Top 20 Spanish Verbs and Their Conjugations

Learning Spanish means diving deep into its verbs. Verbs are the backbone of any sentence, and as we learn spanish often find ourselves overwhelmed with the conjugations variety. But here’s the good news: mastering just 20 core Spanish verbs can open the door to fluency. These are high-frequency, practical, and essential for everyday conversations.

This article will guide you through the top 20 Spanish verbs, their present tense conjugations, and useful example sentences for real-life context. Let’s get into it!

1. Ser – To be (essential nature, permanent)

Example:
Yo soy estudiante de español.
(I am a Spanish student.)

2. Estar – To be (temporary states or locations)

| Yo estoy | Tú estás | Él está | Nosotros estamos | Vosotros estáis | Ellos están |

Example:
Estamos en casa.
(We are at home.)

Learn more about the To be verb in spanish in our challenge about Ser vs Estar

3. Tener – To have

Ejemplo: Tengo hambre.
(I’m hungry.)

Here’s a video of the present-tense conjugation of this verb in Spanish from Spain.

4. Hacer – To do, to make

Ejemplo: ¿Qué haces hoy?
(What are you doing today?)

5. Ir – To go

Ejemplo: Voy al supermercado.
(I’m going to the supermarket.)

6. Decir – To say, to tell

Ejemplo: Ella dice la verdad.
(She tells the truth.)

7. Poder – Can, to be able to

Ejemplo: ¿Puedes ayudarme?
(Can you help me?)

8. Ver – To see

Ejemplo: Veo la televisión.
(I watch TV.)

9. Dar – To give

Ejemplo: Te doy mi número.
(I give you my number.)

10. Saber – To know (facts)

Ejemplo: No sé la respuesta.
(I don’t know the answer.)

11. Querer – To want / to love

Ejemplo: Queremos viajar a México.
(We want to travel to Mexico.)

12. Llegar – To arrive

Ejemplo: Llego a las ocho.
(I arrive at eight.)

13. Pasar – To happen, to pass

Ejemplo: ¿Qué pasa?
(What’s happening?)

14. Deber – Should, to owe

Ejemplo: Debes estudiar más.
(You should study more.)

15. Poner – To put, to place

Ejemplo: Pongo la mesa.
(I set the table.)

16. Quedar – To stay, to remain

Ejemplo: Nos quedamos en casa.
(We stay at home.)

17. Hablar – To speak

Ejemplo: ¿Hablas español?
(Do you speak Spanish?)

18. Llevar – To carry, to wear

Ejemplo: Llevo una chaqueta.
(I’m wearing a jacket.)

19. Encontrar – To find

Ejemplo: Encuentro mis llaves.
(I find my keys.)

20. Pensar – To think

Ejemplo: Pienso que es una buena idea.
(I think it’s a good idea.)

Practical Tips to Memorize These Verbs

• Use flashcards with the infinitive, conjugation, and an example sentence.
• Practice spaced repetition to review the verbs regularly.
• Watch YouTube videos or listen to podcasts that use these verbs in context.
• Speak out loud and use the verbs in your daily thoughts or routines.

What Tenses Should You Learn Next?

Once you’re confident with the present tense, move on to:

• Preterite (past) for completed actions.
• Imperfect (past) for habits or descriptions.
• Future tense for plans and predictions.
• Conditional for hypothetical situations.

Why These 20 Verbs?

These are high-frequency verbs found in:

✅ Everyday conversations
✅ TV shows and books
✅ Instructions and commands
✅ Spanish exams and proficiency tests

Mastering these 20 can help you understand 70–80% of most spoken sentences.

Related Resources

👉 Match Idioms to Their Meanings or Situations
👉 Spanish Idioms Interactive Quiz
👉 How to Memorize Spanish Words Effectively

Final Thoughts

Spanish verbs don’t have to be intimidating. By focusing on high-impact, practical verbs, and practicing them in context, you can become conversational faster and with more confidence.

Make sure to speak them aloud, use them in writing, and recognize them when listening. Repetition, context, and usage are your best allies.