Spanish Vocabulary for Everyday Life: 100 Common Words You Need to Know
Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging, but one of the most rewarding parts of becoming fluent in Spanish is the ability to communicate in everyday situations. Whether you’re traveling, working, or simply interacting with Spanish-speaking friends or family, having a solid foundation of useful words can help you feel more confident and connected.
In this article, we’ll provide a comprehensive list of 100 common Spanish words that are essential for daily conversations. These words cover a wide range of topics, from greetings and directions to food and shopping, and will be invaluable in any setting.
1. Basic Greetings and Phrases
When starting a conversation, it's important to know how to greet someone or ask for their well-being. Here are some essential words for daily greetings:
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Hola – Hello
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Buenos días – Good morning
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Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
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Buenas noches – Good evening / Good night
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¿Cómo estás? – How are you?
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Estoy bien – I’m fine
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Gracias – Thank you
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Por favor – Please
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Disculpa – Excuse me
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Perdón – Sorry
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2. Numbers and Time
Understanding numbers and being able to tell time is crucial in everyday life. Here are the key words you need:
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Uno, dos, tres – One, two, three
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Cinco, diez, veinte – Five, ten, twenty
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Hora – Hour
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Minuto – Minute
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Hoy – Today
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Mañana – Tomorrow
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Ayer – Yesterday
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¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
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Es la una – It’s one o’clock
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Son las tres – It’s three o’clock
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3. Food and Dining
Spanish-speaking cultures have a rich tradition of food, and being able to talk about food and dining is important when living or traveling in a Spanish-speaking country. Here are some common words:
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Comida – Food
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Agua – Water
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Pan – Bread
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Arroz – Rice
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Carne – Meat
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Fruta – Fruit
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Verdura – Vegetable
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Restaurante – Restaurant
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Café – Coffee
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Menú – Menu
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4. Travel and Directions
Whether you’re asking for directions or talking about travel, knowing these key words will help you navigate Spanish-speaking areas with ease:
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Dónde – Where
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Aquí – Here
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Allí – There
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Izquierda – Left
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Derecha – Right
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Calle – Street
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Hotel – Hotel
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Aeropuerto – Airport
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Estación – Station
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Pasaporte – Passport
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5. Shopping and Money
When you're out shopping, it's important to know how to talk about prices, ask about items, and handle money. These words will help you:
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Dinero – Money
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Precio – Price
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Caro / Barato – Expensive / Cheap
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Comprar – To buy
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Vender – To sell
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Tienda – Store
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Mercado – Market
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Tarjeta – Card
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Efectivo – Cash
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Cambio – Change
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6. Family and Relationships
Talking about family and relationships is a key part of any conversation. Here are some words to help you:
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Familia – Family
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Madre – Mother
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Padre – Father
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Hermano / Hermana – Brother / Sister
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Abuelo / Abuela – Grandfather / Grandmother
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Hijo / Hija – Son / Daughter
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Esposo / Esposa – Husband / Wife
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Amigo / Amiga – Friend
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Pareja – Partner
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Niño / Niña – Boy / Girl
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7. Health and Emergencies
In case of an emergency or when talking about health, these words can be lifesaving:
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Salud – Health
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Enfermo / Enferma – Sick (male / female)
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Médico / Médica – Doctor
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Ambulancia – Ambulance
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Farmacia – Pharmacy
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Dolor – Pain
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Cuerpo – Body
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Herida – Wound
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Temperatura – Temperature
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Emergencia – Emergency
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8. Common Verbs for Daily Use
Knowing basic verbs is essential for creating sentences in Spanish. These verbs are frequently used in everyday conversations:
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Ser – To be
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Estar – To be (temporary)
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Tener – To have
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Hacer – To do / To make
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Ir – To go
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Ver – To see
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Hablar – To speak
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Comer – To eat
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Beber – To drink
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Vivir – To live
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9. Colors and Descriptions
Describing things is a key part of any conversation, so knowing the basic colors and descriptors will help:
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Rojo – Red
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Azul – Blue
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Verde – Green
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Amarillo – Yellow
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Blanco – White
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Negro – Black
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Grande – Big
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Pequeño – Small
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Largo – Long
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Corto – Short
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10. Feelings and Emotions
Expressing your feelings in Spanish can enhance your ability to communicate with others. Here are some important words related to emotions:
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Feliz – Happy
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Triste – Sad
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Enojado / Enojada – Angry (male / female)
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Cansado / Cansada – Tired (male / female)
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Sorpresa – Surprise
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Miedo – Fear
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Amor – Love
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Esperanza – Hope
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Confianza – Trust
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Preocupado / Preocupada – Worried (male / female)
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Conclusion
By learning these 100 essential Spanish words, you can vastly improve your ability to communicate in Spanish in various everyday situations. From basic greetings and numbers to food, shopping, and emotions, this vocabulary list covers the most common and useful words for daily interactions. Whether you’re traveling, studying, or simply conversing with Spanish speakers, these words will help you feel more confident and capable in your Spanish-speaking abilities.
Make sure to practice these words regularly, and soon enough, they’ll become second nature! Also, remember that consistency is key – the more you use and immerse yourself in the language, the better your fluency will become.
By incorporating these keywords into your routine and daily conversations, you’ll strengthen your grasp of Spanish and gain more practical knowledge to use in real-life scenarios.