100 Spanish words for beginners. Here at @spanishnow we have it sorted. We are bringing you the the first 100 Spanish words you need to learn.
When you begin learning Spanish, one of the biggest questions is: Where should I start? Spanish has a rich vocabulary, but the truth is you don’t need thousands of words to begin speaking. The smartest strategy is to focus on the 100 Spanish words for beginners that you will hear and use every day.
This core list is often called the first 100 Spanish words, because mastering them gives you the foundation to build sentences, understand basic conversations, and gain confidence right from the start.
In this guide, we’ll look at the essential Spanish words for beginners, organized by category. You’ll also learn why each group matters, how to use them, and examples in real sentences. Let’s begin!.
Why Start with 100 Words?
Language learning is about building blocks. Imagine you are learning how to play music. You don’t begin with a full symphony; you start with scales.
Another example is thinking about learning Spanish like building a house. Before you decorate, you need strong bricks. Vocabulary is those bricks.
That’s why, when starting to learn Spanish, you don’t need to memorize entire books. Instead, you need just the words you will hear and use every single day.
Studies show that the 100 most common words in any language make up more than 50% of everyday conversation. This means that with these 100 Spanish words, you can seriously improve your understanding of what native speakers say and begin to respond.
That means if you know the basic Spanish vocabulary for beginners, you will already recognize words in everyday conversations, TV shows, or songs, even if you don’t understand everything.
In short: focus first on the common Spanish words to learn first, and you’ll progress much faster.
Categories of the First 100 Spanish Words
To make it easier, we’ll divide this vocabulary into eight categories. Each group has a purpose in communication:
- Pronouns
- Verbs
- Nouns
- Numbers
- Question words
- Prepositions and connectors
- Days and time expressions
- Adjectives and useful expressions
Let’s talk about each one of them.
Pronouns: Who Is Speaking?
Why they matter: Pronouns are the small words we use instead of names. Without them, it would be impossible to talk about people in a simple way.
Types in Spanish:
Subject pronouns: indicate who performs the action (yo, tú, él, nosotros).
Politeness distinction: Spanish uses tú for informal “you” and usted for formal situations. This is a cultural and grammatical feature English does not have.
Examples:
- Yo soy estudiante. (I am a student)
- Usted es profesor. (You are a teacher – formal)
- Ellos viven en Madrid. (They live in Madrid)
Basic Verbs: The Heart of Sentences
Why they matter: Verbs are the core of every sentence. They tell us what action is happening. The essential Spanish words for beginners always include verbs. And that is because you can build countless phrases just by combining verbs with pronouns and nouns.
Key beginner verbs include: ser, estar, tener, hacer, ir, decir, poder, querer, vivir.
Special note: Spanish has two verbs for “to be”: ser (permanent) and estar (temporary). This is one of the first challenges for learners. You can learn more about this in our post about the difference between “Ser” and “Estar.”
Examples:
- Soy de México. (I am from Mexico – “to be” permanent)
- Estoy cansado. (I am tired – “to be” temporary)
- Tengo un libro. (I have a book)
- Quiero aprender español. (I want to learn Spanish)
Everyday Nouns: Naming the World Around You
Why they matter: Nouns name people, objects, and places. As you learn your first 100 Spanish words, nouns give you the ability to talk about the world around you.
Categories of nouns to know first:
- Family and people:
- hombre (man),
- mujer (woman),
- niño (boy),
- amiga (friend).
- Home and objects:
- casa (house),
- mesa (table),
- libro (book).
- Animals:
- perro (dog),
- gato (cat).
Examples:
La casa es grande. (The house is big.)
Tengo un perro. (I have a dog.)
Numbers: Talking About Age, Time, and Quantity
Why they matter: Numbers appear constantly in daily life. You count on them; you need them when shopping, telling time, or giving your age. The basic Spanish vocabulary for beginners always includes numbers 1 to 10 and at least 100.
Examples:
Tengo dos hermanos. (I have two brothers.)
Son las cinco. (It is five o’clock.)
If you want to learn more about this check out our article about counting from 1 to 50 in Spanish, you’ll love it!
Question Words: Start Conversations
Why they matter: If you want to interact in Spanish, you need to ask questions. The common Spanish words to learn first always include question words like qué, dónde, cuándo, cómo, por qué.
Examples:
¿Dónde está el baño? (Where is the bathroom?)
¿Qué estudias? (What do you study?)
Prepositions and Connectors: Building Sentences
Why they matter: Prepositions link words and ideas. Without them, speech sounds unnatural. If you’re just starting to learn Spanish, a few core prepositions allow you to describe location, directions, and reasons.
Connectors are words and phrases that make it easier to connect concepts. They improve coherence and logic in your writing and speech. Spanish connectors are crucial for efficient communication whether you’re summarizing, adding information, comparing concepts, or expressing a cause.
Among the most used connectors and prepositions in Spanish we have:
- y (and)
- a (to)
- Porque (because)
- en (in/on)
- con (with)
- pero (but)
- por (by/because of)
- para (for)
- tambén (also)
- Sí (if)
- además (besides)
Examples:
Camino con mi amigo. (I walk with my friend.)
El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.)
Days and Time Words: Everyday Communication
Why they matter: These are essential Spanish words for beginners because they allow you to make plans and understand schedules. We constantly talk about days, months, and time.
Examples:
Hoy es lunes. (Today is Monday.)
Mañana vamos al mercado. (Tomorrow we go to the market.)
Adjectives and Useful Expressions
Why they matter: Adjectives let you describe people and things. Expressions like “gracias” or “por favor” are key for politeness and communication.
Examples:
El perro es grande. (The dog is big.)
Gracias por tu ayuda. (Thank you for your help.)
Por favor, repite. (Please, repeat.)
Learning the 100 Spanish words for beginners is the most effective way to start speaking quickly. These words—pronouns, verbs, nouns, numbers, questions, prepositions, and adjectives—are the real tools of conversation.
Remember: you don’t need to memorize everything at once. Focus on categories. Practice sentences. Use the words daily. Soon, you will see how these basic Spanish vocabulary for beginners transform your ability to communicate.
Here you can find two videos from our YouTube channel that can help you learn this easier.
First, the Spanish from Spain version:
And, of course, the one with the Latin American Accent version:
By learning these 100 words, you give yourself the tools to build hundreds of sentences. Start with short phrases. Combine pronouns with verbs. Add nouns and adjectives. With consistent practice, you will be surprised how much you can say with just these basics.
