15 Common Spanish Filler Words (Muletillas) To Sound Like A Native

Filler words… We all know them, and we all have our opinions about them. Sometimes, they come in handy, sometimes, they are annoying. But the truth is: they are natural parts of any language.

Spanish filler words are no different! Spring Spanish (a project I co-founded) made a great, in-depth video about the Spanish filler words that natives use all the time:

This blog post is all about explaining these Spanish filler words, and ultimately, explaining why they are useful in the Spanish language.

Why are Spanish filler words useful?

Effortless Answers

Spanish filler words or as we call them in Spanish, muletillas are words that fill the awkward silences in Spanish, or help you think while you’re speaking.

They’re basically the same as ‘ums and ahs’ in English. And if you’re speaking English, you know that these filler words make you sound more like a native speaker because it’s actually natural to think while you speak.

Let’s think of these Spanish filler words as words that work as a glue that holds conversations together. They give you a moment to think, emphasize what you’re saying, or just keep the conversation flowing smoothly.

spanish filler words symbolized with dots on paper

In this blog post, we’ll list the 15 most common Spanish filler words that don’t really have a direct translation but they certainly help you out in your speech.

Let’s explore them one-by-one!

1. Pues (Well)

Pues” is like the Swiss Army knife of Spanish filler words.

It’s incredibly versatile and can be used in both formal and informal situations.

You’ll hear it at the beginning of sentences, where it’s similar to saying “well” in English.

It’s great for buying time when you’re thinking about what to say next, or to soften the start of a response. In informal settings, you can use it freely, while in formal meetings, it’s still acceptable but use it sparingly.

MarĂ­a: Pues, no sĂ© quĂ© decirte sobre ese proyecto.” (Well, I don’t know what to tell you about that project.)
Javier: “Ah, venga. Pues dime lo que piensas sin más.” (Oh, come on. Just tell me what you think without hesitation.)

2. Este/Esta (Um, Uh)

Este” or “esta” (depending on the gender of the noun you’re thinking of) is perfect for those moments when you’re searching for the right word.

It’s like saying “um” or “uh” in English.

This filler is more common in informal conversations and shouldn’t really be used in formal settings. It’s useful when you’re trying to remember a name or a specific term.

Carlos: “Necesito hablar con… este… ÂżcĂłmo se llama? ¡Ah sĂ­, LucĂ­a!” (I need to talk to… um… what’s her name? Oh yes, LucĂ­a!)
Elena: “Tranquilo, Carlos. TĂłmate tu tiempo para recordar.” (Take it easy, Carlos. Take your time to remember.)

3. O sea (I mean, That is to say)

O sea” is used to clarify or rephrase something you’ve just said.

It’s similar to saying “I mean” or “that is to say” in English.

This filler is quite common in casual conversations but can also be used in more formal settings when you need to explain something more clearly.

It’s a great tool for ensuring your listener understands your point.

Ana: “No quiero ir a la fiesta. O sea, me encantarĂ­a, pero estoy muy cansada.” (I don’t want to go to the party. I mean, I’d love to, but I’m very tired.)
Pablo: “Entiendo, Ana. O sea, prefieres quedarte en casa, Âżno?” (I understand, Ana. So, you prefer to stay at home, right?)

4. Bueno (Well, Okay)

Bueno” is a chameleon in the world of Spanish fillers.

While it literally means “good,” it’s often used at the beginning of sentences to mean “well” or “okay.”

It’s acceptable in both formal and informal settings and can be used to start a response, change the subject, or indicate that you’re about to wrap up a conversation.

Pedro: Bueno, ÂżquĂ© te parece si vamos al cine mañana?” (Well, what do you think about going to the movies tomorrow?)
Laura: Bueno, Pedro, no es mala idea. ÂżA quĂ© hora?” (Okay, Pedro, that’s not a bad idea. What time?)

5. Eh (Huh, Right)

Eh” is a another little filler that can be used in different ways.

It’s often added to the end of sentences to ask for agreement or confirmation, similar to “right?” or “huh?” in English.

It’s more common in informal settings and can help make your speech sound more natural and engaging.

Roberto: “Hace un dĂ­a precioso, Âżeh, SofĂ­a?” (It’s a beautiful day, huh, SofĂ­a?)
SofĂ­a: “SĂ­, Roberto, perfecto para ir a la playa, Âżeh?” (Yes, Roberto, perfect for going to the beach, right?)

6. Entonces (So, Then)

Entonces” is a great filler to use when you’re drawing a conclusion or moving a conversation forward.

It’s similar to saying “so” or “then” in English. You can use it in both formal and informal settings, making it a great choice for different situations.

Luis: Entonces, ÂżquĂ© hacemos con el problema del presupuesto?” (So, what do we do about the budget problem?)
Carmen: Entonces, yo dirĂ­a que tenemos que reducir gastos, Âżno?” (Then, I’d say we need to reduce expenses, right?)

7. Sabes (You know)

Sabes” is a friendly, conversational filler that’s great for creating a connection with your listener.

It’s similar to saying “you know” in English. While it’s more common in informal settings, it can also be used in casual business conversations to create rapport.

MartĂ­n: Sabes, creo que deberĂ­amos cambiar de estrategia.” (You know, I think we should change our strategy.)
Isabel: “SĂ­, sabes que estoy de acuerdo contigo.” (Yes, you know I agree with you.)

8. Mira (Look)

Mira” is used to draw attention to what you’re about to say.

It’s like saying “look” or “listen” in English. This filler works well in both formal and informal contexts when you want to emphasize a point or introduce a new idea.

Diego: Mira, entiendo tu punto de vista, pero no estoy de acuerdo.” (Look, I understand your point of view, but I disagree.)
Elena: Mira, Diego, quizás podamos llegar a un compromiso.” (Listen, Diego, maybe we can reach a compromise.)

9. Digamos (Let’s say)

Digamos” is useful when you’re providing an example or hypothetical situation. It’s equivalent to “let’s say” in English.

This filler is versatile and can be used in both casual and professional settings.

Alejandro: Digamos que tenemos un millĂłn de euros para invertir. ÂżQuĂ© harĂ­as?” (Let’s say we have a million euros to invest. What would you do?)
LucĂ­a: Digamos que invertirĂ­a la mitad en bienes raĂ­ces y el resto en acciones.” (Let’s say I would invest half in real estate and the rest in stocks.)

spanish filler words symbolized with three dots on paper with a pen

10. Como (Like)

Como” can be used similarly to “like” in English, as a filler or to introduce an example. It’s more common in informal speech but can also be used in relaxed professional settings.

RaĂşl: “Estoy como muy cansado hoy, Âżsabes?” (I’m like really tired today, you know?)
Marta: “SĂ­, yo tambiĂ©n. Es como si no hubiĂ©ramos dormido en dĂ­as.” (Yes, me too. It’s like we haven’t slept in days.)

11. Vale (Okay, Right)

Vale” is the ultimate Spanish filler word that’s used to show agreement or understanding.

It’s basically the same as saying “okay” or “alright” in English. While it’s more common in informal settings, it’s also acceptable in many professional contexts, especially in Spain.

Jorge: “ÂżTe parece bien si nos reunimos mañana a las 10?” (Is it okay if we meet tomorrow at 10?)
Sara: Vale, perfecto. Nos vemos entonces.” (Okay, perfect. See you then.)

12. Venga (Come on, Alright)

Venga” is a lively filler that can express encouragement, agreement, or even mild impatience.

It’s similar to “come on” or “alright” in English. It’s more common in informal settings but can be used in casual work environments too.

Antonio: Venga, vamos a terminar este proyecto de una vez.” (Come on, let’s finish this project once and for all.)
Claudia: Venga, sĂ­. Ya estamos cerca del final.” (Alright, yes. We’re close to the end.)

13. Hombre/Mujer (Man/Woman – used as interjections)

Hombre” (for men) and “Mujer” (for women) are friendly interjections used to emphasize what you’re saying or to soften a statement.

They’re similar to saying “man” or “woman” in English conversations. These are quite informal and best used with friends or close colleagues.

Pablo: Hombre, no me digas que te olvidaste de la reuniĂłn.” (Man, don’t tell me you forgot about the meeting.)
Laura: Mujer, claro que no. Estaba en camino cuando me llamaste.” (Woman, of course not. I was on my way when you called.)

14. Claro (Of course, Sure)

Claro” is a filler used to express agreement or to confirm something.

It can be used in both formal and informal settings, making it a perfect choice in these situations.

Ernesto: “ÂżPuedes enviarme el informe cuando lo termines?” (Can you send me the report when you finish it?)
Silvia: Claro, te lo mando en cuanto estĂ© listo.” (Of course, I’ll send it to you as soon as it’s ready.)

15. Vamos (Come on, Let’s see)

Vamos” is a dynamic filler that can express encouragement, impatience, or be used to move a conversation along.

It’s similar to “come on” or “let’s see” in English. It’s more common in casual settings but can be used in relaxed work environments.

Miguel: Vamos, cuĂ©ntame quĂ© pasĂł en la reuniĂłn.” (Come on, tell me what happened in the meeting.)
Ana: Vamos a ver… fue bastante productiva, la verdad.” (Let’s see… it was quite productive, actually.)

Practice Spanish filler words with a Practice Worksheet

Time to practice the filler words in action:

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Learn common Spanish filler words with Conversation Based Chunking

Now, the thing about these Spanish filler words that you don’t even really have to learn them. They’ll come to you naturally if you use the Conversation Based Chunking method.

If you’re really curious how others use these Spanish filler words, you can check Reddit’s biggest Spanish learning subreddit on people’s views.

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