Welcome, dear Spanish beginner! Among all levels, the beginner stage is probably the most exciting. There are thousands of things to learn, everything feels like exploring a new world, and we get to experience the thrill of discovery once again. However, it’s common to think: I need to learn too many words to speak Spanish well. But here’s a secret: with just 100 words, you can already communicate comfortably in many situations!
So get ready. Today, we’ll explore 100 essential Spanish words that will open the door to real conversations and help you feel more confident when speaking. Ready?
Let’s go!
Greetings and Farewells: The First Step to a Great Conversation
If you're looking to learn beginner Spanish vocabulary, greetings and goodbyes are the perfect place to start. Here are some words with their translations so you can start using them today:
- Hola (Hello)
- Chao (Bye)
- Adiós (Goodbye)
- Cuídate (Take care)
- Bienvenido (Welcome – masculine)
- Bienvenida (Welcome – feminine)
Give Life to Your Sentences with These Pronouns!
Pronouns help you talk about yourself and others:
- Yo (I) – Yo hablo español.
- Tú (You – informal) – Tú eres muy simpático.
- Él (He) – Él es mi hermano.
- Ella (She) – Ella es cantante.
- Nosotros (We – masculine/mixed) – Nosotros estudiamos mucho.
- Ustedes (You – plural) – ¿Ustedes quieren acompañarnos?
- Ellos (They – masculine/mixed) – Ellos trajeron la cena.
- Mío (Mine) – El carro es mío.
- Tuyo (Yours) – Este regalo es tuyo.
- Nuestro (Ours) – Esa es nuestra meta.
- Ellas (They – feminine) – Ellas son muy amables.
- Usted (You – formal) – ¿Dónde vive usted?
Essential Questions to Start Any Conversation
When it comes to essential Spanish words, question words are a must:
- Qué (What) – ¿Qué haces?
- Cómo (How) – ¿Cómo llegaste?
- Cuándo (When) – ¿Cuándo vienes?
- Dónde (Where) – ¿Dónde estabas?
- Quién (Who) – ¿Quién te dijo?
- Cuánto (How much/many) – ¿Cuánto cuesta?
- Por qué (Why) – ¿Por qué compraste tanto?
- Cuál (Which) – ¿Cuál prefieres?
- Puedo (Can I) – ¿Puedo hablar?
Let’s Add Vocabulary: Numbers in Action
You’re on the right track! To master beginner Spanish vocabulary, numbers are essential. Let’s learn them together:
- Uno (One)
- Dos (Two)
- Tres (Three)
- Cuatro (Four)
- Cinco (Five)
- Seis (Six)
- Siete (Seven)
- Ocho (Eight)
- Nueve (Nine)
- Diez (Ten)
Speak with Confidence: The Most Useful Verbs
Verbs are key to forming sentences. Here are some essential ones:
- Ser (To be – permanent) – Soy maestro.
- Estar (To be – temporary) – Estoy feliz.
- Hacer (To do / to make) – Siempre hago mi tarea a tiempo.
- Ir (To go) – Voy a la playa.
- Comer (To eat) – Me gusta comer waffles.
- Poder (Can / to be able to) – Puedo hablar español.
- Decir (To say / to tell) – Siempre digo la verdad.
- Ver (To see) – Veo el atardecer.
- Querer (To want) – Quiero viajar a México.
- Tener (To have) – Tengo hambre.
Colors in Spanish: Bring Your Vocabulary to Life
Who would've thought?! You already know 47 essential Spanish words. Let’s keep going. The world is full of vibrant colors—let’s explore them in Spanish!
- Amarillo (Yellow)
- Azul (Blue)
- Rojo (Red)
- Verde (Green)
- Negro (Black)
- Blanco (White)
- Rosa (Pink)
- Gris (Gray)
- Naranja (Orange)
- Morado (Purple)
Seven Days, Seven Words: Master the Days of the Week
Knowing the days of the week is key to expanding your vocabulary. Here they are:
- Lunes (Monday)
- Martes (Tuesday)
- Miércoles (Wednesday)
- Jueves (Thursday)
- Viernes (Friday)
- Sábado (Saturday)
- Domingo (Sunday)
Dress Your Spanish: Learn Clothing Words
64 essential Spanish words and counting! To talk about clothing, here’s some vocabulary:
- Camisa (Shirt)
- Pantalones (Pants)
- Zapatos (Shoes)
- Calcetines (Socks)
- Chaqueta (Jacket)
- Vestido (Dress)
- Falda (Skirt)
- Sombrero (Hat)
- Bufanda (Scarf)
- Traje (Suit)
Spanish Expressions You’ll Use Every Day
Some basic expressions you should know:
- Sí (Yes)
- No (No)
- Perdón (Excuse me / Sorry)
- Gracias (Thank you)
- Salud (Bless you / Cheers)
- Bien (Good / Well)
- Mal (Bad / Poorly)
- Claro (Of course)
- Vale (Okay / Alright – used in Spain)
- ¡Genial! (Great!)
- Quizás (Maybe)
- Problema (Problem)
Key Words for Directions and Locations
To move around the city, these words will help:
- Aquí (Here) – Estoy aquí.
- Allá (Over there) – Allá está el mall.
- Izquierda (Left) – Gira a la izquierda.
- Derecha (Right) – Está a la derecha.
- Cerca (Near) – Estoy cerca.
- Lejos (Far) – Mi casa está lejos.
- Dentro (Inside) – Hay gente dentro.
- Fuera (Outside) – Estoy fuera de casa.
How to Ask for Help in Spanish: Words You Must Know
For emergencies, keep these in mind:
- Ayuda (Help) – ¡Ayuda, perdí mis documentos!
- Urgente (Urgent) – ¿Puedes ayudarme? Es algo urgente.
- Policía (Police) – Necesito un policía.
- Emergencia (Emergency) – Llama al 911, es una emergencia.
- Médico (Doctor) – Necesito un médico.
- Hospital (Hospital) – Llévame al hospital, por favor.
100 Words in Your Vocabulary… Shall We Go for More?
You did it! You now know 100 essential Spanish words. Don’t let the number 100 intimidate you; with practice, they’ll become part of your daily life. Being a beginner is one of the most beautiful stages of language learning, so enjoy it to the fullest—no rush, but with all your heart. Keep going, and good luck on your journey!
