Want to quickly expand your Spanish vocabulary? You’re in luck! There are countless Spanish words that closely resemble their English counterparts, making them incredibly easy to learn and remember. These cognates and familiar terms will give you an immediate boost in your language journey.
Common Categories of Easy Spanish Words
Everyday Items
- teléfono (telephone)
- computadora (computer)
- televisión (television)
- radio (radio)
- cámara (camera)
Food and Drink
- chocolate – pronounced exactly as you’d expect!
- café (coffee)
- banana (banana)
- sandwich – just add a Spanish accent: sándwich
- hamburguesa (hamburger)
- pizza – identical to English
- restaurante (restaurant)
Places
- hospital – identical spelling and meaning
- banco (bank)
- parque (park)
- hotel – same spelling, slightly different pronunciation
- aeropuerto (airport)
- universidad (university)
Professions
- doctor/doctora (doctor – male/female)
- profesor/profesora (professor – male/female)
- dentista (dentist)
- artista (artist)
- músico (musician)
Family Terms
- familia (family)
- mamá (mom)
- papá (dad)
- primo/prima (cousin – male/female)
Common Adjectives
- importante (important)
- interesante (interesting)
- terrible (terrible)
- posible (possible)
- imposible (impossible)
Transportation
- taxi – identical
- autobús (bus)
- tren (train)
- bicicleta (bicycle)
Why These Words Are So Easy
Many of these words share common Latin or Greek roots with English, making them cognates – words that sound similar and have the same meaning in both languages. This is particularly true for:
- Words ending in “-tion” in English often end in “-ción” in Spanish: – información (information) – educación (education) – comunicación (communication)
- Words ending in “-ty” in English often end in “-dad” in Spanish: – universidad (university) – creatividad (creativity) – identidad (identity)
- Words ending in “-ic” in English often end in “-ico” in Spanish: – público (public) – romántico (romantic) – dramático (dramatic)
Quick Tips for Recognition
You can often spot Easy Words in Spanish by looking for these patterns:
- Words ending in “-al” are often identical: – normal (normal) – profesional (professional) – animal (animal)
- Many scientific and technical terms are nearly identical: – solar (solar) – digital (digital) – atómico (atomic)
- Modern technology terms are frequently similar: – internet (internet) – wifi (wifi) – correo electrónico (email)
Common Situations Where These Words Help
Imagine these scenarios where Easy Words in Spanish come to your rescue:
At a Restaurant:
- “Un café y una pizza, por favor.” (A coffee and a pizza, please.)
- “El restaurante está en el hotel.” (The restaurant is in the hotel.)
Getting Around:
- “Necesito un taxi al aeropuerto.” (I need a taxi to the airport.)
- “¿Dónde está el banco?” (Where is the bank?)
Medical Situations:
- “Necesito un doctor.” (I need a doctor.)
- “Está en el hospital.” (It’s in the hospital.)
Shopping:
- “¿Dónde está el supermercado?” (Where is the supermarket?)
- “¿Cuál es el precio?” (What is the price?)
Remember, these easy words give you a tremendous head start in Spanish. They provide immediate vocabulary you can use with confidence, helping you communicate basic needs and ideas right from the start.
¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)