As the world becomes more integrated and international, being able to speak more than one language seems to offer invaluable benefits in both the personal and professional sense. Although learning any new and foreign language can seem daunting, taking a slow, steady and methodical approach can reap huge rewards. The following article will help beginner and intermediate Spanish learners to better navigate the language with ease. From the basics such as pronouns, adjectives and verbs to everyday conversational phrases and sentences as well as examples of how to use them, this guide will help all learners gain a well-rounded understanding of the Spanish language. Check out Amazing Talker’s Spanish Tutors, English Tutors and make sure to look for Spanish classes near me.
Basic Spanish Words
- Hola = Hello
- Adiós = Goodbye
- Por favour = Please
- Gracias = Thank you
- Lo siento = Sorry
- Sí = Yes
- No = No
- ¿Quién? = Who?
- ¿Qué? = What?
- ¿Por qué? = Why?
50 Other Basic Spanish Words
Spanish Personal Pronouns
yo – I
si yo fuese usted (If I were you) ¡Sí, yo estoy despierto! (Yes, I am awake!)
tú – you (singular informal)
Tu madre te cuenta muchos cuentos (Your mom tells you too many stories)
cuando es tu cita de peluquería (When is your hair appointment)
Ustedes – you (singular formal)
todos ustedes van a la playa (You all go to the beach)
todos ustedes bailan juntos (You all dance together
él, – he
(He is going swimming)
Él se está moviendo (He is moving)
el va a nadar (he is going swimming)
ella -she
ella se irá pronto – She will be leaving soon
a ella le encanta viajar- She loves to travel
nosotros (masculine), – we (used in relation to a group of men)
Nosotros nos iremos pronto – We will leave soon
Nosotras nos iremos pronto – Nosotras nos iremos pronto
vosotros – you (plural informal) (gender neutral pronoun used when addressing the second person in a group of 2 people or more.)
Vosotros alegran mis días – You make my days happy
Vosotros lo hicieron mejor que el otro grupo -You did better than the other group
vosotras – you (plural informal) (pronoun used when addressing the second person in a group of 2 people or more, generally used for female groups only)
ellos (masculine), ellas (feminine) – they
Ellas fueron a bailar juntas – they went dancing together Ellos fueron a bailar juntos
ustedes – you (plural formal)
ustedes mujeres son hermosas -You women are beautiful
Ustedes van al cine– You all go to the cinema
Spanish Nouns
Water – agua
el agua es refrescante -The water is refreshing
Bread-pan
estoy deseando pan – I’m craving bread
Woman– mujer
La mujer es hermosa -The woman is beautiful
Man – hombre
ese hombre te está llamando – That man is calling you
Doctor– médico (masculine) / médica(feminine)
Tengo una cita con el doctor – I have an appointment with the doctor
Bed – cama
quiero una cama para dormir – I want a bed to sleep in
Bathroom– baño eg: Which way is the bathroom?- ¿De qué manera está el baño?
¿De qué manera está el baño? – Which way is the bathroom?
Teacher– maestra (feminine)/ maestro (masculine)
Necesito ver a mi maestra – I need to see my teacher
Coffee- café
me encanta el café en un dia frio – I love coffee on a cold day
Tea- té
este té fue elaborado a la perfección – This tea was brewed just right
Spanish Verbs
Estar – To be
Tengo que estar ahí – I have to be there
Ser – To be
Eso tiene que ser correcta – That has to be right
Tener – To have
ella tiene que tener eso– She has to have that
Haber – To have (auxiliary verb)
ya se habrá ido – he will have left already
Hacer – To do or make
no hay nada que hacer – there is nothing to do
Ir – To go
tenemos que ir a la tienda– We need to go to the shop
Venir – To come
tienes que venir – You have to come over
Decir – To say or tell
vas a decir si te gusto o no – Are you going to say if you enjoyed it or not?
Poder – To be able
me gustaria poder surfear – I’d like to be able to surf
Dar – To give
La idea es dar amor- The idea is to give love
Spanish Adjectives
Bonita – beautiful/ Pretty
la pintura es muy bonita – The painting is very pretty
Deliciosa – Delicious
Esa fue la comida más deliciosa que he tenido – That was the most delicious meal I’ve ever had
Feliz – Happy
te deseo una vida feliz – I wish you a happy life
Triste – Sad
esta musica me pone triste – This music makes me sad
Pequeño – Small
Este juguete es tan pequeño – This toy is so small
Bueno – Good
este artículo es bueno – This article is good
Malo – Bad
el clima es malo hoy – The weather is bad today
Viejo – Old
esa fruta es vieja – That fruit is old
Nuevo – New
esos zapatos son nuevos – Those shoes are new
Divertido – Fun
esa fue una película divertida – That was a fun film
Spanish Conjunctions
Y –and
Me gustaria la naranja y el rosa -I’d like the orange and pink
e –and
me gustaría hablar inglés e italiano – I’d like to speak English and Italian
ni…ni -neither…nor
no era ni aqui ni alla – It was neither here nor there
o –or
quieres rosa o naranja -Do you want pink or orange
u– or
no recuerdo si fue ayer u hoy – I don’t remember if it was yesterday or today
o bien… o bien – either or
Iré o bien esta noche o bien mañana – I’ll either go tonight or tomorrow
pero – but
es delicioso pero picante – It’s delicious but spicy
Porque – because
El clima es perfecto porque hace calor – The weather is perfect because it’s hot
sin embargo – however
Eres genial, sin embargo, llegas tarde – You are great, however, you are late
aunque – although, even though
me gusta ese vestido aunque es corto – I like that dress, although it is short
Basic Spanish Phrases
- Buenos días – Good morning
- Buenas Tardes –Good Afternoon
- Me llamo – My name is
- Pleased to meet you – Encantada de conocerte
- How are you- Cómo estás
- Estoy bien, gracias – I’m well thank you
- Lo Siento – I’m sorry
- Mucho gusto – Nice to meet you
- Yo no comprendo -I do not understand
- Where is the bathroom? – ¿dónde está el baño?
Basic Spanish Expressions
Basic Spanish Questions
- ¿Cómo te llamas? – What ‘s your name?
This could be used when first introducing yourself to someone new.
- ¿Hablas español? – Do you speak Spanish?
This could be used when meeting someone for the first time.
- donde encuentro eso – Where do I find that?
This could be used in unfamiliar settings.
- ¿De dónde eres? – Where are you from?
This could be used when Meeting people.
- ¿Qué te gusta hacer? – What do you like to do?
This could be used when getting to know someone.
- ¿Tienes hermanos o hermanas? – Do you have any brothers or sisters?
This could be used when getting to know someone.
- ¿Cuál es tu película favourite? – What’s your favourite film?
This is perfect for use when meeting new people.
- me ayudas por favour – Will you help me please?
This could be used when navigating new spaces or needing help/ a favour.
- qué es eso – What is that?
Use this when trying to understand a new subject matter.
- ¿Puedo preguntarte algo? – May I ask you something?
A great phrase to be used when you’re about to pose a question.
Basic Spanish Greetings
- Buenos días – Good morning
- Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
- Hola – Hello
- ¿Cómo estás? – How are you? (informal)
- Buenas noches — Good evening
- ¿Cómo están? — How are you? (Plural)
- ¿Qué tal?– How’s it going?
- ¿Qué pasa?– what ‘s happening?
- Bienvenidos — Welcome
- Que gusto de verlo – What a pleasure to see you
Thank You In Spanish
- Gracias – thank you
- Muchas gracias – thanks a lot/ thank you very much
- Gracias por tu ayuda– thank you for your help.
- Muchas gracias por tu ayuda– many thanks for your help.
- Mil gracias– a thousand thanks
- Gracias por todo– thanks for everything.
- Se agradece!- It is appreciated
- Aprecio la ayuda que me ofreces– I appreciate the help you offer me
- Te doy las gracias– I give you my thanks
- Gracias de antemano– thanks in advance.
Sorry In Spanish
- Lo Siento (informal) – sorry
- Perdón– Sorry/ excuse me/ Pardon
- Disculpe (formal)- excuse me
- Lo siento mucho– I am very sorry
- Lo lament – I’m sorry
- No sabe cuánto lo siento – you don’t know how sorry I am
- Mil disculpas– a thousand apologies
- Me disculpo por… – I apologise for…
- Espero me perdones por… – I hope you can forgive me for…
- Siento lo ocurrido – I regret what happened
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article will have given you the inspiration to undertake learning the Spanish language if you were not already doing so. It is important to remember that when learning any new skill that practice is just as important as giving yourself ample time to learn and grow. Understand that training your brain to think in a completely different way, to recognize completely new sounds and patterns of thinking will be a journey, but hopefully an exciting, informative and fun one. Work hard but remember to have fun and soon it’ll be as natural as speaking your native language.