100 Spanish words you need to know

Learning Spanish from scratch can be quite a challenge. When you have a blank canvas, you need basic words that when put together can create meaning. The same way primary colors are combined and originated new colors. The reason you learn this language might range from a holiday to a Spanish-speaking country or just wanting to be able to sing along to your favorite summer song. Regardless of what your motivations are, you are here, ready to learn some of those primary terms. Here are 100 Spanish words you should know.

• Top 20 most common words in Spanish
• 20 basic Spanish words for traveling
• 20 basic verbs in Spanish
• 20 common Spanish adjectives, adverbs and prepositions
• 20 Spanish cognates

Top 20 most common words in Spanish

We wrote about the top 20 most spoken words in Spanish before. Check the link for more detailed definitions and pronunciation tips for native English speakers. Do a quick review of these before moving on to the full list of 100.

1. de – of/from
2. la – the (feminine singular article)
3. que – that/which
4. el – the 
5. en – in/on 
6. y – and 
7. a – to/at 
8. los – the (masculine plural article)
9. se – oneself 
10. del – from the 
11. las – the (feminine plural article)
12. un – a/an
13. por – by/for/through
14. con – with
15. no – no/not 
16. una – a/an/one 
17. su – his/her/its/your 
18. para – for/to/in order to 
19. es – is 
20. al – to the 

20 basic Spanish words for traveling

Apart from the most common words in Spanish, what each language learner wants is to be able to pass a message, as basic as it may be. This is very much needed especially if you travel. So, in order to equip you with the right tools to make yourself understood on a holiday, here are 20 more words and phrases that may come in handy when on a trip.

21. Hola – hello
22. por favor – please
23. gracias – thank you
24. de nada – you’re welcome
25. sí – yes
26. no – no
27. Buenos días – good morning
28. Buenas tardes – good afternoon
29. Buenas noches – good evening/night
30. amiga/o – friend (-a ending means female, -o ending is male following the traditional rule about gendered nouns in Spanish grammar basics)
31. antes – before
32. ahora – now
33. después – later
34. momento – one moment
35. me gusta – I like…
36. no me gusta – I don’t like…
37. muy – very
38. nunca – never
39. mismo – same
40. igual – the same

20 basic verbs in Spanish

Verbs are the pillars of any language and Spanish is not exception to that. Review your basic verb conjugation in Spanish to know how to use them properly. This list will help you to recognize verbs in basic Spanish conversation. 

41. ser – to be (permanently)
42. ester – to be (temporarily)
43. ir – to go
44. hacer – to do/make
45. haber – to have (in existence)
46. tener – to have (in posession)
47. poner – to put
48. entender – to understand
49. deber – to owe
50. pagar – to pay
51. costar – to cost
52. comer – to eat
53. beber – to drink
54. tomar – to take/drink
55. hablar – to speak
56. decir – to say
57. escuchar – to listen
58. mirar – to watch
59. ver – to see
60. llegar – to arrive

20 common Spanish adjectives, adverbs and prepositions

To give a little bit more depth to your message and narration, here are 20 common among the most common Spanish adjectives, adverbs and prepositions.

61. nuevo/a – new
62. viejo/a – old
63. feliz – happy
64. triste – sad
65. enfermo/a – sick
66. bien – well 
67. grande – big
68. chico/a – small (Latin America)
69. pequeño/a – small (Spain)
70. bueno/a – good
71. malo/a – bad
72. sin – without ___
73. con – with ___
74. mucho – a lot
75. poco – a little bit
76. hermoso/a – beautiful
77. feo/a – ugly
78. fácil – easy
79. fantástico/a – fantastic
80. automático/a – automatic

20 Spanish cognates

We talked about English-Spanish cognates in the office before. A cognate is a word that sounds identical or nearly the same in English and Spanish. These are the easiest Spanish vocabulary words to remember. In fact, these are Spanish words you already know.

81. celular – cell phone (Latin America)
82. móvil – mobile phone (Spain)
83. agenda – meeting agenda
84. documento – document
85. máquina – machine
86. día – day
87. segundo – second
88. minuto – minute
89. hora – hour
90. usar – to use
91. difícil – difficult
92. carro – car (Latin America)
93. persona – person
94. familia – family
95. alcohol – alcohol
96. animal – animal
97. romántico/a – romantic
98. pánico – panic
99. plástico – plastic
100. cómico – comical/funny

100 essential Spanish words at your hand

Knowing these 100 essential Spanish words is a great way to start communicating with Spanish speakers all over the world. These words can be employed for a wide range of everyday topics, from greetings and introductions to food and travel. By mastering these words, you’ll be able to hold basic conversations and express yourself in Spanish with confidence. Plus, you’ll be on your way to becoming fluent in one of the world’s most widely spoken languages.

Alison Maciejewski Cortez

Alison Maciejewski Cortez is Chilean-American, born and raised in California. She studied abroad in Spain, has lived in multiple countries, and now calls Mexico home. She believes that learning how to order a beer in a new language reveals a lot about local culture. Alison speaks English, Spanish, and Thai fluently and studies Turkish. Her consulting business takes her around the world and she is excited to share language tips as part of the Lingoda team. Follow her culinary and cultural experiences on Twitter.