A Beginner’s Guide to Spanish

As one of the most popular and widely spoken romance Languages, Spanish is beautiful, expressive, and definitely worthwhile to learn. Spanish is good in the workplace, great for speaking to people around the country, and excellent when traveling the world, particularly in countries like Mexico or Spain.

Not sure where to start learning this language? You’ve come to the right place. Read on for a basic beginner’s guide to Spanish to start you on your educational journey.

Start By Learning Common Words

One of the easiest ways to start learning Spanish is to start reading about and memorizing the most commonly used words in the language. By memorizing the most commonly used words, you’ll be able to converse with other Spanish speakers more quickly, plus be able to start associating words with each other based on their roots, sounds, uses, etc.

Some of the most common Spanish words include:

  • Por = for
  • Mas = more
  • Con = with
  • Como = how
  • Ese = that
  • Otro = other
  • Pero = but
  • Ya = already
  • Todo = all

Pick up a basic Spanish dictionary and focus on learning the most commonly used words ASAP. That’s the best way to get a solid grasp of the Spanish language as quickly as possible.

As you learn these words, repeat them in your mind over and over so you cement meaning with sounds more readily. So, when learning pendejo’s meaning, for example, try to use pendejo in a sentence over and over, particularly in practice with fellow Spanish students or with your teacher.

Memorize the Verbs

Spanish verbs are often considered to be a sticking point or difficult challenge for non-native speakers. That’s partially because Spanish verbs come in both regular and irregular forms, and it can be difficult to discover and memorize the patterns behind these forms.

Find a Spanish dictionary or use your study materials to learn and memorize Spanish verbs as quickly as possible. The more verbs you learn, the more fluent sentences you’ll be able to string together and the more understandable you’ll be to native Spanish speakers.

Present Tense Verbs

Of particular importance are present tense verbs. These are essential for gaining fluency in Spanish. You should learn these quickly so you can recall them instantly whenever necessary. Some of the most important present tense verbs to learn include:

  • Ser = to be
  • Decir = to say
  • Saber = to saber
  • Estar = to be
  • Hacer = to do or do make
  • Poder = can or to be able to do
  • Ir = to go
  • Necesitar = to need
  • Querer = to want

Infinitive Verbs

Infinitive verbs are also important for Spanish (as they are for English). You should keep one rule in mind above all else: any verbs that follow conjugated verbs are expressed in the infinitive form. An infinitive verb is a non-conjugated verb, in other words.

For example, infinitive forms of English words usually include words like, “to” as in “to eat.” In Spanish, it’s similar; verbs have their original endings, such as “ar,” “er,” or “ir. (americanadventure.com) ” For instance, “caminar” is a verb in the infinitive form and meaning “to walk.”

Starter Verbs

Don’t forget to learn and master starter verbs. These preceded the infinitive in most sentences and are super helpful for navigating basic conversations. These can easily be memorized as conjugations or substituted for infinitive verbs in some situations. Some example starter verbs include:

  • Quiero ir = I want
  • Necesito = I need
  • Puedo = I can
  • Me gusta = I like

Just by remembering this handful of starter verbs, you’ll be able to request assistance in Spanish, ask for directions, and order food from most restaurants or eating establishments. It’s a good way to equip yourself with the basic tools needed to converse with Spanish people with a minimum of study time.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Above all else, remember to practice frequently and in every possible context of your life. The fastest and best way to learn any language, such as Spanish, is to immerse yourself in that language. Consume Spanish media by watching Spanish TV shows and movies, listening to Spanish audiobooks, and talking to yourself in Spanish in front of the mirror or while on the way to work.

Simply put, the more you use the part of your brain to learn the Spanish language, the faster you’ll pick up the language and its intricacies or details without running into as many hiccups. Practice as often as possible, and you’ll learn Spanish much more quickly than you think!

Ultimately, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning Spanish. Consider taking a good Spanish class or take a Spanish educational program to master this language and be able to speak it fluently to other Spanish speakers around the world!