Learn Spanish by speaking it

Your first Spanish phrases

From section 1, First Steps. Every phrase in the course comes with a tip like these.

• 👋
  Hola Hello

  One word for any hour of the day, and the h is always silent.

• ☀️
  Buenos días Good morning

  Literally 'good days'. Use it until lunchtime.

• ☕️
  Un café, por favor A coffee, please

  'Un' for masculine words like 'café', 'una' for feminine.

• 🪑
  Una mesa para dos A table for two

  'Para' means 'for'. 'Mesa' is feminine, so 'una'.

• 🚉
  ¿Dónde está la estación? Where is the station?

  'Está' is for where something is located.

• ⬅️
  Gira a la izquierda Turn left

  'Izquierda' is left; 'derecha' is right.

• 🔢
  Uno, dos, tres One, two, three

  'Uno' becomes 'un' before a masculine noun.

• ✋
  Cuatro y cinco Four and five

  'Y' means 'and'.

• 🔢
  Veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three

  The twenties are one word; from thirty on they split: treinta y uno.

• 💶
  Son cuarenta euros That will be forty euros

  'Son' for any plural amount; 'es' only for one euro.

The Spanish course, section by section

Each section has five units of five lessons, a review and a grammar guidebook.

1. A1 Section 1: First StepsSay hello, order, count and find your way

   First Words

   Say hello and introduce yourself

   Greetings · Introductions · Politeness · Getting Help · Small Talk

   “Hola”

   Food & Drinks

   Order like a local

   At the Café · Ordering Food · Tastes · Drinks · The Bill

   “Un café, por favor”

   Getting Around

   Find your way in a new city

   Asking the Way · Taking a Taxi · Public Transport · At the Hotel · Sightseeing

   “¿Dónde está la estación?”

   Numbers & Money

   Count, pay and tell the time

   Counting · Prices · Time · Days · At the Bank

   “Uno, dos, tres”

   The Calendar

   Bigger numbers, months and dates

   Bigger Numbers · Months · Dates · Picking a Day · How Long

   “Veintiuno, veintidós, veintitrés”

   Guidebook: 15 grammar notes

   • Ser and estar: two ways to say 'to be'. 'Soy' (ser) is for who you are and where you are from. 'Estoy' (estar) is for how you are right now.
   • ¿ and ¡. Spanish questions start with an upside-down question mark and exclamations with an upside-down exclamation mark.
   • Me llamo. 'Me llamo' is literally 'I call myself'. Ask back with 'cómo te llamas'.
   • Ordering with 'por favor'. Name the thing, then add 'por favor'. 'Un' or 'una' is for one; a number replaces it for more.
2. A1 Section 2: Everyday LifeShops, health, family, food and your routine

   Shopping

   Buy what you need

   At the Shop · Sizes & Colors · At the Market · Pharmacy · Returns

   “Solo estoy mirando”

   Health & Safety

   Get help when you need it

   How You Feel · At the Doctor · Emergencies · The Body · Staying Safe

   “No me siento bien”

   Family & Friends

   Talk about the people in your life

   My Family · Friends · About You · Describing People · Invitations

   “Esta es mi madre”

   Daily Life

   Your day from morning to night

   Morning · At Work · Evening · Free Time · Chores

   “Me despierto a las siete”

   Food & Cooking

   Groceries, the kitchen and eating at home

   At the Supermarket · Fruit & Vegetables · In the Fridge · Simple Cooking · Eating at Home

   “¿Dónde está el pan?”

   Guidebook: 15 grammar notes

   • ¿Tienen…? in a shop. 'Tienen' is the plural 'you have', used for staff. It asks if the shop stocks something.
   • Más + adjective. There is no '-er' in Spanish: 'más grande' is bigger, 'más pequeño' smaller.
   • Lo and la: 'it'. 'Lo' stands for a masculine thing and 'la' for a feminine one. They go before the verb.
   • Me duele. 'Me duele' + body part is 'it hurts me'. Use 'el' or 'la', not 'mi', for the body part.
3. A2 Section 3: Making PlansWeather, feelings, home, clothes and your phone

   Weather & Plans

   Talk about today and tomorrow

   Weather · Seasons · Making Plans · Trips · Changing Plans

   “Hoy hace sol”

   Feelings & Opinions

   Say what you think and feel

   Feelings · Opinions · Likes & Dislikes · Compliments · Wishes

   “Estoy feliz”

   Home & Living

   Your place and the people around it

   My Home · Renting · Problems at Home · Neighbors · Guests

   “Vivo en un apartamento”

   Phone & Internet

   Calls, messages and Wi-Fi

   Phone Calls · Messages · Wi-Fi & Data · Apps & Photos · Tech Problems

   “¿Te puedo llamar luego?”

   What to Wear

   Clothes, the weather and your own style

   Getting Dressed · Dressing for the Weather · What Suits You · Looking After Clothes · Style & Taste

   “Me estoy vistiendo”

   Guidebook: 15 grammar notes

   • Weather with 'hace' and 'está'. Temperature uses 'hace': hace frío, hace calor. Rain uses 'está lloviendo'.
   • Ir a + verb. 'Voy a' + verb is 'I am going to'. It works for trips and for plans.
   • Poder: can. 'Puedo' is 'I can', 'podemos' is 'we can'. 'No puedo' says it is not possible.
   • Estoy + feeling. Feelings use 'estar' because they change: estoy feliz, estoy aburrido. Women say aburrida.
4. A2 Section 4: Out & AboutTravel, driving, hobbies and celebrations

   Travel

   From the airport to the road

   Check-in · Security · On the Plane · Arrival · Renting a Car

   “Aquí está mi pasaporte”

   Around Town

   Errands and everyday services

   Post Office · Hair Salon · Gym & Pool · Library · Laundry & Repairs

   “Quiero enviar un paquete”

   Sports & Hobbies

   What you do for fun

   Sports · Music & Movies · Books & Games · Outdoors · Hobbies at Home

   “¿Practicas algún deporte?”

   Celebrations

   Parties, gifts and holidays

   Parties · Gifts · Holidays · Weddings & Babies · Traditions

   “Estás invitado”

   On the Road

   Driving, parking and getting around on two wheels

   Driving · Parking · At the Gas Station · Problems on the Road · Walking & Cycling

   “¿Me puedes llevar a casa?”

   Guidebook: 15 grammar notes

   • Aquí está. 'Aquí está' + thing is 'here is' as you hand something over.
   • Yes/no questions. The word order does not change: raise your voice at the end and add the question marks.
   • Por for durations. 'Por' + a length of time says how long: por tres días.
   • Quisiera and me gustaría. Both mean 'I would like'. 'Quisiera' is common in shops, 'me gustaría' in conversation.
5. A2 Section 5: Time TravelWork, the past, the future and real talk

   Work & Study

   At the office and in class

   My Job · At the Office · Meetings · At School · Applying for a Job

   “¿A qué te dedicas?”

   Talking About the Past

   Yesterday, last weekend and long ago

   Yesterday · Last Weekend · Childhood · Experiences · Telling a Story

   “¿Qué hiciste ayer?”

   Future & Goals

   Plans, dreams and promises

   Tomorrow · Goals · Dreams · Promises & Offers · Predictions

   “Mañana trabajaré desde casa”

   Real Conversations

   Keep a chat going like a native

   Keeping It Going · Reacting · Asking Nicely · Disagreeing Politely · Saying Goodbye

   “¿Qué tal todo?”

   Making Friends

   How you met, staying in touch and saying yes or no

   How We Met · Keeping in Touch · Inviting · Saying Yes or No · Getting Closer

   “Nos conocimos por un amigo”

   Guidebook: 15 grammar notes

   • Talking about work. 'A qué te dedicas' asks about your job. Answer with 'soy' + job or 'trabajo' + how.
   • The future with '-ré'. Add '-ré' to the verb for 'I will': estaré, trabajaré.
   • Estoy + -ando / -iendo. 'Estoy' + verb ending in '-ando' or '-iendo' is something happening right now.
   • The preterite. Finished actions use the preterite: me quedé, fui, dormí.
6. B1 Section 6: Connecting IdeasLonger sentences with because, but and so

   Because & But

   Give reasons and contrasts

   Giving Reasons · Contrasts · Consequences · In Order · Adding Ideas

   “Llego tarde por el tráfico”

   Describing Places

   Say what a place is like

   My Neighborhood · In the City · In Nature · Inside a Place · First Impressions

   “Vivo en un barrio tranquilo”

   Step by Step

   Explain how to do something

   In the Kitchen · Following a Recipe · How It Works · Detailed Directions · Rules & Signs

   “¿Me pasas el cuchillo?”

   Comparing & Choosing

   Say which one and why

   Better or Worse · The Best of All · Which One? · Price & Quality · Making a Decision

   “Este es mejor que ese”

   Giving Advice

   Should, could and if I were you

   Asking for Advice · Suggestions · Warnings · Encouragement · Health Advice

   “¿Qué harías en mi lugar?”

   Guidebook: 19 grammar notes

   • Porque and por. 'Porque' introduces a full sentence; 'por' + a noun gives the reason. '¿Por qué?' in two words with an accent asks why.
   • Aunque and sin embargo. 'Aunque' + indicative states a fact you accept; with the subjunctive it means 'even if'. 'Sin embargo' opens the contrast after a comma.
   • Así que and por eso. 'Así que' gives the result right after the cause. 'Por eso' says the same thing but opens the sentence.
   • Tener for hunger and tiredness. Spanish uses 'tener' where English uses 'to be': tengo hambre, tengo frío. But tiredness takes estar: estoy cansado.
7. B1 Section 7: Handling SituationsProblems, interviews, money and paperwork

   Complaints & Problems

   Say what went wrong, politely

   At the Hotel · At the Restaurant · Faulty Products · Late & Lost · Getting It Fixed

   “Me temo que hay un problema con mi habitación”

   Job Interview

   Talk about yourself with confidence

   About Yourself · Strengths & Weaknesses · Your Experience · Questions to Ask · Salary & Start Date

   “Gracias por invitarme a esta entrevista”

   Money Matters

   Accounts, bills and transfers

   Opening an Account · Paying Bills · Sending Money · Budgeting · Fees & Insurance

   “Quisiera abrir una cuenta bancaria”

   Paperwork

   Appointments, forms and documents

   Making an Appointment · Filling In Forms · At the Office · Documents · Deadlines & Renewals

   “Quisiera pedir una cita, por favor”

   Living Abroad

   Settle in a new country

   Finding an Apartment · Utilities & Repairs · Meeting Locals · Settling In · Local Customs

   “¿La fianza es de un mes o de dos?”

   Guidebook: 15 grammar notes

   • Quisiera and the subjunctive. 'Quisiera' softens any request. When 'que' plus another person follows, that verb goes into the subjunctive: quisiera que me devuelvan.
   • Llevar for how long. Spanish measures time with 'llevar': llevamos media hora esperando, lleva tres días de retraso. English uses have been instead.
   • 'Se' when nobody is to blame. Adding 'se' makes the thing itself the actor: se rompió, no se ha realizado, se me pasa. Nobody gets accused.
   • The conditional in -ía. Add the -ía endings for would: sería, podría, deberíamos. It is the polite tense of interviews, banks and offices.
8. B2 Section 8: Speak Your MindOpinions, stories, what-ifs and idioms

   Debating Opinions

   Argue your point and listen

   Strong Opinions · Both Sides · Persuading · Doubts · Changing Your Mind

   “Si me lo preguntas, este es el enfoque equivocado”

   Telling Stories

   Make people listen

   Setting the Scene · What Happened Next · Surprises & Twists · Feelings in the Story · The Moral

   “Esto pasó hace un par de años”

   News & Society

   Talk about the world

   In the News · The Environment · Technology & Us · Work & Life Balance · Traditions & Change

   “¿Te enteraste de lo que pasó en el centro?”

   What If

   Imagine, regret and wish

   If I Had Time · Imagining · Regrets · Wishes · Plan B

   “Si mañana tengo tiempo, te llamo”

   Idioms & Expressions

   Sound like a native

   Everyday Idioms · Feelings in Idioms · Casual Talk · Being Funny · Sounding Natural

   “Cuesta un ojo de la cara”

   Guidebook: 16 grammar notes

   • Creo que and no creo que. 'Creo que' takes the indicative, but the negative 'no creo que' flips to the subjunctive.
   • Estar de acuerdo. Agreement uses 'estar', never 'ser': estoy de acuerdo, no podría estar más de acuerdo.
   • Depende de cómo. After 'depende de cómo' Spanish uses the subjunctive: depende de cómo lo mires.
   • Imperfect and preterite. The imperfect paints the scene, era, estaba, iba; the preterite drops the events into it, oí, pasó.

Speak Spanish with an AI partner

The same 385 scenarios work in Spanish. Your partner answers in Spanish, rates each message Perfect, Good or Revision needed, and every scenario has goals to tick off. A few to start with:

18 Spanish stories, read aloud

Short stories at A1, A2 and B1, each read by one of the characters, with questions at the end.

Mía está en la parada. Mía is at the bus stop.

Son las ocho de la mañana. It is eight in the morning.

From “El autobús tarde”