When I was around 10 years old, my dad asked my sister and me to create a “dictionary” with the words we used the most in Spanish and English.
Though I wasn’t very happy with that idea (I could only think of going outside to play with the snow), we finished our “dictionary” after some months.
My dad printed it (he loves printing stuff), and he had my sister and I review that little book every now and then.
Since I realized how useful such lists can be, I thought of creating one for you.
So, here’s a list with the 1000 most used Spanish words according to RAE.
1000 Spanish Words
Pronouns
Words 1 – 18
se | to him, her |
lo | him |
le | her |
me | me |
él | he |
ella | she |
te | you (object) |
nos | us |
yo | I |
usted | you (formal) |
mí | me (after "para") |
nosotros | we |
tú | you |
sí | oneself |
ti | you (after "para") |
os | you (plural, used in Spain) |
conmigo | with me |
vos | you (informal, used in some areas of LATAM) |
Nouns
Words 19 – 314
año | year |
país | country |
tiempo | time |
parte | part |
vida | life |
años | years |
día | day |
vez | time |
persona | person |
mujer | woman |
caso | case |
hombre | man |
momento | moment |
mundo | world |
casa | house |
cosa | thing |
gobierno | government |
lugar | place |
trabajo | work |
forma | form |
estado | state |
grupo | group |
punto | point |
niño | child |
ciudad | city |
problema | problem |
sistema | system |
presidente | president |
manera | way |
historia | history |
tipo | type |
millones | millions |
partido | party |
mes | month |
noche | night |
obra | work |
equipo | team |
proceso | process |
veces | times |
cambio | change |
hijo | son |
centro | center |
servicio | service |
empresa | company |
cuenta | account |
mano | hand |
nivel | level |
proyecto | project |
gente | people |
agua | water |
hora | time |
padre | parent |
desarrollo | development |
semana | week |
lado | side |
familia | family |
situación | situation |
madre | mother |
información | information |
fin | end |
programa | program |
salud | health |
cuerpo | body |
actividad | activity |
derecho | right |
ejemplo | example |
libro | book |
medio | middle |
tema | topic |
días | days |
ley | law |
hecho | fact |
zona | zone |
nombre | name |
resultado | result |
número | number |
final | end |
sector | sector |
calle | street |
estudio | study |
puerta | door |
investigación | research |
espacio | space |
sociedad | society |
acción | action |
pueblo | town |
director | director |
realidad | reality |
voz | voice |
producto | product |
amigo | friend |
mercado | market |
cabeza | head |
población | population |
muerte | death |
minuto | minute |
tierra | land |
verdad | truth |
sentido | sense |
hermano | brother |
medida | measure |
seguridad | security |
imagen | image |
comunidad | community |
poder | power |
universidad | university |
uso | use |
razón | reason |
organización | organization |
idea | idea |
educación | education |
paso | step |
área | area |
siglo | century |
objetivo | target |
dato | data |
posibilidad | possibility |
producción | production |
joven | youth |
necesidad | need |
policía | police |
especie | species |
camino | path |
plan | plan |
arte | art |
atención | attention |
ciento | hundred |
política | policy |
decisión | decision |
cultura | culture |
luz | light |
mayoría | majority |
mañana | morning |
enfermedad | disease |
relación | relationship |
juego | game |
campo | field |
edad | age |
experiencia | experience |
riesgo | risk |
fuerza | force |
calidad | quality |
ojos | eyes |
región | region |
amor | love |
horas | hours |
movimiento | movement |
palabra | word |
guerra | war |
dinero | money |
capacidad | capacity |
autor | author |
dólar | dollar |
precio | price |
acuerdo | agreement |
cara | face |
control | control |
modelo | model |
frente | front |
tarde | afternoon |
autoridad | authority |
película | film |
línea | line |
red | network |
condiciones | conditions |
falta | fault |
peso | weight |
modo | mode |
música | music |
ministro | minister |
fondo | background |
base | base |
orden | order |
clase | class |
presencia | presence |
función | function |
mesa | table |
actor | actor |
respuesta | answer |
ocasión | occasion |
principio | principle |
paciente | patient |
efecto | effect |
diferencia | difference |
señor | mister |
papel | paper |
serie | series |
manos | hands |
capital | capital |
fuente | source |
duda | doubt |
aspecto | aspect |
miembro | member |
compañía | company |
jefe | boss |
jugador | player |
vista | view |
cantidad | quantity |
dirección | address |
valor | value |
resto | rest |
silencio | silence |
ex | ex |
aire | air |
metro | metro |
teatro | theater |
apoyo | support |
mirada | look |
tecnología | technology |
personaje | character |
energía | energy |
viaje | trip |
futuro | future |
acto | event |
artista | artist |
época | period |
ministerio | ministry |
sueño | dream |
euro | euro |
causa | cause |
sitio | site |
figura | figure |
consejo | advice |
cargo | position |
profesor | professor |
propuesta | proposal |
cine | cinema |
escuela | school |
ojo | eye |
público | public |
objeto | object |
recursos | resources |
tratamiento | treatment |
compañero | colleague |
libertad | freedom |
participación | participation |
asunto | subject |
interés | interest |
unidad | unit |
banco | bank |
vuelta | back |
posición | position |
carrera | career |
palabras | words |
planta | plant |
práctica | practice |
esfuerzo | effort |
comunicación | communication |
comisión | commission |
economía | economy |
ser | being |
análisis | analysis |
pie | footer |
relaciones | relations |
conocimiento | knowledge |
crisis | crisis |
premio | award |
encuentro | meeting |
conjunto | set |
consecuencia | consequence |
suelo | soil |
década | decade |
texto | text |
miedo | fear |
estudiante | student |
título | title |
origen | source |
médico | doctor |
formación | training |
fecha | date |
boca | mouth |
sol | sun |
éxito | success |
entrada | entry |
sala | room |
crecimiento | growth |
reunión | meeting |
animal | animal |
informe | report |
hospital | hospital |
importancia | importance |
negocio | business |
mar | sea |
consumo | consumption |
artículo | article |
prensa | press |
carta | letter |
departamento | department |
material | material |
estrategia | strategy |
construcción | construction |
televisión | television |
color | color |
estructura | Structure |
general | general |
cabo | cape |
Adjectives
Words 315 – 514
nuevo | new |
grande | big |
bueno | good |
último | last |
mayor | greater |
nacional | national |
social | social |
mejor | better |
propio | own |
importante | important |
público | public |
alto | high |
político | political |
pequeño | small |
único | unique |
largo | long |
humano | human |
económico | economic |
posible | possible |
general | general |
internacional | international |
diferente | different |
solo | only |
español | Spanish |
principal | main |
necesario | required |
próximo | next |
distinto | different |
claro | light |
siguiente | following |
malo | bad |
anterior | previous |
especial | special |
natural | natural |
cultural | cultural |
bajo | low |
actual | current |
blanco | white |
fuerte | strong |
difícil | difficult |
mundial | world-wide |
menor | lesser |
viejo | old |
real | real |
local | local |
negro | black |
europeo | European |
diverso | various |
libre | free |
seguro | safe |
común | common |
privado | private |
central | central |
popular | popular |
dicho | such |
físico | physical |
superior | top |
joven | young |
personal | personal |
capaz | capable |
antiguo | old |
histórico | historical |
cierto | certain |
técnico | technical |
presente | present |
oficial | official |
mexicano | Mexican |
fácil | easy |
militar | military |
contrario | contrary |
civil | civil |
verdadero | true |
lleno | full |
suficiente | enough |
rápido | fast |
científico | scientific |
directo | direct |
completo | complete |
interno | internal |
fundamental | fundamental |
comercial | commercial |
familiar | familiar |
amplio | extensive |
educativo | educational |
vivo | live, alive |
similar | similar |
rojo | red |
financiero | financial |
medio | medium |
enorme | huge |
total | total |
profesional | professional |
adecuado | suitable |
médico | doctor |
grave | serious |
tradicional | traditional |
electoral | electoral |
básico | basic |
igual | same |
duro | hard |
profundo | deep |
final | last |
municipal | municipal |
inmediato | immediate |
junto | together |
argentino | Argentinean |
peor | worse |
francés | French |
corto | short |
oscuro | dark |
estadounidense | American |
cercano | near |
regional | regional |
feliz | happy |
positivo | positive |
máximo | maximum |
serio | serious |
laboral | labor |
imposible | impossible |
simple | simple |
pobre | poor |
reciente | recent |
extraño | strange |
ambiental | environmental |
específico | specific |
normal | normal |
determinado | determined |
moderno | modern |
urbano | urban |
mínimo | minimum |
musical | musical |
deportivo | sporty |
federal | federal |
frío | cold |
legal | legal |
verde | green |
interesante | interesting |
artístico | artistic |
judicial | judicial |
particular | particular |
colombiano | Colombian |
previo | previous |
cubano | Cuban |
pleno | full |
eléctrico | electric |
tecnológico | technology |
abierto | open |
global | global |
infantil | childish |
absoluto | absolute |
definitivo | definitive |
complejo | complex |
estatal | statewide |
rico | rich |
raro | rare |
significativo | significant |
sencillo | simple |
perfecto | perfect |
permanente | permanent |
religioso | religious |
activo | active |
famoso | famous |
numeroso | numerous |
rural | rural |
tranquilo | quiet |
extranjero | foreign |
democrático | democratic |
azul | blue |
femenino | female |
escaso | scarce |
intenso | intense |
puro | pure |
unido | joined |
universitario | academic |
original | original |
exterior | outside |
seco | dry |
digital | digital |
alemán | German |
literario | literary |
independiente | independent |
armado | armed |
sanitario | sanitary |
electrónico | electronic |
indígena | indigenous |
concreto | concrete |
fiscal | fiscal |
clásico | classic |
evidente | clear |
individual | individual |
colectivo | collective |
negativo | negative |
productivo | productive |
doble | double |
anual | annual |
efectivo | effective |
habitual | usual |
inicial | initial |
débil | weak |
Verbs
Words 515 – 819
ser | be |
estar | be |
tener | have |
hacer | make |
poder | be able to |
decir | say |
haber | have |
ir | go |
dar | give |
ver | see |
saber | know |
pasar | pass by |
deber | must |
querer | want |
llegar | arrive |
dejar | leave |
llevar | take |
encontrar | find |
seguir | follow |
poner | put |
quedar | stay |
parecer | seem |
hablar | speak |
pensar | think |
volver | back to |
conocer | know |
salir | exit |
realizar | make |
tomar | take |
tratar | try |
contar | count |
llamar | call |
venir | come |
mirar | see |
presentar | present |
permitir | allow |
esperar | wait |
sentir | feel |
vivir | live |
buscar | search |
creer | believe |
crear | create |
perder | lose |
existir | exist |
considerar | consider |
abrir | open |
trabajar | work |
recibir | receive |
mantener | maintain |
explicar | explain |
lograr | achieve |
empezar | start |
recordar | remember |
comenzar | start |
pedir | ask for |
preguntar | ask |
producir | produce |
convertir | convert |
entrar | enter |
mostrar | show |
señalar | point out |
escribir | write |
utilizar | use |
entender | understand |
terminar | finish |
ganar | win |
incluir | include |
morir | die |
asegurar | secure |
ocurrir | occur |
ofrecer | offer |
jugar | play |
gustar | like |
escuchar | listen to |
sentar | sit |
cambiar | change |
aparecer | appear |
acabar | end |
decidir | decide |
resultar | result |
caer | fall |
desarrollar | develop |
necesitar | need |
sacar | take out |
establecer | establish |
conseguir | get |
indicar | indicate |
formar | form |
reconocer | recognize |
dirigir | address |
servir | serve |
alcanzar | reach |
intentar | try |
cumplir | meet |
leer | read |
obtener | get |
ayudar | help |
usar | use |
observar | see |
responder | answer |
afirmar | claim |
evitar | avoid |
suponer | assume |
afectar | affect |
generar | generate |
continuar | continue |
cerrar | close |
pagar | pay |
acercar | bring over |
levantar | raise |
participar | participate |
representar | represent |
tocar | touch |
informar | inform |
destacar | highlight |
iniciar | start |
dedicar | dedicate |
oír | hear |
acompañar | accompany |
referir | refer to |
sufrir | suffer |
nacer | birth |
comer | eat |
bajar | download |
suceder | succeed |
dormir | sleep |
preparar | prepare |
agregar | add |
correr | run |
subir | go up |
publicar | publish |
traer | bring |
anunciar | announce |
descubrir | discover |
construir | build |
detener | stop |
aceptar | accept |
meter | tuck in |
ocupar | occupy |
demostrar | show |
proponer | propose |
estudiar | study |
comprar | buy |
expresar | express |
olvidar | forget |
aumentar | increase |
definir | define |
regresar | return |
añadir | add |
mover | move |
entregar | deliver |
sostener | hold |
reducir | reduce |
aprender | learn |
provocar | provoke |
mejorar | improve |
unir | join |
constituir | constitute |
compartir | share |
enfrentar | confront |
imaginar | imagine |
crecer | grow |
comprender | understand |
apoyar | support |
comentar | comment |
vender | sell |
faltar | skip |
aplicar | apply |
colocar | place |
cubrir | cover |
repetir | repeat |
disponer | arrange |
obligar | force |
celebrar | celebrate |
echar | cast out of |
relacionar | link |
marcar | mark |
desear | wish |
significar | mean |
caminar | walk |
superar | go beyond |
organizar | organize |
registrar | register |
andar | walk |
identificar | identify |
elegir | choose |
abandonar | leave |
soler | be used to |
plantear | raise |
ubicar | locate |
requerir | request |
partir | start |
reunir | gather |
actuar | act |
lanzar | launch |
importar | import |
analizar | analyze |
mencionar | mention |
sumar | add |
pretender | pretend |
enviar | send |
declarar | declare |
manifestar | manifest |
atender | attend |
basar | base |
recuperar | retrieve |
aprovechar | take advantage of |
asumir | assume |
desaparecer | disappear |
funcionar | work |
permanecer | stay |
preocupar | concern |
preferir | prefer |
confirmar | confirm |
advertir | warn |
imponer | impose |
integrar | integrate |
recoger | pick up |
parar | stop |
proteger | protect |
depender | depend |
negar | deny |
resolver | solve |
surgir | arise |
corresponder | correspond |
determinar | determine |
concluir | conclude |
visitar | visit |
exigir | demand |
contener | contain |
aprobar | approve |
romper | break |
viajar | travel |
quitar | remove |
interesar | interest |
defender | defend |
avanzar | advance |
prever | foresee |
implicar | involve |
apuntar | point out |
invitar | invite |
causar | cause |
vestir | dress |
controlar | check |
adquirir | purchase |
incorporar | incorporate |
guardar | save |
insistir | insist |
conducir | drive |
acordar | agree |
contestar | answer |
tirar | throw away |
despertar | wake up |
reír | laugh |
sorprender | surprise |
llorar | cry |
situar | locate |
garantizar | guarantee |
separar | separate |
impedir | prevent |
gritar | shout |
costar | cost |
cruzar | cross |
disfrutar | enjoy |
cantar | sing |
citar | quote |
sonreír | smile |
extender | extend |
poseer | own |
contribuir | contribute |
exponer | exhibit |
instalar | install |
notar | note |
sonar | sound |
convencer | convince |
mandar | send |
asociar | link |
aportar | provide |
acudir | go to |
asistir | attend |
firmar | sign |
pertenecer | belong to |
solicitar | request |
enseñar | show |
cortar | cut |
recorrer | tour |
fijar | post |
promover | promote |
describir | describe |
revelar | reveal |
retirar | withdraw |
contemplar | see |
elaborar | elaborate |
ordenar | order |
hallar | find |
reflejar | reflect |
limitar | limit |
rodear | go around |
transformar | transform |
interpretar | interpret |
llenar | fill out |
consistir | consist of |
cuidar | care |
someter | submit |
avisar | warn |
emplear | use |
Adverbs
Words 820 – 941
no | not |
más | more |
apenas | hardly |
también | also |
ya | already |
muy | very |
básicamente | basically |
solo | only |
después | later |
ahora | now |
así | thus |
bien | well |
siempre | always |
antes | before |
tan | so |
cómo | how |
sí | yes |
hoy | today |
entonces | then |
luego | then |
además | in addition |
nunca | never |
casi | almost |
poco | sparsely |
aquí | here |
menos | least |
tanto | such |
sin embargo | however |
mucho | a lot |
aún | still |
dentro | within |
ayer | yesterday |
allí | there |
incluso | inclusive |
ahí | there |
ruidosamente | loudly |
todavía | still |
hasta | even |
tampoco | nor |
cerca | near |
allá | there |
apenas | barely |
a lo mejor | perhaps |
cuidadosamente | carefully |
pronto | soon |
normalmente | normally |
fuera | out |
atrás | behind |
encima | above |
tarde | afternoon |
finalmente | finally |
especialmente | especially |
tal vez | maybe |
lejos | far |
demasiado | too |
quizá | maybe |
mal | badly |
perfectamente | perfectly |
bastante | quite a lot |
diariamente | daily |
adelante | forward |
detrás | back |
igual | likewise |
ni siquiera | not even |
primero | first |
actualmente | currently |
así como | as well as |
precisamente | precisely |
arriba | up |
realmente | actually |
jamás | never |
quizás | maybe |
recién | just |
asimismo | also |
no obstante | however |
difícilmente | with difficulty |
alrededor | around |
solamente | only |
aun | even |
por supuesto | of course |
delante | in front |
abajo | below |
para nada | not at all |
fácilmente | easily |
simplemente | simply |
directamente | directly |
lentamente | slowly |
debajo | under |
por tanto | therefore |
principalmente | mainly |
por lo tanto | therefore |
totalmente | totally |
a menudo | often |
por lo menos | at least |
acá | here |
probablemente | probably |
prácticamente | practically |
seguramente | surely |
frecuentemente | frequently |
aproximadamente | approximately |
completamente | completely |
posteriormente | later |
nuevamente | again |
por fin | finally |
igualmente | equally |
jamás | never |
acaso | perhaps |
justo | just |
recientemente | recently |
por favor | kindly |
rápidamente | quickly |
únicamente | only |
afuera | outside |
respectivamente | respectively |
inmediatamente | immediately |
exactamente | exactly |
claramente | clearly |
generalmente | generally |
perfectamente | perfectly |
enseguida | right away |
temprano | early |
adentro | inside |
Prepositions
Words 942 – 977
de | from |
en | at |
a | to |
con | with |
por | by |
para | for |
sobre | about |
entre | between |
sin | without |
desde | from |
hasta | to |
durante | during |
hacia | to |
ante | before |
contra | against |
según | according to |
tras | after |
bajo | under |
a través de | through |
a partir de | as of |
frente a | in front of |
además de | in addition to |
a pesar de | in spite of |
mediante | through |
junto a | together with |
debido a | due to |
gracias a | thanks to |
pese a | despite |
de acuerdo con | in accordance with |
en cuanto a | in regard to |
junto con | together with |
acerca de | about |
respecto a | with respect to |
en torno a | around |
en lugar de | instead of |
de acuerdo a | according to |
Conjunctions
Words 978 – 991
y | and |
e | and |
ni...ni | neither...nor |
o | or |
u | or |
o bien...o bien | either...or |
pero | but |
mas | but |
aunque | although |
es decir | that is |
porque | because |
pues | since |
si | if |
como | as |
Interjections
Words 992 – 1000
guay | cool (used in Spain) |
vale | okey (used in Spain) |
órale | sure (used in Mexico) |
guau | wow |
bravo | good job |
claro | of course |
che | dude (used in Argentina and Uruguay) |
huy | oops |
ojalá | I hope so |
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