List of Basic Spanish Words for Beginners (+PDF)

Here’s the vocabulary that is usually taught in the first 1-3 Spanish lessons!

In fact, this is the vocabulary and grammar I teach my students in their first Spanish lessons with me.

Let’s dive right in!

Greetings and Farewells

To listen to the pronunciation of the following Spanish greetings and farewells, hit the play button.

• ¡Hola! (Hi!)

• ¿Qué tal? (How are you?)

• ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?)

• Buenos días (Good morning / day)

• Buenas tardes (Good afternoon)

• Buenas noches (Good evening / night)

• ¡Adiós! (Goodbye!)

• ¡Hasta luego! (See you later!)

• ¡Hasta pronto! (See you soon!)

Subject Pronouns and Ser

“Ser” is the most used Spanish verb. Here you have its conjugation and pronunciation!

• yo soy (I am)

• tú eres (you are)

• vos sos (you are)

• él es (he is)
• ella es (she is)
• usted es (you are)

• nosotros somos (we are)
• nosotras somos (we are)

• vosotros sois (you are [plural])
• vosotras sois (you are [plural])

• ellos son (they are)
• ellas son (they are)
• ustedes son (you are [plural])

Tú and vos are usually used to talk to family and friends. The use of tú and vos depends on where you are. For example, people from Argentina use vos, while Mexicans use tú.

Usted is usually used to talk to older people or in professional relationships. Usted is used to show respect. However, in certain areas of Colombia and Costa Rica, this pronoun is used with family and friends.

In Latin America, ustedes is used to address several people at once. People in Spain use vosotros or vosotras instead. Vosotros is used to address a group of men or a group of men and women. Vosotras is only used to address a group of women.