97 Spanish Words And Phrases For Beginners To Learn Spanish Vocabulary + Example Sentences
Want to learn Spanish but tired of boring vocab lists? You’re in the right place!
Today we’re talking about a cool way to pick up Spanish words without the headache.
It’s called Conversation Based Chunking, and it’s way more fun than it sounds.
We’ll look at how learning Spanish words in real-life situations can help you speak Spanish more naturally. Spring Spanish (a project I co-founded) made a video about 7 tricks on how to memorize Spanish words:
1. Basic Spanish vocabulary
In the first section, you’ll find essential Spanish words that are the foundation of everyday conversations.
These are really just the most basic Spanish words you need to interact with others from Spanish-speaking countries.
- Hola – Hello
- Adiós – Goodbye
- Por favor – Please
- Gracias – Thank you
- Perdón – Excuse me
- Sí – Yes
- No – No
- Tal vez – Maybe
- Salud – Bless you (after sneezing)
- Bienvenido – Welcome
Let’s check an introductory conversation with these Spanish words:
Carlos: Hola! ¿Cómo estás? (Hello! How are you?)
Ana: ¡Hola, Carlos! Estoy bien, gracias. (Hello, Carlos! I am fine, thank you.)
2. Spanish greetings and polite expressions
Greetings in Spanish and some polite expressions are really important if you want to make a good impression.
Connect with the locals with these phrases:
- Buenos días – Good morning
- Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
- Buenas noches – Good evening/night
- ¿Cómo estás? – How are you?
- Estoy bien – I am fine
- Mucho gusto – Nice to meet you
- ¿Y tú? – And you?
- Hasta luego – See you later
- Cuídate – Take care
Spanish words in action:
Luis: Buenos días, María! (Good morning, María!)
María: Buenos días, Luis! ¿Qué tal? (Good morning, Luis! How’s it going?)
3. Spanish descriptive words
Descriptive words add detail and color to your conversations.
It doesn’t really matter if you’re describing people, places, or things, these Spanish words will help you out.
- Grande – Big
- Pequeño – Small
- Bonito – Pretty
- Feo – Ugly
- Rápido – Fast
- Lento – Slow
- Divertido – Fun
- Triste – Sad
- Feliz – Happy
- Interesante – Interesting
A colorful Spanish conversation with Spanish words for descriptions:
Sofía: ¿Qué te parece esta casa? (What do you think of this house?)
Javier: Es muy bonita y grande. (It’s very pretty and big.)
4. Spanish numbers and time
If you’re a tourist, or just someone who’s eager to learn Spanish, numbers and how to tell time in Spanish are equally important.
Learn them, so you don’t get lost in time, and will know how much to pay in restaurant or supermarkets.
- Uno – One
- Dos – Two
- Tres – Three
- Cuatro – Four
- Cinco – Five
- Diez – Ten
- Cien – Hundred
- ¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
- Es la una – It’s one o’clock
- Son las dos – It’s two o’clock
How to use numbers in Spanish sentences? Let’s see another example:
Pedro: ¿Qué hora es? (What time is it?)
Clara: Son las tres y media. (It’s three thirty.)
5. Spanish question words
Question words are essential for asking for information and guidance.
With these Spanish question words, you’ll manage conversations easily and you’ll gather the details you need!
- ¿Qué? – What?
- ¿Quién? – Who?
- ¿Dónde? – Where?
- ¿Cuándo? – When?
- ¿Por qué? – Why?
- ¿Cómo? – How?
- ¿Cuál? – Which?
- ¿Cuánto? – How much?
- ¿Cuántos? – How many?
Know when to use which question word in Spanish:
Diego: ¿Dónde está el banco? (Where is the bank?)
Lucía: Está cerca de la plaza. (It’s near the square.)
6. Spanish vocabulary for locations and directions
Looking for the Sagrada Familia? Or the Cathedral of Seville?
Understand directions in Spanish when you’re in a new environment. This Spanish vocabulary will help you describe and understand locations and directions with ease.
- Aquí – Here
- Allí – There
- Derecha – Right
- Izquierda – Left
- Cerca – Near
- Lejos – Far
- En frente de – In front of
- Detrás de – Behind
- A la derecha de – To the right of
- A la izquierda de – To the left of
Are you lost? Don’t worry! Just use these Spanish words for directions:
Rafael: ¿Cómo llego a la estación? (How do I get to the station?)
Isabel: Ve derecho y gira a la derecha. (Go straight and turn right.)
7. Spanish words for common activities and verbs
Common activities and verbs are the building blocks of daily actions.
Learn these Spanish words, so you can communicate what you do and engage in conversations about different activities.
- Hablar – To talk
- Comer – To eat
- Beber – To drink
- Leer – To read
- Escribir – To write
- Jugar – To play
- Escuchar – To listen
- Caminar – To walk
- Correr – To run
Planning a weekend? Here’s how you can talk about it:
Miguel: ¿Qué haces el fin de semana? (What are you doing this weekend?)
Laura: Voy a jugar al fútbol con amigos. (I’m going to play soccer with friends.)
8. Spanish words for food and dining
Food is a central part of culture. And Spanish food vocabulary is definitely something you need to know.
This section covers essential terms for ordering, discussing, and enjoying meals.
- Comida – Food
- Agua – Water
- Pan – Bread
- Carne – Meat
- Fruta – Fruit
- Verdura – Vegetable
- Postre – Dessert
- Cena – Dinner
- Desayuno – Breakfast
- Ensalada – Salad
Let’s see a short conversation between Sara and Andrés with these Spanish words:
Sara: ¿Qué te gustaría comer? (What would you like to eat?)
Andrés: Me gustaría una ensalada, por favor. (I would like a salad, please.)
9. Spanish words for people and family
Talking about your family and your friends in Spanish must be one of the happiest moments.
Check these words, so you will know how to draw your family tree with wonderful Spanish words.
- Madre – Mother
- Padre – Father
- Hermano – Brother
- Hermana – Sister
- Amigo – Friend
- Niño – Child
- Abuelo – Grandfather
- Abuela – Grandmother
- Tío – Uncle
- Tía – Aunt
Talking about family in Spanish? Check it out:
Fernando: ¿Tienes hermanos? (Do you have siblings?)
Claudia: Sí, tengo una hermana y un hermano. (Yes, I have a sister and a brother.)
10. Spanish words for weather and seasons
Weather and seasons are topics of daily conversation and can influence many aspects of life, even small talk in Spanish.
This vocabulary will help you talk about the climate and seasonal changes in Spanish.
- Sol – Sun
- Lluvia – Rain
- Nieve – Snow
- Calor – Heat
- Frío – Cold
- Primavera – Spring
- Verano – Summer
- Otoño – Autumn
- Invierno – Winter
- Nublado – Cloudy
Weather in Spanish-speaking countries is usually beautiful, so here’s how one convo could go down:
Natalia: ¿Qué tiempo hace hoy? (What’s the weather like today?)
Antonio: Hace sol y está muy caliente. (It’s sunny and very hot.)
Learn basic Spanish words and start learning Spanish with Conversation Based Chunking method
Now, if there’s one tip we can give you about learning Spanish, and learning Spanish words, it’s Conversation Based Chunking.
This method is all about learning Spanish words in context through real conversation and phrases.
What’s this all about?
Well, instead of memorizing isolated words, you absorb the language in meaningful chunks. You can start by focusing on common expressions and sentences used in everyday situations – just like the ones we shared after each Spanish word list.
Practice these chunks repeatedly in different contexts.
As you become comfortable with each chunk, expand your vocabulary by adding new words within familiar structures.
This approach mimics how native speakers learn. In no time, you’ll improve your ability to use them correctly and fluently in real-life conversations.