: Mon-Fri 12.00pm-7.00pm (mid-March – mid-November), Mon-Fri 7.30am-1.30pm (mid-November – Middle of March).
Business contacts
German-Uruguayan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pza. Independencia 831, CP. 11100, Montevideo, Uruguay Tel. +598 (0)2 901 18 03. Website: uruguay.ahk.de/de Austrian Chamber of Commerce Foreign Trade Center Buenos Aires (also responsible for Uruguay.) Commercial Department of the Austrian Embassy Cerrito 1294, Floor 15, C1010 AAZ Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel. +54 (0)11 52 38 46 89. Website: www.wko.at Latin American Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland Kasernenstrasse 11, 8004 Zurich, Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)44 240 33 00. Website: www.latcam.ch Cámara de Comercio y Servicios del Uruguay (Chamber of Commerce) Rincón 454 P.2, 11000 Montevideo, Uruguay Tel. +598 (0)2 916 12 77, +598 (0)2 916 12 43. Website : www.cncs.com.
900/1800, 850/1900 GSM, 3G and 4G (1700Mhz). Mobile network operated by Antel, Movistar and Claro. Roaming contracts exist. It may be worth purchasing a mobile phone in Uruguay. Prepaid SIM cards are available from mobile network operators’ points of sale.
Internet
Major providers include Antel, Movistar and Claro. Free WiFi is usually available in shopping malls, buses, hotels, cafes and restaurants, as well as in some parks and airports. There are still internet cafes in the larger cities.
Post office
Postal items to Europe take 3-5 days to arrive. Post Office Hours: 08:00-18:00 (Main Post Office in Montevideo Old Town: 08:00-22:00).
