Common Words in Spanish: List of 60 Basic Spanish Words

Have you ever watched the popular Netflix series Money Heist? Well, did you know that the show is originally in Spanish? La Casa de Papel, which translates to The House of Paper in English, is the original title. Spanish is one of the most spoken languages worldwide, with over 500 million native speakers, primarily in Spain and Latin America. It ranks as the second-most spoken language after Mandarin Chinese and the fourth-most spoken globally, following English, Mandarin, and Hindi.

Whether you’re just starting to learn Spanish or looking to expand your vocabulary, we’re here to introduce you to 60 common Spanish words with practical examples to help you master them effortlessly. Let’s dive in!

Introduction to Common Words in Spanish

Spanish, spoken by millions worldwide, has a rich vocabulary influenced by history and culture. Knowing the most common words is one of the quickest ways to start understanding and speaking the language. This guide will provide you with a list of essential words and phrases that will be useful in everyday conversations, helping you communicate with native speakers effectively.

Here is a list of a few common words in Spanish with their meanings and examples. By mastering these, you can quickly gain confidence in both listening and speaking.

1. Hola (Hello)
   Example: Hola! Como estas? (Hello! How are you doing?)
2. Buenos días (Good morning)
   Example: Los estudiantes le desearon buenos días a su maestro (Students wished their teacher good morning.)
   
3. Buenas tardes (Good afternoon)
   Example: Le deseé buenas tardes. (I wished him good afternoon.)
   
4. Buenas Noches (Goodnight)
   Example: Le deseo a mi osito buenas noches todas las noches. (I wish my teddy good night every night.)
   
5. La casa (the house)
   Example: Esta casa es tan bonita. (This house is so pretty.)
   
6. La mesa (the table)
   Example: El jarrón está sobre la mesa. (The vase is on the table.)
   
7. La ventana (the window)
   Example: El gato está sentado cerca de la ventana. (The cat is sitting near the window.)
   
8. La silla (the chair)
   Example: La silla está rota. (The chair is broken.)
   
9. La puerta (the door)
   Example: Por favor cierra la puerta. (Please shut the door.)
   
10. El reloj (the clock)
    Example: El reloj ha dejado de funcionar. (The clock has stopped working.)

Bravo! You have learned 10 most common words in Spanish, keep scrolling to learn more!

11. El piso (the floor)
    Example: El piso está mojado. (The floor is wet.)
    
12. La mujer (the woman)
    Example: Esa mujer del vestido negro se ve hermosa. (That woman in the black dress looks beautiful.)
    
13. El hombre (the man)
    Example: Ese hombre es mi profesor. (That man is my professor.)
    
14. La niña (the girl)
    Example: Esta niña es la hija de mi vecino. (This little girl is my neighbour’s daughter.)
    
15. El niño (the boy)
    Example: El niño está jugando en el jardín. (The boy is playing in the garden.)
    
16. El gato (m) (the cat)
    Example: El gato se bebió toda la leche. (The cat drank all the milk.)
    
17. El perro (m) (the dog)
    Example: El perro está ladrando. (The dog is barking.)
    
18. El pájaro (the bird)
    Example: El pájaro gorjea. (The bird is chirping.)
    
19. El elefante (the elephant)
    Example: Vi un elefante en el zoológico. (I saw an elephant in the zoo.)
    
20. El coche (the car)
    Example: El coche es BMW X5. (The car is BMW X5.)

Also Read: How to Learn a Language?

40 more common Spanish words to learn! Don’t give up yet!

21. La calle (the street)
    Example: Mi casa está ubicada justo al lado de la calle 9. (My house is located just next to street 9.)
    
22. La tienda (the store)
    Example: Esa tienda esta cerrada ahora. (That store is closed now.)
    
23. La biblioteca (the library)
    Example: Esta es una de las bibliotecas más grandes del mundo. (This is one of the biggest libraries in the world.)
    
24. El libro (the book)
    Example: El libro pertenece a mi amiga. (The book belongs to my friend.)
    
25. La playa (the beach)
    Example: Quiero ir a la playa. (I want to go to the beach.)
    
26. La montaña (the mountain)
    Example: Las montañas están cubiertas de nieve. (The mountains are covered with snow.)
    
27. Café (coffee)
    Example: Bebo café por la noche. (I drink coffee in the evening.)
    
28. Té (tea)
    Example: Soy una persona del té. (I am a tea person.)
    
29. Vino (wine)
    Example: El vino es excelente. (El vino es excelente.)
    
30. Cerveza (beer)
    Example: Quiero cerveza fría. (I want some cold beer.)

Well, we are almost there! Serving 30 more common Spanish words right away!

31. Leche (milk)
    Example: Prefiero el té con un poco de leche. (I prefer tea with some milk.)
    
32. Agua (water)
    Example: Bebo al menos 7 vasos de agua todos los días. (I drink at least 7 glasses of water every day.)
    
33. La iglesia (the church)
    Example: Voy a la iglesia todos los viernes. (I go to the church every Friday.)
    
34. El museo (the museum)
    Example: Iré a un museo este sábado. (I will go to a museum this saturday.)
    
35. La nariz (the nose)
    Example: Se lastimó la nariz mientras jugaba. (He hurt his nose while playing.)
    
36. Los ojos (the eyes)
    Example: Tengo una infección en los ojos. (I am having an infection in my eyes.)
    
37. La boca (the mouth)
    Example: El bayo no abre la boca para tomar la medicina. (The bay is not opening his mouth to take the medicine.)
    
38. La cabeza (the head)
    Example: Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts.)
    
39. El brazo (the arm)
    Example: Tuve una fractura en mi brazo izquierdo el mes pasado. (I got a fracture in my left arm last month.)
    
40. Las piernas (the legs)
    Example: Tengo piernas grandes. (I have big legs.)

Final 20 left! Learn these most common Spanish words and hit your big goal for today!

41. Las manos (the hands)
    Example: Los indios comen con las manos. (Indians eat with their hands.)
    
42. Persona (person)
    Example: Quiero conocer a esa persona. (I want to meet that person.)
    
43. Familia (family)
    Example: Vivo en una familia nuclear. (I live in a nuclear family.)
    
44. Aeropuerto (airport)
    Example: El aeropuerto está cerca de mi casa. (The airport is near to my house.)
    
45. Tren (train)
    Example: El tren llega tarde. (The train is late.)
    
46. Restaurante (restaurant)
    Example: Nosotras vamos a un restaurante de lujo hoy. (We are going to a fancy restaurant today.)
    
47. Universidad (university)
    Example: Estudio en una universidad. (I study in a university.)
    
48. ¿Cómo? (How?)
    Example: ¿Cómo va la escuela? (How’s school going?)
    
49. ¿Dónde? (Where?)
    Example: ¿Dónde vive? (Where do you live?)
    
50. ¿Cuándo? (When?)
    Example: ¿Cuando es tu cumpleaños? (When is your birthday?)

51. Poco atractivo/a (Unattractive)
Example: Paulo es poco atractivo, es cierto, pero tiene una personalidad muy divertida (Paulo is not very attractive, it’s true, but he has a really fun personality.)

52. Menudo/a (Small)
Example: Partí el tomate en pedazos menudos. (I cut the tomato into small pieces.)

53. Canoso/a (Grey)
Example: El dueño del hotel es un señor alto y canoso. (The hotel’s owner is a tall, gray-haired man.)

54. Nervioso(a) (Nervous)
Example: Estaba tan nervioso por el examen que temblaba y todo. (I was so nervous for the test that I was even shaking.)

55. Emocionado(a) (Excited)
Example: Estoy emocionada por ir a Argentina. (I’m excited to go to Argentina.)

56. valiente (Brave)
Example: El búfalo valiente asumió el riesgo y cruzó el río. (The brave buffalo took the risk and crossed the river.)

57. Dulce (Sweet)
Example: El pastel está algo dulce para mí. (The cake is bit too sweet for me.)

58. Tocar (to touch)
Example: Puedes saber si tu bebé tiene fiebre tocando su frente. (You can tell if your baby has a fever by touching her forehead.)

59. Gritar (to shout)
Example: Hay alguien gritando en la calle. (There’s someone shouting in the street.)

60. Melodioso (melodious)
Example: Me gusta esta canción. Es tan melodiosa y agradable de escuchar. (I like this song. It’s so melodious and pleasant to the ear.)

Spanish Pronouns and Articles

Spanish grammar is built on the use of pronouns and articles, which help you structure sentences correctly. Here are the most common pronouns and articles used in everyday speech:

Spanish Subject Pronouns:

• Yo – I
• Tú – You (informal)
• Él/Ella – He/She
• Nosotros/as – We
• Ellos/as – They

Definite Articles:

• El (masculine) – The
• La (feminine) – The

Indefinite Articles:

• Un (masculine) – A/An
• Una (feminine) – A/An

Understanding these basic grammar elements will allow you to start forming simple but effective sentences.

Numbers and Time in Spanish

Numbers and time-related vocabulary are essential for navigating many daily situations, from shopping to making plans. Whether you’re counting or asking for the time, these basic terms will come in handy. Here are Key Numbers in Spanish:

English	Spanish
One	Uno
Two	Dos
Three	Tres
Ten	Diez
Twenty	Veinte

Here is how to tell time in Spanish:

• ¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
• Es la una – It’s one o’clock.
• Son las dos – It’s two o’clock.

Mastering numbers and telling time in Spanish will enable you to manage schedules, make purchases, and converse about various daily activities.

Food and Dining Vocabulary in Spanish

If you’re a foodie or simply enjoy dining out, learning food-related vocabulary will enhance your experience in Spanish-speaking countries. Here’s some basic food vocabulary and useful phrases for dining out:

Common Food Vocabulary:

English	Spanish
Bread	Pan
Chicken	Pollo
Rice	Arroz
Salad	Ensalada
Fish	Pescado

Dining Phrases:

• ¿Qué me recomienda? – What do you recommend?
• La cuenta, por favor – The bill, please.
• Estoy lleno/a – I’m full.

Knowing these words will help you order food with ease and navigate Spanish menus confidently.

Shopping in Spanish

Shopping is a common activity when traveling or living in a Spanish-speaking country. These words and phrases will help you understand prices, find what you need, and ask for assistance while shopping.

Shopping Phrases:

• ¿Cuánto cuesta? – How much does it cost?
• ¿Tiene talla [size]? – Do you have size [size]?
• Quisiera comprar [item] – I would like to buy [item].

Useful Shopping Vocabulary:

English	Spanish
Store	Tienda
Clothes	Ropa
Shoes	Zapatos
Price	Precio

These phrases and terms will make shopping in Spanish a more enjoyable and manageable experience.

Expanding Your Vocabulary with Spanish Adverbs and Conjunctions

To sound more fluent and natural, it’s essential to use adverbs and conjunctions that enhance your sentences and help you connect ideas smoothly.

Common Spanish Adverbs:

• Rápidamente – Quickly
• Bien – Well
• Nunca – Never
• Siempre – Always

Common Conjunctions:

• Y – And
• Pero – But
• Porque – Because
• O – Or

Incorporating these adverbs and conjunctions will allow you to form more complex sentences and speak with greater fluency.

Tips for Building Your Spanish Vocabulary

Building a strong Spanish vocabulary takes time and consistent practice. Here are some practical tips to help you along the way:

• Use flashcards – Great for memorizing vocabulary.
• Practice with language apps – Apps like Duolingo and Babbel are fantastic tools for daily practice.
• Engage in conversation – Try speaking Spanish with friends or language exchange partners.
• Watch Spanish-language content – Movies, TV shows, and YouTube channels can help reinforce vocabulary and improve pronunciation.

5 Common Phrases in Spanish (BONUS)

Here is a unique bonus for all Spanish learners, check out these 5 most common words in Spanish!

Gracias	Thank you
De nada	You’re welcome
Perdóneme	Excuse me
Lo Siento	I’m sorry
Hasta luego	See you later

FAQs on Common Words in Spanish

Thus, we hope that you learned 60 new common words in Spanish with us today! Want to study in Spain? Reach out to Leverage Edu and we will help you at every step of the admissions process of your dream university! Sign up for a free session!