Spanish reference

The 250 most common Spanish words

Ranked by how often they actually appear. Together these 250 words account for about 71% of everything said and written in Spanish — which is why the order you learn vocabulary in matters more than the number of words you know.

250words
71%of everyday speech
2.4%the single commonest word
#WordEnglishSay itShareRunning total
1elthe (m)el2.364%2.4%
2yoIyoh0.547%2.9%
3quererto wantkeh-REHR0.268%3.2%
4losthe (m plural)lohs1.161%4.3%
5lathe (f)lah2.977%7.3%
6lasthe (f plural)lahs0.728%8.0%
7quethatkeh4.918%13.0%
8decirto saydeh-SEER0.943%13.9%
9irto goeer0.818%14.7%
10síyessee0.844%15.6%
11poderto be able topoh-DEHR0.637%16.2%
12hacerto doah-SEHR0.681%16.9%
13másmoremahs0.575%17.5%
14túyoutoo0.286%17.7%
15yandee0.300%18.0%
16deberto mustdeh-BEHR0.099%18.1%
17loitloh1.348%19.5%
18asílike thatah-SEE0.260%19.8%
19élheel0.172%19.9%
20ellasheEH-yah0.084%20.0%
21pueswellpwehs0.535%20.5%
22serto besehr3.022%23.6%
23muchoa lotMOO-choh0.572%24.1%
24paraforPAH-rah0.653%24.8%
25nosotroswenoh-SOH-trohs0.086%24.9%
26perobutPEH-roh0.935%25.8%
27estarto beehs-TAHR1.433%27.2%
28biengoodbyehn0.219%27.5%
29ustedyou (formal)oos-TEHD0.028%27.5%
30aquíhereah-KEE0.169%27.7%
31comolikeKOH-moh0.893%28.6%
32creerto believekreh-EHR0.246%28.8%
33todoeverythingTOH-doh0.340%29.1%
34ustedesyou alloos-TEH-dehs0.019%29.2%
35atoah0.591%29.8%
36nononoh2.699%32.4%
37saberto knowsah-BEHR0.489%32.9%
38yaalreadyyah0.591%33.5%
39tenerto haveteh-NEHR0.983%34.5%
40porforpohr0.367%34.9%
41mimymee0.203%35.1%
42tuyourtoo0.422%35.5%
43suhis / hersoo0.029%35.5%
44nuestroourNWEHS-troh0.422%36.0%
45suyour (formal)soo0.133%36.1%
46estathis (f)EHS-tah0.307%36.4%
47estethis (m)EHS-teh0.237%36.6%
48esethat (m)EH-seh0.187%36.8%
49esathat (f)EH-sah0.091%36.9%
50ellosthey (m)EH-yohs0.607%37.5%
51quéwhatkeh0.008%37.5%
52cuándowhenKWAHN-doh0.000%37.5%
53porquéwhypohr-KEH0.097%37.6%
54quiénwhokee-EHN0.008%37.6%
55ellasthey (f)EH-yahs0.592%38.2%
56delfrom thedehl0.245%38.5%
57cómohowKOH-moh0.022%38.5%
58cuálwhichKWAHL0.022%38.5%
59cuántohow muchKWAHN-toh0.022%38.5%
60dondéwhereDOHN-deh4.822%43.4%
61deofdeh0.117%43.5%
62unooneOO-noh0.530%44.0%
63verto seebehr0.551%44.6%
64siifsee0.438%45.0%
65porquebecausepohr-KEH0.885%45.9%
66unaa (f)OO-nah1.139%47.0%
67una (m)oon1.501%48.5%
68haberto haveah-BEHR1.443%50.0%
69darto givedahr0.248%50.2%
70alto the / uponahl0.478%50.7%
71llamarto callyah-MAHR0.089%50.8%
72meto memeh1.006%51.8%
73teto youteh0.693%52.5%
74seto him/herseh1.351%53.8%
75nosto usnohs0.248%54.1%
76seto you (formal)seh1.351%55.4%
77conwithkohn0.992%56.4%
78ooroh0.022%56.4%
79eninehn2.261%58.7%
80hablarto speakah-BLAHR0.022%58.7%
81gentepeopleHEHN-teh0.155%58.9%
82empezarto startehm-peh-ZAHR0.148%59.0%
83añoyearAH-nyoh0.163%59.2%
84últimalast (f)OOL-tee-mah0.057%59.2%
85últimolast (m)OOL-tee-moh0.057%59.3%
86gustarto pleasegoos-TAHR0.104%59.4%
87pensarto thinkpehn-SAHR0.143%59.6%
88músicamusicMOO-see-kah0.069%59.6%
89vidalifeVEE-dah0.088%59.7%
90siemprealwayssee-EHM-preh0.108%59.8%
91venirto comeveh-NEER0.081%59.9%
92personapersonpehr-SOH-nah0.131%60.0%
93dostwodohs0.128%60.2%
94díadayDEE-ah0.147%60.3%
95hoytodayoy0.073%60.4%
96haythere areeye0.000%60.4%
97casahouseKAH-sah0.082%60.5%
98pocolittlePOH-koh0.097%60.6%
99veztimevehs0.226%60.8%
100momentomomentmoh-MEHN-toh0.108%60.9%
101sentirto feelsehn-TEER0.100%61.0%
102nineithernee0.132%61.1%
103claroclearKLAH-roh0.128%61.2%
104tiempotimetee-EHM-poh0.113%61.4%
105otrootherOH-troh0.167%61.5%
106llegarto arriveyeh-GAHR0.111%61.6%
107dejarto let / to leavedeh-HAHR0.257%61.9%
108cosathingKOH-sah0.249%62.1%
109pasarto passpah-SAHR0.126%62.3%
110seguirto followseh-GEER0.153%62.4%
111verdadtruthvehr-DAHD0.116%62.5%
112mirarto lookmee-RAHR0.233%62.8%
113tantoso muchTAHN-toh0.093%62.9%
114nuncaneverNOON-kah0.147%63.0%
115salirto go outsah-LEER0.010%63.0%
116imposibleimpossibleeem-poh-SEE-bleh0.015%63.0%
117hechofactEH-choh0.063%63.1%
118posiblepossiblepoh-SEE-bleh0.125%63.2%
119soloonly / aloneSOH-loh0.171%63.4%
120primerofirstpree-MEH-roh0.106%63.5%
121ahoranowah-OH-rah0.125%63.6%
122mismosameMEES-moh0.275%63.9%
123ponerto putpoh-NEHR0.125%64.0%
124algosomethingAHL-goh0.319%64.3%
125ahíthereah-EE0.188%64.5%
126entoncessoehn-TOHN-sehs0.125%64.7%
127nadanothingNAH-dah0.010%64.7%
128tambienalsotahm-BYEHN0.195%64.9%
129buenagood (f)BWEH-nah0.037%64.9%
130buenogood (m)BWEH-noh0.027%64.9%
131graciasthanksGRAH-syahs0.042%65.0%
132mujerwomanMOO-hehr0.048%65.0%
133hombremanOHM-brehr0.054%65.1%
134algunasome (f)ahl-GOO-nah0.061%65.1%
135algúnsome (m)ahl-GOON0.080%65.2%
136tal vezmaybetahl VEHS0.112%65.3%
137despuésafterdehs-PWEHS0.104%65.4%
138llevarto take/bringyeh-VAHR0.100%65.5%
139antesbeforeAHN-tehs0.159%65.7%
140desdefrom/sinceDEHS-deh0.111%65.8%
141hastauntilAH-stah0.099%65.9%
142mundoworldMOON-doh0.117%66.0%
143quedarto waitkeh-DAHR0.065%66.1%
144sinwithoutseen0.081%66.2%
145entenderto understandehn-tehn-DEHR0.078%66.2%
146alguiensomeoneahl-GYEHN0.107%66.3%
147oirto hearoh-EER0.043%66.4%
148partepartPAHR-teh0.035%66.4%
149trabajarto worktrah-bah-HAHR0.091%66.5%
150valerto be worthvah-LEHR0.048%66.6%
151temaissueTEH-mah0.047%66.6%
152vivirto livevee-VEER0.080%66.7%
153malbadmahl0.082%66.8%
154tresthreetrehs0.160%66.9%
155menoslessMEH-nohs0.060%67.0%
156parecerto seempah-reh-SEHR0.085%67.1%
157padrefatherPAH-dreh0.079%67.2%
158madremotherMAH-dreh0.074%67.2%
159esperarto hope/waitehs-peh-RAHR0.056%67.3%
160ejemploexampleeh-HEHM-ploh0.124%67.4%
161conocerto know / to meetkoh-noh-SEHR0.132%67.5%
162luegoafterLWEH-goh0.059%67.6%
163volverto returnbohl-VEHR0.122%67.7%
164horahour / timeOH-rah0.036%67.8%
165sobreaboveSOH-breh0.008%67.8%
166alláthereah-YAH0.037%67.8%
167hijadaughterEE-hah0.075%67.9%
168hijosonEE-hoh0.076%68.0%
169cuentaaccountKWEHN-tah0.085%68.0%
170cadaeachKAH-dah0.039%68.1%
171encontrarto findehn-kohn-TRAHR0.082%68.2%
172nuevanew (f)NWEH-vah0.039%68.2%
173nuevonew (m)NWEH-voh0.050%68.3%
174escucharto listenehs-koo-CHAHR0.068%68.3%
175realmentereallyreh-ahl-MEHN-teh0.085%68.4%
176entrarto enterehn-TRAHR0.052%68.5%
177ladosideLAH-doh0.050%68.5%
178tocarto touchtoh-KAHR0.046%68.6%
179trabajoworktrah-BAH-hoh0.035%68.6%
180dineromoneydee-NEH-roh0.026%68.6%
181igualequalee-GWAHL0.064%68.7%
182canciónsongkahn-SEE-ohn0.071%68.7%
183buscarto look forboos-KAHR0.004%68.8%
184tipotypeTEE-poh0.070%68.8%
185acáhereah-KAH0.043%68.9%
186grandebigGRAHN-deh0.073%68.9%
187tomarto take / to drinktoh-MAHR0.041%69.0%
188lugarplaceloo-GAHR0.036%69.0%
189cambiarto changekahm-BYAH0.047%69.1%
190obviamenteobviouslyohb-VYAH-mehn-teh0.007%69.1%
191necesitarto needneh-seh-see-TAHR0.029%69.1%
192falsofalse.FAHL-soh0.077%69.2%
193ciertotrue.SYEHR-toh0.092%69.3%
194entrebetweenEHN-treh0.063%69.3%
195maneramannermah-NEH-rah0.063%69.4%
196nadienobodyNAH-dyeh0.015%69.4%
197mediohalf / middleMEH-dyoh0.062%69.5%
198amorloveah-MOHR0.016%69.5%
199finalend / finalfee-NAHL0.066%69.6%
200relaciónrelationshipreh-lah-SYOHN0.010%69.6%
201puntopointPOON-toh0.019%69.6%
202hermanasisterehr-MAH-nah0.056%69.6%
203hermanobrotherehr-MAH-noh0.011%69.6%
204contarto tellkohn-TAHR0.033%69.7%
205mentiraliemehn-TEE-rah0.063%69.7%
206ayudarto helpah-yoo-DAHR0.058%69.8%
207sacarto take outsah-KAHR0.010%69.8%
208amigofriend (m)ah-MEE-goh0.028%69.8%
209amigafriend (f)ah-MEE-gah0.026%69.9%
210normalnormalnohr-MAHL0.046%69.9%
211vecestimesVEH-sehs0.082%70.0%
212númeronumberNOO-meh-roh0.001%70.0%
213existirto existehg-sees-TEER0.021%70.0%
214importanteimportanteem-pohr-TAHN-teh0.077%70.1%
215acabarto endah-kah-BAHR0.008%70.1%
216viejaold (f)VYEH-hah0.029%70.1%
217viejoold (m)VYEH-hoh0.032%70.2%
218manohandMAH-noh0.018%70.2%
219ricorichREE-koh0.047%70.2%
220favorfavorfah-VOHR0.071%70.3%
221fotophotoFOH-toh0.049%70.3%
222chicagirlCHEE-kah0.028%70.4%
223chicoboyCHEE-koh0.033%70.4%
224historiastoryees-TOH-ryah0.068%70.5%
225todavíastilltoh-dah-VEE-ah0.012%70.5%
226pedirto askpeh-DEER0.038%70.5%
227mesmonthmehs0.042%70.6%
228problemaproblemproh-BLEH-mah0.025%70.6%
229encantarto likeehn-kahn-TAHR0.038%70.6%
230ciudadcitysyoo-DAHD0.038%70.7%
231ganarto wingah-NAHR0.036%70.7%
232acordarto agreeah-kor-DAHR0.061%70.8%
233difícildifficultdee-FEE-seel0.001%70.8%
234únicaonly (f)OO-nee-kah0.006%70.8%
235únicoonly (m)OO-nee-koh0.031%70.8%
236tratarto trytrah-TAHR0.045%70.8%
237amistadfriendshipah-mees-TAHD0.056%70.9%
238malabad (f)MAH-lah0.025%70.9%
239malobad (m)MAH-loh0.077%71.0%
240nochenightNOH-cheh0.026%71.0%
241paíscountrypah-EES0.089%71.1%
242comerto eatkoh-MEHR0.034%71.2%
243casialmostKAH-see0.013%71.2%
244pagarto paypah-GAHR0.049%71.2%
245preguntarto askpreh-goon-TAHR0.076%71.3%
246diferentedifferentdee-feh-REHN-teh0.036%71.3%
247niñagirlNEE-nyah0.005%71.3%
248niñoboyNEE-nyoh0.051%71.4%
249puertadoorPWEHR-tah0.095%71.5%
250familiafamilyfah-MEE-lyah0.006%71.5%

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