When time is a limited resource and you are trying to learn a new language it pays to be efficient. Being efficient in learning Spanish means making sure you learn the right things that will help you the most in the “real world”.
When it comes to vocabulary, it’s important to learn the words you are most likely to encounter in Spanish texts or conversations, so why not begin with a list of the most common Spanish words. Textbooks often rely on thematic terms like animals for learning, however the most common Spanish words are not what you may think. Words like “all” (todo #22) or “thing” (cosa #78) are much more common Spanish words than words like “tiger” (tigre #4,582).
Below a table of the 250 most common Spanish words taken from popular written text and conversation, in a study by Mark Davies. See how many you know and fill in the gaps of the ones that you don’t, as you’re likely to come across them soon!
*We’ve separated the most common Spanish pronouns from the list of common Spanish words. Pronouns are quite commonly used, but for studying purposes they fall into grammar lessons more than vocabulary you should memorize.
250 Most Common Spanish Words
Common Spanish Words
Rank | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
1 | el,la | the |
2 | de | of, from |
3 | que | that, which |
4 | y | and |
5 | a | to, at |
6 | en | in, on |
7 | un | a, an |
8 | ser | to be |
10 | no | no |
11 | haber | to have |
12 | por | by, for, through |
13 | con | with |
15 | para | for, to, in order to |
16 | como | like, as |
17 | estar | to be (location) |
18 | tener | to have |
22 | todo | all, every |
23 | pero | but, yet, except |
24 | más | more |
25 | hacer | to do, make |
26 | o | or |
27 | poder | to be able to; can |
28 | decir | to tell, say |
29 | este | this (m) [esta (f)] |
30 | ir | to go |
31 | otro | other, another |
32 | ese | that (m) [esa (f)] |
34 | si | if, whether |
36 | ya | already, still |
37 | ver | to see |
38 | porque | because |
39 | dar | to give |
40 | cuando | when |
42 | muy | very, really |
43 | sin | without |
44 | vez | time (specific occurrence) |
45 | mucho | much, many, a lot |
46 | saber | to know (a fact), find out |
47 | qué | what?, which?, how? |
48 | sobre | on top of, over, about |
50 | alguno | some, someone |
51 | mismo | same |
53 | también | also |
54 | hasta | until, up to, even |
55 | año | year |
56 | dos | two |
57 | querer | to want, love |
58 | entre | between, among |
59 | así | like that |
60 | primero | first |
61 | desde | from, since |
62 | grande | large, great, big |
63 | eso | that |
64 | ni | not even, neither, nor |
66 | llegar | to arrive |
67 | pasar | to pass, spend (time) |
68 | tiempo | time (general), weather |
70 | sí | yes |
71 | día | day |
72 | uno | one |
73 | bien | well |
74 | poco | little, few, a little bit |
75 | deber | should, ought to; to owe |
76 | entonces | so, then |
77 | poner | to put (on), get |
78 | cosa | thing |
79 | tanto | so much, so many |
80 | hombre | man, mankind, husband |
81 | parecer | to seem, look like |
82 | nuestro | our |
83 | tan | such, as, too, so |
84 | donde | where |
85 | ahora | now |
86 | parte | part, portion |
87 | después | after |
88 | vida | life |
89 | quedar | to remain, stay |
90 | siempre | always, forever |
91 | creer | to believe, think |
92 | hablar | to speak, talk |
93 | llevar | to take, carry |
94 | dejar | to let, leave |
95 | nada | nothing, not at all |
96 | cada | each, every |
97 | seguir | to follow, keep on |
98 | menos | less, fewer |
99 | nuevo | new |
100 | encontrar | to find |
101 | algo | something, somewhat |
102 | sólo | only, just |
103 | pues | then, well then |
104 | llamar | to call, name |
105 | venir | to come |
106 | pensar | to think |
107 | aquel | that (over there) |
108 | momento | moment, time |
109 | sino | but, except, rather |
110 | esto | this |
111 | salir | to leave, go out |
112 | volver | to return, to to do again |
113 | forma | form, shape, way |
114 | antes | before |
115 | bueno | good |
116 | casa | house |
117 | aunque | although, even though |
118 | mundo | world |
119 | tres | three |
120 | tal | such (a) |
121 | mejor | best, better |
122 | tomar | to take, drink |
123 | cierto | certain, sure |
124 | conocer | to know (someone or place) |
125 | hacia | toward, towards |
126 | cómo | how? |
127 | mujer | woman, wife |
128 | vivir | to live |
129 | aquí | here |
130 | caso | case, occasion |
131 | sentir | to feel, regret |
132 | luego | later, afterwards |
133 | país | country |
134 | tratar | to try, treat, deal with |
135 | lugar | place, position |
137 | persona | person |
138 | mayor | larger, older, main |
139 | último | last, final |
140 | propio | own, proper, typical |
Common Spanish Pronouns
Rank | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
9 | se | reflexive marker |
14 | su | his/her/their/your |
19 | le | he /she/it; 3rd person indirect obj |
20 | lo | it; the (+ neuter) |
21 | lo | it; 3rd person direct object (masc) |
33 | la | it; 3rd person direct object (fem) |
35 | me | me |
41 | él | he, |
49 | mi | my |
52 | yo | I |
65 | nos | us |
69 | ella | she, |
136 | te | you |
191 | nosotros | we |
Common Spanish Words (141 to 250)
Rank | Spanish | English |
---|---|---|
141 | quien | who, whom |
142 | mirar | to look, watch |
143 | hora | hour, time (specific) |
144 | ninguno | no, none, nobody |
145 | trabajo | work, job, effort |
146 | casi | almost, nearly |
147 | punto | point, dot, period |
148 | durante | during, for (time) |
149 | cualquier | any, anyone |
150 | mano | hand |
151 | nunca | never, ever |
152 | manera | way, manner |
153 | cual | which, who, whom |
154 | mientras | while, whereas, |
155 | contar | to tell, count |
156 | fin | end |
157 | tipo | type, kind |
158 | gente | people |
159 | además | also, as well, besides |
160 | solo | lonely, alone |
161 | empezar | to begin, start |
162 | ejemplo | example |
163 | esperar | to wait, hope (for), expect |
164 | hoy | today, nowadays |
165 | lado | side |
166 | hijo | son, [pl] children |
167 | allí | there, over there |
168 | éste | this one |
169 | problema | problem |
170 | cuenta | bill, account |
171 | medio | means, middle; pormedio: through |
172 | contra | against, opposite |
173 | buscar | to look for |
174 | dentro | inside |
175 | largo | long |
176 | palabra | word |
177 | existir | to exist |
178 | niño | child, little boy |
179 | entrar | to enter |
180 | embargo | sin embargo: nevertheless |
181 | único | only, unique, sole |
182 | padre | father |
183 | trabajar | to work |
184 | pequeño | little, small, young |
185 | alto | tall, high |
186 | cambio | change |
187 | escribir | to write |
188 | cuatro | four |
189 | ahí | there |
190 | perder | to lose, miss |
192 | historia | history, story |
193 | idea | idea |
194 | agua | water |
195 | producir | to produce, cause |
196 | noche | night, evening |
197 | ciudad | city |
198 | modo | way, manner |
199 | nombre | name, noun |
200 | ocurrir | to happen, occur |
201 | familia | family |
202 | realidad | reality, actuality |
203 | entender | to understand |
204 | pedir | to ask for, request |
205 | recibir | to receive |
206 | obra | work, book, deed |
207 | importante | important |
208 | medio | half, middle |
209 | verdad | truth |
210 | mes | month |
211 | todavía | still, yet |
212 | razón | reason; tener razón: to be right |
213 | cuanto | en cuanto a: in terms of, regarding |
214 | bajo | under, underneath |
215 | recordar | to remember, remind |
216 | grupo | group |
217 | mil | thousand |
218 | humano | human |
219 | terminar | to finish, end |
220 | permitir | to allow, permit |
221 | aparecer | to appear |
222 | conseguir | to get, acquire, obtain |
223 | comenzar | to begin, start |
224 | varios | several, various |
225 | posible | possible |
226 | servir | to serve |
227 | general | general |
228 | sacar | to take out |
229 | necesitar | to need |
230 | relación | relationship, relation |
231 | cinco | five |
232 | cuerpo | body |
233 | nadie | nobody, anybody |
234 | mantener | to keep, maintain |
235 | hecho | fact, happening |
236 | ante | before, |
237 | principio | beginning, principle |
238 | resultar | to result, turn out |
239 | igual | equal, same (as) |
240 | señor | sir, Mr, lord |
241 | pueblo | people, village |
242 | tarde | afternoon, evening |
243 | segundo | second |
244 | leer | to read |
245 | caer | to fall |
246 | cambiar | to change |
247 | ojo | eye |
248 | calle | street |
249 | presentar | to introduce, present |
250 | blanco | white |
This list was compiled based on “A Frequency Dictionary of Spanish” by Mark Davies.
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1000 of the Most Common Spanish Words