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Moving from Hertfordshire, England to Manilva, Spain taught me that queues in Spain aren’t lines at all – they actually turned out to be lessons in trust. For all the British readers, I’m sure we can agree on this: in the UK, a queue is a queue. You see it and you join it, no questions asked – unless it’s super long. You quietly – or sometimes loudly – judge anyone who doesn’t. But in Spain, the queue is often invisible. You walk into the bakery, post office, or pharmacy, and everyone just seems to know whose turn it is next. No line. No rope. No subtle shuffling. Just one simple question: “¿Quién es el último?” (“Who’s last?”). The first time I heard it, I froze. My British mind wasn’t prepared to verbally participate while in a queue. But the woman behind the counter just smiled patiently as I realised the person next to me wasn’t cutting in – they were simply confirming their place in this invisible system of order and fairness. Historian Dr Joe Moran, author of Queuing for Beginners, once said the orderly queue became “an established social form in the early 19th century” – a symbol of British fairness and restraint. That cultural muscle memory runs deep. According to a YouGov survey, the British public list queue jumping (66 per cent) as the second most aggravating action or habit. While a FirstGroup poll found that over 90 per cent of Brits say that the sight of a well-behaved waiting line makes them feel HAPPY – no wonder we panic when a Spanish crowd doesn’t form a visible line. “¿Quién es el último?” – the art of Spanish queuing In Spain, queues work differently from the UK, but beautifully. Instead of silently sizing up who’s next, you ask “¿Quién es el último?” or “¿Quién da la vez?” (“Who’s next?”). Someone raises their hand or nods, and that’s your marker. As The Local Spain explains, it’s a “system based on trust, not tension.” People can step away, browse, even nip outside for a call – their place is secured by mutual agreement. In delis and post offices, there’s often a little ticket machine for your number with a screen that buzzes each number to the front – this makes it a lot easier, and my British brain is very content with this setup. I’ll admit, my first Spanish queue “test” didn’t go smoothly. It was at the pharmacy in Sabinillas. I’d joined what I thought was a line, only for a woman to walk straight to the counter. My inner born-Londoner stiffened. I almost tutted out loud – but then I heard her say, “¿Quién es el último?” and people nodded and muttered something in Spanish approvingly. The invisible queue had spoken. Slowly, but surely, I have adapted to the Spanish queuing culture. I’ll raise my hand, smile, and say, “Yo, detrás de ti.” (“I’m behind you.”) The psychology of patience What fascinates me most is how differently the two cultures interpret fairness. A Frontiers in Psychology (2023) study comparing Spain and the UK found that while both societies dislike a lack of respect, the Spanish tend to rely more on social negotiation than strict structure. Queuing here is fluid but respectful; back home, it’s rigid and a little cold. For Brits settling in Spain, learning the Spanish queuing culture is key. It’s a reminder that politeness looks different across borders. You can’t rely on body language alone; sometimes, you have to speak up to be polite. So, next time you find yourself in a busy Spanish shop, don’t panic when you see no line. Take a breath, channel your inner local, and ask confidently, “¿Quién es el último?” View all news from Spain.
