Do you need to expand your vocabulary because you always use the same Spanish connectors? In essays, homeworks or talking to friends, if you always use the same connector to link all your sentences, in this donQuijote article you will find a complete list of Spanish connectors, so you'll have a choice and don't repeat the same one all the time.

Whether you must write a letter, a class assignment or when talking to your friends, find the Spanish connector that best suits each situation in this list. Expanding your vocabulary will improve the way you communicate, both written and spoken, and make you sound like a native Spanish speaker.

You can continue reading in English or read this article in Spanish while improve and learn Spanish with donQuijote.

What is a Spanish connector?

Connectors in Spanish, or in any other language, are words that have the function of joining sentences or paragraphs in a text to give it coherence and cohesion. In this way, connectors help to organize ideas and facilitate their comprehension.

There are different types of connectors, depending on the relationship they establish with the ideas in the speech or text. The most used connectors in Spanish are: ‘y’, ‘porque’, ‘pero’, ‘para’, ‘o’, ‘también’, ‘sí’, ‘además’.

Although these are the most common connectors, each one belongs to a different type, among them you can find: addition connectors, contrast connectors, cause and effect connectors, sequence connectors, comparison connectors, purpose connectors and summary connectors.

Below, you are going to learn the different types of connectors in Spanish that exist and some examples that will help you understand how to use them. Keep reading so you don't miss anything!

Addition connectors

Addition connectors add information to the above; they connect ideas or elements and add information.

• Además (In addition/Plus) - Tengo que ir a la compra, además me gustaría acercarme al gimnasio (I must go shopping, plus I would like to go to the gym).
• También (Also) - Estudia francés y también alemán (He studies French and also German).
• Incluso (Even) - Todos vinieron, incluso los que no confirmaron asistencia a la fiesta (Everyone came, even those who did not RSVP to the party).
• Asimismo (Also) - El proyecto es viable, asimismo, hay que planteárselo bien a tu jefe (The project is feasible, also, you have to raise it well with your boss).
• Y (And) - Compré pan y leche en el supermercado (I bought bread and milk at the supermarket).
• Más (More) - Necesito comprar más frutas y verduras para esta semana (I need to buy more fruits and vegetables for this week).
• Del mismo modo (Likewise) - Los resultados fueron positivos, del mismo modo, los participantes opinaron favorablemente (The results were positive, likewise, the participants were positive).

Contrast and opposition connectors

These Spanish connectors indicate opposition or contrast between ideas in the same sentence. Here are some examples:

• Sin embargo (However) - Estudió mucho, sin embargo, no aprobó el examen teórico (He studied hard; however, he did not pass the theory exam).
• No obstante (Nevertheless) - Es un bolso caro, no obstante, vale la pena (It's an expensive bag, nevertheless, it's worth it).
• Aunque (Although) - Iré al parque esta tarde, aunque llueva (I will go to the park this afternoon, even if it rains).
• Pero (But) - Es inteligente, pero no se esfuerza todo lo que podría (He's smart, but he doesn't try as hard as he could).
• A pesar de (Despite) - A pesar del mal tiempo, salimos a correr al parque (Despite the bad weather, we go for a run in the park).
• En cambio (On the other hand) - Ella es callada, en cambio, él es muy hablador (She is quiet, on the other hand, he is very talkative).
• Por el contrario (On the contrary) - No quería subir al noveno piso, por el contrario, fue muy fácil hacerlo en ascensor (I didn't want to go up to the ninth floor, on the contrary, it was very easy to do it by elevator).
• Mientras que (Whereas) - Yo prefiero el mar, mientras que mi primo prefiere la montaña (I prefer the sea, while my cousin prefers the mountain).
• Por un lado/Por otro lado (On the one hand/On the other hand) - Por un lado, el viaje a Roma fue maravilloso. Por otro lado, fueron unos días agotadores (On the one hand, the trip to Rome was wonderful. On the other hand, it was an exhausting few days).

Cause and consequence connectors

Cause and consequence connectors in Spanish establish a relationship between two ideas or actions of cause or consequence, hence their name. Examples:

• Porque (Because) - No fui a trabajar porque estaba enfermo (I didn't go to work because I was sick).
• Entonces (Then) - No había asientos suficientes, entonces tuvieron que quedarse de pie (There weren't enough seats, so they had to stand).
• Por lo tanto (Therefore) - La carretera está cortada, por lo tanto, hay que buscar otra forma de llegar a la ciudad (The road is cut off; therefore, you have to find another way to get to the city).
• Debido a (Because of) – Debido a la lluvia, se canceló el concierto (Because of the rain, the concert was cancelled).
• Ya que (Since) - No vino ya que estaba ocupado (He did not come as he was busy).
• Por eso (Therefore) - Llegó tarde a la estación, por eso perdió el tren (He was late to the station, therefore he missed the train).
• Así que (So) - Se rompió un vaso de cristal, así que tuve que recogerlo con cuidado (A crystal glass broke, so I had to pick it up carefully).
• En consecuencia (Consequently) – El proyecto fue un éxito, en consecuencia, recibimos más financiación (The project was a success, consequently, we received more funding).

Sequence connectors

Sequence connectors indicate the order of ideas or actions in a sentence:

• Primero (First) - Primero, desayunamos antes de empezar el viaje (First, we had breakfast before starting the trip).
• Luego (Then) - Terminé de leer el libro, luego lo devolví a la biblioteca (I finished reading the book, then I returned it to the library).
• Después (After) - Fui a comer al restaurante, después me fui al cine con mis amigas (I went to eat at the restaurant, then I went to the movies with my friends).
• A continuación (Next) - A continuación, os enseñaré a cocinar una tortilla de patatas (Next, I will teach you how to cook a potato omelet).
• Finalmente (Finally) - Finalmente, regresamos a casa tras un largo fin de semana (Finally, we came home after a long weekend).
• En primer lugar/En segundo lugar (Firstly/Secondly) - En primer lugar, quiero agradecerles su apoyo. En segundo lugar, discutiremos el presupuesto (First of all, I want to thank you for your support. Secondly, we will discuss the budget).

Comparative connectors

These connectors in Spanish oversee establishing comparisons between ideas:

• Como (As) - Es tan brillante como su hermana (She is as bright as her sister).
• Igual que (Just like)- Baila igual que un profesional (He dances just like a professional).
• Más que/Menos que (More than/Less than) - Es más alto que su hermano, pero su carácter es menos difícil que el de su hermana (He is taller than his brother, but his character is less difficult than his sister's).
• Similar a (Similar to) - Su estilo musical es similar al mío (His musical style is similar to mine).

Connectors of purpose

Purpose connectors indicate the purpose or intention of an action. There are some, in this type of Spanish connectors, that can easily be substituted for others since they have the same meaning. For example: ‘con la intención de’, ‘con el objetivo de’, ‘con el propósito de’ o ‘a fin de’. 

• Para - Estudia para ser médico (He studies to become a doctor)
• A fin de - Hace ejercicio a fin de mejorar su salud (He exercises in order to improve his health).
• Con la intención de - Viajó con la intención de aprender inglés (He traveled with the intention of learning English).
• A fin de que - A fin de que entendieras, te lo expliqué (In order for you to understand, I explained it to you).
• Para que (So that) - Lo hice para que no te preocupes (I did it so that you wouldn't worry).

Connectors to close a speech

These Spanish connectors serve to synthesize or conclude ideas in speeches, papers or in a conversation:

• En resumen (In summary) - En resumen, fue una gran experiencia (In summary, it was a great experience).
• En conclusión (In conclusion) - En conclusión, debemos seguir trabajando en el proyecto (In conclusion, we should continue working on the project).
• En pocas palabras (In a nutshell) - En pocas palabras, nos aprobaron el proyecto (In a nutshell, we got the project approved).
• Resumiendo (In summary) - Resumiendo, toda la convención fue un éxito (In summary, the whole convention was a success).
• En definitiva (Bottom line) - En definitiva, necesitamos más recursos (Bottom line, we need more resources).

It's never too late when it comes to learning a new language. No matter how old you are or what you are working on, in terms of learning, everything counts, and even more so if you want to learn Spanish as an adult.

Work, home or family responsibilities often leave you with no time to learn a language, so in this article you will find the best way to learn Spanish as an adult. Tips and recommendations to make learning Spanish as an adult easy, simple and fast; and the best Spanish language immersion program for adults. In addition, you must know what level you have, so here you can find out: Spanish level test.

Set clear and achievable goals

The first tip is to define the goals you want to achieve when learning Spanish as an adult. Remember that these goals must be very specific and achievable, always in line with your daily life.

In addition, you should be clear about why you want to learn Spanish as an adult and, once you decide, get on with it! For example, you can set a goal of learning 10 or 15 Spanish words a day. Clear and concise goals will help you stay motivated and focused on learning Spanish.

Best Spanish language immersion programs for adults

There are thousands of Spanish immersion programs for adults, but which one should you choose? Without a doubt, as we have emphasized before, you must first know what your objectives are. Once you have established your goals, you will be able to choose the best Spanish immersion programs for adults that best suits you.

If you have a basic knowledge of the language and know how to get by, expressing your ideas, thoughts or emotions in Spanish is great. But a Spanish language immersion program for adults can really get you fully immersed in the language, as you will learn how a native speaker talks, how they express themselves and colloquial phrases that do not appear in textbooks.

In addition, one of the highlights of a Spanish language immersion program for adults is the opportunity to live with a host family and share meals and conversations with them. While you are staying with them, you will experience first-hand what it is like to live in a Spanish home.

All these factors will help you decide how you want your Spanish language immersion program for adults to be and how much time you want to dedicate to it. Without a doubt, an intensive Spanish course for the over-30s is a good way to start your Spanish immersion program. At donQuijote you will find this program, and many other courses adapted to your interests, with accommodation and extra activities so you can put your knowledge into practice and visit thousands of extraordinary places.

Spanish courses for adults

But if being self-taught is not your thing, the Spanish courses for adults are ideal for you. A language school or online Spanish immersion programs for adults can provide you with the foundation and guidance you need to learn effectively.

The teachers are qualified to teach you, correct your mistakes and give you clear explanations of grammar and vocabulary for your understanding. Because establishing a basic knowledge base during your Spanish speaking classes for adults will make it easier for you to continue learning the language.

Practice with native speakers

Practice in a language is essential to be able to think and communicate quickly with your interlocutors. That's why apps, exchange groups in your city or Spanish conversation groups will allow you to put into practice everything you've learned.

Find the perfect conversation partner to practice your Spanish. You may even reach an agreement: you teach them a language or play an instrument, and they teach you to practice Spanish. In addition, it will allow you to meet many people who will become lifelong friends.

Spanish speaking classes for adults are the key to improving your knowledge and fluency in the language. There is no better way to learn a language than by practicing it, and speaking is one of the most effective ways to learn Spanish fast for adults’ beginners.

Travel to Spanish-speaking countries

If it is a possibility for you, traveling to a Spanish-speaking country is one of the most effective ways you can find to learn Spanish fast for adult beginners.

Full immersion, for 24 hours, will force you to use Spanish to always communicate, in real everyday situations such as going to the supermarket, riding public transportation or ordering food in a restaurant. Accelerate your learning and immerse yourself completely in the language by learning Spanish in Spain or in a Latin American country such as Mexico.

Immerse yourself in Spanish

If traveling to learn Spanish in Spain is not in your plans, immerse yourself in the language wherever you are. Listen to Spanish music, read books, articles or newspapers and watch Spanish TV series or movies to learn vocabulary from home.

The more exposure you have to Spanish, the faster you will learn. You can also use apps on your phone to improve your Spanish outside of class or switch your smartphone language to Spanish to internalize everyday terms.

Write to practice your writing with friends, keep a journal or make a grocery list in Spanish. Every little step can make a difference when learning a language. In addition, you can take advantage of free online resources to practice grammar and vocabulary, watch YouTube videos or listen to podcasts in Spanish on topics of interest to you.

Look for content that interests you and that fits your level of Spanish and don't stop practicing.

Be consistent with practice and study

Learning Spanish as an adult can be a long and challenging process. Therefore, it is important to be patient and not get discouraged by mistakes. Consistency is key, so practice every day, even if it's just a few minutes, to improve your comprehension.

Finally, as a last tip for learning Spanish as an adult is to practice a lot of communication, talk to people, either in person or in writing; and constantly listen to songs, podcasts or movies in Spanish. Even if you don't understand all the vocabulary or phrases, you will be able to understand the overall conversation from the context.

Don't be discouraged and start learning Spanish now. It is never too late to venture into learning a new language and these tips can give you the final push you need. Come and experience a Spanish language immersion program for adults with don Quijote and master the language in a short space of time.