In Spanish language, there are many different types of Spanish pronouns. In this article, don Quijote will teach you everything you need to know about Spanish relative pronouns. Although the name may sound a little technical, they are quite common and useful in everyday speech.

Therefore, to become a fluent Spanish speaker, you must master these and many other categories of Spanish grammar and language. We will explain what relative pronouns in Spanish are, what types there are, and how to use them, as well as provide examples and exercises so you can practice what you have learned. Don't miss anything and come learn Spanish in Spain!

You can read this same article about relative pronouns in Spanish, Italian, French, or German.

What are relative pronouns in Spanish?

Relative pronouns in Spanish are used to link two sentences or ideas, referring to something that has already been mentioned. Their main function is to avoid repetition of words and make sentences sound more natural and fluent.

For example: “Vi una película que me encantó” (I saw a movie that I loved). Here the Spanish relative pronoun in this sentence is “que,” and it connects two ideas: watching a movie and loving the movie. Therefore, “que” as a relative pronoun in Spanish replaces “la película” to avoid repetition in the sentence and make it sound more natural.

Spanish Relative pronouns are words that connect information about people, things, or objects mentioned earlier. You can use them to connect ideas in the same sentence and avoid repetition of words.

Types of Spanish relative pronouns

Relative pronouns in Spanish are divided into several types. We can distinguish between simple and complex:

Following, let's take a closer look at each relative pronoun in Spanish.

The most common relative pronoun is “que”. It can be used for people, things, animals, places... practically everything. For example:

• El libro que estoy leyendo es muy interesante (The book that I am reading is very interesting)
• La chica que canta es mi hermana (The girl who sings is my sister)
• Este es el lugar que te mencioné (This is the place that I mentioned to you)

The next Spanish relative pronoun is “quien” and “quienes”, which are used only for people. When you want to talk about people, “quien” is used in the singular and “quienes” in the plural. It can refer to the subject, who performs the action, or to the object, who receives it. It is often used with commas, especially if the information is additional.

Examples:

• Mi abuela, quien vive en el campo, cocina platos deliciosos (My grandmother, who lives in the country, cooks delicious meals)
• Los estudiantes, quienes llegaron tarde, no asistieron a la ponencia (The students who arrived late did not attend the lecture)
• El cantante, quien se cayó del escenario, se rompió una pierna (The singer, who fell on stage, broke his leg)

To express possession, the Spanish relative pronouns “cuyo”, “cuya”, “cuyos”, and “cuyas” are used. These indicate that something belongs to someone, so they must agree in gender and number with the thing possessed. They are always used with things or objects, never with people.

Examples:

• El señor, cuyo coche es rojo, es mi vecino (The man whose car is red is my neighbor)
• La niña, cuya madre es doctora, ganó un premio (The girl whose mother is a doctor won a prize)
• Los alumnos, cuyas tareas están completas, pueden salir (The students whose homework is complete can leave)

Here's a trick for using this relative pronoun: if you can say “the man's car” or “the girl's mother,” then you can use “cuyo” or “cuya”.

To give more emphasis or clarity, use “el que” or “la que” in the singular, and “los que” or “las que” in the plural. These are used to avoid ambiguity and are more specific. They can also be preceded by a preposition. For example:

• No entendí el libro del que me hablaste (I didn't understand the book you told me about)
• Los niños, los que estaban en el parque, son mis primos (The children who were in the park are my cousins)
• Esa es la chica con la que hablé el otro día (That's the girl I spoke to the other day)

Finally, “el cual” and “los cuales” are used for general ideas or concepts. In Spanish, these relative pronouns are used when you are talking about something that is not specific or a complete idea.

Examples:

• El documento, el cual fue enviado ayer, ya fue aprobado (The document, which was sent yesterday, has already been approved)
• La conferencia trató varios temas, los cuales fueron discutidos en profundidad (The conference covered several topics, which were discussed in depth)
• Mi maleta, la cual pesa mucho, no cabe en el compartimiento superior (My suitcase, which weighs a lot, doesn't fit in the overhead compartment)

In addition to these, you may find that “donde” and “cuanto” can also be used as Spanish relative pronouns in some contexts. Thus, “donde” can refer to a place mentioned earlier, while “cuanto” is used in more literary or emphatic registers and refers to the quantity or totality of something already mentioned.

Examples:

• Esa es la casa donde nací (you could also say: “Esa es la casa en la que nací”) (That is the house where I was born)
• Aprovechó cuantos recursos tenía (you could also say: “Aprovechó todos los recursos que tenía”) (He took advantage of all the resources he had)

Exercises with relative pronouns in Spanish

Now that you know what relative pronouns in Spanish are, do you think you can identify them in these sentences? We'll give you the answers at the end of the exercise.

1. Conocí a una chica que habla cinco idiomas (I met a girl who speaks five languages)
2. El profesor, quien es muy simpático, nos ayudó mucho (The teacher, who is very nice, helped us a lot)
3. La casa cuya puerta está rota es antigua (The house whose door is broken is old)
4. Ese es el amigo con el que viajé a México (That is the friend with whom I traveled to Mexico)
5. No entendí lo que dijiste (I didn't understand what you said)
6. Vi a los estudiantes cuyos exámenes fueron corregidos (I saw the students whose exams were corrected)
7. La película que vimos anoche ganó varios premios (The movie we saw last night won several awards)
8. El coche en el que viajamos era muy cómodo (The car in which we traveled was very comfortable)
9. Mis amigos, los cuales viven en otra ciudad, vendrán mañana (My friends, who live in another city, are coming tomorrow)
10. La niña a quien le diste el regalo está feliz (The girl to whom you gave the gift is happy)

Don't worry if you confuse some of these relative pronouns in Spanish at first, it's normal. But the most important thing is to understand who or what they refer to and keep practicing. You can watch series or movies in Spanish and listen to podcasts or television programs. You'll see that with practice; Spanish relative pronouns will become easy and useful.

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish will be familiar to you if you have read our article on Spanish reflexive verbs. But if you still don't know what they are, how to use this type of pronoun, or when to use them, this post from don Quijote will tell you everything you need to know. Take the plunge into the language and start learning Spanish in Spain now!

Plus, you can change the language of this article on reflexive pronouns to Spanish, French, Italian or German.

What are Spanish reflexive pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns in Spanish are particles that accompany reflexive verbs and indicate that the action falls on the subject itself. In Spanish, this type of pronoun is used to express that someone is performing an action on themselves.

There are six different pronouns, and depending on the subject, one or the other will be used:

• Me: for the subject I
• Te: for the subject you
• Se: for the subject he/she/you
• Nos: for the subject we
• Os: for the subject you
• Se: for the subject they

When to use reflexive pronouns in Spanish?

Although the use of Spanish reflexive pronouns may seem complicated, don't worry, it's easier than it looks, and don Quijote is here to help you understand. Remember that Spanish reflexive pronouns are used when the action of the verb falls on the person speaking. Furthermore, reflexive pronouns are very common in Spanish, so you'll find them easy to identify.

If you want to know how to use this type of pronoun in Spanish, you simply have to place the correct reflexive pronoun according to the verb form. There are two ways to use reflexive pronouns in Spanish:

1. Placed before the conjugated verb. The reflexive pronoun in Spanish appears before the verb in the subject of the sentence. For example: “Me lavo los dientes todas las noches” (I brush my teeth every night).

2. Attached to the end of an infinitive, gerund, or imperative. It may also be the case that when the verb is in the infinitive, gerund, or imperative form, the reflexive pronoun is placed at the end. For example:

• Infinitive: “Voy a peinarme” (I'm going to comb my hair)
• Gerund: “Estoy bañándome” (I'm bathing)
• Imperative: “Levántate pronto” (Get up early)

Another feature to keep in mind is that, in English, reflexive actions are usually expressed without using a pronoun, unlike in Spanish. However, the context shows that the action is performed on oneself. For example: I wake up or She sits down. Thus, the most correct translation into English of the reflexive pronouns in Spanish are myself, yourself, or herself, which are used to emphasize that the subject performs the action on itself.

Although all this may seem complicated, here are some extra tips to help you fully understand the use of reflexive pronouns:

• Practice daily. Read in Spanish and pay attention to the conversations around you to better understand the use of these pronouns. You can also practice by writing and forming sentences that require their use.
• Pay attention to the context. If you are unsure whether a pronoun is reflexive, ask yourself whether the person is performing the action on themselves or on someone else.
• Remember the correct order. Place the pronoun before the verb or at the end of the infinitive, gerund, or imperative to use this type of Spanish reflexive pronoun correctly.

Examples of Spanish reflexive pronouns

Here are some examples of sentences showing how and where reflexive pronouns in Spanish are used.

• Voy a lavarme las manos antes de comer (I'm going to wash my hands before eating)
• Me levanto temprano todos los días para hacer ejercicio (I get up early every day to exercise)
• Se peina antes de salir de casa todos los días (She combs her hair before leaving the house every day)
• Están vistiéndose para la fiesta en la habitación de arriba (They are getting dressed for the party in the upstairs bedroom)
• Quiero acostarme temprano, que mañana madrugo (I want to go to bed early because I must get up early tomorrow)
• Se despiertan a las seis de la mañana para ir a escalar (They wake up at six in the morning to go climbing)
• Dúchate rápido, por favor, que llegamos tarde (Take a shower quickly, please, we're going to be late)
• Péinate antes de salir (Comb your hair before you go out)
• Vamos a sentarnos aquí (Let's sit down here)
• Sigue preparándote para el examen de mañana (Keep getting ready for tomorrow's exam)
• ¿Te duchas después de hacer ejercicio? (Do you shower after exercising?)
• Nos acostamos tarde el fin de semana tras la boda (We went to bed late on the weekend after the wedding)
• Se enfadan cuando las cosas no salen bien (They get angry when things don't go well)
• Te arrepientes de no haber ido al cine, ¿verdad? (You regret not going to the movies, don't you?)
• Me lavo los dientes después de cada comida (I brush my teeth after every meal)

But if you want to practice using reflexive pronouns in Spanish, these 10 exercises will help you put everything you've learned in this article into practice. We'll leave the correct answers at the end!

• Cada mañana, Juan ______ cepilla los dientes.
• Nosotros ______ preparamos el desayuno los domingos.
• ¿Tú ______ acuerdas de lo que dijo el profesor?
• Yo ______ pongo nervioso antes de hablar en público.
• Mis hermanos ______ bañan después de jugar al fútbol.
• ¿Vosotros ______ levantáis tarde los sábados?
• Tú y yo siempre ______ saludamos con un abrazo.
• Yo no ______ siento bien hoy.
• Ellos nunca ______ quejan del clima.
• ¿Ustedes ______ divierten en las fiestas?

Without a doubt, with lots of practice, reading and writing in Spanish, you will master Spanish reflexive pronouns in no time. Still have questions? Well, now is your chance to sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses to clear up all your doubts with our qualified teachers, who will help you understand and practice pronouns. Don't think twice and start your Spanish adventure now!

One of the peculiarities of Spanish is the large number of homophones words in Spanish it has. One of the most confusing for students of Spanish as a second language is distinguishing between ahí, hay, and ay. Since they are pronounced the same, it is often difficult to know which one to use when writing, especially in the early stages of learning.

How to differentiate between ahí, hay, and ay can be quite a challenge, in this article from don Quijote, you will discover the keys to learning and how to distinguish them. Learn when to use ahí, hay, and ay, what type of word each one is, and practical examples.

Keep reading so you don't miss a thing, and you can also change the language of this article to Spanish, Italian, French, German, or Dutch.

Hay in Spanish

The first word you are going to learn is “hay”. “Hay” is an impersonal form of the present tense of the Spanish verb haber. It is used to indicate the existence of something or someone. It is a peculiar form because it does not change from singular to plural.

For example:

• Hay muchas fresas en la nevera (There are many strawberries in the fridge)
• Hay un gato en el alféizar de la ventana (There is a cat on the windowsill)
• No hay mucho espacio en el armario para guardar la ropa (There isn't much space in the wardrobe to put the clothes away)

A tip that can help you if your mother tongue is English is that if you can say “there is” or “there are”, then you should use “hay”.

Ahí in Spanish

“Ahí” is an adverb of place used to indicate a nearby location, but it is not as precise as when using “aquí”. Here are some examples:

• Siéntate ahí, por favor (Sit down there, please)
• No dejes los libros ahí olvidados (Don't leave the books there)
• Nos vemos ahí, en el restaurante, a las 14h (See you there, at the restaurant, at 2pm)

Ay in Spanish

Finally, “ay” is an interjection. This word expresses emotion or feeling, usually pain, surprise, fear, or joy. For example:

• Ay, que guapo es tu sobrino (Oh, your nephew is so handsome!)
• ¡Ay! Me he cortado con el papel (Oh! I cut myself on the paper)

What is the difference between hay, ahí and ay?

It is much easier to distinguish between hay, ahí and ay than you might think. The key to distinguishing between them when writing is simple. When you want to express pain or an emotion, you should use “ay.” However, if you want to indicate that you have or that something exists, you should use “hay.” Finally, to indicate a place, for example, where an object is located, you should use “ahí.”

In the following examples, you can see how each of these words is used:

• Mi mochila está ahí, al lado del sofá (My backpack is there, next to the sofa)
• ¡Ay! Que susto me has dado (Oh! You scared me)
• Hay muchas estrellas esta noche (There are many stars tonight)

A trick to remember when to use “ahí” is to imagine that you are pointing at something, so you will know that you should write “ahí”. And to use “ay”, think about whether it is an emotional expression. Finally, if you need to indicate quantity, use “hay” from the verb haber.

Exercises with hay, ahí, and ay in Spanish

Below are some exercises for you to practice using hay, ahí, and ay in Spanish. Can you figure out the correct answer? We've provided the answers below the exercises.

• ¡___! Me torcí el tobillo bajando las escaleras.
• No pongas eso ___, se puede caer.
• ¿___ clases hoy por la tarde?
• ___, qué dolor de cabeza.
• Deja tu chaqueta ___, en el perchero.
• ___ muchos libros en la biblioteca.
• ___, se me ha olvidado la cartera.
• El restaurante está justo ___.
• ___ una mosca en mi sopa.
• ¡___, qué susto me diste!
• Me dejé las llaves ____, encima de la cocina
• ___ muchos animales en el zoo

How many of the phrases were you able to figure out? Here are the correct answers: ay, ahí, hay, ay, ahí, hay, ay, ahí, hay, ay, ahí, hay.

Although it may be tricky at first, knowing how to distinguish between ahí, hay, and ay is not that difficult. You just must practice and do grammar exercises, write and read in Spanish, or sign up for one of our intensive Spanish courses.

Soon it will be very easy to know when to use these words, and you will see that the differences between ahí, hay, and ay in Spanish are very easy for you! With practice and attention, it will come naturally. Here is one last reminder: “ahí” is for place; “hay” is for existence; and “ay” is for emotions.

Good luck on your adventure of learning Spanish in Spain!

Are you looking forward to your summer vacation? If you're catching a plane to enjoy a few days of rest this year, you'll need to know all the airport vocabulary in Spanish to understand the staff. Come practice your Spanish and visit one of don Quijote's Spanish schools in Spain to experience a summer full of culture, art, and learning.

Take advantage of your time off to practice with locals, take an intensive Spanish course, and enjoy Spanish cuisine wherever you go. Don't think twice and start turning your vacation around.

You can also read this article about airport vocabulary in Spanish, French, Italian or German.

Airport vocabulary in Spanish

Find all the basic Spanish airport vocabulary you need to start your vacation and not miss a thing.

• Aeropuerto (Airport)
• Vuelo (Flight)
• Número de vuelo (Flight number)
• Aerolínea (Airline)
• Mostrador de la aerolínea (Airline counter)
• Equipaje (Luggage)
• Llegadas (Arrivals)
• Salidas (Departures)
• Puerta de embarque (Boarding gate)
• Escala (Stopover)
• Facturación (Check-in)
• Cinta de equipaje (Baggage carousel)
• Tarjeta de embarque (Boarding pass)
• Control de seguridad (Security check)
• Zona de embarque (Boarding area)
• Aduanas (Customs)
• Control de pasaporte (Passport control)

In addition, you should bear in mind that you will also need to know airport vocabulary in Spanish related to the areas of the airport, incidents that may occur or to ask for assistance if you need help:

• Tiempo de abordaje (Boarding time)
• Hora de llegada (Arrival time)
• Hora de salida (Departure time)
• Turbulencias (Turbulence)
• Sala de espera (Waiting room)
• Despegar (Takeoff)
• Aterrizar (Landing)
• Retraso en el vuelo (Flight delay)
• Cancelación del vuelo (Flight cancellation)
• Pérdida de equipaje (Lost luggage)
• Asistencia al pasajero (Passenger assistance)
• Transporte al aeropuerto (Transportation to the airport)
• Alquiler de coches (Car rental)
• Zona de fumadores (Smoking area)
• Salida de emergencia (Emergency exit)

Airport words in Spanish

Once you have internalized all this Spanish airport vocabulary, it is important that you also know the words related to airplanes in Spanish that you need to know. Here is a list of basic words you will need to know:

• Cabina (Cabin)
• Tripulación (Crew)
• Piloto (Pilot)
• Copiloto (Co-pilot)
• Azafata/o (Steward/stewardess)
• Asistente de vuelo (Flight attendant)
• Pasajero (Passenger)
• Cabina del piloto (Cockpit)
• Primera clase (First class)
• Clase económica (Economy class)
• Pasillo (Aisle)
• Fila (Row)
• Asiento de pasillo (Aisle seat)
• Asiento de ventanilla (Window seat)
• Compartimento de cabina (Cabin compartment)
• Cinturón de seguridad (Seat belt)
• Salida de emergencia (Emergency exit)
• Chaleco salvavidas (Life jacket)
• Máscara de oxígeno (Oxygen mask)

Spanish airport sentences

In addition to learning vocabulary, you also need to know some key phrases about airports in Spanish that will be useful during your trip:

1. ¿Dónde está el mostrador de facturación? (Where is the check-in counter?)
2. ¿Puedo facturar mi maleta para mi vuelo? (Can I check my suitcase for my flight?)
3. Tengo una reserva para el vuelo a Madrid (I have a reservation for the flight to Madrid)
4. ¿Cuál es la puerta de embarque para este vuelo? (What is the boarding gate for this flight?)
5. ¿Cuánto equipaje de mano puedo llevar? (How much carry-on luggage can I bring?)
6. ¿Dónde está el control de seguridad? (Where is the security checkpoint?)
7. ¿A qué hora comienza el embarque? (What time does boarding begin?)
8. ¿Dónde puedo encontrar un baño? (Where can I find a bathroom?)
9. He perdido mi tarjeta de embarque, ¿puede ayudarme? (I've lost my boarding pass; can you please help me?)
10. ¿Este asiento es el 18A? (Is this seat 18A?)
11. ¿Podría cambiarme de asiento, por favor? (Could I change seats, please?)
12. ¿Me puede dar agua, por favor? (Can you give me some water, please?)
13. ¿Cuánto dura el vuelo? (How long is the flight?)
14. Perdón, ¿me puede ayudar a encontrar mi asiento? (Excuse me, can you help me find my seat?)
15. ¿Es esta la fila correcta para embarcar? (Is this the right line to board?)
16. Lo siento, no le entiendo. ¿Puede repetir más despacio? (I'm sorry, I don't understand you. Can you repeat it more slowly?)
17. Estoy un poco perdido. ¿Dónde está la salida? (I’m a bit lost. Where is the exit?)
18. Gracias por su ayuda. ¡Buen día! (Thank you for your help. Have a good day!)
19. Hubo turbulencias al principio, pero luego fue un vuelo muy tranquilo (There was some turbulence at the beginning, but then it was a very smooth flight)
20. Tenga en mano su pasaporte para embarcar en el vuelo (Please have your passport ready to board the flight)

Are you ready for your vacation? All this airport vocabulary in Spanish will help you start your vacation safely and calmly, allowing you to speak and ask questions with confidence to anyone at the airport.

We hope that all the Spanish for travel phrases we have provided will be of help to you on your next trip. For our part, we can only wish you a peaceful and relaxing vacation and bon voyage!

Still having trouble understanding the rules of Spanish accentuation? In this don Quijote article you’ll learn everything you need to know to know when to accent words in Spanish. If you want to master this language, the accent of the words is essential to know how to pronounce them and how to differentiate them.

You can change the language and read this same article in Spanish, French or Italian to continue your way to learning Spanish in Spain with don Quijote. Don't miss anything!

What is accentuation in Spanish?

Accentuation is a basic part of Spanish as a language, as knowing how and when words are accented is essential to speaking and writing correctly. That said, Spanish words are accented according to the stressed syllable, that is, the syllable on which the stress falls when pronouncing a word.

Therefore, Spanish accents will help you to know how to pronounce a word simply by seeing it written. In Spanish, the accent mark is only written on the five vowels: á, é, í, ó, ú. Thus, the letters that are accented in Spanish are only these five, the rest of the letters or, rather, consonants, do not have an accent mark.

When to stress stressed syllables in Spanish?

Spanish words are stressed depending on where the stressed syllable is, but not all words are stressed. Therefore, it is necessary to know how to identify the stressed syllable to correctly stress words. In addition, depending on the position of the stressed syllable, Spanish words can be divided into four groups.

The rules of accentuation of Spanish words are as follows:

• Palabras agudas (oxytone words). They are accented when they end in a vowel, n or s, and the stressed syllable is the last one. For example: camion (truck), café (coffee), sofa (sofa), jamás (never), compás (compass).
• Palabras graves or llanas (paroxytone words). These words have stress when they end in a consonant other than s or no and do not end in a vowel. The stressed syllable is the penultimate syllable: lápiz (pencil), césped (lawn), fácil (easy), débil (weak), túnel (tunnel), ángel (angel).
• Palabras esdrújulas (proparoxytone words). These words always have a tilde and their stressed syllable is in the antepenultimate place. Examples: pájaro (bird), música (music), teléfono (telephone), lógico (logical), rápido (fast), histórico (historical).
• Palabras sobresdrújulas (proparoxytone words). Like the previous ones, they also always have a stress mark, but their stressed syllable is before the antepenultimate, i.e., fourth or fifth. For example: devuélveselo (give it back to him), repíteselo (repeat it), explícaselo (explain it to him), entrégamelo (give it to me).

Stressing monosyllabic words in Spanish

As a rule, monosyllabic words in Spanish are not accented, but there are exceptions. The rule that applies to these words is that they are accented when it is necessary to distinguish between words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings, i.e. homophones in Spanish.

For example, in the sentence “Tú tienes que traer tu propia camiseta el domingo” (You have to bring your own shirt on Sunday), there are two words that are the same but are differentiated by the accent: tú and tu. The first is a personal pronoun and the second a possessive. The same happens with other monosyllables such as: él and el, se and sé, mas and más, si and sí, te and té.

This type of accentuation is called diacritical tilde and, as we mentioned before, it is used to differentiate two words that are spelled the same but do not mean the same thing.

Accenting questions in Spanish

Questions in Spanish are always accented. Interrogative pronouns are accented to differentiate them from adverbial conjunctions. Thus, in addition to the question marks at the beginning and end of the sentence, you can tell that it is a question with the tilde that the pronouns carry.

For example:

1. ¿Qué tienes de comer hoy? (What do you have to eat today?)
2. Dime quién te lo contó (Tell me who told you)
3. ¿Cómo prefieres el café: solo o con leche? (How do you prefer your coffee: black or with milk?)
4. ¿Cuánto cuesta este libro? (How much does this book cost?)
5. No recuerdo cuándo fue eso (I don't remember when that was)
6. ¿Dónde vives ahora? (Where do you live now?)
7. ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? (When is your birthday?)
8. Explícame por qué no viniste (Explain to me why you didn't come)

Common Spanish words with accents

Here are some of the most common Spanish words that have a tilde and can be heard daily. Do you know all of them?

• Café (Coffee)
• Inglés (English)
• Papá (Dad)
• Compás (Compass)
• Mamá (Mom)
• Además (In addition)
• También (Also/too)
• Jamás (Never)
• Útil (Useful)
• Limón (Lemon)
• Quizás (Maybe)
• León (Lion)
• Corazón (Heart)
• Francés (French)
• Árbol (Tree)
• Lápiz (Pencil)
• Fácil (Easy)
• Débil (Weak)
• Azúcar (Sugar)
• Móvil (Mobile)
• Césped (Lawn)
• Cárcel (Jail)
• Frágil (Fragile)
• Música (Music)
• Teléfono (Telephone)

• Pájaro (Bird)
• Fantástico (Fantastic)
• Lógico (Logical)
• Rápido (Fast)
• Científico (Scientific)
• Decisión (Decision)
• Esdrújula (Proparoxytone)
• Lágrima (Tear)
• Eléctrico (Electric)
• Álbum (Album)
• Dígamelo (Tell me)
• Panadería (Bakery)
• Repíteselo (Say it again)
• Tráigaselo (Bring it back to me)
• Devuélvemelo (Give it back to me)
• Préstaselo (Lend it to him)
• Cuéntamelo (Tell me about it)
• País (country)
• Río (River)
• Frío (Cold)
• Raíz (Root)
• Día (Day)
• Vacío (Void)
• Reír (To laugh)
• Aéreo (Aerial)

Of course there are many more Spanish words that are accented, but you will have to discover them for yourself. You can improve your command of the Spanish accentuation rules by reading, watching Spanish series and movies in their original version or by joining one of our intensive Spanish courses. Constant practice will help you understand and use Spanish accent words.

If you have already mastered the Spanish verb tenses, it is time for you to start getting into irregular verbs. These verbs are widely used in everyday Spanish, and it is essential that you know them and how to conjugate them to become a Spanish speaker. At don Quijote you will learn everything you need to know about irregular verbs in Spanish with practical examples.

Continue practicing to learn Spanish in Spain or switch languages and read this article in Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

What are irregular verbs in Spanish?

Irregular verbs in Spanish are those that do not follow the usual patterns of conjugation in one or more of their tenses and moods. Therefore, they must be learned separately since, when conjugating these verbs, their root changes its form.

How many irregular verbs are there in Spanish?

There are currently more than 100 irregular verbs in Spanish. Although among the most common ones, the list is reduced to about 50 and they constitute an essential part of the daily vocabulary. In fact, many of the most used verbs in Spanish (ser, estar, ir, tener, hacer) are irregular.

Spanish irregular verbs appear very frequently in everyday communication, so it is essential to know their conjugation. Their irregularity is a structural characteristic of the language and does not respond to a choice of the speaker, i.e. they must be memorized, since they do not follow a fixed rule.

Types of irregularities in verbs

Irregular verbs in Spanish can present different types of changes. These are the most common ones:

1.Change in the root by diphthongation or vowel change. They change the vowel in the root in some forms, generally in the present indicative and subjunctive:

• e → ie: pensar → pienso
• o → ue: poder → puedo
• e → i: pedir → pido

2. Change in the first-person singular. These verbs are irregular only in the first-person present indicative:

• poner → pongo
• salir → salgo

3. Irregular roots in the preterite indefinite:

• tener → tuve
• decir → dije

4. Completely irregular verbs. All these conjugated verbs are completely different from their root. For example:

• ser → soy → soy, fui, sea
• ir → voy, fui, vaya
• haber → he, hubo, haya

Most common irregular verbs in Spanish

Some of the most used verbs in Spanish are irregular. Here is a list of the most used irregular verbs in Spanish in two forms: present and preterite indicative.

1. Ser (to be): yo soy, tú eres, él/ella es, nosotros somos, vosotros sois, ellos son. Yo fui, tú fuiste, él/ella fue, nosotros fuimos, vosotros fuisteis, ellos fueron.
2. Estar (to be): yo estoy, tú estás, él/ella está, nosotros estamos, vosotros estáis, ellos están. Yo estuve, tú estuviste, él/ella estuvo, nosotros estuvimos, vosotros estuvisteis, ellos estuvieron.
3. Ir (to go): yo voy, tú vas, él/ella va, nosotros vamos, vosotros vais, ellos van. Yo fui, tú fuiste, él/ella fue, nosotros fuimos, vosotros fuisteis, ellos fueron.
4. Tener (to have): yo tengo, tú tienes, él/ella tiene, nosotros tenemos, vosotros tenéis, ellos tienen. Yo tuve, tú tuviste, él/ella tuvo, nosotros tuvimos, vosotros tuvisteis, ellos tuvieron.
5. Hacer (to do): yo hago, tú haces, él/ella hace, nosotros hacemos, vosotros hacéis, ellos hacen. Yo hice, tú hiciste, él/ella hizo, nosotros hicimos, vosotros hicisteis, ellos hicieron.
6. Haber (to have): yo he, tú has, él/ella ha, nosotros hemos, vosotros habéis, ellos han. Yo hube, tú hubiste, él/ella hubo, nosotros hubimos, vosotros hubisteis, ellos hubieron.
7. Decir (to say): yo digo, tú dices, él dice, nosotros decimos, vosotros decís, ellos dicen. Yo dije, tú dijiste, él/ella dijo, nosotros dijimos, vosotros dijisteis, ellos dijeron.
8. Poder (to be able to or to can): yo puedo, tú puedes, él/ella puede, nosotros podemos, vosotros podéis, ellos pueden. Yo pude, tú pudiste, él/ella pudo, nosotros pudimos, vosotros pudisteis, ellos pudieron.
9. Dar (to give): yo doy, tú das, él/ella da, nosotros damos, vosotros dais, ellos dan. Yo di, tú diste, él/ella dio, nosotros dimos, vosotros disteis, ellos dieron.
10. Saber (to know): yo sé, tú sabes, él/ella sabe, nosotros sabemos, vosotros sabéis, ellos saben. Yo supe, tú supiste, él/ella supo, nosotros supimos, vosotros supisteis, ellos supieron.

List of irregular verbs in Spanish

Here is a list of the 50 most used irregular verbs in Spanish:

• Acertar – To get it right
• Adquirir – To acquire
• Agradecer – To thank
• Andar – To walk
• Caber – To fit
• Caer – To fall
• Comenzar – To start
• Conducir – To drive
• Conocer – To meet
• Conseguir – To achieve/ to get
• Construir – To build
• Convertir – To convert
• Corregir – To correct
• Dar – To give
• Decir – To say/to tell
• Destruir – To destroy
• Dormir – To sleep
• Elegir – To choose
• Estar – To be
• Hacer – To do
• Haber - To have
• Hervir – To boil
• Incluir – To include
• Influir – To influence
• Ir – To go
• Jugar – To play

• Medir – To measure
• Mentir – To lie
• Morir – To die
• Nacer – To be born
• Obedecer – To obey
• Oír – To hear
• Pedir – To request
• Poder – To be able to
• Poner – To put
• Preferir – To prefer
• Querer – To want
• Reír – To laugh
• Saber – To know
• Salir – To exit
• Seguir – To follow
• Sentir - To feel
• Ser – To be
• Sonreír - To smile
• Tener – To have
• Traducir – To translate
• Traer – To bring
• Ver – To see
• Venir – To come
• Volver – To return

Examples of sentences with Spanish irregular verbs

Once you have understood how irregular verbs work in Spanish, we propose you a challenge: figure out the infinitive. Can you guess which is the root verb of these sentences? We leave you the answers below.

1. Ella es muy amable y generosa (She is very kind and generous)
2. Nosotros vamos al cine cada sábado (We go to the movies every Saturday)
3. Estoy cansado después del viaje (I'm tired after the trip)
4. Tengo una reunión importante mañana (I have an important meeting tomorrow)
5. ¿Hiciste la tarea ayer? (Did you do your homework yesterday?)
6. Él siempre dice la verdad (He always tells the truth)
7. Mis amigos vienen de Francia (My friends are coming from France)
8. ¿Puedes ayudarme con este problema? (Can you help me with this problem?)
9. Puse el libro sobre la mesa (I put the book on the table)
10. Salgo a correr todas las mañanas (I go jogging every morning)
11. Duermo ocho horas cada noche (I sleep eight hours a night)
12. Pido una pizza grande, por favor (I order a large pizza, please)
13. Queremos viajar en verano (We want to travel in the summer)
14. No sé la respuesta correcta (I don't know the right answer)
15. Conduje durante cinco horas seguidas (I drove for five hours straight)

Here are the answers to the irregular verbs in Spanish in each sentence: ser, ir, estar, tener, hacer, decir, venir, poder, poner, salir, dormir, pedir, querer, saber, conducir.

Spanish irregular verbs are fundamental to achieve fluency in the language, even though they are a challenge for learners. Mastering the most common irregular verbs in Spanish will allow you to improve your comprehension and expression in the language. At don Quijote we recommend the best way to learn them: through constant practice in our intensive Spanish course, where you can learn the language, put it into practice and, in addition, get to know wonderful cities such as Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia. Start your adventure in the language and come study with don Quijote!

Have you ever wondered why there are words in Spanish that sound the same but have different meanings and are used in different contexts? This linguistic phenomenon is called homonymy, and there are different types: homophones and homographs. These three types of words are complicated, but once you understand them, it's piece of cake!

If you need help understanding how this linguistic phenomenon works because you are starting to learn Spanish in Spain and many words sound the same to you, but you don't know their meaning according to the context, this is the article for you! We will help you understand these three types of words with definitions and examples so that you can use them and sound like a true native speaker.

You can also read this article in Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

What are homonyms in Spanish?

Homonyms in Spanish are words that are pronounced the same but have different origins or meanings. For example: haya and aya; vaya and baya; or votar and botar. Other examples would be banco (bench/bank/fish) or llama (verb/animal/fire).

Within Spanish homonymy, several types of words can be distinguished depending on whether they are spelled the same, their pronunciation varies, or they have different meanings. However, you should not confuse them with Spanish polysemous words, which we explained in another article.

Types of homonyms in Spanish:

• Homophones in Spanish: words that sound the same as another word but have a different meaning and may be spelled differently. Ex. Tubo and tuvo.
• Homographs in Spanish: words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Ex. Vino (wine) and vino (Spanish verb venir).
• Perfect homonyms: words that are spelled and sound the same. Ex. Sal (salt) and sal (Spanish verb salir).

Homophones and homographs are types of Spanish homonyms, meaning that they all share the same pronunciation or spelling but have different meanings. Keep in mind that all these words in Spanish are pronounced the same but may or may not be spelled differently and used in different contexts. Let's see what differentiates them so you don't confuse them.

Difference between Spanish homonyms, homophones, and homographs

The main characteristic of these types of words is that they always have different meanings, even though they aren’t pronounced or spelled the same. Depending on the context, you will be able to identify their meaning.

Differentiating between these types of words can be challenging, but we will try to explain it as best as possible with this table:

It should be noted that in modern Spanish, the pronunciation and spelling of most words are the same, meaning that there is no significant difference in their pronunciation. Therefore, pronunciation tends to match spelling, although there are some exceptions.

Although extremely rare, there may be cases where Spanish words of foreign origin, technical terms, or regionalisms sound different from how they are written. For example: práctico and practico. The word is homographic, it is written the same (although one has an accent and the other does not), but the stressed syllable changes and it is pronounced differently. This is a very specific case and one of the few where a homograph has different pronunciations due to its accent.

Examples of homonyms in Spanish

Remember that homonyms words in Spanish sound and/or are spelled the same but have different meanings:

Capital:

• La capital de España es Madrid (The capital of Spain is Madrid)
• Necesito capital para invertir en mi negocio (I need capital to invest in my business)

Cura:

• El cura dio misa el domingo (The priest said Mass on Sunday)
• Esa infección se cura con antibióticos (The infection will be cured with antibiotics)

Banco:

• El banco me otorgó un préstamo (The bank gave me a loan)
• Nos sentamos en el banco del parque (We sat on the bench in the park)
• Vimos un banco de peces en el estanque (We saw a shoal of fish in the pond)

Llama:

• La llama escupió al turista (The llama spat at the tourist)
• La llama del fuego se apagó con el viento (The flame of the fire was extinguished by the wind)
• Llama a tu hermana que va a llegar tarde (Call your sister, she's going to be late)

Frente:

• El frente de la casa tiene ventanas grandes (The front of the house has large windows)
• El frente de batalla estaba bien defendido (The front of the battle was well defended)
• El flequillo le tapa la frente (Her fringe covers her forehead)

Here are some other homonyms in Spanish that you may come across: gato (cat/vehicle tool); cola (tail/line of people) or clave (key/central idea).

Examples of homophones in Spanish

Homophones words in Spanish always sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings.

Rebelar/Revelar:

• El pueblo decidió rebelarse contra las injusticias (The people decided to rebel against injustice)
• Va a revelar su secreto mañana (He is going to reveal his secret tomorrow)

Grabar/Gravar:

• Voy a grabar una canción nueva el viernes (I'm going to record a new song on Friday)
• El Gobierno decidió gravar los productos importados (The government decided to tax imported products)

Basta/Vasta:

• Basta ya de hacer ruido, por favor (Please, stop making noise)
• Una vasta llanura se extiende hasta el horizonte (A vast plain stretch to the horizon)

Haya/Halla:

• Ojalá haya comida en la nevera cuando lleguemos (I hope there is food in the fridge when we get there)
• Si buscas bien, hallarás la respuesta (If you look carefully, you will find the answer)

Vaca/Baca:

• La vaca pasta en el campo (The cow grazes in the field)
• Subieron las maletas en la baca del coche (They put the suitcases in the roof rack of the car)

Other very common homophones in Spanish are: tuvo/tubo; cayó/calló; votar/botar; honda/onda; rayar/rallar; hola/ola, haber/ a ver, etc.

Examples of homographs in Spanish

Finally, homographs in Spanish are words that are spelled the same, have different meanings, and, in very rare cases, can sound different due to accent.

Practico:

• El médico me dijo que practico buenos hábitos (The doctor told me to practice good habits)
• El móvil es muy práctico para los viajes (Cell phones are very practical for traveling)

Toco:

• Toco la guitarra todas las noches (I play the guitar every night)
• Cerca del río crece un árbol llamado toco (Near the river grows a tree called toco)

Bajo:

• Bajó del bus en la última parada (He got off the bus at the last stop)
• El sótano está situado bajo el edificio (The basement is located under the building)

Nada:

• Nada lo detuvo en su camino (Nothing stopped him on his way)
• Mi primo nada en el río todas las tardes (My cousin swims in the river every afternoon)

Vino:

• Me gusta más el vino tinto que el vino blanco (I like red wine better than white wine)
• El técnico vino a mi casa a arreglar la fuga de agua (The technician came to my house to fix the water leak)

Here are some more common homographs in Spanish: tomo (Spanish verb tomar/volume of a book); como (Spanish verb comer/conjunction); lima (city/fruit/manicure tool); listo (ready/clever); canto (Spanish verb cantar/edge of something).

Although it may seem very confusing at first and you may find it difficult to understand this type of phenomenon, homonymous words in Spanish are very common, and you will end up using them without even realizing it. Your adventure in learning Spanish has just begun, so don't stop and keep practicing in places where the language is spoken, such as Spain.

Our intensive Spanish courses are ideal for giving your skills a boost, getting to know some of the 11 incredible cities where we have schools, and making friends from all over the world. Take the plunge and start mastering Spanish with don Quijote!

The Spanish infinitive is one of the most basic forms of verbs in Spanish and, therefore, you should learn to distinguish them during your intensive Spanish course. This verb form is necessary to know how to conjugate the rest of the verbs in Spanish.

In this article from don Quijote, we tell you all about infinitives in Spanish so you can learn how they are used, when they are used and examples of the most used verbs in the language.

You can also read this article in Spanish, French or Italian.

What is a Spanish infinitive?

An infinitive in Spanish is the verbal form that designates an action or state in a general way, without indicating who performs it or when it occurs. It is a non-personal form of the verb, which means that it does not express time, person, number or mood. The infinitive in Spanish can be defined as the base form of the verb, as it appears in the dictionary next to its definition.

In Spanish, infinitives end in -ar, -er or -ir. The three infinitive endings in Spanish are divided into:

Verbs ending in -ar are first conjugation verbs and are the most numerous and regular. Examples of verbs in the Spanish infinitive form -ar: estudiar (to study), caminar (to walk), cantar (to sing), bailar (to dance), madrugar (to wake up early), jugar (to play), buscar (to look for), comprar (to buy), escuchar (to listen), hablar (to talk), llamar (to call), etc.

Verbs ending in -er are in the second conjugation and include many common verbs. Examples of verbs ending in -er: comer (to eat), beber (to drink), coser (to sew), correr (to run), deber (to have to), leer (to read), romper (to break), vender (to sell), comprender (to understand), etc.

Finally, verbs ending in -ir are those of the third conjugation and are the least frequent of the three types of infinitives, even so, they are also very important. Verbs ending in -ir: vivir (to live), escribir (to write), abrir (to open), cubrir (to cover), pedir (to ask), permitir (to allow), recibir (to receive), servir (to serve), decidir (to decide), etc.

When and how is the Spanish infinitive used?

The infinitive in Spanish can appear in different situations. Here, you are going to learn some of them to understand how and when to use the infinitive in Spanish.

The Spanish infinitive can appear after Spanish propositions. For example:

• Antes de salir, cierra la puerta (Before going out, close the door)
• Estoy cansado de trabajar tanto (I'm tired of working so much)

It also appears after conjugated verbs, especially as a complement:

• Quiero estudiar más (I want to study harder)
• Debes descansar (You should rest)

It can also be the subject of a sentence in noun form. For example:

• Viajar es una experiencia enriquecedora (Traveling is an enriching experience)
• Estudiar requiere disciplina (Studying requires discipline)

Or it can be used in verbal periphrases, that is, in the combination of two verbs:                     

• Voy a llamarte más tarde (I'm going to call you later)
• Tenemos que salir ya (We must leave now)

And it can appear in impersonal instructions:

• No fumar (Not smoking)
• Empujar la puerta (Pushing the door)

The infinitive can also take enclitic pronouns, that is, pronouns that are linked to the verb. For example:

• Quiero acostarme temprano (I want to go to bed early)
• Vas a verlo mañana (You're going to see it tomorrow)

In Spanish, unlike English, the particle “to” is not needed to indicate the infinitive. In English the infinitive would be to eat, to go or to look for. Whereas in Spanish you simply use the verb itself: comer, ir or buscar.

Find the Spanish infinitive

Below you will find example sentences with infinitives in Spanish and with other conjugated verbs. In this exercise you will have to identify the Spanish infinitive verb in each sentence and, if you dare, also the Spanish tenses conjugation. Go for it!

• Me encanta viajar por el mundo (I love traveling the world)
• Ayer comimos en un restaurante mexicano (Yesterday we ate at a Mexican restaurant)
• Mañana saldré temprano para evitar el tráfico (Tomorrow I'll leave early to avoid the traffic)
• Antes de salir, revisa que tengas todo (Before leaving, check that you have everything)
• Vamos a visitar a mis abuelos el domingo (We're going to visit my grandparents on Sunday)
• Ojalá llueva mañana (I hope it rains tomorrow)
• He trabajado mucho esta semana (I've worked hard this week)
• Es importante descansar bien por la noche (It's important to get a good night's sleep)
• Ella quiere aprender francés este año (She wants to learn French this year)
• ¿Viste la película que te recomendé? (Did you see the movie I recommended)

Were you able to guess them all? You will find the correct answers at the end of the article.

 If you still don't know how to use the infinitive or have any doubts, sign up for one of our courses to learn Spanish in Spain with qualified teachers. Start your Spanish adventure now and live a unique experience at don Quijote schools in Spain or Latin America.

Would you like to learn how to express hypotheses, wishes or suggestions in Spanish? The Spanish conditional is the perfect tense for this and as a Spanish student you must learn how to use it to communicate effectively.

Understanding its formation and use and communicating more naturally and precisely with native speakers is possible by using the Spanish conditional. This article by don Quijote helps you understand the Spanish conditional tense. Keep reading and don’t miss anything!

You can read this same text in Spanish, French or Italian.

Spanish conditional tense

The Spanish conditional is a verb tense used to talk about hypothetical or future situations from the past. It is also used to express courtesy, wishes and advice.

For example:

• In a hypothetical situation: “Si tuviera más tiempo, estudiaría otro idioma” (If I had more time, I would study another language)
• To express courtesy: “Me gustaría un café, por favor” (I would like a coffee, please)

Think of the Spanish conditional tense as a way of talking about things that could happen but are not guaranteed. This can help you understand this Spanish tense conjugation.

How to form the Spanish conditional?

The conditional in Spanish is formed by adding the endings -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían to the infinitive of the verb, according to the person and number. These examples with the three Spanish verb endings will help you see how it works:

However, in Spanish there are also irregular verbs that do not follow the same rules as regular verbs. Some irregular verbs with the Spanish conditional are:

• Tener (to have) – Tendría (I would have)
• Hacer (to do) – Haría (I would do)
• Poder (to be able to) – Podría (I would be able to)
• Decir (to say) – Diría (I would say)
• Querer (to want) – Querría (I would want)

The irregular verbs in the Spanish conditional tense are the same as in the simple future. Therefore, if you learn how one works, you will also have mastered the other.

Uses of the simple conditional in Spanish

The conditional has several uses in Spanish. The simple conditional in Spanish does not use auxiliary verbs as in English. If it helps, you can think of the Spanish conditional as the English “would” (I would like) because it would be the equivalent of the Spanish conditional tense.

Below, we explain the most important uses of the simple conditional in Spanish:

a) Hypothetical situations

The Spanish conditional is used to talk about things that could happen if certain conditions are met. For example:

• Si estudiaras más, sacarías mejores notas (If you studied harder, you would get better grades)
• Si fuera rico, viajaría por el mundo (If I were rich, I would travel the world)

b) Courtesy and formal requests

It is also common to use the simple conditional in Spanish to address others politely:

• ¿Podría ayudarme, por favor? (Could you help me, please?)
• Me gustaría reservar una mesa para do (I would like to reserve a table for two)

c) Future in the past

When speaking in the past and mentioning a future action from that moment, the Spanish conditional tense is also used. Examples:

• Dijo que llegaría tarde (He said he would be late)
• Pensábamos que haría frío, pero hacía mucho calor (We thought it would be cold, but it was very hot)

d) Probability in the past

Another use is to express assumptions about past events.

• Serían las diez cuando llegó (It would be ten o'clock when he arrived) (it was probably ten o'clock)
• Juan tendría unos 30 años cuando se casó (Juan would have been about 30 when he got married) (supposition)

e) Advice and suggestions

The Spanish conditional is useful for making recommendations in a polite way.

• Yo que tú, estudiaría más (If I were you, I would study more)
• Deberías descansar un poco (You should get some rest)

Conditional Compound in Spanish

The compound conditional in Spanish is used to talk about situations that would have happened in the past but did not. Thus, the compound conditional in Spanish is formed with the verb haber in the conditional + the participle of the main verb.

Another tip for the compound conditional: this tense in Spanish would be an English equivalent to “would have” + past participle (I would have studied).

Examples of the compound conditional in Spanish:

• Habría estudiado más si hubiera tenido tiempo (I would have studied more if I had had the time)
• Nos habríamos ido antes, pero llovía mucho (We would have left earlier, but it was raining a lot)

Common mistakes in the use of the Spanish conditional

Many students find it difficult to differentiate between the conditional and the subjunctive in Spanish. Remember that the conditional in Spanish expresses the consequence of a hypothesis, while the Spanish subjunctive is used when an action is unreal or improbable.

Furthermore, many people who learn Spanish as a second language make these mistakes when using the conditional:

• It is incorrect to say: “Si tendría tiempo, viajaría” → The correct thing to say would be: “Si tuviera tiempo, viajaría”
• You can't say: “Dijo que vendrá más tarde” → You must say: “Dijo que vendría más tarde”
• If you want to sound more formal in a conversation, don't say: “¿Me puedes ayudar?” → Instead you can say: “¿Podría ayudarme?”

Examples with the conditional in Spanish

A good way to master the conditional in Spanish is to write sentences that start with 'Si...' and use this tense to see how it works in different contexts. But, to help you learn it better, here are some example sentences with the conditional:

1. Me gustaría un café, por favor (I would like a coffee, please)
2. ¿Querría algo más aparte del café? (Would you like anything else apart from coffee?)
3. Si ganara la lotería, compraría una casa en la playa (If I won the lottery, I would buy a house by the beach)
4. Yo en tu lugar, estudiaría más para el examen (If I were you, I would study more for the exam)
5. Si hiciera buen tiempo, iríamos a la playa (If the weather was good, we would go to the beach)
6. Dijo que llegaría a las ocho, pero aún no ha llegado (He said he would be here at eight, but he hasn't arrived yet)
7. Ayer Luis no contestó el teléfono, estaría ocupado (Luis didn't answer the phone yesterday, he must be busy)
8. Yo que tú, hablaría con el profesor para aclarar la duda (If I were you, I would talk to the teacher to clear up the doubt)

We hope we have helped you with the use of the Spanish conditional tense. However, if you still have doubts, don't hesitate to sign up for an intensive Spanish course, our teachers will teach you the tricks you need to master the Spanish conditional tense.

Although the key is to practice and correct common mistakes, don't think twice and come to study Spanish in Spain with don Quijote!