200 Basic Spanish Words You Have To Know To Learn Spanish: From Greetings To Household Objects
Learn 200 basic Spanish words for beginners!
These are all the basic words you need if you want to start learning Spanish. Native Spanish speakers also use these easy words to communicate with each other. You can really learn Spanish fast with these basic verbs, basic Spanish greetings, numbers, weather expressions and more.
To get you up to speed, we can help you get started with new words that are unique and only exist in Spanish. Spring Spanish (a project I co-founded) made a fantastic video on this topic:
And after this, you’re ready to learn useful phrases in Spanish without grammar – more on this in our conclusion!
1. Spanish greetings and farewells
Want to make a great first impression? Use proper greetings in Spanish.
Start with hello and goodbye in Spanish. These simple words open doors to new friendships and show respect for the culture.
- Hola – Hello
- Adiós – Goodbye
- Gracias – Thank you
- Por favor – Please
- Buenos días – Good morning
- Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
- Buenas noches – Good night
- Hasta luego – See you later
- Chao – Bye
- Bienvenido – Welcome
2. Numbers in Spanish
From ordering in restaurants to understanding prices, numbers are really important.
Mastering Spanish numbers will make your daily interactions smoother and more confident.
- Uno – One
- Dos – Two
- Tres – Three
- Cuatro – Four
- Cinco – Five
- Seis – Six
- Siete – Seven
- Ocho – Eight
- Nueve – Nine
- Diez – Ten
3. Spanish days of the week
Knowing the days of the week in Spanish helps you plan your week and understand schedules. It’s a small effort with big payoffs in your language journey.
- Lunes – Monday
- Martes – Tuesday
- Miércoles – Wednesday
- Jueves – Thursday
- Viernes – Friday
- Sábado – Saturday
- Domingo – Sunday
4. Months of the year in Spanish
Seasons change, and so do the months in Spanish. Learn these words to discuss dates, plan trips, and celebrate holidays like a local.
- Enero – January
- Febrero – February
- Marzo – March
- Abril – April
- Mayo – May
- Junio – June
- Julio – July
- Agosto – August
- Septiembre – September
- Octubre – October
- Noviembre – November
- Diciembre – December
5. Colors in Spanish
Describe the world around you with colors! They add life to your conversations and help you express preferences clearly.
The colors in Spanish are:
- Rojo – Red
- Azul – Blue
- Amarillo – Yellow
- Verde – Green
- Naranja – Orange
- Morado – Purple
- Rosa – Pink
- Marrón – Brown
- Negro – Black
- Blanco – White
6. Spanish words for family members
Family is at the heart of many Spanish-speaking cultures. Learn these terms to talk about your loved ones and understand others when they share about theirs.
- Madre – Mother
- Padre – Father
- Hermano – Brother
- Hermana – Sister
- Hijo – Son
- Hija – Daughter
- Abuelo – Grandfather
- Abuela – Grandmother
- Tío – Uncle
- Tía – Aunt
- Primo – Cousin (male)
- Prima – Cousin (female)
7. Body parts in Spanish
From a stubbed toe to a headache, knowing body parts in Spanish is helpful in different situations. It’s also great for following instructions in dance classes or yoga sessions! 😉
- Cabeza – Head
- Ojo – Eye
- Nariz – Nose
- Boca – Mouth
- Oreja – Ear
- Brazo – Arm
- Mano – Hand
- Dedo – Finger
- Pierna – Leg
- Pie – Foot
8. Basic Spanish words for food and drinks
Foodies, rejoice!
These words will help you go around menus, markets, and mealtime conversations. Prepare your taste buds for a linguistic feast.
- Agua – Water
- Pan – Bread
- Carne – Meat
- Pescado – Fish
- Fruta – Fruit
- Verdura – Vegetable
- Leche – Milk
- Café – Coffee
- Té – Tea
- Cerveza – Beer
If you want to learn more, you can check out our dedicated blog post about Spanish food vocabulary.
9. Weather in Spanish
Sun, rain, or snow – talk about it all in Spanish. Weather chat is a universal ice-breaker and a practical skill for travelers if you want to engage in small talk in Spanish.
- Sol – Sun
- Lluvia – Rain
- Nieve – Snow
- Viento – Wind
- Nube – Cloud
- Calor – Heat
- Frío – Cold
10. Learn Spanish time expressions
“What time is it?” and “When should we meet?” becomes easy with these words. Time expressions keep you punctual and polite in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Hora – Hour
- Minuto – Minute
- Segundo – Second
- Día – Day
- Semana – Week
- Mes – Month
- Año – Year
- Hoy – Today
- Mañana – Tomorrow
- Ayer – Yesterday
11. Question words in Spanish
Curiosity knows no language barrier. Master these words to ask questions in Spanish, seek clarification, and learn more about the world around you.
- Qué – What
- Quién – Who
- Dónde – Where
- Cuándo – When
- Cómo – How
- Por qué – Why
- Cuál – Which
- Cuánto – How much/How many
12. Common Spanish verbs
Action words are the backbone of any language. These Spanish verbs will help you express what you’re doing, feeling, and planning.
- Ser – To be (permanent)
- Estar – To be (temporary)
- Tener – To have
- Hacer – To do/make
- Ir – To go
- Venir – To come
- Comer – To eat
- Beber – To drink
- Dormir – To sleep
- Hablar – To speak
13. Common Spanish adjectives
Spice up your Spanish with descriptive words. Adjectives let you share opinions, express emotions, and paint vivid pictures with your words.
- Grande – Big
- Pequeño – Small
- Bueno – Good
- Malo – Bad
- Feliz – Happy
- Triste – Sad
- Alto – Tall
- Bajo – Short
- Nuevo – New
- Viejo – Old
14. Spanish prepositions
Small but mighty, prepositions connect your thoughts. They’re essential for giving directions, describing locations, and adding context to your sentences.
- En – In
- De – Of/From
- A – To
- Para – For
- Con – With
- Sin – Without
- Por – By/Through
- Sobre – On/About
- Entre – Between
- Hasta – Until
15. Pronouns in Spanish
He, she, they, we – pronouns in Spanish keep your Spanish flowing smoothly. Learn these to avoid repetition and speak more naturally.
- Yo – I
- Tú – You (informal)
- Él – He
- Ella – She
- Nosotros – We
- Vosotros – You (plural, informal)
- Ellos – They (masculine)
- Ellas – They (feminine)
- Usted – You (formal)
- Ustedes – You (plural, formal)
16. Speak Spanish directions and locations
Left, right, under, over – find your way in Spanish. These words ensure you’ll never be lost, whether in a new city or a conversation.
- Izquierda – Left
- Derecha – Right
- Arriba – Up
- Abajo – Down
- Cerca – Near
- Lejos – Far
- Dentro – Inside
- Fuera – Outside
- Delante – In front
- Detrás – Behind
17. Common words for clothing items in Spanish
Describe your style or ask for help while shopping. Clothing vocabulary is both practical and fun to use in everyday situations.
- Camisa – Shirt
- Pantalón – Pants
- Vestido – Dress
- Falda – Skirt
- Zapatos – Shoes
- Calcetines – Socks
- Chaqueta – Jacket
- Abrigo – Coat
- Sombrero – Hat
- Guantes – Gloves
18. Spanish vocabulary for animals in Spanish
From pets to wildlife, animal words enrich your Spanish. They’re great for describing the natural world or talking about your furry friends.
- Perro – Dog
- Gato – Cat
- Pájaro – Bird
- Pez – Fish
- Caballo – Horse
- Vaca – Cow
- Cerdo – Pig
- Oveja – Sheep
- Ratón – Mouse
- Conejo – Rabbit
19. Start learning Spanish household objects
Chair, table, bed – the things that surround us daily. Learn these words to navigate homes, hotels, and shops with ease.
- Mesa – Table
- Silla – Chair
- Cama – Bed
- Sofá – Sofa
- Lámpara – Lamp
- Espejo – Mirror
- Ventana – Window
- Puerta – Door
- Cocina – Kitchen/Stove
- Nevera – Refrigerator
20. Basic Spanish words and phrases for travelers
From “Where’s the bathroom?” to “Can you help me?” – these travel phrases are your survival kit in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Gracias – Thank you
- Por favor – Please
- Perdón – Excuse me
- Ayuda – Help
- Baño – Bathroom
- Agua – Water
- Cuenta – Bill
- Pasaporte – Passport
- Dinero – Money
- Hotel – Hotel
- Aeropuerto – Airport
- Tren – Train
- Taxi – Taxi
- Restaurante – Restaurant
Learn basic Spanish words with Conversation Based Chunking
Now, the thing is: you need to know some words and phrases to start learning Spanish. But here, on Effortless Conversations, we’re not big fans of constantly learning word lists. But you can actually learn more Spanish after you know some Spanish words you need.
How?
With Conversation Based Chunking. This method is all about learning the common Spanish words and Spanish phrases in context via full immersion. We think it’s the best way to start with a new language, and thus, you won’t need to learn so much grammar.
Spanish language is full of chunks – natural building blocks of the language that will help you start speaking and reach conversational level faster. The Spanish Chunking Starter Pack is one of the best ways to master Spanish.
Check it out!
