Learn Spanish: 10 Things You Need to Know About Spoken Spanish
Spoken Spanish is quite different from written Spanish. If you want to truly learn a foreign language, you need to have the ability to speak and write in Spanish.
Native Spanish speakers talk at different speaking speeds. Take a look at this video from Spring Spanish on how to understand different speaking speeds in spoken Spanish. It’s brought to you by Maura:
This blog post will share 10 things you need to know about spoken Spanish.
1. Spoken Spanish Sentence Structure
One of the biggest differences between written Spanish and spoken Spanish is the sentence structure.
In the written form of Spanish, like in formal texts or Spanish textbooks, sentences are longer and of course, complex, with multiple clauses and strict adherence to grammar rules.
In spoken Spanish, sentences are often shorter and simpler because it’s more spontaneous.
| Written Spanish | Spoken Spanish |
|---|---|
| Después de hacer sus deberes, fue al parque a jugar con sus amigos. (After doing her homework, she went to the park to play with her friends.) | Hizo sus deberes y luego fue al parque a jugar con amigos. (She did her homework and then went to the park to play with friends.) |
As you can see, the spoken version uses a simpler sentences structure with fewer clauses and that makes it easier to follow when you’re speaking directly with your friends and acquaintances.
2. Word Order – Don’t Panic About Spanish Grammar
While the standard Spanish word order rules still apply in spoken language, there is more flexibility when it comes to word order in conversational contexts.
You can rearrange words or phrases for emphasis or to create a natural flow. Some word order variations might be technically incorrect in written Spanish, but they are common in spoken Spanish.
You can also choose to place the verb at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis or to add a new topic to your Spanish conversations:
| Written Spanish | Spoken Spanish |
|---|---|
| ¿Tuviste un buen viaje? (Did you have a good trip?) | ¿Te fue bien en tu viaje? (Did you have a good time on your trip?) |
3. Common Contractions in Spanish
Contractions are part of spoken Spanish and are common in everyday conversations.
These contractions and elisions are about combining or shortening words to make your speech flow smoother.
Some of the most common contractions in Spanish are:
| Contraction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| al | a el |
| del | de el |
| para’l | para el |
| pa’ca | para acá |
| por’sto | por esto |
| dond’está | dónde está |
| porqu’es | porque es |
| cuánd’es | cuándo es |
| nad’más | nada más |
| no’más | no más |
| m’entiende | me entiende |
| t’explico | te explico |
| s’enojó | se enojó |
| d’ese | de ese |
| d’esta | de esta |
| n’importa | no importa |
| tant’así | tanto así |
| pa’llá | para allá |
| pal’otro | para el otro |
| qué’rá | qué era |
| quién’rá | quién era |
| cóm’está | cómo está |
| por’eso | por eso |
| cóm’hizo | cómo hizo |
4. Filler Words in Spanish
Spanish also has filler words that are used in spontaneous speech to fill pauses or even buy time when you’re thinking about your next words – just think about it, it’s natural in your native language, too.
| Filler Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| este | um, well |
| o sea | that is, I mean |
| bueno | well |
| pues | well, then |
| ya | well, so |
| eh | uh |
| mm | um |
| ah | uh |
| ajá | uh-huh |
| osea | that is |
| entonces | so, then |
| digo | I mean |
| mira | look |
| viste | you see |
| tipo | like |
| como | like |
| sabes | you know |
| ¿me explico? | do you understand me? |
| digamos | let’s say |
| a ver | let’s see |
| ¿entiendes? | do you understand? |
| quiero decir | I mean |
| en realidad | actually |
| la verdad | the truth is |
| la cosa es | the thing is |
| es que | it’s that |
These filler words will make you sound more natural and conversational.
5. Regionalisms and Spanish Dialects
Spoken Spanish has a range of regionalisms, Spanish dialects, and local idioms compared to formal written Spanish.
While written Spanish follows a standardized form, spoken Spanish is influenced by regional variations and dialects.
In Mexico, you might hear expressions like “¿Vamos a echar unas chelas?” (Shall we go have some beers?), while in Spain, someone can say “¿Vamos a tomar unas cañas?” (Shall we go for some beers?).
In other Spanish-speaking countries like Argentina, you can hear phrases like “¿Qué onda?” (What’s up?), and in Puerto Rico, the phrase “¿Qué lo que?” (What’s up?) is a common greeting.
6. Intonation and Stress on Vowels and Consonants
Proper intonation, pitch changes, and stress patterns are also important to talk about emotions in Spanish.
And actually, ti can highlight some hidden meanings of Spanish sentences.
Like, let’s say the word “término” (term) can be pronounced with different stress patterns:
- “TÉRmino” (with stress on the first syllable) means “term.”
- “terMIno” (with stress on the second syllable) means “I finish.”
The placement of stress on certain syllables can change the meaning of a word entirely!
The word “líquido” (liquid) takes on a different meaning when the stress is shifted to the second syllable: “liquiDO” (liquidated).
So, pay attention to this!
7. Discourse Markers to Fill Your Spanish Sentences
Discourse markers in spoken Spanish connect ideas, engage the listener, and signal changes in thought or topic.
These small Spanish conjunctions are bridges between different parts of a conversation:
| Discourse Marker | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pues | well |
| entonces | then |
| pero | but |
| sin embargo | however |
| ¿sabes? | you know? |
| o | or |
| ¿no? | right? |
| o sea | that is |
You can use “pues” to introduce a new point:
- Pues, ¿qué hacemos esta noche? (Well, what are we doing tonight?)
“Pero” can be used to contrast ideas or introduce a counterargument:
- Me gustaría ir al cine, pero está lloviendo afuera. (I’d like to go to the movies, but it’s raining outside.)
“¿Sabes?” and “¿no?” are used to engage the listener:
- Fue una película genial, ¿sabes? ¿No? (That was a great movie, you know? Wasn’t it?)
8. Colloquialisms and Spanish Slang
Informal colloquial expressions and Spanish slang phrases are used in spoken language but are avoided in formal written language.
Here are some examples of Spanish slang:
| Spanish Slang | English |
|---|---|
| Tío/Tía | Dude/Bro/Sister |
| Chido | Cool |
| No le entiendo | I don’t get it |
| Mira | Look, check this out |
| Déjalo | Let it go, forget it |
| Qué onda | What’s up |
| Qué pedo | What’s up (vulgar) |
| Güey/Wey | Dude |
| Cabrón | Dude (vulgar) |
| Chido/Chingón | Cool |
| Qué tranza | What’s going on |
| Estar pedo | To be drunk |
| Echar un caldo | To hang out |
| Estar crudo | To be hungover |
| Ir de peda | To go party |
| Estar hasta la madre | To be fed up |
| Estar frito | To be tired/broke |
| Estar cañón | To be hot/good-looking |
| Irse de huevos | To fail miserably |
| Estar bien prendido | To be tipsy |
| Ni de pedo | No way (vulgar) |
Most of these Spanish slang expressions are not appropriate in formal settings, so pay attention to where you use them! And ultimately, check our dedicated article about Spanish slangs!
9. Incomplete Sentences vs. Written Spanish
In real-life conversations, you can omit words. And you can rely on shared context or non-verbal communication.
Let’s imagine this:
- “¿Ya fuiste al nuevo cine?” (Have you been to the new cinema?)
- “Sí, la semana pasada.” (Yes, last week.)
In this exchange, the second speaker’s response is an incomplete sentence, but the meaning is clear from the context of the conversation. You wouldn’t know what the second speaker meant with ‘la semana pasada’ but since we know the question, it’s all clear!
While this kind of language use may seem incorrect from the perspective of written Spanish, it is an acceptable thing in spoken Spanish.
10. Anyone can become fluent in Spanish with Conversation Based Chunking
Conversation Based Chunking is a method that is about breaking down long conversations into manageable and meaningful chunks. These chunks are natural building blocks of the language: native speakers use them all the time!
If you internalize these natural language chunks, you can start to speak fluent Spanish.
In the end, we have to say: the goal of learning a language is communication.
You have to understand these characteristics of spoken Spanish, and then you’ll be better at comprehending native speakers. Italki is a great platform to practice spoken Spanish with Spanish tutors. You can check our review article and decide yourself.
Until then, here’s your chance to change your language learning journey with the Spanish Chunking Starter Pack!
