If you’re just starting to learn Spanish, there are a few basics you should know. Spanish is a romance language that is spoken by millions of people around the world. It is also one of the official languages of the United Nations.
Common Spanish Nouns
As a beginner in Spanish, it is crucial to learn the most common Spanish nouns as they will be used in almost every sentence. Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas.
In Spanish, nouns can be either masculine or feminine, and they can be singular or plural. Here are some of the most common Spanish nouns that you should learn as a beginner:
| Spanish Noun | English Translation |
| la casa | the house |
| la familia | the family |
| el café | the coffee |
| el agua | the water |
| la mesa | the table |
| la silla | the chair |
| la comida | the food |
| la estación | the station |
| el avión | the plane |
| el coche | the car |
| el tren | the train |
| el boleto | the ticket |
| la tienda | the store |
| la farmacia | the pharmacy |
As you can see from the table above, these Spanish nouns are basic and essential words that you will use in everyday conversations or when traveling.
It is essential to learn the gender of each noun as it affects the articles and adjectives that you use with them. For example, “casa” is a feminine noun, so you would say “la casa” (the house) instead of “el casa.”
Other common Spanish nouns that you should learn include:
- Familia (family)
| La familia cercana | close family |
| la madre / la mamá | mother / mom |
| el padre / el papá | father / dad |
| el hermano | brother |
| la hermana | sister |
| el hijo | son |
| la hija | daughter |
- Tiempo (weather)
| Palabras del clima | Weather words |
| el pronóstico | the forecast |
| el sol | the sun |
| las nubes | the clouds |
| la niebla | the fog |
| la neblina | the mist |
| la lluvia | the rain |
| la llovizna | the drizzle |
| la tormenta | the storm |
| el tornado | the tornado |
| el huracán | the hurricane |
| el trueno | the thunder |
| el relámpago | the lightning strike |
| el rayo | the lightning bolt |
| el viento | the wind |
| la briza | the breeze |
| el granizo | the hail |
| el hielo | the ice |
| la nieve | the snow |
| el calor | the snow |
| el frío | the cold |
| la humedad | the humidity |
| la temperatura | the temperature |
| Las estaciones | Seasons |
| primavera | spring |
| verano | summer |
| otoño | autumn / fall |
| invierno | winter |
- Trabajo (work)
| Profesiones | Professions |
| abogado(a) | lawyer |
| arquitecto(a) | architect |
| bombero(a) | fireman |
| carpintero(a) | carpenter |
| cocinero(a) | cook, chef |
| contador(a) | accountant |
| electricista | electrician |
| gerente | manager |
| ingeniero(a) | engineer |
| jefe | boss |
| mecánico (a) | mechanic |
| camarero(a) | waiter |
| panadero(a) | baker |
| pastor(a) | preacher |
| Policía | policeman |
| profesor(a) | teacher / professor |
| programador(a) | computer programmer |
| técnico(a) de laboratorio | lab technician |
| trabajador(a) de fábrica | factory worker |
| veterinario(a) | veterinarian |
Learning these Spanish nouns will help you build a strong foundation for your Spanish vocabulary. Remember to practice using these words in sentences to help you remember them better.
Common Spanish Verbs
When learning Spanish, it is essential to start with the most common verbs. Knowing these verbs will help you construct basic sentences and communicate effectively. Here are some of the most common Spanish verbs that every beginner should learn:
- Ser (to be)
- Estar (to be)
- Tener (to have)
- Hacer (to do/make)
- Ir (to go)
- Venir (to come)
- Querer (to want)
- Poder (to be able to/can)
- Saber (to know)
- Decir (to say/tell)
These verbs are essential because they are used in everyday conversations, and they are also the building blocks for more complex sentence structures.
It is important to note that some of these verbs have irregular conjugations, which means they do not follow the standard patterns. Therefore, it is crucial to practice conjugating these verbs in all tenses.
For example, the verb hacer (to do/make) is an irregular verb, and its conjugation changes in the present tense. Here is the conjugation of hacer in the present tense:
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
| Yo | Hago |
| Tú | Haces |
| Usted | Hace |
| Vos | Hacés |
| Él/Ella | Hace |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Hacemos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Hacéis |
| Ellos/Ellas | Hacen |
| Ustedes | Hacen |
Learning these verbs and their conjugations will help you communicate effectively in Spanish and make your language learning journey much more comfortable.
Related Posts:
Common Spanish Adjectives
As a beginner in learning Spanish, it’s important to start with the most commonly used adjectives in the language.
Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, and they are essential in building basic sentences. Here are some of the most common Spanish adjectives that you should learn:
- Bueno (good)
- Malo (bad)
- Grande (big)
- Pequeño (small)
- Nuevo (new)
- Viejo (old)
- Largo (long)
- Corto (short)
- Alto (tall)
- Bajo (short)
- Bonito (pretty)
- Feo (ugly)
- Fácil (easy)
- Difícil (difficult)
- Rápido (fast)
- Lento (slow)
It’s important to note that in Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
For example, if you’re describing a masculine noun in its singular form, the adjective must also be masculine and singular. If you’re describing a feminine noun in its plural form, the adjective must be feminine and plural.
Here are some examples of how to use these adjectives in sentences:
- El perro es grande. (The dog is big.)
- La casa es bonita. (The house is pretty.)
- Los zapatos son nuevos. (The shoes are new.)
- Las flores son bonitas. (The flowers are pretty.)
By learning these common adjectives, you’ll be able to describe basic things in your daily life and start building simple sentences in Spanish.
Common Spanish Prepositions
As a beginner learning Spanish, it is important to understand the most common prepositions in the language.
Prepositions are words that indicate the relationship between two words in a sentence, such as the relationship of time, location, or direction. Here are some of the most common prepositions in Spanish:
| Preposition | English Translation |
| a | to, at |
| ante | before, in front of |
| bajo | under |
| con | with |
| de | of, from |
| desde | from, since |
| en | in, on, at |
| entre | between |
| hacia | towards |
| hasta | until, up to |
| para | for, to |
| por | for, by, through |
| según | according to |
| sin | without |
| sobre | on, about |
| tras | behind |
It is important to note that some prepositions in Spanish can have multiple meanings depending on the context in which they are used.
For example, the preposition “a” can mean “to” or “at” depending on the sentence.
When using prepositions in Spanish, it is also important to pay attention to gender and number agreement.
For example, the preposition “con” (with) changes to “conmigo” (with me) when referring to a singular first person, and to “con ellos” (with them) when referring to a plural third person.
Learning common prepositions in Spanish is essential to understanding the language and constructing grammatically correct sentences. You can learn more about prepositions in Spanish here.
Common Spanish Conjunctions
Learning common conjunctions is part of any beginner course in Spanish to connect words or phrases.
They are essential in forming sentences that are grammatically correct and coherent. Here are some of the most common Spanish conjunctions you should know:
| Conjunction | English Translation | Example |
| Y | And | El perro es grande Y negro. (The dog is big and black.) |
| O | Or | ¿Quieres té O café? (Do you want tea or coffee?) |
| Pero | But | Me gusta leer, PERO no tengo tiempo. (I like to read, but I don’t have time.) |
| Porque | Because | No voy a la fiesta PORQUE estoy enfermo. (I am not going to the party because I am sick.) |
| Aunque | Although | AUNQUE hace frío, voy a salir. (Although it’s cold, I’m going to go out.) |
Note that conjunctions are classified into two types: coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
Coordinating conjunctions join two independent clauses, while subordinating conjunctions join a dependent and an independent clause.
Some examples of coordinating conjunctions include Y (and), O (or), and Pero (but). On the other hand, some examples of subordinating conjunctions include Porque (because) and Aunque (although).
Common Spanish Interjections
Interjections are words or phrases that are used to express strong emotions or feelings and can add emphasis or tone to a conversation. In this section, we will cover some of the most common Spanish interjections that you should know.
¡Ay!
“Ay” is one of the most common and versatile interjections in Spanish. It can express surprise, pain, frustration, or even joy depending on the context. For example, “¡Ay, qué bien!” can mean “Oh, how nice!” while “¡Ay, me duele!” means “Ouch, it hurts!” It is a useful interjection to express a variety of emotions.
¡Oye!
“Oye” is a Spanish interjection that can be translated to “hey” or “listen.” It is often used to get someone’s attention or to start a conversation. For example, “¡Oye, ¿cómo estás?” means “Hey, how are you?” It is a casual and friendly way to start a conversation.
¡Vale!
“Vale” is a Spanish interjection that can be translated to “okay” or “alright.” It is often used to confirm or agree with something that has been said. For example, “Vamos al cine, ¿vale?” means “Let’s go to the movies, okay?” It is a common interjection used in everyday conversations.
¡Guau!
“Guau” is a Spanish interjection that can be translated to “wow” or “amazing.” It is often used to express admiration or surprise. For example, “¡Guau, qué bonita es tu casa!” means “Wow, your house is so beautiful!” It is a simple and enthusiastic interjection.
¡Ojalá!
“Ojalá” is a Spanish interjection that can be translated to “I hope” or “if only.” It is often used to express a wish or desire for something to happen. For example, “¡Ojalá que llueva hoy!” means “I hope it rains today!” It is a useful interjection to express hopes and desires.
Related Posts:
Common Spanish Pronouns
As a beginner learning Spanish you have to familiarize yourself with common pronouns in the language.
Pronouns are words that replace nouns in a sentence, making it easier to communicate and avoid repetition. Here are some of the most common Spanish pronouns you should know:
- Yo: I
- Tú: You (informal)
- Él: He
- Ella: She
- Usted: You (formal)
- Vos: You (Informal)
- Nosotros/Nosotras: We
- Vosotros/Vosotras: You all (Spain/Castilian Spanish only)
- Ellos/Ellas: They
- Ustedes: You all (formal)
It is important to note that the use of pronouns in Spanish can vary depending on the context and the speaker’s familiarity with the person they are speaking to.
For example, in some Spanish-speaking countries, it is common to use “vos” instead of “tú” when addressing someone informally.
When using pronouns in Spanish, pay attention to the gender of the noun being replaced. In Spanish, nouns are either masculine or feminine, and the pronoun used to replace them must match their gender.
For example, if you are talking about a group of male friends, you would use “ellos” to refer to them, whereas if you are talking about a group of female friends, you would use “ellas.”
Download the Basic Spanish Vocabulary Cheat sheet here!
Common Spanish Adverbs
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs to describe how, when, where, and to what extent an action is performed.
Here are some of the most common Spanish adverbs that you should know:
| Spanish Adverb | English Translation |
| aquí | here |
| allí | there |
| ahora | now |
| siempre | always |
| nunca | never |
| tarde | late |
| temprano | early |
| bien | well |
| mal | badly |
| despacio | slowly |
| rápido | quickly |
| mucho | a lot |
| poco | a little |
| bastante | quite |
| muy | very |
| casi | almost |
| solamente | only |
| también | also |
| todavía | still |
It’s important to note that adverbs in Spanish typically come after the verb they modify. For example, “Corres rápido” means “You run quickly.” However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as adverbs of frequency which come before the verb, as in “Siempre voy al cine” which means “I always go to the movies.”
To know more about Spanish adverbs you can read this post to help you to better communicate and understand the nuances of the Spanish language.
Common Spanish Phrases
If you are starting to learn Spanish, you can begin to communicate using some common phrases that will help you talk with native speakers.
Here are some of the most commonly used Spanish phrases you should know:
| Español | English |
| Hola | Hello |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
| Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? | Good, thank you. And you? |
| Adiós | Goodbye |
| Por favor | Please |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| De nada | You’re welcome |
| Lo siento | I’m sorry |
| ¿Cómo te llamas? | What’s your name? |
| Me llamo | My name is… |
| Mucho gusto | Nice to meet you |
| ¿Hablas inglés? | Do you speak English? |
| No entiendo | I don’t understand |
| ¿Puedes repetir, por favor? | Can you repeat, please? |
| ¿Dónde está el baño? | Where is the bathroom? |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? |
Learning these phrases will help you start and maintain a conversation with native Spanish speakers.
To practice more basic Spanish topics you can join the Basic Spanish Course. In this online course I will guide through all the main content to learn Spanish from the beginning!
