Most Essential Vocabulary #1
I decided to compile a list of some of the most basic and essential vocab for Spanish since I couldnât totally find a lot.Â
These are going to be the words that youâre going to be using and seeing the most for Spanish, so it will come across as very basic for some
I decided to do this in multiple parts because there are lots of topics - so if you have suggestions on certain topics, please let me know! There probably will be words repeated for different âcategoriesâ
nosotros = we [m+m, m+f]
nosotras = we [f+f]
ustedes = you all [for Spain itâs formal, for Latin America itâs formal and informal]
vosotros = you all [m+m, m+f; informal, Spain]
vosotras = you all [f+f; informal, Spain]
elle = they
[no specified gender; this is not considered âproperâ Spanish, but it is used in many queer communities for someone non-binary; âproperâ Spanish only really has âheâ or âsheâ or refers to someone of unknown or unspecified gender in vague terms like alguien âsomeoneâ or una persona âa personâ and conjugates them with 3rd person singular]
qué = what
que = that [connecting clauses]
lo que = what, âthe thing thatâ, that which [a stand in for a noun]
por qué = why
el por quĂ© = âthe reason whyâ, âthe motiveâ
porque = because [connecting clauses]
cuĂĄl, cuĂĄles = which, which ones
dĂłnde = where
donde = where [connecting clauses]
cuĂĄndo = when
cuando = when [connecting clauses]
cĂłmo = how
como = as, like [connecting clauses]
cuĂĄnto/a = how much/manyÂ
cuanto = so much [or en cuanto âinsomuchâ or âas far asâ]
cuånto/a is used with countable objects
For using âhow + adj/advâ you have to use a separate expression; in more literary Spanish this is cuĂĄn which is not used very much now except in some lyrics and poetry. For everyday Spanish thereâs a separate word/phrase:
qué tan = how + adj/adv [Latin America]
¿Qué tan råpido es? = How fast is it?
¿Qué tan larga es la historia? = How long is the story?
¿Qué tan profundo es el océano? = How deep is the ocean?
cĂłmo de = how + adj/adv [Spain]
ÂżCĂłmo de grande es? = How big is it?
¿Cómo de alta es la montaña? = How high is the mountain?
ÂżCĂłmo de ancho es el rĂo? = How wide is the river?
Please be aware certain prepositions are used differently than others. The main ones to be very aware of are: a, de, en, por, para, and con
âŠBy far, a is the most versatile and has the most uses, followed by de
Primarily this is just a list of things to know, but some of them require proper context to fully understand in my opinion
para = for / up to / in order to
sobre = on, upon / about, pertaining to
acerca de = about, pertaining to
bajo = under
debajo (de) = under, underneath
enfrente (de) = in front of, facing
junto/a = together
junto a = next to, beside
durante = for (a period of time) / during
a través de = through
a lo largo de = throughout
alrededor de = around, surrounding
mediante = through, via, by means of
por medio de = through, via, by means of
versus = versus [exactly like English⊠because itâs Latin; the pronunciation is different obviously]
contra = against, versus/vs / against, up against [e.g. contra la pared â(up) against the wallâ]
Standard Spanish 101 Vocab
nada = nothing
la nada = nothingness
el hombre = man
el caballero = gentleman / man [lit. âknightâ or âhorsemanâ]
el señor = sir, gentleman / lord / Mr.
la mujer = woman [potentially âwifeâ]
la dama = lady / woman
la señora = lady / madame, Mrs.
la señorita = miss, (young/unmarried) lady
flaco/a = skinny, thin
delgado/a = skinny, thin
inteligente = intelligent
(ser) listo/a = (to be) smart
(estar) listo/a = (to be) ready
lindo/a = cute, good-looking
bonito/a = cute, good-looking
mayor = older, elder / major
injusto/a = unjust, unfair
difĂcil = hard, difficult
apenas = hardly, barely
a duras penas = just barely
veloz = quick
rĂĄpido/a = fast [adj]
rĂĄpido = quickly, fast [adv]
lento/a = slow [adj]
lento / lentamente = slow, slowly [adv]
trabajador(a) = hard-working
ingenioso/a = ingenious, clever
equivocado/a = wrong, incorrect
genial = wonderful, amazing
maravilloso/a = wonderful / wondrous, marvelous
pésimo/a = really bad, awful
asustado/a = surprised / scared
mejor = better
el/la mejor = the best
peor = worse
el/la peor = the worst
Note: All days of the week and all months are masculine
el fin de semana = weekend
el finde = weekend [regional slang]Â
el horario = schedule, timeframe
la fecha = date (calendar)
la cita = appointment / date (romantic)
ayer = yesterday
anteayer = the day before yesterday
mañana = tomorrow
pasado mañana = the day after tomorrow
la tarde = afternoon / evening
el atardecer = evening, dusk
la mañana = morning
el amanecer = morning, daybreak, sunrise
la madrugada = the early morning, âwee hours of the morningâ [when itâs morning but still dark]
el alba [f]Â = dawn
la salida del sol = daybreak, sunrise
la puesta del sol = sunset
ponerse el sol = for the sun to set
el crepĂșsculo = twilight / dusk
diario/a = daily [adj]
a diario = daily, happening every day [adv]
cotidiano/a = daily, everyday
temprano/a = early
temprano = soon [adv]
siguiente = following
al dĂa siguiente = the next day, the following day
primer, primera / primero = first
tercer, tercera / tercero = third
el/un tercio = a third / one-third, 1/3
octavo/a = eighth (or âoctaveâ)
décimo/a = tenth
el décimo = decimal
la quincena = fortnight, two weeks
nuevo/a = new
la luna nueva = new moon
lleno/a = full
la luna llena = full moon
la medialuna = half moon / crescent
creciente = growing
la luna creciente = crescent moon
la fiesta = holiday [or âpartyâ]
la Nochebuena = Christmas Eve
el Año Nuevo = New Yearâs
la Nochevieja = New Yearâs Eve
la vĂspera = eve / evening [with holidays itâs used as âthe day beforeâ, or sometimes âvigilâ; so la Nochevieja is also sometimes la vĂspera del Año Nuevo]
DĂa de los Reyes Magos = Three Kings Day / The Epiphany
San ValentĂn / el DĂa de San ValentĂn = Valentineâs Day
Miércoles de Ceniza = Ash Wednesday
el Carnaval = Carnival / Mardi Gras
la Semana Santa = Holy Week
el DĂa de (los) Muertos = Day of the Dead
(el) Halloween = Halloween
el DĂa de AcciĂłn de Gracias = Thanksgiving [North America; sometimes just called Thanksgiving or Sangiving]
el DĂa de Todos (los) Santos = All Saints Day
DĂa de (la) Independencia = Independence Day
Other countries have their own holidays like DĂa de la ConstituciĂłn âConstitution Dayâ or DĂa de la RevoluciĂłn âRevolution Dayâ, or something more regional like la Tomatina in Spain, or DĂa de los Santos Inocentes which is âthe Day of Holy Innocentsâ but sometimes translated as âApril Foolâs Dayâ
This is also not counting certain religious holidays or folk holidays, which can vary from country to country
For dates in Spanish, you typically use the number + the month: el diecisiete de marzo for example reads as âthe 17th of Marchâ or âMarch 17thâ
The ONLY exception is the 1st of every month is el primero instead of saying el uno. As an example: el primero de enero is âJanuary 1stâ or âthe 1st of Januaryâ; this is done because it would be awkward to say âthe one of Januaryâ
For days of the week you will see something like Viernes 13 [trece]Â âFriday the 13thâ or Martes 13Â âTuesday the 13thâ (which is the day of bad luck in Spanish)Â
el bosque = woods, forest
el mar = ocean [sometimes feminine]
la sierra = mountain range [or âsawâ in tools]
la piedra = stone
la roca = rock
el tiempo = time / weather [or âgrammatical tenseâ]
el granizo = hail / hailstone
la niebla = fog, mist
la neblina = mist, haze
el relĂĄmpago = lightning [commonly refers to âthe flash of lightningâ specifically]
el rayo = lightning, bolt (of lightning) [commonly âlightningâ or âlightning strikeâ]
el trueno = thunder [refers to âthe soundâ specifically]
el monte = wilderness / mountain, mount
la hierba = grass / herb
las malas hierbas = weeds [lit. âbad grassesâ]
alto/a = tall, high
la altura = height
profundo/a = deep
poco profundo/a = shallow
la profundidad = depth
la altura = height
la estatura = height, stature
la columna (vertebral) = spine / spinal column
el espinazo = backbone, spine
el dedo = finger
el pulgar = thumb
el Ăndice = index finger, pointer finger
el dedo medio = middle finger
el dedo anular = ring finger
el meñique = pinky
el tronco = torso [or âtrunkâ for trees]
el seno = breast / bosom
[in everyday speech - and vulgar speech - this is la teta âboobâ or âtitâ]
la barriga = belly / gut
la panza = belly
los intestinos = intestines, bowels
la tripa, las tripas =Â âstomachâ / innards, entrails
las entrañas = innards, entrails, âoneâs insidesâ
el dedo de pie = toe
el dedo gordo = big toe
el meñique (de pie) = pinky toe
[the other toes are known as el segundo dedo âsecond toeâ, el tercer dedo âthird toeâ, and el cuarto dedo âfourth toeâ]
el tejido = tissue (medical)
la uña = nail (finger/toe)
el pelo = hair (any kind)
el cabello = hair (specifically on the head)
los sentidos = the senses
la vista = eyesight, sight
el oĂdo = hearing, sense of hearing
el olfato = smell, sense of smell
el gusto = taste, sense of taste
el tacto = touch, sense of touch
el apartamento = apartment
el piso = floor
[el piso in Spain is typically âapartmentâ, most commonly translated as âflatâ for British English]
el techo = ceiling / roof
la silla = chair
el sillĂłn = large chair / armchair
el sofĂĄ [m] = sofa, couch
los muebles = furniture [el mueble is one piece]
el reloj = clock / watch, stopwatch
el estante, los estantes = shelf, shelves / shelving
el refrigerador / la refrigeradora = refrigerator
la nevera = refrigerator
la tarea = task, chore [commonly meaning âhomeworkâ]
los deberes = chores / duties
los quehaceres = chores
la sala = room
el salĂłn = room / large room
la habitaciĂłn = bedroom
el dormitorio = bedroom [lit. âdormitoryâ or âsleep-roomâ]
el cuarto = bedroom, personal room
la sala de estar = living room
el salĂłn = living room [again, just âbig roomâ]
la sala = living room [again, just âroomâ but itâs any kind of room you might invite someone into]
[some places have other words for it]
la cocina = kitchen [also âcuisineâ or âcookingâ]
el comedor = dining room [or âmess hallâ; but any room for âeatingâ]
la lavanderĂa = laundry room / laundromat
el vestĂbulo = foyer, vestibule
la escalera = staircase / stairwell
las escaleras = steps, stairs
el baño = bathroom [lit. âbathâ]
el cuarto de baño = bathroom
el inodoro = toilet bowl
[sometimes el vĂĄter]
el clĂłset / el armario = closet / armoire, wardrobe
el ĂĄtico = attic
el desvĂĄn = attic
la despensa = pantry / cupboard
el almacén = storeroom, storage closet
[you might see this as âwarehouseâ for buildings; it means a âstorage areaâ literally]
la luz = light
las luces = light
encender = to turn on (electronics) [otherwise itâs âto kindleâ or âto set on fireâ]
apagar = to turn off (electronics) [others itâs âto extinguishâ or âsnuff out (fire/candles)]
la televisiĂłn / la tele = television / TV
el teléfono = telephone, phone
el celular = cellphone [more Latin America]
el mĂłvil = mobile, cellphone [more Spain]
el tazĂłn = bowl
el bol = bowl
el cuenco = bowl
la estufa = stove, stovetop
el vaso = glass [for water]
la taza = cup / mug [for tea/coffee]
la copa = glass [for wine]
los trastes =Â âthe dishesâ [regional, I think]
la plancha = iron (for clothes) [lit. la plancha is a metal thing you use to âpressâ on either food or clothes; not to be confused with el hierro âironâ the metal in English]
la ropa = clothes, clothing
la prenda = garment, item of clothing
la ropa interior = underwear
el calzĂłn / los calzoncillos = underwear
las bragas = panties, female underwear
el sostén, el sujetador = bra
las medias = socks
[las medias can also mean âstockingsâ or âtightsâ]
los pantalones = pants, trousers
los zapatos = shoes
los tacones = heels
las botas = boots
el abrigo = coat, overcoat [usually a âwarm coatâ or sometimes âwinter coatâ; a coat specifically to keep you warm outside]
el guante, los guantes = glove, gloves
la cartera / el monedero = wallet
las gafas / los lentes = glasses
las gafas de sol = sunglasses
[the older word for âglassesâ is los anteojos - it comes across like âspectaclesâ and shows up in some textbook, but las gafas is the most common one today]
el bolso = purse
[some people will use la bolsa - typically though, la bolsa is âbagâ like a shopping bag or trash bag]
el broche = clasp, fastener, button
el pendiente, los pendientes = earrings [regional]
el aro / el arete = earring [regional]
el brazalete = bracelet [often on the arm]
la pulsera = bracelet [often at the wrist where oneâs âpulseâ is]
el pijama / los pijamas = pajamas, PJs
el paraguas = umbrella
la sombrilla = umbrella [regional]
el impermeable = raincoat [regional]
la gorra = cap [small hat]
el sombrero = hat [with a wide brim, usually all the way around]
los jeans = jeans
los bluyines = jeans [lit. âblue jeansâ but could be any color in Spanish]
los vaqueros = jeans [Spain; lit. âcowboy (pants)â]
[there are LOTS of regionalisms for jeans]
la piel = leather / skin
el cuero = leather
Note: Some names of colors do not change for gender as they are derived from nouns - to distinguish them, Iâm not including the definite articles to identify them as adjectives.Â
As an example, rosa âpinkâ comes from âroseâ, so la camisa rosa âpink shirtâ or el abrigo rosa âpink coatâÂ
Note 2: When talking about colors as âthe colorâ itself, it is always masculine; el rojo is âthe color redâ. This is important for distinguishing certain nouns - el naranja is âthe color orangeâ vs. la naranja âorange (fruit)â, or el rosa âthe color pinkâ vs. la rosa ârose (flower)â, or el turquesa âthe color turquoiseâ vs. la turquesa âturquoise (gem)â
naranja = orange
anaranjado/a = orange, orangey
azul = blue
azul claro = light blue
azul celeste = light blue / sky blue
azul oscuro = dark blue
azul marino = navy blue
lila = light purple / lilac, lavender (color)
rosa = pink
rosado/a = pink, rosy
marrĂłn = brown
(color) café = brown
oro = gold
dorado/a = gold, golden
plata = silver
plateado/a = silvery
bronce = bronze
bronceado/a = bronzed, tanned
arcoĂris, arco iris = rainbow
castaño = brown (hair/eyes) [lit. âchestnutâ]
caoba = mahogany, auburn (hair/eyes) [lit. âmahoganyâ]
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