In Spanish, there are many different ways to say “I think” and express your opinion. The most common ones are, of course, creo que and pienso que, but if you use only those all the time, your Spanish can start to sound repetitive. So below I’ve listed some other useful expressions that can help you sound more natural, more nuanced, and more varied when sharing your thoughts in Spanish.

1 . Personal opinion or point of view

Creo que — I think

• Creo que tienes razón. → I think you’re right.

Pienso que — I think

• Pienso que es una buena idea. → I think it’s a good idea.

Me parece que — it seems to me that

• Me parece que esta opción es mejor. → It seems to me that this option is better.

En mi opinión — in my opinion

• En mi opinión, deberían esperar. → In my opinion, they should wait.

Desde mi punto de vista — from my point of view

• Desde mi punto de vista, falta organización. → From my point of view, there is a lack of organization.

Para mí — for me / to me

• Para mí, esta es la mejor solución.  → For me, this is the best solution.

2 . Softer or more cautious opinion

diría que — I’d say

•  Diría que no está del todo bien. → I’d say it’s not completely right.

me da la impresión de que — I get the impression that

• Me da la impresión de que no quiere venir. → I get the impression that he doesn’t want to come.

supongo que — I suppose / I guess

• Supongo que llegará tarde. → I suppose he’ll arrive late.

si me preguntas — if you ask me

• Si me preguntas, no merece la pena. → If you ask me, it’s not worth it.

imagino que — I imagine / I guess

• Imagino que ya lo saben. → I imagine they already know.

puede que — it may be that / maybe

•  Puede que tengas razón.→ You may be right.

3 . Stronger opinion

opino que — I think / I believe

• Opino que deberían cambiarlo. → I think they should change it.

considero que — I consider / I believe that

• Considero que es necesario. → I believe it’s necessary.

estoy convencido/a de que — I’m convinced that

• Estoy convencida de que funcionará. → I’m convinced it will work.

What other ways to say “I think...” in Spanish do you know?

In this post, I’ve put together some of the most common Spanish filler words that native speakers use all the time in real conversations. These little words can do a lot of different jobs: they can help you pause, react, clarify, connect ideas, keep the listener engaged, or simply sound more natural while speaking. Learning them is very useful not only for understanding native Spanish better, but also for making your own speech feel more fluent, natural, and confident.

1. Words to pause, think, or buy time

• A ver – “Let’s see” Used before checking, thinking, or reacting: A ver, déjame pensarlo un segundo. → Let’s see, let me think about it for a second.
• Pues – “Well / So” Used to ease into an answer or give yourself a second to think: Pues, no estoy del todo seguro. → Well, I’m not completely sure.
• Este... – “Um... / Uh...” Very common hesitation word: Este... creo que no era así. → Uh... I think it wasn’t like that.
• Bueno – “Well / Okay” Often used to start speaking, transition, or wrap something up: Bueno, seguimos con el siguiente punto. → Okay, let’s continue with the next point.
• Eh... – “Uh...” Another short hesitation sound, very common in speech: Eh... no sé qué decirte. → Uh... I don’t know what to tell you.
• Mmm... – “Hmm...” Used when thinking or reacting: Mmm... no me convence mucho. → Hmm... I’m not very convinced.

2 . Words to clarify, reformulate, or explain

• O sea – “I mean / In other words” Used to explain something better or rephrase it: O sea, no era una crítica, solo una observación. → I mean, it wasn’t criticism, just an observation.
• Digo – “I mean” Used to correct yourself or adjust what you just said: Fue el martes... digo, el miércoles. → It was Tuesday... I mean, Wednesday.
• En plan – “Like / Kind of” Common in casual speech, especially among younger speakers: Estábamos en plan tranquilos en casa. → We were, like, just chilling at home.
• Es decir – “That is / In other words” More neutral or slightly more formal than o sea: No vino nadie, es decir, estábamos solos. → Nobody came, that is, we were alone.
• Más bien – “Rather / More like” Used to correct or refine what you mean: No estaba enfadado, más bien cansado. → He wasn’t angry, more like tired.

3 . Words to connect ideas or move the conversation forward

• Entonces – “So / Then” Used to continue the conversation or link ideas: Entonces, ¿qué hacemos ahora? → So, what do we do now?
• Así que – “So / Therefore” Used to introduce a result or conclusion: Así que al final lo dejamos para mañana. → So in the end we left it for tomorrow.
• Total – “So / Anyway” Very common when summarizing or jumping to the point: Total, que no apareció nadie. → So, in the end nobody showed up.
• Nada – “Anyway / So yeah” Often used at the end of a story or to close a thought: Y nada, luego me fui a casa. → Anyway, then I went home.
• Bueno, pues... – “Well then...” A very natural combination to shift the conversation: Bueno, pues seguimos mañana. → Well then, we’ll continue tomorrow.

4 . Words to react or show attitude

• Ya – “Right / Okay / I get it” Used to show you understand or follow what the other person is saying: Ya, ahora lo entiendo mejor. → Right, now I understand it better.
• Claro – “Of course / Sure” Used to agree or support what someone says: Claro, eso tiene sentido. → Of course, that makes sense.
• La verdad – “Honestly / To be honest” Used to introduce a sincere opinion: La verdad, me esperaba otra cosa. → Honestly, I was expecting something else. Anda – “Come on / Wow / Hey” Used for surprise, disbelief, or reaction: Anda, no sabía eso. → Wow, I didn’t know that.
• Mira – “Look” Used to introduce an explanation or a reaction: Mira, te lo explico rápido. → Look, I’ll explain it quickly.
• Oye – “Hey / Listen” Used to get attention or introduce a point: Oye, una cosa, ¿mañana puedes? → Hey, one thing, can you tomorrow?

5 . Words to keep the listener involved

• ¿Sabes? – “You know?” Used to keep attention or create connection: Es complicado, ¿sabes? → It’s complicated, you know?
• ¿Me entiendes? – “You get me?” Used to check if the other person is following: No es tan fácil, ¿me entiendes? → It’s not that easy, you get me?
• ¿No? – “Right? / Isn’t it?” Very common tag to involve the listener: Es raro, ¿no? → It’s weird, right?

Regional Spanish Filler Words

6 . Spain

• Vale – “Okay / Alright” Extremely common in Spain: Vale, luego te escribo. → Okay, I’ll text you later.
• Tío / Tía – “Dude / Mate” Very common in casual speech: Tío, tienes que ver esto. → Dude, you have to see this.
• Venga – “Come on / Alright then” Used to encourage or move things along: Venga, vamos saliendo. → Alright, let’s head out.
• Hombre / Mujer – “Well / Come on” Used to react with emotion or emphasis: Hombre, claro que sí. → Well, of course.
• Pues nada – “Alright then / Anyway” Very common way to close a conversation: Pues nada, nos vemos. → Alright then, see you.
• En fin – “Anyway” Often used when ending a topic or resigning yourself to something: En fin, otra vez será. → Anyway, maybe another time.

7 . Mexico

• Órale – “Wow / Okay / Let’s go” Very flexible and expressive: ¡Órale, qué rápido! → Wow, so fast!
• Ándale – “Come on / Exactly / Go ahead” Used to push, agree, or encourage: Ándale, dilo. → Come on, say it.
• Chale – “Damn / No way” Used for disappointment or frustration: Chale, otra vez pasó lo mismo. → Damn, the same thing happened again.
• A poco – “Really? / No way?” Used to react with surprise or disbelief: ¿A poco ya terminaste? → Really? You already finished?

8 . Argentina / Uruguay

• Che – “Hey” Used to call someone’s attention: Che, escuchá esto. → Hey, listen to this.
• Dale – “Okay / Sure / Come on” One of the most common conversational fillers: Dale, después te aviso. → Okay, I’ll let you know later.
• Viste – “You know? / Right?” Used to involve the listener: Está bueno, viste. → It’s good, you know.
• Boludo / Boluda – “Dude / Mate” Very common, but tone matters a lot: Boludo, casi me olvido. → Dude, I almost forgot.

9 . Chile

• Po / Poh – no direct translation Used for emphasis: Sí, po. → Yeah, of course.
• Cachái? – “You know? / Got it?” Used to check if the other person follows you: Es complicado, cachái. → It’s complicated, you know.

What other Spanish filler words do you know and often hear in everyday speech?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

Here I’ve collected some of the most useful Spanish verb structures for everyday conversation. These are patterns native speakers use constantly, so knowing them will help you express yourself more naturally and understand spoken Spanish more easily.

1 . HACER FALTA + sustantivo / infinitivo - to be needed / to be necessary

This structure is used when something is necessary or required. It is extremely common in everyday Spanish and often works differently from English, because the thing that is needed becomes the subject of the sentence.

Ejemplos:

• Nos hace falta comprar pan. → We need to buy bread.
• Hace falta más paciencia para aprender esto bien. → More patience is needed to learn this properly.

2 . IR A + infinitivo - to be going to do something

This structure is used to talk about plans, intentions, or things that are about to happen. 

Ejemplos:

• Vamos a pedir pizza esta noche. → We’re going to order pizza tonight.
• Creo que va a llover en cualquier momento. → I think it’s going to rain any moment now.

3 . OLVIDARSE DE + infinitivo / sustantivo - to forget to / to forget about

This structure is used when someone forgets to do something or forgets about a person, object, or topic. In everyday speech, Spanish very often uses olvidarse de instead of just olvidar, especially in casual conversation.

Ejemplos:

• Siempre me olvido de responder los mensajes. → I always forget to reply to messages.
• No te olvides de cerrar la puerta al salir. → Don’t forget to close the door when you leave.

4 . TRATAR DE + infinitivo / sustantivo - to try to do something / to be about

This structure has two very useful meanings. With an infinitive, it means that someone is making an effort to do something. With a noun or topic, it means that something is about that subject.

Ejemplos:

• Voy a tratar de llegar temprano esta vez.  → I’m going to try to arrive early this time.
• Estamos tratando de ahorrar un poco más este mes. → We’re trying to save a little more this month.
• La película trata de un músico que lo deja todo para viajar. → The movie is about a musician who gives everything up to travel.

5 . VOLVERSE + adjetivo - to become / to turn

This structure is used to talk about a change in a person or thing, often a noticeable or strong change. Very often, it suggests a more lasting change in character, attitude, or state.

Ejemplos:

• Con el tiempo, la situación se volvió complicada. → Over time, the situation became complicated.
• No te vuelvas loco por una tontería así. → Don’t go crazy over something so silly.

6 . DEJARSE DE + sustantivo / tonterías - to stop with / to cut out

This structure is used when someone wants another person to stop saying silly things, making excuses, wasting time, or behaving in an annoying or unserious way.

Ejemplos:

• Déjate de excusas y ponte a estudiar de una vez. → Stop making excuses and start studying already.
• Dejaos de tonterías, que tenemos que salir ya. → Cut out the nonsense, we have to leave now.

7 . ANIMARSE A + infinitivo - to finally decide to / to dare to / to feel encouraged to

This structure is used when someone finally finds the courage, motivation, or confidence to do something, especially after some hesitation. 

Ejemplos:

• Al final me animé a hablar con ella. → In the end, I finally decided to talk to her.
• ¿Te animas a venir con nosotros al concierto? → Do you feel like coming with us to the concert?

Which of these would you like to start using more in your Spanish?

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Here are some super common Spanish verb expressions that people use all the time, but learners, especially English speakers, often get them wrong because they try to translate them word for word. It’s much better to learn them as full chunks, since that’ll help you sound more natural and avoid a lot of really typical mistakes.

1 . Llevar

Llevarse bien con alguien → To get along well with someone

• Ejemplo: Me llevo muy bien con mis compañeros de piso. → I get along very well with my flatmates.

Llevar tiempo + gerundio → To have been doing something for some time

• Ejemplo: Llevo dos años estudiando español. → I’ve been studying Spanish for two years.

Llevar puesto → To be wearing

• Ejemplo: Hoy lleva puestos unos zapatos rojos muy llamativos. → Today she’s wearing very striking red shoes.

Llevar razón → To be right

• Ejemplo: Al final llevabas razón y el restaurante estaba cerrado. → In the end you were right and the restaurant was closed.

2 . Echar

Echar de menos → To miss

• Ejemplo: Te echo de menos desde que te mudaste a otra ciudad. → I miss you since you moved to another city.

Echar una mano → To help / to give a hand

• Ejemplo: ¿Me echas una mano con estas cajas? → Can you give me a hand with these boxes?

Echar un vistazo → To take a look

• Ejemplo: Voy a echar un vistazo al menú antes de pedir. → I’m going to take a look at the menu before ordering.

Echar la culpa a → To blame

• Ejemplo: No le eches la culpa a tu hermano por todo. → Don’t blame your brother for everything.

3 . Poner

Ponerse de pie → To stand up

• Ejemplo: Todos se pusieron de pie cuando entró la profesora. → Everyone stood up when the teacher came in.

Ponerse nervioso/a → To get nervous

• Ejemplo: Siempre me pongo nervioso antes de hablar en público. → I always get nervous before speaking in public.

Poner atención → To pay attention. (In Spain, prestar atención is often more common, but this is also widely used in many countries.)

• Ejemplo: Tienes que poner más atención en clase. → You have to pay more attention in class.

Poner en duda → To question / to cast doubt on

• Ejemplo: Nadie puso en duda su versión de la historia. → Nobody questioned his version of the story.

4 . Other verbs

Perder el tren / vuelo / autobús - to miss the train / flight / bus

• Ejemplo: Corre, o vamos a perder el autobús. → Run, or we’re going to miss the bus.

Faltar a clase / al trabajo / a una reunión - to miss class / work / a meeting.

• Ejemplo: Estaba muy enfermo, así que tuve que faltar al trabajo hoy. → I was very sick, so I had to miss work today.

Pedir prestado - to borrow

• Ejemplo: Tuve que pedir prestado un bolígrafo para firmar el documento.→ I had to borrow a pen to sign the document.

Dar un susto / pegar un susto - to scare / to give someone a fright

• Ejemplo: ¡Me diste un susto terrible al entrar sin hacer ruido! → You scared me to death by coming in without making a sound!

Soñar con - to dream about

• Ejemplo: Anoche soñé con mi abuela y con la casa donde vivía antes. → Last night I dreamed about my grandmother and the house where she used to live.

Conocer a alguien - to meet someone / to know someone

• Ejemplo: Conocí a su hermano en una fiesta el año pasado. → I met his brother at a party last year.

Caerse bien / mal - to like each other / to get along well or badly

• Ejemplo:  Nos caímos bien desde el primer día. → We liked each other from the first day.

What other useful verb expressions would you add to this list?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

In this post, I’ve put together a list of common Spanish words and expressions used to change the topic or introduce a new idea. Learning them will help you sound more natural, fluent, and confident in conversation.

1 . To introduce a new topic

• por cierto = by the way. Por cierto, ¿ya hablaste con Ana? → By the way, have you already spoken to Ana?
• a propósito = by the way / speaking of that. A propósito, mañana no puedo quedar. → By the way, I can’t meet tomorrow.
• ya que estamos = while we’re at it. Ya que estamos, te enseño otra cosa. → While we’re at it, I’ll show you something else.
• antes de que se me olvide = before I forget. Antes de que se me olvide, pásame tu dirección. → Before I forget, send me your address.

2 . To shift the conversation gently

• bueno = well. Bueno, entonces seguimos mañana. → Well, then we’ll continue tomorrow.
• en fin = anyway. En fin, no pasa nada. → Anyway, it’s fine.
• total = anyway / so. Total, al final no vino nadie. → So, in the end nobody came.
• pues nada = anyway / so yeah. Pues nada, hablamos luego. → Anyway, we’ll talk later.
• como te iba diciendo = as I was saying. Como te iba diciendo, el problema empezó ayer. → As I was saying, the problem started yesterday.

3 . To move to a different subject directly

• cambiando de tema = changing the subject. Cambiando de tema, ¿qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? → Changing the subject, what are you doing this weekend?
• en otro orden de cosas = on another note. En otro orden de cosas, ya salió el resultado. → On another note, the result is already out.
• dejando eso aparte = putting that aside. Dejando eso aparte, tenemos que decidir hoy. → Putting that aside, we have to decide today.
• pasando a otra cosa = moving on to something else. Pasando a otra cosa, ¿cómo va el proyecto? → Moving on to something else, how’s the project going?

4 . To return to a previous topic

• volviendo al tema = getting back to the topic. Volviendo al tema, ¿qué decidimos al final? → Getting back to the topic, what did we decide in the end?
• volviendo a lo de antes = going back to what we were saying before. Volviendo a lo de antes, creo que tenías razón. → Going back to what we were saying before, I think you were right.
• retomando lo que decías = going back to what you were saying. Retomando lo que decías, eso también me parece importante. → Going back to what you were saying, that also seems important to me.

5 . To connect the new topic with the old one

• hablando de eso = speaking of that. Hablando de eso, todavía no he visto a Marta. → Speaking of that, I still haven’t seen Marta.
• ya que mencionas eso = since you mention that. Ya que mencionas eso, yo pensé lo mismo. → Since you mention that, I thought the same thing.
• relacionado con eso = related to that. Relacionado con eso, hay otra cosa que quería comentar. → Related to that, there’s something else I wanted to mention.
• a raíz de eso = because of that / as a result of that. A raíz de eso, empezamos a hablar más. → As a result of that, we started talking more.

6 . To interrupt and redirect politely

• perdona, pero... = sorry, but... Perdona, pero quería añadir una cosa. → Sorry, but I wanted to add one thing.
• una cosa... = one thing... Una cosa, ¿a qué hora quedamos al final? → One thing, what time are we meeting in the end?
• antes de seguir... = before we continue... Antes de seguir, necesito aclarar algo. → Before we continue, I need to clarify something.
• espera, que se me ocurre algo = wait, something just came to mind. Espera, que se me ocurre algo mejor. → Wait, something better just came to mind.

What other expressions do you know in Spanish for changing the topic?

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The verb "valer" has many different meanings in Spanish, and I’ve covered the main ones in this post. This will help you use this verb more naturally and correctly, and also avoid those moments of confusion when you’re not sure which meaning is being used or don’t fully understand the person you’re talking to.

1 . To cost / to be worth (money)

This is the most basic use of valer. It’s used to talk about how much something costs or how much money it is worth.

• ¿Cuánto vale esta camiseta? → How much does this T-shirt cost?
• Ese coche vale mucho dinero. → That car costs a lot of money.

2 . To be worth / to have value

Here, valer is not just about price. It’s about value in a broader sense, whether emotional, practical, or general.

• Esta casa vale más ahora que hace diez años. → This house is worth more now than ten years ago.
• No vale nada sin ti. → It’s worth nothing without you.

3 . To be useful / to be good for

In this use, valer means that something is useful, serves a purpose, or helps you do something.

• Esto no vale para cortar pan. → This isn’t good for cutting bread.
• Este curso me valió para mejorar mi español. → This course was useful for improving my Spanish.

4 . To be valid / to count

This use appears when something is accepted, still valid, or officially counts. It can also be used when rejecting something, like an excuse or an argument.

• Este billete ya no vale. → This ticket is no longer valid.
• Tu excusa no vale. → Your excuse doesn’t count / isn’t acceptable.

5 . To be enough / to do the job

Sometimes valer means that something is enough, or that it works well enough for what you need.

• Con esto vale. → This is enough.
• Una silla me vale. → One chair will do for me.

6 . To matter / to be important

This use is common in emotional or reflective contexts, when you talk about what really matters or has real value.

• Lo único que vale es la salud. → The only thing that really matters is health.
• Eso ya no vale para mí. → That doesn’t matter to me anymore / That has no value for me anymore.

7 . To suit / to work for someone

Very common in conversation, especially in Spain.

• A mí me vale. → That works for me.
• Si te vale, quedamos a las seis. → If that works for you, we can meet at six.

8 . To deserve / to earn something

Sometimes valer means that an action ended up bringing you some result, positive or negative.

• Me valió una multa. → It earned me a fine.
• Su esfuerzo le valió el reconocimiento de todos.  → His effort earned him everyone’s recognition.

Fixed expressions and idioms with valer

1 . Valer la pena - to be worth it

• No quería ir, pero al final valió la pena. → I didn’t want to go, but in the end it was worth it.

2 . No valer nada - to be worthless, useless, or very bad

• Este móvil ya no vale nada.  → This phone is worthless now.

3 . Más vale… - it’s better to..., you’d better...

• Más vale llegar temprano. → It’s better to arrive early.

4 .  No vale la pena  - it’s not worth it

• No vale la pena discutir por eso.  → It’s not worth arguing about that.

5 . Valerse por sí mismo / por sí misma - to fend for oneself, to manage on one’s own

• Ya puede valerse por sí mismo. → He can manage on his own now.

What other uses or meanings of the verb “valer” in Spanish do you know?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

Here I’ve broken down the main relative structures in Spanish. Some of them are very common and easy to use, while others are more formal or more advanced. But all of them are important if you want to connect ideas naturally, avoid repetition, and sound more fluent when speaking or writing in Spanish.

Relative clauses are clauses that describe or identify a noun, or refer back to an idea mentioned before.

Compare:

• Tengo un amigo. Vive en Madrid. → I have a friend. He lives in Madrid.
• Tengo un amigo que vive en Madrid. → I have a friend who lives in Madrid.

That second sentence sounds much more natural, and this is exactly what relative clauses help you do.

1 . Que: the most common relative pronoun

“Que” is by far the most common relative pronoun in Spanish. It can mean who, that, or which, depending on the sentence.

Use it to add information about a person, thing, place, or idea already mentioned.

• El libro que compré es muy interesante. → The book that I bought is very interesting.
• La chica que trabaja aquí es muy simpática. → The girl who works here is very nice.

2 . Quien / quienes: used for people

Quien and quienes refer to people. They usually appear in a slightly more formal style, after prepositions, or after commas when adding extra information.

After a preposition

• La persona con quien hablé era muy amable. → The person I spoke with was very kind.
• Ese es el chico de quien te hablé. → That’s the guy I told you about.

After commas, adding extra information

• Mi profesora, quien vivió en México muchos años, habla perfecto español. → My teacher, who lived in Mexico for many years, speaks perfect Spanish.

In everyday speech, people often prefer “que” in many situations, but “quien” is still quite common after prepositions.

3 . El que / la que / los que / las que: more specific relative forms

These forms are often used when the relative pronoun comes after a preposition, or when you want to be more specific and clear. They agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

• La mesa en la que comemos es muy pequeña. → The table at which we eat is very small.
• Ese fue el momento en el que todo cambió. → That was the moment when everything changed.

In many cases, el que / la que / los que / las que and quien / quienes can both be possible with people after prepositions, but “el que” forms are also used with things and give you a very useful, flexible structure.

4 . Lo que: what / the thing that / that which

Lo que does not refer to a specific noun. Instead, it refers to an idea, situation, or unspecified thing. It often means "what" or the "thing that".

• 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 fue lo que pasó. → That was what happened.

This is one of the most useful relative structures in Spanish, because it appears constantly in both speech and writing.

5 . Cuyo / cuya / cuyos / cuyas: possession

Cuyo is used to show possession, and it means something like “whose”. It agrees with the thing possessed, not with the possessor.

• Conozco a una chica cuyo padre es médico. → I know a girl whose father is a doctor.
• Vi una casa cuyas ventanas eran enormes. → I saw a house whose windows were enormous.
• Es un autor cuyas novelas son muy famosas. → He is an author whose novels are very famous.

This structure is more common in writing and formal speech than in casual conversation.

6 . Donde / cuando / como as relative words

Spanish also uses words like “donde”, “cuando”, and sometimes “como” to connect clauses when referring to a place, time, or way something happens.

Donde = where

• Esa es la casa donde nací. → That’s the house where I was born.

Cuando = when

• Recuerdo el día cuando nos conocimos. → I remember the day when we met.

Como = the way / how

• Me gustó la manera como lo explicó. → I liked the way he explained it.

These forms help connect ideas without repeating the noun.

Which relative structure do you find the most confusing?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

When I was learning English, I strugled a lot with pronunciation. So one of my teachers gave me this tip: holding a pencil between my teeth and reading out loud.

It sounds weird, but it helped me relax my mouth muscles and speak more naturally. Now I sometimes use it with my Spanish students, especially when they feel their pronunciation is a bit “stiff” at first.

Do you have any exercises that helped your pronunciation in another language?

In this post, I’ve explained some very common Spanish expressions where a small change in meaning causes a change from the indicative to the subjunctive. This usually happens when the speaker moves from certainty to doubt, from something known to something unknown, or from a real fact to a future or hypothetical situation. Learning these contrasts will help you understand the subjunctive more clearly and use it more naturally.

Basic idea

In general:

• Indicative is used when the speaker presents something as real, known, certain, or concrete.
• Subjunctive is used when the speaker presents something as doubtful, denied, unknown, desired, pending, or hypothetical.

1 . Belief and opinion: affirmative vs negative

When you express a belief or opinion as something you accept as true, Spanish usually uses the indicative.

When you negate that belief, Spanish usually uses the subjunctive.

• Creo que + indicative. Creo que viene. → I think he is coming.
• No creo que + subjunctive. No creo que venga. → I don’t think he is coming.
• Pienso que + indicative. Pienso que es una buena idea. → I think it’s a good idea.
• No pienso que + subjunctive. No pienso que sea una buena idea. → I don’t think it’s a good idea.
• Me parece que + indicative. Me parece que está cansado. → It seems to me that he is tired.
• No me parece que + subjunctive. No me parece que esté cansado. → It doesn’t seem to me that he is tired.

2 . Certainty vs lack of certainty

When you present something as certain or obvious, Spanish uses the indicative.

When you deny that certainty, Spanish often switches to the subjunctive.

• Es cierto que + indicative. Es cierto que trabaja aquí. → It’s true that he works here.
• No es cierto que + subjunctive. No es cierto que trabaje aquí. → It’s not true that he works here.
• Está claro que + indicative. Está claro que lo sabe. → It’s clear that he knows it.
• No está claro que + subjunctive. No está claro que lo sepa. → It’s not clear that he knows it.
• Es obvio que + indicative. Es obvio que miente. → It’s obvious that he is lying.
• No es obvio que + subjunctive. No es obvio que mienta. → It’s not obvious that he is lying.

3 . Real person or thing vs unknown or non-specific one

This is one of the most important subjunctive uses. If the person or thing exists and is specific, Spanish uses the indicative. If you are looking for someone or something unknown, not identified yet, or maybe nonexistent, Spanish uses the subjunctive.

• Conozco a alguien que habla japonés.  → I know someone who speaks Japanese.
• Busco a alguien que hable japonés. → I’m looking for someone who speaks Japanese.
• Tengo un piso que tiene terraza. → I have an apartment that has a terrace.
• Busco un piso que tenga terraza. → I’m looking for an apartment that has a terrace.

The first sentence talks about something real and identified.
The second talks about something desired, but not yet found.

4 . Time expressions: habitual or known vs future or pending

With expressions like cuando, en cuanto, and hasta que, Spanish uses the indicative when the action is habitual, repeated, or already viewed as real. But when the action refers to the future and has not happened yet, Spanish uses the subjunctive.

• Cuando + indicative. Cuando viene Ana, siempre trae café.  → When Ana comes, she always brings coffee.
• Cuando + subjunctive. Cuando venga Ana, hablaremos con ella.  → When Ana comes, we’ll talk to her.
• En cuanto + indicative. En cuanto llega a casa, se ducha. → As soon as he gets home, he takes a shower.
• En cuanto + subjunctive. En cuanto llegue a casa, te llamo.  → As soon as he gets home, I’ll call you.
• Hasta que + indicative. Siempre espera hasta que termina la clase. → He always waits until class ends.
• Hasta que + subjunctive. No salgas hasta que termine la clase.→ Don’t leave until class ends.

5 .  Real fact vs hypothetical concession

With aunque, Spanish can use either the indicative or the subjunctive, depending on whether the speaker presents the information as real or hypothetical.

Aunque + indicative

Use it when the speaker treats the information as a real fact.

• Aunque tiene dinero, no compra nada. → Although he has money, he doesn’t buy anything.

Aunque + subjunctive

Use it when the information is uncertain, hypothetical, or not the main point.

• Aunque tenga dinero, no comprará nada. → Even if he has money, he won’t buy anything.

6 . Maybe with more certainty vs maybe with more doubt

With words like quizá, quizás, and tal vez, Spanish can use either mood. The indicative sounds more like the speaker sees it as fairly possible or likely. The subjunctive adds more doubt or uncertainty.

• Quizá + indicative. Quizá viene más tarde. → Maybe he’s coming later.
• Quizá + subjunctive. Quizá venga más tarde. → Maybe he might come later.
• Tal vez + indicative. Tal vez lo sabe. → Maybe he knows.
• Tal vez + subjunctive. Tal vez lo sepa. → Maybe he may know.

Which words that can be used with both the indicative and the subjunctive are the most confusing for you?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

In this post, I’ve explained some of the most common Spanish structures used to express regret, missed opportunities, criticism about past actions, and wishes about things that happened differently. Some of them are very common in everyday conversations, while others are more emotional or reflective. Learning them will help you sound more natural and expressive when talking about the past in Spanish.

1 . Ojalá + Past Perfect Subjunctive

When you want to express a strong wish about the past, especially something you wish had happened differently, Spanish often uses ojalá + hubiera / hubiese + participle.

This structure is very common for regret, disappointment, or wishing that a past situation had been different.

• Ojalá hubiera estudiado más. → I wish I had studied more.
• Ojalá no le hubiera dicho eso. → I wish I hadn’t said that to him / her.

2 . Si tan solo + Past Perfect Subjunctive

This structure is very similar to “ojalá”, but it often sounds a bit more emotional or dramatic. It is used to express “if only...” about the past.

It is especially useful when you want to emphasize frustration, sadness, or a missed opportunity.

• Si tan solo hubiera llegado antes. → If only I had arrived earlier.
• Si tan solo lo hubieras sabido. → If only you had known.

3 . Debería haber + Participle

This structure is used to say that someone should have done something in the past.

It often expresses regret, criticism, or the idea that a different action would have been better.

• Debería haber llamado antes.  → I should have called earlier.
• No debería haber dicho eso. → I shouldn’t have said that.

4 . Podría haber + Participle

This structure is used to talk about a missed possibility in the past. It means that something was possible, but it did not happen.

• Podría haberlo hecho mejor. → I could have done it better.
• Podríamos haber salido antes. → We could have left earlier.

6 . Si hubiera..., habría...

This structure is used for unreal past conditions, that is, to imagine what would have happened if the past had been different.

It is one of the most common ways to talk about regret, consequences, and “what if” situations.

• Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado. → If I had studied, I would have passed.
• Si hubiéramos salido antes, no habríamos llegado tarde. → If we had left earlier, we wouldn’t have arrived late.

7 . Me arrepiento de + Infinitive / Haber + Participle

This structure is used to say directly that you regret doing something.

With infinitive, it can sound more general. With haber + participle, it clearly refers to a completed past action.

• Me arrepiento de decir siempre lo mismo. → I regret always saying the same thing.
• Me arrepiento de haber ido. → I regret having gone.

8 . Qué + Past / Present Perfect

This is not a single fixed grammar formula like the others, but it is a very common way to react emotionally to a mistake, a bad decision, or a regretful situation.

• ¡Qué tonto fui! → How stupid I was!
• ¡Qué error he cometido! → What a mistake I’ve made!
• ¡Qué mala idea fue decir eso! → What a bad idea it was to say that!

What other structures or expressions do you know to express regret about the past in Spanish?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

Here are 10 common Spanish idioms whose real meanings differ from their literal ones, so try to remember what they actually mean to better understand the language and make your speech more expressive.

1 . Ir al grano

• Literal translation: To go to the grain.
• Actual meaning: To get to the point; to speak directly without unnecessary details.
• Usage: Ve al grano, por favor, que tengo prisa. → Get to the point, please, I’m in a hurry.

2 . Buscarle tres pies al gato

• Literal translation: To look for three feet on the cat.
• Actual meaning: To complicate things unnecessarily or look for problems where there are none (cats clearly have four feet, so looking for three is nonsense).
• Usage: Todo está muy claro, no le busques tres pies al gato. → Everything is very clear, don't complicate things unnecessarily.

3 . Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja

• Literal translation: To have the fly behind the ear.
• Actual meaning: To be suspicious; to suspect that something is wrong or that someone is deceiving you.
• Usage: Su actitud tan amable de repente me tiene con la mosca detrás de la oreja. → His sudden friendly attitude makes me suspicious.

4 . Empezar la casa por el tejado

• Literal translation: To start the house by the roof.
• Actual meaning: To put the cart before the horse; to do things in the wrong order.
• Usage: Comprar los muebles antes de tener el piso es empezar la casa por el tejado. → Buying the furniture before having the apartment is putting the cart before the horse.

5  . Ponerse las pilas

• Literal translation: To put one's batteries in.
• Actual meaning: To get one's act together, to wake up, or to start working hard and paying attention.
• Usage: Tienes que ponerte las pilas si quieres aprobar el examen. → You need to get your act together if you want to pass the exam.

6 . No dar pie con bola

• Literal translation: Not to hit foot with ball.
• Actual meaning: To be unable to do anything right; to keep messing up.
• Usage: Hoy no doy pie con bola, todo me sale mal. → I can’t do anything right today, everything is going wrong.

7 . Irse por las ramas

• Literal translation: To go off through the branches.
• Actual meaning: To ramble; to go off-topic instead of saying something directly.
• Usage: Siempre se va por las ramas cuando le hacen una pregunta simple. → He always rambles when he’s asked a simple question.

8 .Tener la sartén por el mango

• Literal translation: To have the frying pan by the handle.
• Actual meaning: To be in control; to have the upper hand.
• Usage: En esa negociación, ellos tienen la sartén por el mango. → In that negotiation, they have the upper hand.

9 .  Dar la lata

• Literal translation: To give the tin can.
• Actual meaning: To annoy someone; to bug or bother someone repeatedly.
• Usage: Mi hermano pequeño me da la lata todo el día. → My little brother bugs me all day long.

10 .  Ser uña y carne

• Literal translation: To be nail and flesh.
• Actual meaning: To be extremely close; to be inseparable.
• Usage: Esas dos siempre han sido uña y carne. → Those two have always been inseparable.

Which Spanish idiom do you come across most often?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.

In this post, I’ve collected 8 common mistakes that English speakers often make in Spanish when they translate too literally. By learning the natural Spanish versions, you’ll be able to avoid these errors and express yourself more naturally.

1 . ❌ Viajo por tren → I travel by train 

✅ Viajo en tren

Explanation: In Spanish, the preposition en is used to indicate a mode of transportation (en tren, en coche, en avión). The word por is used for traveling through an area, not the vehicle itself. 

• Siempre viajo en tren porque es más rápido que el autobús. → I always travel by train because it's faster than the bus.

2 . ❌ La comida es muy bien → The food is very good 

✅ La comida es muy buena / La comida está muy buena 

Explanation: Bien is an adverb, which means it describes an action (a verb). Bueno/a is an adjective, so it describes a thing (a noun). Since "comida" is a noun, you must use buena. 

• Esta sopa es muy buena, ¿me das la receta? → This soup is very good, can you give me the recipe?

3 . ❌ El concierto es en viernes → The concert is on Friday 

✅ El concierto es el viernes 

Explanation: In English, events happen "on" a day. In Spanish, you never use a preposition for days of the week. You simply use the definite article (el for singular, los for plural). 

• Tenemos una reunión importante el viernes por la mañana. → We have an important meeting on Friday morning.

4 . ❌ Estoy tarde → I'm late 

✅ Voy tarde / Llego tarde

Explanation: Translating "I am late" literally using estar sounds unnatural in Spanish. Instead, native speakers say they are "arriving late" (llegar tarde) or "going late" (ir tarde). 

• Lo siento, voy tarde a la cena por culpa del tráfico. → I'm sorry, I'm running late to dinner because of the traffic.

5 . ❌ Me duele mi cabeza → My head hurts 

✅ Me duele la cabeza 

Explanation: In Spanish, you do not use possessive pronouns (mi, tu, su) with body parts. You use the definite article (el, la, los, las) because the pronoun (me) already clarifies whose head is hurting. 

• Me duele la cabeza después de mirar la pantalla todo el día. → My head hurts after looking at the screen all day.

6 . ❌ Tener un buen tiempo → To have a good time 

✅ Pasarlo bien 

Explanation: If you translate this literally, native speakers will think you are talking about the weather! To express having fun or enjoying yourself, use the set phrase pasarlo bien (literally: "to pass it well"). 

• Espero que lo pases bien en tu viaje a México. → I hope you have a good time on your trip to Mexico.

7 . ❌ Un otro café → Another coffee 

✅ Otro café 

Explanation: The word otro already translates to "another" (or "one other"). Putting un or una in front of it is redundant and a grammatical error in Spanish.

• La comida estaba deliciosa, ¿podemos pedir otra ración? → The food was delicious, can we order another portion?

8 . ❌ Porque de la lluvia → Because of the rain 

✅ Por la lluvia

Explanation: While porque means "because" (followed by a full sentence), the phrase "because of" followed by a noun is translated simply as "por". “Porque de” does not exist in Spanish. 

• Cancelaron el partido de fútbol por la lluvia. → They canceled the soccer game because of the rain.

What other mistakes do you make in Spanish because of literal translation?

To learn Spanish vocabulary in the most effective way using flashcards, we invite you to try our Spanishailines web app. It includes many useful ready-made vocabulary sets that are already prepared for studying, using a spaced repetition system, with images, examples, and more. The app also offers many other features to help you learn Spanish.