Learning Spanish from scratch can be quite a challenge. When you have a blank canvas and you are at an A1 Spanish level, you need basic words that when put together can create meaning. The same way primary colors are combined and originated new colors. The reason you learn this language might range from a holiday to a Spanish-speaking country or just wanting to be able to sing along to your favorite summer song. Regardless of what your motivations are, you are here, ready to learn some of those primary terms. Here are 100 Spanish words you should know.
Top 20 most common words in Spanish
We wrote about the top 20 most spoken words in Spanish before. Check the link for more detailed definitions and pronunciation tips for native English speakers. Do a quick review of these before moving on to the full list of 100.
- de – of/from
- la – the (feminine singular article)
- que – that/which
- el – the
- en – in/on
- y – and
- a – to/at
- los – the (masculine plural article)
- se – oneself
- del – from the
- las – the (feminine plural article)
- un – a/an
- por – by/for/through
- con – with
- no – no/not
- una – a/an/one
- su – his/her/its/your
- para – for/to/in order to
- es – is
- al – to the
20 basic Spanish words for traveling
Apart from the most common words in Spanish, what each language learner wants is to be able to pass a message, as basic as it may be. This is very much needed especially if you travel. So, in order to equip you with the right tools to make yourself understood on a holiday, here are 20 more words and phrases that may come in handy when on a trip.
- Hola – hello
- por favor – please
- gracias – thank you
- de nada – you’re welcome
- sí – yes
- no – no
- Buenos días – good morning
- Buenas tardes – good afternoon
- Buenas noches – good evening/night
- amiga/o – friend (-a ending means female, -o ending is male following the traditional rule about gendered nouns in Spanish grammar basics)
- antes – before
- ahora – now
- después – later
- momento – one moment
- me gusta – I like…
- no me gusta – I don’t like…
- muy – very
- nunca – never
- mismo – same
- igual – the same
20 basic verbs in Spanish
Verbs are the pillars of any language and Spanish is not exception to that. Review your basic verb conjugation in Spanish to know how to use them properly. This list will help you to recognize verbs in basic Spanish conversation.
- ser – to be (permanently)
- ester – to be (temporarily)
- ir – to go
- hacer – to do/make
- haber – to have (in existence)
- tener – to have (in posession)
- poner – to put
- entender – to understand
- deber – to owe
- pagar – to pay
- costar – to cost
- comer – to eat
- beber – to drink
- tomar – to take/drink
- hablar – to speak
- decir – to say
- escuchar – to listen
- mirar – to watch
- ver – to see
- llegar – to arrive
20 common Spanish adjectives, adverbs and prepositions
To give a little bit more depth to your message and narration, here are 20 common among the most common Spanish adjectives, adverbs and prepositions.
- nuevo/a – new
- viejo/a – old
- feliz – happy
- triste – sad
- enfermo/a – sick
- bien – well
- grande – big
- chico/a – small (Latin America)
- pequeño/a – small (Spain)
- bueno/a – good
- malo/a – bad
- sin – without ___
- con – with ___
- mucho – a lot
- poco – a little bit
- hermoso/a – beautiful
- feo/a – ugly
- fácil – easy
- fantástico/a – fantastic
- automático/a – automatic
20 Spanish cognates
We talked about English-Spanish cognates in the office before. A cognate is a word that sounds identical or nearly the same in English and Spanish. These are the easiest Spanish vocabulary words to remember. In fact, these are Spanish words you already know.
- celular – cell phone (Latin America)
- móvil – mobile phone (Spain)
- agenda – meeting agenda
- documento – document
- máquina – machine
- día – day
- segundo – second
- minuto – minute
- hora – hour
- usar – to use
- difícil – difficult
- carro – car (Latin America)
- persona – person
- familia – family
- alcohol – alcohol
- animal – animal
- romántico/a – romantic
- pánico – panic
- plástico – plastic
- cómico – comical/funny
100 essential Spanish words at your hand
Knowing these 100 essential Spanish words is a great way to start communicating with Spanish speakers all over the world and to learn Spanish fast. These words can be employed for a wide range of everyday topics, from greetings and introductions to food and travel. You’ll also find them when reading in Spanish. By mastering these words, you’ll be able to hold basic conversations and speak Spanish with confidence. Plus, you’ll be on your way to becoming fluent in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages.
Alison Maciejewski Cortez
Alison Maciejewski Cortez is Chilean-American, born and raised in California. She studied abroad in Spain, has lived in multiple countries, and now calls Mexico home. She believes that learning how to order a beer in a new language reveals a lot about local culture. Alison speaks English, Spanish, and Thai fluently and studies Czech and Turkish. Her tech copywriting business takes her around the world and she is excited to share language tips as part of the Lingoda team. Follow her culinary and cultural experiences on X.
