There are so many Spanish words that learning vocabulary often feels overwhelming and confusing. It’s like finding the right book in a completely dark library.
Wouldn’t it be easier if you had a clear path to follow, if you could just have a list of words used in everyday conversations?
That’s the purpose of this post, where you’ll find the 100 words used most often in spoken Spanish.
Why these 100 words?
Let’s imagine you want to learn how to be a bartender quickly to get a job around town. Would you start by learning about hundreds of drinks from around the world? Or would you learn and remember the most popular drinks around your area first?
Probably the second option, right? Like this, you’d get the job and learn more as you go.
The idea behind this list of words is similar. Find out what’s useful and used most often so you can focus on that first to improve your Spanish faster. It’s classic 80/20.
The 80/20 Principle:
According to Entrepreneur and Author David Koch, “The 80/20 Principle asserts that a minority of causes, inputs or efforts usually lead to a majority of the results, outputs or rewards” (David Koch, The 80/20 Principle, Doubleday Publishing.)
In other words, it’s the few things that matter most.
We can use the 80/20 Principle in Spanish to prioritize moving faster. In this case, determining a subgroup of words (usually around 20%) used most often in everyday conversations.
Focusing on that 20% can yield disproportionate results in progressing your language skills and moving faster.
.
The 100 Most Common Words in Spoken Spanish
Now, it’s time to review the complete list of words. If you are just getting started, focus on the first 50 words on the list. After you memorize those, move on to the complete list. Here it is (have fun!)
|
…Rank… |
Word in Spanish |
Meaning in English |
|
1 |
que |
that |
|
2 |
de |
of, from |
|
3 |
no |
no |
|
4 |
a |
to |
|
5 |
la |
the (for singular feminine nouns) |
|
6 |
el |
the (for masculine singular nouns) |
|
7 |
es |
he is, she is, it is (for essential characteristics) |
|
8 |
y |
and |
|
9 |
en |
in, on, at |
|
10 |
lo |
it, him (direct-object pronoun) |
|
11 |
un |
a, an (for singular masculine nouns) |
|
12 |
por |
for, by, through |
|
13 |
qué |
what / how (as in “how nice!”) |
|
14 |
me |
me, myself |
|
15 |
una |
a, an (for singular feminine nouns) |
|
16 |
te |
you (direct-object pronoun) |
|
17 |
los |
the (for plural masculine nouns) |
|
18 |
se |
himself, herself, itself |
|
19 |
con |
with |
|
20 |
para |
for, to |
|
21 |
mi |
my |
|
22 |
está |
he is, she is, it is (non-permanent characteristics) |
|
23 |
si |
if |
|
24 |
bien |
well, good |
|
25 |
pero |
but |
|
26 |
yo |
I |
|
27 |
eso |
that |
|
28 |
las |
the (for plural feminine nouns) |
|
29 |
sí |
yes |
|
30 |
su |
his, her, its |
|
31 |
tu |
your |
|
32 |
aquí |
here |
|
33 |
del |
of the, from the, in the |
|
34 |
al |
to the |
|
35 |
como |
how, as, like |
|
36 |
le |
him, her, formal you (indirect object pronoun) |
|
37 |
más |
more |
|
38 |
esto |
this (for singular masculine nouns) |
|
39 |
ya |
already |
|
40 |
todo |
everything |
|
41 |
esta |
this one (for singular feminine nouns) |
|
42 |
vamos |
let’s go, come on |
|
43 |
muy |
very |
|
44 |
hay |
there is |
|
45 |
ahora |
now |
|
46 |
algo |
something |
|
47 |
estoy |
I am (non-permanent characteristics) |
|
48 |
tengo |
I have |
|
49 |
nos |
us |
|
50 |
tú |
you |
|
51 |
nada |
nothing |
|
52 |
cuando |
when |
|
53 |
ha |
he has, she has, it has (auxiliary) |
|
54 |
este |
this one (for singular masculine nouns) |
|
55 |
sé |
I know |
|
56 |
estás |
you are (non-permanent characteristics) |
|
57 |
así |
like this |
|
58 |
puedo |
I can |
|
59 |
cómo |
how |
|
60 |
quiero |
I want |
|
61 |
sólo |
only, just |
|
62 |
soy |
I am (for essential characteristics) |
|
63 |
tiene |
he has, she has, it has |
|
64 |
gracias |
thank you |
|
65 |
o |
or |
|
66 |
él |
he |
|
67 |
bueno |
good |
|
68 |
fue |
he was, she was, it was |
|
69 |
ser |
to be (for permanent characteristics) |
|
70 |
hacer |
to do, to make |
|
71 |
son |
they are (for permanent characteristics) |
|
72 |
todos |
all of us, all of them |
|
73 |
era |
he was, she was, it was (permanent characteristics) |
|
74 |
eres |
you are (permanent characteristics) |
|
75 |
vez |
time (as in “one time”) |
|
76 |
tienes |
you have |
|
77 |
creo |
I believe |
|
78 |
ella |
she |
|
79 |
he |
I have (auxiliary) |
|
80 |
ese |
that one |
|
81 |
voy |
I go |
|
82 |
puede |
he can, she can, it can |
|
83 |
sabes |
you know |
|
84 |
hola |
hello |
|
85 |
sus |
his, her (for plural nouns) |
|
86 |
porque |
because |
|
87 |
Dios |
God |
|
88 |
quién |
who |
|
89 |
nunca |
never |
|
90 |
dónde |
where |
|
91 |
quieres |
you want |
|
92 |
casa |
house |
|
93 |
favor |
favor |
|
94 |
esa |
that one (for singular feminine nouns) |
|
95 |
dos |
two |
|
96 |
tan |
so |
|
97 |
señor |
mister |
|
98 |
tiempo |
time |
|
99 |
verdad |
truth |
|
100 |
estaba |
I was (non-permanent characteristics) |
Get your Copy of this List (with additional examples!) and a Downloadable Audio File so you can Practice later:
Get a Downloadable Audio MP3 (with the pronunciation of each word and examples) and a PDF version of this list of 100 words (with sample sentences) delivered to your inbox and additional resources to improve your Spanish.
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Does que mean ‘what’, not ‘that’?
It can mean both, but it usually means “what”
For example:
Most common usage:
“What” is that? – ¿”Qué” es eso?
Less common, but frequent:
That thing “that” is over there – Eso “que” está ahí
¡Saludos!
Think sarcasm, someone asks you where the merchandise you were supposed to stock is, and you point the now full racks, ”qué”… Slightly different pronunciation “que” no accent mark, different letter, more like “aqui”, but without the “ah” sound.
qué with an accent means “what?”. Question words in Spanish always have a written accent. ¿Que día es hoy? What day is it today? Que without the accent means that. Éste es el libro que necesito. This is the book (that) I need.
The word “que” for “that” does not contain an accent and “qué” as in “what” does. This makes an easily identifiable difference in reading and writing, and as you get better you can start hearing the difference when spoken as well.
quizas
Number 11 “un” should be “for singular masculine nouns”
I appreciate the comment. I’ve corrected the typo. ¡Gracias!
I appreciate your work
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words! 🙂
87-91 spell out a sentence that may upset some people. But overall this was very helpful
This helped me alot thank you :3
I appreciate this so much! Can you explain what is meant by “auxilery”? Thanks again
¡Hola Jay!
What I mean is that some of these words are used as auxiliary verbs.
For example, the verb haber in cases such as “yo HE caminado”
Thank you for your kind words Jay! I appreciate them!
¡Saludos! 🙂
I’m trying to learn spanish and develop like my own first lesson plan. I made flash cards with this first 100 words but I was wondering if there was more or could make more with like nouns…cat..house…store etc…or a list of most common phrases too? Sorry thank u so much!
Hi Melissa,
I’m currently working on more lists for an upcoming course but I don’t have them available yet. Sorry about that!
The fact that you’re taking that approach is a great sign of a committed student will help you learn faster.
Keep going!
Hi Miguel
I like your list a lot.
Can you give me a list of 10 common sentences and how to pronounce them?
I can’t understand the upside down’!’
Thanks,
Shyamala
Hi Shyamala!
I’m happy to hear you’re finding the practice materials useful! : )
You can find lots of common phrases and their pronunciation here: https://spanishforyourjob.com/category/podcast/
¡Saludos!
This helped me a lot ..great work sir
Thank you (Garcias)..
¡De nada! (You’re welcome!) I’m happy to hear it was useful : )
Garcias por tu trabajo de esto gringo viejo.
Me gusta esta pagina.
¡Hola Rob!
I’m happy to hear you found this useful.
¡Gracias! : )
Hola Miguel,
Tengo found this site so helpful porque tengo test like in a hour and now I am so ready for it
I’m happy to hear that Bianca!
Best of luck on your exam! 🙂
i need help t write in spanish
Thank you for this website! I have work due on Friday and this really helped!
thank you tengo found this site intresting i am 10 years old and my dream was learning spanish thank you !!
Thank you it helped me with my test I had and I got an A thank you so much!!!
You’re welcome. I’m happy to hear it was useful! 🙂
Thank you this was helpfull for revision
Hey Miguel
Your page and lessons are ithe most effective I’ve seen.
Teaching method approach is superb.
You shod set up on UDEMY.
I will pay for a video course from you.
I appreciate your kind words Tony. ¡Gracias!
Thanks, Miguel!
An old Nepali guy trying to learn Spanish for having lots of Spanish speaking friends in TX.
I’m happy to hear it was useful Pashpati!
¡Saludos a Texas!