Spanish vocabulary lessons:
words, phrases, and expressions

Salir vs dejar vs irse confuse learners because they all mean ‘to leave’, but aren’t interchangeable. Irse conveys and emphasizes that someone is leaving a place. Dejar expresses that someone leaves something or someone else in a place. Finally, salir indicates when a means of transportation leaves. It also means ‘to exit’, ‘to get out’, ... Read more

Many students wonder how to order food in Spanish naturally. In this guide, you’ll find the vocabulary and phrases you need not only to order food in Spanish, but also to communicate effectively at the restaurant. Phrases to Order Food in Spanish Para mí, va a ser… – For me, it’s going to be ¿Me ... Read more

Volver and regresar mean ‘to return’ or ‘come back’. However, in Spanish, volver implies that a person returns to a place or repeats an action. Regresar also expresses that someone returns somewhere, but, unlike volver, it also relates to returning something.  Cuando regresé a mi casa volví a ver la película.  When I came back ... Read more

Both tocar and jugar mean ‘to play’. However, in Spanish, tocar holds this meaning when referring to playing music or instruments. On the other hand, jugar relates to playing games and sports.  María y Juan tocan la batería. María and Juan play the drums. Jugamos Monopoly toda la noche.  We played Monopoly the whole night. ... Read more

Si without an accent means ‘if’ and is used to create conditional sentences, such as voy a ir si puedo. Sí with an accent means ‘yes’. On top of affirming or confirming a statement, sí can also be used to emphasize positive sentences: sí, sí voy a ir, and to express a reflexive action.  Sí ... Read more

Ay is an interjection and expresses different emotions, such as surprise, frustration, or pain. On the other hand, ahí (there) is an adverb that conveys location as in ‘está ahí’. Finally, hay expresses existence or impersonal obligation, and it means ‘there is’ or ‘there are’.   Ay, Ahí, Hay: Key Points Ay, ahí, and hay are ... Read more

Gustar and verbs like gustar convey the feelings and emotions that the subject provokes on someone or something. Their key differentiator is that they inverse the sentence order. Unlike most sentences, verbs like gustar in Spanish start with the object and end with the subject.  Because the subjects of verbs like gustar affect someone, they ... Read more

Whether you’re a tourist or live in a Spanish-speaking country, giving and asking directions in Spanish is a basic skill that can come in handy. So, in this guide, you’ll find the top words, verbs, questions, and expressions you need to know to get on with ease in this context.  Here is an overview of ... Read more

Knowing basic Spanish questions is an essential skill for effective communication. As a result, I’ve compiled a list of questions you can use in everyday situations. From essential contexts to getting to know someone, you’ll learn what questions to ask in various situations. Here is a quick overview of this guide:  Everyday Questions Common Questions ... Read more

Knowing words for food in Spanish can be extremely useful for your conversations. Whether you’re at a restaurant or talking about what you like to eat, this vocabulary is applied in daily life situations. So, in this Spanish food list, I’ve compiled the most common words you should know.  In addition to this vocabulary, I’ve ... Read more

If you’re beginner or want to sound more natural, in this article, you’ll find some common Spanish phrases that can help you get around in daily situations and engage in simple conversations. Here is how I’ve classified these basic phrase:  Greetings & Polite Phrases Basic Spanish Phrases for Daily Situations Phrases for Restaurants Basic Sentences ... Read more

Knowing basic Spanish words can help you build a solid foundation to understand and communicate in different scenarios since daily conversations rely on essential vocabulary. In fact, many of these fundamental terms can be used in multiple contexts.  Since vocabulary is the backbone of communication, in this article, you’ll find a curated list of basic ... Read more

Regardless of your reasons to learn Spanish, there’s no doubt that, at some point, you’ll interact with native speakers. At that point, knowing some common Spanish terms of endearment can help you express your affection towards relatives, friends, or your significant other.  With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of 60 popular terms of ... Read more

When you start to learn Spanish, it’s helpful to focus on acquiring basic vocabulary that allows you to hold simple conversations. Since clothing and accessories are part of our daily routine, in this guide, you’ll find 85 words (including synonyms and variations) for clothes in Spanish.  You’ll also learn some common words and expressions to ... Read more

Whether you are an advanced or beginner learner, knowing the different body parts in Spanish can help you describe yourself and explain physical discomfort, among other useful applications.  So, in this guide, you’ll find:  List of Parts of the Body in Spanish Basic terms Advanced terms Spanish Grammar: Body Parts & Definite Articles Bonus: Idioms ... Read more

For many people, learning Spanish takes a deeper significance as it becomes a tool for connecting and communicating with loved ones. Knowing some vocabulary for relationships in Spanish can help you build the confidence you need to start communicating in this language, whether in a relationship, bonding with family, or expressing affection.  With that in ... Read more

Affirmative and negative words in Spanish are used to identify nouns and affirm or negate information. In short, knowing how to use affirmative and negatives is essential for your communication. With that in mind, in this guide, we’ll go over:  List of Common Affirmative & Negative Words How to Make an Affirmative Sentence Negative Double ... Read more

When learning Spanish, you’ll often find tricky word pairs. These words may have the same translation or look similar but have distinct meanings and uses. Understanding the differences between these pairs of words can improve your fluency and prevent you from making common mistakes. As a result, I’ve compiled a list of words that are ... Read more

Whether you’re celebrating with locals or want to share holiday greetings, knowing holidays in Spanish can help you enrich your interactions. With that in mind, in this guide, you’ll find common vocabulary and expressions you can use during the holiday season and some additional resources to improve your Spanish.  Take Note: Día feriado, festividades or ... Read more

Spanish adjectives are one of the essential building blocks of a sentence. After all, this part of speech allows you to identify and describe people, places, things, and ideas. Since they can help you enrich your vocabulary and communication, in this guide, you’ll find a list of adjectives in Spanish you must know.  Here is ... Read more

Viajar is the Spanish word for ‘travel’. If you’re planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, you should learn some basic expressions and words that can help you get along in different situations.  On this page, I’ve gathered some of our best resources to make your travels easier and more enjoyable. From essential travel phrases ... Read more

Nouns are the type of words that name things, people, places, or concepts. Simply put, these words are crucial for forming sentences. So, in this guide, I’ve compiled a list of the most common nouns in Spanish. Here is an overview of what we’ll cover:  Proper Nouns  Common Nouns Simple and compound Collective and individual  ... Read more

Spanish interjections (also called exclamations) are words and phrases we use to express a feeling or catch someone’s attention. In a nutshell, exclamations in Spanish are common elements in day-to-day conversations.  So, in this guide, I’ve compiled 37 common Spanish interjections and exclamations you should know. Here is how this list is broken down:  Common ... Read more

Words for animals in Spanish are more useful than you think. We use them to talk about our pets, in idioms, or to describe animals that surround us. In short, these are terms you can apply in daily conversations. So, in this guide, you’ll find a thorough list of animals in Spanish. Here is an ... Read more

Are you wondering how to say I miss you in Spanish? If you’re, in this article, we’re going to learn the most common phrases Spanish speakers use to express this feeling.  On top of standard expressions, you’ll also learn to say ‘I miss you’ in slang Spanish. That way, you’ll have different vocabulary options for ... Read more