Spanish for Beginners
Updated October 29, 2026
Start Spanish by learning its sounds, about 100 high-frequency words and a few chunks to talk about yourself and what you did, then speak a little every day. WanderMundo, an AI language learning app, gives beginners a free structured path and a free placement test so you start at the right level.
What should I learn first in Spanish?
Learn the sounds first, because Spanish spelling is very regular: once you know how letters sound, you can read almost any word aloud. There are only five vowel sounds, and they never change.
The 5 Spanish vowel sounds
| Vowel | Sounds like | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| a | ah, as in father | casa, mapa |
| e | eh, as in bet | mesa, leche |
| i | ee, as in see | sí, vino |
| o | oh, short and pure | todo, foto |
| u | oo, as in food | uno, luna |
5 letters that sound different from English
| Letter | How it sounds | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| h | Always silent | hola, hotel, ahora |
| j | A breathy h, from the throat | jamón, ajo, mujer |
| ll | Like the y in yes in most regions | llamar, calle, pollo |
| ñ | Like ny in canyon | año, mañana, España |
| rr | A rolled r with several taps | perro, arroz, correr |
What are 20 survival phrases for beginners?
These 20 phrases let you introduce yourself, handle a café or a shop, and even tell what you did. Say each one out loud a few times; WanderMundo's First Words lessons and path drill phrases like these.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Hola | Hello |
| ¿Cómo estás? | How are you? |
| Me llamo... | My name is... |
| Soy de... | I am from... |
| Quiero... | I want... |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| No entiendo | I don't understand |
| ¿Puede repetir? | Can you repeat? |
| Más despacio, por favor | Slower, please |
| Gracias | Thank you |
| De nada | You're welcome |
| ¿Dónde está...? | Where is...? |
| Me gusta... | I like... |
| Tengo... años | I am... years old |
| Ayer fui a... | Yesterday I went to... |
| Comí... | I ate... |
| Vi... | I saw... |
| Fue divertido | It was fun |
| ¿Y tú? | And you? |
| Por favor | Please |
Is there a trick to learning Spanish words faster?
Yes: many English words turn into Spanish with a simple ending change. Words ending in -tion usually end in -ción in Spanish: nación, información, educación. Words ending in -ty often end in -dad: ciudad, universidad, oportunidad. Each pattern hands you hundreds of words you almost know already.
Watch out for false friends. Embarazada means pregnant, not embarrassed, and éxito means success, not exit. Our Spanish cognates guide lists 11 patterns and more false friends. WanderMundo's path teaches one word-pattern trick like this in every unit.
Should beginners learn the past tense?
Yes, learn a few past-tense chunks early, because most real conversations are about things that already happened. You do not need full conjugation tables; four chunks go a long way: fui (I went), comí (I ate), vi (I saw) and hice (I did or made).
Here is a three-sentence story a beginner can tell in week three: "Ayer fui al mercado. Comí una empanada deliciosa. Vi a mi amiga Ana y fue divertido." (Yesterday I went to the market. I ate a delicious empanada. I saw my friend Ana and it was fun.) WanderMundo teaches the past tense early, in unit 5 of the Spanish path. For the full picture, see Spanish past tense.
What is a good 4-week plan for beginners?
Spend 15 to 20 minutes a day, every day. Each week builds on the last, and by week four you can hold a simple conversation:
- Week 1: the five vowels, the five tricky letters, and about me (name, origin, age).
- Week 2: likes and dislikes, numbers 1 to 100, and ordering food and drinks.
- Week 3: the past-tense chunks fui, comí, vi and hice, and your first spoken story.
- Week 4: everyday verbs (tener, ir, hacer, querer, poder) and a 10-minute conversation with the tutor.
| Week | Focus | By the end you can |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Sounds and about me | Say hello, your name, where you are from and your age |
| Week 2 | Likes, numbers and ordering | Say what you like, count, ask prices and order food |
| Week 3 | Past-tense chunks and a first story | Tell 3 sentences about what you did yesterday |
| Week 4 | Everyday verbs | Hold a simple 10-minute conversation |
What mistakes do beginners make?
These five mistakes slow most beginners down, and each is easy to fix:
- Waiting to feel ready before speaking. Start talking in week one, even with five phrases.
- Pronouncing vowels the English way. Keep every vowel short and pure.
- Translating word by word. Learn whole chunks like "Me gusta" instead of building them from English.
- Avoiding the past tense. A few chunks let you talk about your day.
- Studying in long, rare sessions. Fifteen minutes daily beats two hours once a week.
How does WanderMundo help beginners?
WanderMundo starts total beginners with First Words lessons, then a structured path of 3 to 5 minute lessons with 8 exercise types, a grammar tip card in plain English and no hearts or lives, so mistakes never block you. Beginner tutor replies offer tap-to-answer options, and A1 podcast stories include English support. Start with the free Spanish level test or our guide to learning Spanish online free.
Who it's for
- Complete beginners who know zero or a few Spanish words
- Learners restarting Spanish after years away
- Travelers who want to speak basic Spanish within a month
Who it's not for
- Intermediate learners who already hold conversations
- People who need a classroom course with a certificate
Frequently asked questions
What should I learn first in Spanish?
Learn the five vowel sounds and a few tricky letters, then about 100 high-frequency words and chunks to introduce yourself. After that, start speaking every day.
How many words do I need to start speaking?
You can start speaking with a few dozen words and chunks like "Me llamo", "Quiero" and "¿Dónde está?". Around 100 high-frequency words is a strong base for simple conversations.
Is Spanish hard for English speakers?
Spanish is one of the more approachable languages for English speakers: spelling is regular, there are only five vowel sounds and thousands of words are cognates. Verb endings and gender take practice.
Should beginners learn the past tense?
Yes, a few chunks. Fui, comí, vi and hice let you talk about what you did, which is what most conversations are about. WanderMundo teaches the past tense in unit 5.
What is the best app for Spanish beginners?
For beginners who want to speak, WanderMundo: a free structured path with plain-English grammar tips, an AI tutor with tap-to-answer options and corrections, and A1 podcast stories with English support.
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