Spanish words 1–100
Ranked by frequency. Each word shows its most useful meaning, a short example sentence, and an English translation.
| # | Spanish | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | el article | the Forms: el, la, los, las. "La" is also a pronoun meaning "her/it." | El libro está en la mesa.The book is on the table. |
| 2 | de preposition | of, from also: about; 's (possession) De + el contracts to "del." | Soy de Nueva York.I'm from New York. |
| 3 | que conjunction | that also: which; who; than Without an accent. Compare "qué" (what). | Creo que va a llover.I think that it's going to rain. |
| 4 | a preposition | to also: at; (personal a before people) A + el contracts to "al." | Vamos a la playa mañana.We're going to the beach tomorrow. |
| 5 | en preposition | in also: on; at | Mi hermana vive en Chicago.My sister lives in Chicago. |
| 6 | y conjunction | and Becomes "e" before words starting with an i sound. | Quiero pan y queso.I want bread and cheese. |
| 7 | uno number / article | one; a, an also: some (unos, unas) Forms: un, una, uno, unos, unas. | Tengo un perro y una gata.I have a dog and a cat. |
| 8 | ser verb | to be (identity, traits) Used for what something is. Compare "estar." Shares the form "fue" with "ir." | Mi madre es profesora.My mother is a teacher. |
| 9 | no adverb | no; not | No tengo tiempo hoy.I don't have time today. |
| 10 | se pronoun | (reflexive) oneself, himself, herself, themselves also: (impersonal) one, people Also replaces "le" before "lo/la": se lo doy. | Ella se mira en el espejo.She looks at herself in the mirror. |
| 11 | por preposition | for (reason, exchange); by also: through; along; per Compare "para." | Gracias por tu ayuda.Thanks for your help. |
| 12 | con preposition | with | Voy al cine con mis amigos.I'm going to the movies with my friends. |
| 13 | su determiner | his, her, its, their, your (formal) Forms: su, sus. | Ana perdió su teléfono.Ana lost her phone. |
| 14 | para preposition | for (purpose, recipient); in order to also: by (a deadline); toward Compare "por." | Este regalo es para ti.This gift is for you. |
| 15 | lo pronoun / article | it; him (object) also: the (with adjectives: lo bueno = the good thing) Neuter article and masculine direct-object pronoun. | No lo sé.I don't know (it). |
| 16 | haber verb | to have (auxiliary); there is/are (hay) "He comido" = I have eaten. "Hay" = there is/are. | Hay tres sillas en la cocina.There are three chairs in the kitchen. |
| 17 | este determiner / pronoun | this also: this one Forms: este, esta, esto, estos, estas. | Este café está muy rico.This coffee is very good. |
| 18 | tener verb | to have also: to be (age, hunger: tener hambre) "Tengo 30 años" = I'm 30. | Tengo dos hermanos.I have two brothers. |
| 19 | estar verb | to be (state, location) Used for conditions and location. Compare "ser." | Estoy cansado hoy.I'm tired today. |
| 20 | ir verb | to go Shares the form "fue" with "ser." "Ir a + verb" = going to. | Voy al trabajo en autobús.I go to work by bus. |
| 21 | como conjunction / adverb | like, as also: since; about (approximately) Without an accent. Compare "cómo" (how). | Habla como su padre.He talks like his father. |
| 22 | me pronoun | me; myself also: to me Object and reflexive form of "yo." | Me llamo Carlos.My name is Carlos. |
| 23 | todo determiner / pronoun | all, every also: everything Forms: todo, toda, todos, todas. | Todos los días camino al parque.I walk to the park every day. |
| 24 | poder verb | can, to be able to also: may (permission); power (noun) | ¿Puedes ayudarme?Can you help me? |
| 25 | hacer verb | to do, to make also: (weather) to be: hace frío "Hace frío" = it's cold. | ¿Qué haces esta noche?What are you doing tonight? |
| 26 | más adverb | more also: most; plus With an accent. "Mas" without an accent is a rare literary "but." | Necesito más tiempo.I need more time. |
| 27 | si conjunction | if also: whether Without an accent. Compare "sí" (yes). | Si llueve, me quedo en casa.If it rains, I'll stay home. |
| 28 | pero conjunction | but | Es caro, pero es bueno.It's expensive, but it's good. |
| 29 | ese determiner / pronoun | that also: that one Forms: ese, esa, eso, esos, esas. | ¿Quién es ese hombre?Who is that man? |
| 30 | mucho determiner / adverb | a lot, much, many also: very (muy) "Muy" (very) is grouped here as a related form. | Tengo mucho trabajo.I have a lot of work. |
| 31 | te pronoun | you (object, informal) also: yourself; to you Object and reflexive form of "tú." | Te quiero mucho.I love you very much. |
| 32 | le pronoun | (to) him, her, you (formal) also: to it; les = to them Indirect-object pronoun. Plural: les. | Le di el libro a Marta.I gave the book to Marta. |
| 33 | o conjunction | or Becomes "u" before words starting with an o sound. | ¿Quieres té o café?Do you want tea or coffee? |
| 34 | mi determiner | my Without an accent. Compare "mí" (me). Plural: mis. | Mi casa está cerca.My house is close. |
| 35 | decir verb | to say, to tell | Ella dice que está bien.She says that she's fine. |
| 36 | otro determiner / pronoun | other, another Never "un otro": say "otro." | ¿Tienes otra pregunta?Do you have another question? |
| 37 | ver verb | to see also: to watch | Vamos a ver una película.We're going to watch a movie. |
| 38 | ya adverb | already also: now; anymore (ya no) | Ya terminé la tarea.I already finished the homework. |
| 39 | año noun, masculine | year | Mi hijo tiene cinco años.My son is five years old. |
| 40 | querer verb | to want also: to love (a person) "Te quiero" = I love you. | Quiero un vaso de agua.I want a glass of water. |
| 41 | tu determiner | your (informal) Without an accent. Compare "tú" (you). | ¿Dónde está tu coche?Where is your car? |
| 42 | dar verb | to give | Mi abuela me da galletas.My grandmother gives me cookies. |
| 43 | cuando conjunction | when Without an accent. Compare "cuándo" in questions. | Llámame cuando llegues.Call me when you arrive. |
| 44 | yo pronoun | I Often dropped because the verb shows the subject. | Yo hablo un poco de español.I speak a little Spanish. |
| 45 | solo adjective / adverb | only, just also: alone (adjective) Older spelling "sólo" for "only" is now optional, per the RAE. | Solo tengo diez dólares.I only have ten dollars. |
| 46 | sin preposition | without | Quiero un café sin azúcar.I want a coffee without sugar. |
| 47 | bueno adjective | good also: well… (filler); okay Shortens to "buen" before a masculine singular noun. | Es un buen restaurante.It's a good restaurant. |
| 48 | vez noun, feminine | time (occasion) Plural: veces. "A veces" = sometimes. | Voy al gimnasio tres veces por semana.I go to the gym three times a week. |
| 49 | sobre preposition | about also: on, on top of; over Also a noun: envelope. | Es un libro sobre la historia de Cuba.It's a book about the history of Cuba. |
| 50 | también adverb | also, too | Yo también quiero ir.I want to go too. |
| 51 | saber verb | to know (facts, how to) also: to taste (saber a) Compare "conocer" (to know people or places). | No sé dónde está.I don't know where it is. |
| 52 | deber verb | should, must also: to owe Also a noun: duty. | Debes descansar más.You should rest more. |
| 53 | día noun, masculine | day Masculine despite ending in -a. | Hoy es un día bonito.Today is a nice day. |
| 54 | nuestro determiner | our also: ours Forms: nuestro, nuestra, nuestros, nuestras. | Nuestra casa es pequeña.Our house is small. |
| 55 | nos pronoun | us also: ourselves; each other Object and reflexive form of "nosotros." | Mis padres nos visitan mañana.My parents are visiting us tomorrow. |
| 56 | porque conjunction | because "¿Por qué?" (two words, accent) = why? | No salgo porque está lloviendo.I'm not going out because it's raining. |
| 57 | mismo adjective | same also: -self (yo mismo = myself) | Tenemos el mismo coche.We have the same car. |
| 58 | nuevo adjective | new | Compré un teléfono nuevo.I bought a new phone. |
| 59 | alguno determiner / pronoun | some, any also: someone (alguno de) Shortens to "algún" before a masculine singular noun. | ¿Tienes alguna idea?Do you have any idea? |
| 60 | qué pronoun | what also: which; how (¡qué bonito!) With an accent in questions and exclamations. | ¿Qué quieres comer?What do you want to eat? |
| 61 | bien adverb | well also: good, fine; goods (bienes, noun) | Estoy bien, gracias.I'm fine, thanks. |
| 62 | primero adjective / adverb | first Shortens to "primer" before a masculine singular noun. | Es mi primera vez en México.It's my first time in Mexico. |
| 63 | así adverb | like this, like that, this way also: so (therefore) | Se hace así.You do it like this. |
| 64 | dos number | two | Tengo dos gatos.I have two cats. |
| 65 | entre preposition | between also: among | El banco está entre la farmacia y el café.The bank is between the pharmacy and the café. |
| 66 | desde preposition | since; from | Vivo aquí desde 2019.I've lived here since 2019. |
| 67 | hasta preposition | until also: up to; even "Hasta luego" = see you later. | Trabajo hasta las cinco.I work until five. |
| 68 | grande adjective | big, large also: great (gran, before a noun) "Un gran hombre" = a great man. | Tienen una casa grande.They have a big house. |
| 69 | parte noun, feminine | part also: side (de parte de) | Esta es mi parte favorita.This is my favorite part. |
| 70 | ahora adverb | now | Ahora no puedo hablar.I can't talk now. |
| 71 | pasar verb | to happen also: to pass; to spend (time); to come in "Pasa" = come in. | ¿Qué pasó anoche?What happened last night? |
| 72 | mejor adjective / adverb | better also: best "El mejor" = the best. | Este plan es mejor.This plan is better. |
| 73 | estado noun, masculine | state also: condition; status Also the past participle of "estar." | Texas es un estado grande.Texas is a big state. |
| 74 | creer verb | to believe also: to think (opinion) | No creo en fantasmas.I don't believe in ghosts. |
| 75 | persona noun, feminine | person Always feminine, even for men. | Es una persona muy amable.She's a very kind person. |
| 76 | nada pronoun | nothing also: anything (in negatives) "De nada" = you're welcome. | No tengo nada en el bolsillo.I have nothing in my pocket. |
| 77 | ni conjunction | nor; not even also: neither… nor (ni… ni) | No bebo ni café ni té.I drink neither coffee nor tea. |
| 78 | cosa noun, feminine | thing | Tengo muchas cosas que hacer.I have a lot of things to do. |
| 79 | tiempo noun, masculine | time also: weather "¿Qué tiempo hace?" = what's the weather like? | No tengo tiempo para comer.I don't have time to eat. |
| 80 | donde adverb | where (relative) Without an accent. Compare "dónde" in questions. | Esta es la casa donde nací.This is the house where I was born. |
| 81 | dejar verb | to leave (something) also: to let, to allow; to stop (dejar de) "Dejar de fumar" = to quit smoking. | Dejé las llaves en la mesa.I left the keys on the table. |
| 82 | algo pronoun | something also: anything (in questions); somewhat | ¿Quieres algo de beber?Do you want something to drink? |
| 83 | hablar verb | to speak, to talk | Hablo inglés y español.I speak English and Spanish. |
| 84 | seguir verb | to follow also: to continue, to keep (doing) "Sigo trabajando" = I keep working. | Sigue esta calle dos cuadras.Follow this street for two blocks. |
| 85 | vida noun, feminine | life | Me gusta la vida en la ciudad.I like life in the city. |
| 86 | llegar verb | to arrive also: to reach | El tren llega a las ocho.The train arrives at eight. |
| 87 | tan adverb | so, as "Tan… como" = as… as. | ¡Estás tan alto!You're so tall! |
| 88 | poco adjective / adverb | little, few also: a bit (un poco) | Hablo un poco de francés.I speak a little French. |
| 89 | tanto adjective / adverb | so much, so many also: as much (tanto… como) | No comas tanto azúcar.Don't eat so much sugar. |
| 90 | e conjunction | and (before an i sound) Replaces "y" before words starting with i or hi. | Habla español e inglés.She speaks Spanish and English. |
| 91 | siempre adverb | always | Siempre desayuno a las siete.I always have breakfast at seven. |
| 92 | país noun, masculine | country | Colombia es un país hermoso.Colombia is a beautiful country. |
| 93 | gente noun, feminine | people Grammatically singular: "la gente es…" | Hay mucha gente en la playa.There are a lot of people at the beach. |
| 94 | él pronoun | he also: him (after prepositions) With an accent. Compare "el" (the). | Él trabaja en un hospital.He works in a hospital. |
| 95 | cada determiner | each, every | Cada mañana tomo café.Every morning I drink coffee. |
| 96 | después adverb | after, afterward also: later "Después de" + noun or verb = after. | Te llamo después.I'll call you later. |
| 97 | mundo noun, masculine | world "Todo el mundo" also means everybody. | Quiero viajar por todo el mundo.I want to travel around the whole world. |
| 98 | ellos pronoun | they also: them (after prepositions) Feminine: ellas. | Ellos viven en Texas.They live in Texas. |
| 99 | medio adjective / noun, masculine | half also: middle; means (medios) "En medio de" = in the middle of. | Quiero medio kilo de queso.I want half a kilo of cheese. |
| 100 | encontrar verb | to find also: to meet (encontrarse con) | No encuentro mis gafas.I can't find my glasses. |
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