¡No Te Quedes en la Luna! 🌙 The Ultimate Guide to Common Spanish Idioms for Beginners


Tired of sounding like a textbook? Learning a language is more than just memorizing vocabulary and grammar rules. To truly connect and sound natural, you need to learn common Spanish idioms. These phrases, which often don't translate literally, are the secret ingredient that adds flavor and personality to your speech. Learning them is a fun way to understand the culture and start sounding more like a native Spanish speaker. So, let's dive into some essential Spanish phrases for beginners that will make your conversations a lot more interesting!

Why Learn Spanish Idioms?

Beyond sounding cool, learning Spanish expressions and idioms has some major benefits:

  • You'll Sound More Natural: Native speakers use these Spanish sayings constantly. By understanding and using them, you'll feel more at ease in a conversation and won't get confused when someone uses one.

  • You'll Add Personality: Idioms are a way to express yourself with emotion and wit. They can make your speech more lively and help you convey a feeling or idea in a memorable way.

  • You’ll Gain Cultural Insight: Many idioms reflect cultural values, history, or daily life. For instance, Spanish food idioms tell you a lot about the importance of food in the culture.

10 Common Spanish Idioms for Beginners

Here's a curated list of our favorite Spanish idioms that you can start using today. They're simple, common, and a blast to learn.

  1. Ponerse las pilas 🔋

    • Literal Translation: To put in the batteries.

    • Meaning: To get to work; to get motivated. Think of it as "getting your energy back."

    • Example: ¡Venga, ponte las pilas, que tenemos mucho que hacer! (Come on, get a move on, we have a lot to do!)

  2. Estar en la luna 🚀

    • Literal Translation: To be on the moon.

    • Meaning: To be daydreaming or not paying attention. When someone's head is in the clouds.

    • Example: ¡Hola! ¿Me escuchas? Estás en la luna. (Hello! Can you hear me? You're daydreaming.)

  3. Ser pan comido 🍰

    • Literal Translation: To be bread that's been eaten.

    • Meaning: To be a piece of cake; very easy.

    • Example: El examen fue pan comido. (The exam was a piece of cake.)

  4. No tener pelos en la lengua 🗣️

    • Literal Translation: Not to have hairs on your tongue.

    • Meaning: To be direct or to speak your mind. Someone who is very outspoken.

    • Example: Mi jefe no tiene pelos en la lengua, siempre dice lo que piensa. (My boss is very direct, he always says what he thinks.)

  5. Estar como una cabra 🐐

    • Literal Translation: To be like a goat.

    • Meaning: To be crazy or goofy. The phrase "estar como una cabra" meaning is to be eccentric or silly.

    • Example: Mi abuelo es muy divertido, está como una cabra. (My grandpa is very funny, he's a bit crazy.)

  6. Tirar la casa por la ventana 💸

    • Literal Translation: To throw the house out the window.

    • Meaning: To spend a lot of money; to go all out or splurge.

    • Example: Para su cumpleaños, tiraron la casa por la ventana. (For her birthday, they went all out.)

  7. Dormir como un tronco 😴

    • Literal Translation: To sleep like a log.

    • Meaning: To sleep very soundly.

    • Example: Anoche dormí como un tronco. (Last night I slept like a log.)

  8. Costar un ojo de la cara 👀

    • Literal Translation: To cost an eye from the face.

    • Meaning: To be very expensive; to cost an arm and a leg.

    • Example: Ese coche cuesta un ojo de la cara. (That car costs an arm and a leg.)

  9. Meter la pata 🤦‍♀️

    • Literal Translation: To put the foot in it.

    • Meaning: To mess up or to make a blunder.

    • Example: Metí la pata con mi nuevo jefe. (I messed up with my new boss.)

  10. Echar una mano 👋

    • Literal Translation: To throw a hand.

    • Meaning: To help someone out.

    • Example: ¿Me puedes echar una mano con estas bolsas? (Can you give me a hand with these bags?)

How to Practice Idioms and Sound Fluent

Learning these idioms is only half the fun. The key to mastering them is to use them!

  • Make Flashcards: Write the Spanish idiom on one side and the meaning and an example sentence on the other. This is a great way to start memorizing.

  • Try Them in Conversation: Don't be shy! Find opportunities to use a new idiom with a language partner or a native-speaking friend. It might feel awkward at first, but that's how you learn.

  • Listen to Native Speakers: Watch movies, listen to music, or follow a podcast in Spanish. Pay attention to how native speakers use these phrases in context. This will give you a better sense of when to use them.

Learning Spanish idioms about life, emotions, or everyday situations is a fantastic way to go beyond the basics. So, go ahead and start practicing. ¡Ahora, a practicar!