Updated on January 3, 2024
6 of the best cartoons to learn Spanish
You probably learned a lot of your mother tongue while watching cartoons when you were a kid. You may even recall specific snippets of dialogue that were especially captivating. So, why not try the same method to boost your knowledge of Spanish? To get started, you’ll need to know the best cartoons to learn Spanish. We’ll help you out by telling you a few of our favorites.
But first, you might be asking: Why cartoons? When learning a new language from scratch, we can benefit from watching a little TV (or streaming services, as is more common nowadays). Of course, we can always count on the melodrama of Spanish-language telenovelas, but cartoons are great if you want to learn vocabulary without all the tears. Yes, even if you’re an adult!
So, fire up that internet connection and start training your ear with six of the best cartoons to learn Spanish.
Are you looking for Spanish cartoons for beginners? Oh, Noah! is the ideal choice. This series follows Noah, a young boy trying to learn Spanish while visiting his grandmother in Mexico. He makes mistakes but works hard to improve his skills. A relatable character for language learners!
This cartoon was designed to teach children Spanish, so you’ll be learning a ton of everyday vocabulary at a level that’s approachable.
La Patrulla Canina (Paw Patrol) is one of the best Spanish cartoons for beginners who already have basic vocabulary under their belt.
This series tells the story of Ryder, a young boy leading a group of rescue puppies! Together they embark on exciting missions to protect the residents of their community. Puppies speaking Spanish and saving people? Too cute.
With relatively simple grammar and storylines that are easy to follow, this one’s a good option when you’re learning on your own.
The Loud House is great for intermediate Spanish learners. It revolves around the life of 11-year-old Lincoln Loud, an only son living with his 10 sisters. As you watch Lincoln navigate the chaos of such a large household, you’ll learn helpful Spanish vocabulary for day-to-day situations.
¿Quién vive en una piña debajo del mar (Who lives in a pineapple under the sea)?
The Spanish-dubbed version of SpongeBob SquarePants is just as iconic as its English counterpart. Widely popular since it first aired, Bob Esponja focuses on the adventures of a yellow sponge living at the bottom of the ocean (but we all probably knew this already, right?).
This is one of the best cartoons to watch to learn intermediate Spanish. The title song will probably get stuck in your head, but it’s a catchy and effective way to practice your listening comprehension.
If you’re learning Spanish as an adult, you’ll have fun with this one.
Hora de la Aventura (Adventure Time) was designed for teens, but this show’s distinctive sense of humor and mature themes have helped it amass a large adult following. The series follows the story of Finn, a 12-year-old boy who, together with his magical shape-shifting dog, battles evil in a surreal land. The visuals are mesmerizing and will definitely catch your eye.
With its fast-paced dialogue and sometimes bizarre humor, this one is best for those with an intermediate-to-advanced knowledge of Spanish. If you end up loving it, check out The Midnight Gospel, created exclusively for adults by the same writers. It’s available on Netflix with Spanish dubbing.
We can’t talk about cartoons without talking about our favorite Chilean comic-strip character, Condorito.
This half-man, half-condor is legendary throughout Latin America, though especially in Chile; as a Chilean-American, I’ve been reading these comics since I was a kid. The storyline follows Condorito’s everyday heroic adventures with a very Chilean sense of humor.
Given its regional focus, we should point out that Condorito is best suited for adults interested in learning Chilean lingo. We’ll also note that many of these comics were written decades ago and reprinted. By today’s standards, some jokes did not age well. If you’re concerned about running into any off-color content, pick up a copy of the children’s version revolving around Condorito’s young nephew, Coné. There’s also an animated version of Condorito dubbed with “neutral Spanish.”
Now that you know some of the best cartoons to watch to learn Spanish, it’s time to get cozy and press play. Cartoons, movies and TV series are all great tools for expanding your Spanish vocabulary while relaxing on the couch. Want to make the most of it? Grab a notebook and write down all the new words you learn as you go. That’ll make it easier for you to remember them later on!
