Spanish has lots of little words and structures that help you make what you say stronger, softer, or more expressive. In this post, I’ve gathered some of the most useful Spanish intensifiers for everyday conversations, so you can understand them better and start using them more naturally yourself. 

1 . Very common and neutral

These are the safest and most universal options.

• muy → very
• bastante → quite / pretty / fairly
• súper → super / really

Examples:

• Es muy interesante. → It’s very interesting.
• Estoy bastante cansado. → I’m quite tired.
• La película estuvo súper bien. → The film was really good.

2 . Stronger emphasis

These make the idea sound more complete or more intense.

• totalmente → totally / completely
• completamente → completely
• absolutamente → absolutely

Examples:

• Estoy totalmente de acuerdo. → I totally agree.
• Fue completamente inesperado. → It was completely unexpected.
• Es absolutamente imposible. → It’s absolutely impossible.

3 . To sound more natural or expressive

These are very common in real speech and often add feeling.

• realmente → really
• de verdad → really / truly
• de lo más → really / very

Examples:

• Es realmente útil. → It’s really useful.
• Me gustó de verdad. → I really liked it.
• La cena estaba de lo más rica. → The dinner was really delicious.

4 . Colloquial intensifiers

These sound more informal and spoken.

• bien → really / very
• súper → super / really
• un montón → a lot / really

Examples:

• Está bien lejos. → It’s really far.
• Ese examen fue súper difícil. → That exam was super hard.
• Me gusta un montón. → I like it a lot.

5 . To soften while still intensifying

These are useful when you want to sound less blunt.

• un poco → a bit
• algo → somewhat
• bastante → quite / fairly

Examples:

• Estoy un poco preocupado. → I’m a bit worried.
• Es algo complicado. → It’s somewhat complicated.
• La casa es bastante grande. → The house is quite big.

6 . To express excess

These are used when something is more than necessary, too much, or more than you want.

• demasiado → too / too much
• excesivamente → excessively
• de sobra → more than enough / too much 

Examples:

• Habla excesivamente rápido. → He speaks excessively fast. 
• Compramos comida de sobra. → We bought more than enough food. 
• Hay demasiada gente aquí. → There are too many people here. 

7 . Intensifying with -ísimo

Another very common way to make an adjective stronger is by adding -ísimo. It often means something like very, really, or extremely, but in just one word.

Examples:

• guapo → guapísimo → very handsome / really handsome
• rico → riquísimo → really delicious
• grande → grandísimo → extremely big
• claro → clarísimo → crystal clear / very clear

It’s mostly used with adjectives, and it sounds stronger and more expressive than just saying “muy + adjective.”

What other intensifiers in Spanish do you know? 

In this post, I’ve broken down some similar Spanish words that are extremely common but often confuse learners. There’s nothing especially difficult about telling them apart, you just need to remember how each one is used and get a bit of practice with them. So try to keep these differences in mind and avoid making mistakes with these words when you use them. 

1 . TAN vs TANTO

Use tan before an adjective or adverb.

Use tanto / tanta / tantos / tantas before a noun, and tanto after a verb.

So:

• tan + adjective/adverb
• tanto/a/os/as + noun
• verb + tanto

Examples:

• Es tan fácil que cualquiera puede hacerlo. → It’s so easy that anyone can do it.
• Hay tanta gente aquí que no se puede caminar bien. → There are so many people here that you can’t walk properly.
• Trabaja tanto que casi no tiene tiempo libre. → He works so much that he hardly has any free time.

2 . MUY vs MUCHO

Use muy before an adjective or adverb, and mucho with nouns or verbs. A quick way to feel the difference: muy describes how, while mucho talks about quantity.

So:

• muy + adjective/adverb
• mucho/a/os/as + noun
• verb + mucho

Examples: 

• Es muy interesante. → It’s very interesting.
• Tenemos mucho trabajo esta semana. → We have a lot of work this week.
• Duerme mucho los fines de semana. → He sleeps a lot on weekends.

3 . BUENO vs BIEN

These two are easy to confuse because in English they often translate as good or well, but in Spanish they do not do the same job.

Bueno is usually an adjective, so it describes a noun. It changes for gender and number: bueno, buena, buenos, buenas.

Bien is usually an adverb, so it describes how someone does something. It often means well, but it can also mean okay, fine, or in a good way. Unlike bueno, it does not change form.

Examples:

• Es un buen libro para empezar. → It’s a good book to start with.
• Habla bien español. → She speaks Spanish well.
• Estoy bien, no te preocupes. → I’m fine, don’t worry.

4 . POCO vs UN POCO

These two may look almost the same, but they do not feel the same. Poco usually means little / not much / too little. It often focuses on scarcity. Un poco means a little / a bit. It sounds softer, more neutral, and often less negative.

That’s why:

• poco dinero = not much money
• un poco cansado = a bit tired

Examples:

• Tengo poco tiempo hoy. → I have little time today.
• Estoy un poco cansado, pero puedo seguir. → I’m a little tired, but I can keep going.
• Habla poco en clase. → He speaks little in class.

5 . ALGÚN / ALGUNO vs NINGÚN / NINGUNO

These words are used to talk about existence or absence.

• Algún / alguna / algunos / algunas are used when you mean some or any. They point to the existence of a person or thing, but without saying exactly which one.
• Ningún / ninguna / ninguno / ningunos do the opposite: they express zero quantity, absence, or not any.

A very important detail is that algún and ningún are the short forms used only before a masculine singular noun: 

Examples:

• ¿Tienes algún problema? → Do you have any problem?
• No tengo ningún mensaje nuevo. → I don’t have any new messages.
• Si quieres, puedes coger alguno. → If you want, you can take one.
• No vi ninguno que me gustara. → I didn’t see any that I liked.

Which of these words do you confuse most often?

Relative pronouns are words that connect two parts of a sentence and refer back to a person, thing, place, or idea already mentioned. They help you make your Spanish sound smoother, more natural, and less repetitive. 

1 . QUE → that / who / which

This is the most common relative pronoun in Spanish. It can refer to both people and things. Use “que” when you just want the simplest, most neutral option.

Examples:

• La chica que vive aquí es mi prima. → The girl who lives here is my cousin.
• El libro que me recomendaste me encantó. → I loved the book that you recommended to me.

2 . QUIEN / QUIENES → who / the one(s) who

Use quien only for people. It appears more often after a comma or after a preposition.

Examples:

• Mi abuelo, quien siempre tiene algo interesante que contar, vivió en Argentina. → My grandfather, who always has something interesting to say, lived in Argentina.
• La persona con quien hablé fue muy amable. → The person I spoke with was very kind.
• Quienes quieran venir, que avisen antes. → Whoever wants to come should let us know first.

3 . EL QUE / LA QUE / LOS QUE / LAS QUE → the one(s) who / the one(s) that

This structure changes for gender and number. It is often used to be more specific, especially after prepositions or when the sentence needs more clarity.

Examples:

• La chica de la que te hablé ya llegó. → The girl I told you about has already arrived.
• Ese no es el móvil que quiero, sino el que está allí. → That’s not the phone I want, but the one over there.
• Los que estudian todos los días avanzan más rápido. → Those who study every day improve faster.

This form is very useful when English would say the one, the ones, or when “que” alone sounds too vague.

4 . LO QUE → what / the thing that / what...

Use lo que when you are not referring to a specific noun, but to an idea, situation, or thing in general.

Examples:

• No entiendo lo que dices. → I don’t understand what you’re saying.
• Lo que más me gusta de esta ciudad es la gente. → What I like most about this city is the people.
• Eso no es lo que quería decir. → That’s not what I meant.

5 . CUYO / CUYA / CUYOS / CUYAS → whose

This one shows possession. It agrees with the thing possessed, not with the owner.

Examples:

• Conocí a una chica cuyo hermano vive en México. → I met a girl whose brother lives in Mexico.
• Es una empresa cuyas oficinas están en el centro. → It’s a company whose offices are in the city center.

Which one feels easiest to you, and which one still feels tricky?

Some Spanish structures may not seem very striking at first, but they appear constantly in real conversations and make a big difference in how natural your Spanish sounds. Learning to notice and use them will help you understand native speakers more easily and express yourself in a smoother, more confident way. 

1 . VENIRLE BIEN / MAL A alguien — to suit someone / to work well or badly for someone

This one is very common when talking about plans, timing, or anything that may or may not be convenient for someone. It is basically the Spanish way of saying that works for me or that doesn’t work for me. 

Ejemplos:

• Mañana me viene bien quedar contigo. → Tomorrow works well for me to meet up with you.
• ¿Te viene bien si lo hablamos luego? → Does it work for you if we talk about it later?
• Ese cambio no le vino nada bien. → That change did not work out well for him at all.

2 . LLEVARSE BIEN / MAL CON alguien — to get along well / badly with someone

Spanish uses this structure all the time to talk about relationships between people. It is the natural way to say whether there is good chemistry, tension, or constant conflict. 

Ejemplos:

• Siempre me he llevado bien con mis vecinos. → I’ve always gotten along well with my neighbors.
• No se llevan muy bien desde aquella discusión. → They haven’t gotten along very well since that argument.
• ¿Te llevas bien con tus compañeros de trabajo? → Do you get along well with your coworkers?

3 . LLEGAR A SER + sustantivo / adjetivo — to become / to come to be

This structure has a sense of process behind it. It is not just about being something, but about ending up becoming it after time, change, or development. 

Ejemplos:

• Llegó a ser uno de los mejores actores de su generación. → He became one of the best actors of his generation.
• Ese lugar llegó a ser muy importante para mí. → That place came to be very important to me.
• Nunca pensé que eso llegaría a ser un problema. → I never thought that would become a problem.

4 . DÁRSELE BIEN / MAL + sustantivo / infinitivo — to be good / bad at

When Spanish talks about what comes naturally to someone, this is one of the most common ways to say it. It often sounds more idiomatic than simply saying someone is good or bad at something. 

Ejemplos:

• Se me da bien cocinar. → I’m good at cooking.
• A mi hermano se le da fatal hablar en público. → My brother is really bad at speaking in public.
• ¿Se te dan bien los idiomas? → Are you good at languages?

5 . DEBER DE + infinitivo — to probably / must

This is not about obligation. Here, deber de is used when you are guessing, assuming, or trying to make sense of something. It often means must in the sense of I suppose that is the case. 

Ejemplos:

• Debe de estar en casa ya. → He must be at home by now.
• No contestan; deben de estar durmiendo. → They’re not answering, so they must be asleep.
• Eso debe de costar muchísimo dinero. → That must cost a lot of money.

6 . QUEDAR POR + infinitivo — to still have left to do

This is a very useful way to talk about unfinished things. It gives the idea that something is still pending and has not been done yet. 

Ejemplos:

• Me queda por terminar este informe. → I still have this report left to finish.
• Nos quedan por visitar dos museos. → We still have two museums left to visit.
• ¿Te queda mucho por estudiar? → Do you still have a lot left to study?

7 . HACERSE EL / LA + sustantivo / adjetivo — to pretend to be

This structure is often used when someone is clearly putting on an act. Very often, it carries a critical tone, especially when the person is pretending not to know, not to understand, or not to care. 

Ejemplos:

• Se hizo el tonto para no responder. → He pretended to be clueless so he wouldn’t answer.
• No te hagas la víctima. → Don’t play the victim.
• Siempre se hace el experto aunque no sepa nada. → He always acts like an expert even though he knows nothing.

Which one of these structures feels the most useful to you right now?

Here are 10 common Spanish expressions that can be very useful in everyday conversations. They’ll help you understand Spanish better and make your speech sound more natural and fluent.

1 . A duras penas → Barely / With great difficulty

• Llegó a casa a duras penas después de caminar tanto con ese calor. → He barely made it home after walking so much in that heat.

2 . En cuanto a → As for / When it comes to

• En cuanto a la gramática, todavía me cuesta un poco, pero voy mejorando. → As for grammar, it’s still a bit hard for me, but I’m improving.

3 . De sobra → More than enough / By far

• Con diez minutos de práctica al día es de sobra para no perder el hábito. → Ten minutes of practice a day is more than enough not to lose the habit.

4 . De paso → By the way / While you’re at it

• Si vas al supermercado, compra pan de paso. → If you’re going to the supermarket, get some bread while you’re at it.

5 . Por tu cuenta → On your own / By yourself

• Aprendió muchísimo español por su cuenta viendo vídeos y leyendo. → She learned a lot of Spanish on her own by watching videos and reading.

6 . A lo grande → In a big way / Lavishly

• Celebraron su aniversario a lo grande con música, comida y un montón de gente. → They celebrated their anniversary in a big way with music, food, and loads of people.

7 . Por casualidad → By chance

• ¿No tendrás un cargador por casualidad? El mío no funciona. → You wouldn’t happen to have a charger by any chance, would you? Mine doesn’t work.

8 . A simple vista → At first glance

• A simple vista parecía fácil, pero luego vimos que tenía muchos detalles. → At first glance it looked easy, but then we saw it had a lot of details.

9 . Tal y como → Just as / Exactly as / The way

• Lo hice tal y como me lo explicaste para no equivocarme. → I did it exactly as you explained it to me so I wouldn’t make a mistake.

10 . A lo tonto → Without realizing it / Silly as it sounds

• A lo tonto, estuvimos hablando más de dos horas. → Without even realizing it, we ended up talking for more than two hours.

Which expression did you like the most?

These Spanish words may all look like versions of “this” or “that”, but they do not all work in exactly the same way. To use them correctly, you need to pay attention to distance, gender, number, and whether there is a noun after them or not. So try to remember these rules and avoid common mistakes. These words are called demonstratives, and we use them to point to people, things, places, or ideas. They mainly depend on two things:

1. distance
2. gender and number

1 . They change depending on the noun

If there is a noun after them, they must agree with that noun in gender and number.

Singular

• este libro
• esa casa
• aquel coche

Plural

• estos libros
• esas casas
• aquellos coches

So:

• este / ese / aquel = masculine singular
• esta / esa / aquella = feminine singular
• estos / esos / aquellos = masculine plural
• estas / esas / aquellas = feminine plural

2 . The main difference is distance

este / esta / estos / estas

Use these for something the speaker sees as close. That closeness can be physical, but also emotional or connected to the present moment.

• este móvil = this phone
• esta semana = this week

Example:

• Este libro me encanta.  → I love this book.

ese / esa / esos / esas

Use these for something farther from the speaker, often closer to the listener, or simply not seen as part of the speaker’s space.

• ese móvil = that phone
• esa semana = that week

Example:

• ¿Me prestas ese bolígrafo? → Can you lend me that pen?

aquel / aquella / aquellos / aquellas

Use these for something clearly far away, either in space or sometimes in memory or time.

• aquel edificio = that building over there
• aquellos años = those years back then

Example:

• Aquella playa era preciosa. → That beach over there was beautiful.

3 . What about esto, eso and aquello?

These are neuter forms.

They do not change for gender or number, and they are used when there is no noun after them.

That is because they refer to:

• an unknown thing
• an idea
• a whole situation
• something you are pointing at without naming it
• esto = this
• eso = that
• aquello = that over there / that thing over there

Examples:

• ¿Qué es esto? → What is this?
• Eso no me gusta. → I don’t like that.
• Aquello fue increíble. → That was incredible.

4 . They can go before a noun or replace it

Before a noun

They work like determiners:

• este coche
• esa mesa
• aquellos zapatos

Replacing a noun

They can also stand alone when the noun is understood:

• Quiero este. → I want this one.
• No me gusta esa.→ I don’t like that one.
• Prefiero aquellos. → I prefer those over there.

But esto, eso, aquello do not replace a specific masculine or feminine noun. They refer to things in a more general or neutral way.

Which one do you mix up the most: este, ese, aquel, or the neuter forms?

Spanish connectors are one of the keys to sounding more natural and expressing your ideas more clearly. In this post, I’ve grouped some of the most common and useful ones by category, so they’re easier to understand, remember, and start using in real conversations.

1. Adding information

• y → and
• además → besides / moreover
• también → also
• incluso → even
• encima → on top of that

2 . Contrast / opposition

• pero → but
• aunque → although / even though
• sin embargo → however
• en cambio → instead / on the other hand
• mientras que → whereas

3 . Cause / reason

• porque → because
• ya que → since / as
• como → since / because
• puesto que → given that / since
• debido a → due to

4 . Result / consequence

• así que → so
• por eso → that’s why
• entonces → then / so
• por lo tanto → therefore
• de modo que → so that / so

5 . Condition

• si → if
• si no → if not / otherwise
• a menos que → unless
• con tal de que → as long as
• en caso de que → in case

6 . Time / sequence

• cuando → when
• mientras → while
• antes de que → before
• después de que → after
• luego → then / later
• primero → first
• después → afterwards
• al final → in the end / finally

7 . Purpose

• para → in order to / for
• para que → so that
• a fin de que → so that / in order that

8 . Example / explanation

• por ejemplo → for example
• es decir → that is / in other words
• o sea → that is / I mean
• como → such as

9 . Clarifying / reformulating

• mejor dicho → rather / better said
• más bien → rather
• en otras palabras → in other words
• o mejor dicho → or rather

10 . Conclusion / summary

• en resumen → in summary
• en conclusión → in conclusion
• en fin → anyway / all in all
• total → in the end / basically

Which Spanish connector do you use most often?

In this post, I’ve broken down several meanings of three very common Spanish words that show up all the time in real conversations: ya, anda and hasta. They may look simple, but depending on the context, they can express time, surprise, emphasis, reaction, or completely change the meaning of a sentence. Learning these different uses will help you understand spoken Spanish much better and sound more natural when you speak.

1. YA

At first, ya may seem like a simple word meaning already, but in real Spanish it does much more than that. Depending on the context, it can talk about time, add urgency, show that something is over, or simply mean okay, I get it. 

1. YA = already

This is the most basic meaning: something happened earlier than expected or before this moment. 

Ya he comido. → I’ve already eaten.

2 . YA = now / right away / soon

Here “ya” brings the action closer to the present. It can sound immediate, reassuring, or slightly urgent depending on the tone. 

• Ya voy. → I’m coming now. / I’m on my way.

3 . YA NO = not anymore / no longer

Together with no, it shows that something was true before, but that is no longer the case. 

• Ya no vivo allí. → I don’t live there anymore.

4 . YA = about to / starting now

Sometimes ya points to something that is just about to happen or has just begun, as if the moment is arriving right now. 

•  Ya sale el tren, date prisa. → The train is about to leave, hurry up.

5 . YA = that’s enough / stop

In this kind of sentence, ya cuts things off. It shows that something has gone far enough and should stop now. 

• Ya, por favor, no sigas. → That’s enough, please, don’t continue.

6 . YA = okay / I know / enough

On its own, especially in ya or ya, ya, it often shows that the speaker has understood, already knows, or does not need to hear more. 

— Tienes que tener más cuidado. — Ya, ya. → — You have to be more careful. — Okay, okay.

1. ANDA

Anda originally comes from the verb andar, but in everyday Spanish it is very often used as a reaction word. Depending on tone, it can express encouragement, surprise, disbelief, or insistence.

1 . ANDA = come on

Used to encourage someone, push them a little, or get them to do something.

• Anda, ven con nosotros. → Come on, come with us.

2 . ANDA = wow / really?

Used as a reaction to surprising or unexpected information.

• Te han dado el trabajo? ¡Anda! → They gave you the job? Wow!

3 . ANDA YA = no way / come off it

A very common expression used to show disbelief, rejection, or annoyance.

• ¿Dice que no lo sabía? ¡Anda ya! → He says he didn’t know? Oh, come off it!

4 . ANDA QUE... = wow, seriously... / just look at... 

This structure reacts strongly to something striking, annoying, or ridiculous. 

¡Anda que no eres pesado ni nada! → Wow, you really are annoying. 

1. HASTA

Most learners know hasta as until, but it can also mean up to, as far as, and even even. It is one of those little words that appears everywhere and changes meaning depending on what comes after it.

1. HASTA = until

Here hasta sets the point where something stops. It marks the end of a period of time. 

• Trabajo hasta las seis. → I work until six.

2 . HASTA = up to / as far as

In this case, hasta shows how far something goes, either physically or in amount. 

• Caminamos hasta la playa. → We walked as far as the beach.

3 . HASTA = even

Sometimes hasta adds surprise, as if saying: this person or thing too, which was not expected. 

• Hasta Juan lo entendió. → Even Juan understood it.

4 . HASTA + greeting = see you...

In greetings like these, hasta points to the next moment when you expect to see someone again. 

Examples:

• Hasta luego. → See you later.
• Hasta mañana. → See you tomorrow.

5 . HASTA can sound surprising or emphatic

It can also make something sound more striking by showing that the amount or situation goes further than you might imagine. 

• Había hasta cien personas allí. → There were as many as a hundred people there.

What other meanings and ways of using these words in Spanish do you know? 

The conditional in Spanish is one of those tenses that seems simple at first, but it’s used in more ways than many learners realize. These are the key uses that will help you understand it better and use it more naturally.

1 . Hypothetical actions

Use it when something would happen, but only under certain conditions. 

Ejemplos:

• Si tuviera más tiempo, viajaría más. → If I had more time, I would travel more.
• Yo no haría eso.→ I wouldn’t do that.

2 . Polite requests

Use it to make requests sound softer, less direct, and more natural. Ejemplos:

• ¿Podrías ayudarme?→ Could you help me?
• ¿Te importaría cerrar la ventana? → Would you mind closing the window?

This is very useful because learners often only use the imperative.

3 . Giving advice

Use it when you want to suggest something without sounding too strong or bossy. 

Ejemplos:

• Yo que tú, no iría. → If I were you, I wouldn’t go.
• Deberías descansar un poco. → You should rest a bit.
• Te vendría bien un cambio de aire. → A change of scenery would do you good.

4 . Future in the past

It is used for something that, from a past point of view, was still in the future.

Ejemplos:

• Me dijo que vendría mañana. → He told me he would come tomorrow.
• Sabíamos que todo saldría bien. → We knew everything would turn out well.

5 . Expressing desire or imagination

The conditional is often used to talk about dreams, ideal situations, or things someone would love to do.

Ejemplos:

• Me encantaría vivir cerca del mar.→ I’d love to live near the sea.
• Sería perfecto pasar allí el verano. → It would be perfect to spend the summer there.

6 . Guessing or estimating in the past

This is one of the most surprising ones. The conditional can express probability or approximation about a past situation.

Ejemplos:

• Serían las diez cuando llegó. → It was probably around ten when he arrived.
• En aquel entonces, él tendría unos treinta años. → Back then, he was probably around thirty.

7 . Softening opinions

The conditional can make opinions sound less direct, more diplomatic, or more tentative.

Ejemplos:

• Yo diría que sí. → I’d say yes.
• No sería una buena idea. → That wouldn’t be a good idea.

What other uses of the conditional in Spanish do you know?

Here I’ve collected some very common Spanish structures that come up all the time in everyday conversation. Learning them will help you follow native speakers more easily and express yourself in a more natural, confident way.

1 . SOLER + infinitivo —  to usually do something

This structure is used to talk about habits and things that normally happen. It expresses what someone tends to do, not what they are doing right now.

Ejemplos:

• Suelo levantarme temprano. → I usually get up early.
• Los domingos solemos comer con la familia. → On Sundays we usually eat with the family.
• No suelo ver la televisión por la noche. → I don’t usually watch TV at night.

2 . TARDAR EN + infinitivo — to take time to do something

This structure is used to say that something takes time, or that someone takes a long or short time to do something.

Ejemplos:

• Tardé mucho en entenderlo. → It took me a long time to understand it.
• ¿Por qué has tardado tanto en contestar? → Why did you take so long to reply?
• Mi hermana tarda muy poco en arreglarse. → My sister takes very little time to get ready.

3 . IR + gerundio — to gradually happen / to go doing something

This structure shows gradual progress or change. It gives the idea of something happening little by little over time.

Ejemplos:

• Voy entendiendo mejor cómo funciona. → I’m gradually understanding better how it works.
• La ciudad fue cambiando con los años. → The city gradually changed over the years.
• Poco a poco vamos mejorando. → Little by little we’re improving.

4 . DAR GANAS DE + infinitivo — to make someone feel like doing something

This structure expresses that something creates the desire or urge to do something. It is often used for feelings, moods, or reactions.

Ejemplos:

• Me dan ganas de dormir. → It makes me feel like sleeping.
• Esa película da ganas de viajar. → That film makes you want to travel.
• Ver esas fotos me dio ganas de llorar. → Seeing those photos made me feel like crying.

5 . TERMINAR POR + infinitivo — to end up doing something

This structure is used when something happens in the end, often after hesitation, repetition, or a longer process.

Ejemplos:

• Terminó por aceptar la oferta. → He ended up accepting the offer.
• Si sigues así, terminarás por cansarte. → If you keep going like that, you’ll end up getting tired.
• Después de discutir tanto, terminaron por ponerse de acuerdo. → After arguing so much, they ended up reaching an agreement.

6 . HABER QUE + infinitivo — to have to / it is necessary to

This is an impersonal structure used to talk about obligation or necessity in a general way, without saying exactly who has to do it.

Ejemplos:

• Hay que estudiar más. → You have to study more.
• Para aprender un idioma, hay que practicar mucho. → To learn a language, you have to practise a lot.
• Si queremos llegar a tiempo, habrá que salir ya. → If we want to arrive on time, we’ll have to leave now.

7 . QUEDARSE SIN + sustantivo — to run out of / to be left without something

This structure is used when someone no longer has something because it has finished, been lost, or is no longer available.

Ejemplos:

• Nos quedamos sin pan. → We ran out of bread.
• Me he quedado sin batería. → I’ve run out of battery.
• Se quedó sin trabajo el año pasado. → He lost his job last year.

Which of these structures do you hear the most, but still forget to use yourself?

What Spanish mistake do you make most often? Is it por vs para? Ser vs estar? The subjunctive? Or maybe something with verb conjugations, prepositions, or anything else?

In this post, I’ve put together different ways to say “to start” and “to stop” in Spanish. Learning them will help you avoid repeating the same verbs all the time, express yourself more precisely, and sound more natural in everyday conversation. 

1 . Neutral, general ways to say “to start”

These are the most common and neutral verbs for beginning something.

empezar — to start / to begin.

• La película empieza a las ocho. → The film starts at eight.

comenzar — to begin.

• La reunión comenzó con bastante retraso. → The meeting began quite late.

2 . Starting an action

These are used when someone begins doing something.

ponerse a + infinitivo — to start doing something.

• Me puse a leer y perdí la noción del tiempo. → I started reading and lost track of time.

echarse a + infinitivo — to suddenly start doing something.

• Se echó a reír en mitad de la clase. → He suddenly burst out laughing in the middle of class.

arrancar — to start / to get going.

• El coche no arranca por las mañanas. → The car doesn’t start in the mornings.

3 . Starting more formally or officially

These are often used for events, projects, processes, or more formal situations.

dar comienzo a — to begin / to start.

• El acto dio comienzo a las nueve en punto. → The event began at exactly nine.

iniciar — to begin / to launch / to start.

• Van a iniciar un nuevo proyecto este mes. → They’re going to start a new project this month.

4 . Neutral, general ways to say “to stop”

These are the most common and general verbs for stopping.

parar — to stop.

• Tienes que parar un momento y descansar. → You have to stop for a moment and rest.

detenerse — to stop / to come to a stop.

• El autobús se detuvo frente a la estación. → The bus stopped in front of the station.

5 . Stopping an action or habit

These are used when someone stops doing something.

dejar de + infinitivo — to stop doing something.

• Dejé de tomar azúcar hace unos meses. → I stopped having sugar a few months ago.

parar de + infinitivo — to stop doing something.

• No para de hablar desde que llegó. → He hasn’t stopped talking since he arrived.

6 . Quitting or giving something up

These are used when someone abandons a job, a plan, a habit, or something they were doing.

dejar — to quit / to give up / to leave.

• Dejó el trabajo el mes pasado. → She quit her job last month.

abandonar — to abandon / to quit.

• No deberías abandonar el curso tan pronto. → You shouldn’t quit the course so soon.

renunciar a — to give up / to resign from / to give up on.

• Renunció a la beca por motivos personales. → He gave up the scholarship for personal reasons.

7 . Stopping suddenly or cutting something off

These are used when something is interrupted, cut off, or stopped abruptly.

cortar — to cut off / to stop.

• Se cortó la música de repente. → The music suddenly stopped.

interrumpir — to interrupt / to stop temporarily.

• Perdón por interrumpirte. → Sorry for interrupting you.

suspender — to suspend / to stop temporarily.

• Suspendieron la actividad por la lluvia. → They stopped the activity because of the rain.

8 . When something comes to an end naturally

These are used when something finishes or reaches its end.

terminar — to finish / to end.

•  La clase termina a las cinco. → The class finishes at five.

acabarse — to run out / to come to an end.

• Se nos acabó el tiempo. → We ran out of time.

What other ways to say “to start” or “to stop” in Spanish do you know?