Learn Spanish: Basic Spanish Introductions
Starting your journey in Spanish begins with mastering the essentials of social interaction. This lesson covers the foundational words you need to greet others, introduce yourself, and navigate basic conversations with politeness. You will learn classic greetings like Hola (hello) and Mucho gusto (nice to meet you), as well as essential courtesy terms such as Por favor (please) and Gracias (thank you). These words are the building blocks of every interaction, allowing you to establish a connection with others before moving into more complex sentence structures.
One important pattern to notice in Spanish is how words often change based on gender. For example, when referring to people, you will see a shift from masculine to feminine endings, such as Niño (boy) and Niña (girl), or Señor (Mr.) and Señora (Ms.). This gender agreement is a central feature of the language you will encounter frequently. Additionally, pay attention to how greetings change depending on the time of day. While you use Buenos días (good morning) in the early hours, you must switch to Buenas tardes (good afternoon) or Buenas noches (good night) as the day progresses.
Beyond greetings, this list introduces vital question words like Qué (what) and Dónde (where), which are indispensable for seeking information. You will also find temporal markers such as Hoy (today) and Mañana (tomorrow) to help you coordinate timing. By practicing these terms, you develop the ability to handle everyday scenarios, from apologizing with Lo siento (sorry) to acknowledging a favor with De nada (you're welcome). These high-frequency words ensure you can communicate respectfully and clearly in any Spanish-speaking environment.
Vocabulary list
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hola oh-lah |
| Goodbye | Adiós ah-dyohs |
| Please | Por favor pohr fah-bohr |
| Thank you | Gracias grah-syahs |
| You're welcome | De nada deh nah-dah |
| Yes | Sí see |
| No | No noh |
| Good morning | Buenos días bweh-nohs dee-ahs |
| Good afternoon | Buenas tardes bweh-nahs tahr-dehs |
| Good night | Buenas noches bweh-nahs noh-chehs |
| Nice to meet you | Mucho gusto moo-choh goos-toh |
| Excuse me | Disculpe dees-kool-peh |
| Sorry | Lo siento loh syen-toh |
| My name | Mi nombre mee nohm-breh |
| Friend | Amigo ah-mee-goh |
| Welcome | Bienvenido byen-beh-nee-doh |
| How? | ¿Cómo? koh-moh |
| What? | ¿Qué? keh |
| Who? | ¿Quién? kyen |
| Where? | ¿Dónde? dohn-deh |
| Sir / Mr. | Señor seh-nyohr |
| Ma'am / Ms. | Señora seh-nyoh-rah |
| Boy | Niño nee-nyoh |
| Girl | Niña nee-nyah |
| Man | Hombre ohm-breh |
| Woman | Mujer moo-hehr |
| Today | Hoy oy |
| Tomorrow | Mañana mah-nyah-nah |
| Later | Luego lweh-goh |
| Now | Ahora ah-oh-rah |
Practice this lesson with spaced repetition, multiple study modes, and daily streaks.
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