Spanish Language Masterclass

Here are 20 common Spanish words that every beginner should know:

1. Hola (Hello)

2. Adiós (Goodbye)

3. Gracias (Thank you)

4. Por favor (Please)

5. Sí (Yes)

6. No (No)

7. Amigo (Friend)

8. Amor (Love)

9. Familia (Family)

10. Casa (House)

11. Agua (Water)

12. Comida (Food)

13. Trabajo (Work)

14. Día (Day)

15. Noche (Night)

16. Gato (Cat)

17. Perro (Dog)

18. Escuela (School)

19. Tiempo (Time/Weather)

20. Feliz (Happy)

Learning these basic words helps build a strong foundation for everyday Spanish conversation.

Here’s how to count from 1 to 12 in Spanish:
1 – Uno
2 – Dos
3 – Tres
4 – Cuatro
5 – Cinco
6 – Seis
7 – Siete
8 – Ocho
9 – Nueve
10 – Diez
11 – Once
12 – Doce

Spanish numbers are simple and phonetic, making them easy to learn and pronounce for English speakers in the UK.

The basics of the Spanish language include pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Spanish uses the same Latin alphabet as English but has a few extra letters, such as “ñ.” Verbs are conjugated according to tense and subject, and nouns have gender (masculine or feminine). Common greetings like hola (hello) and ¿cómo estás? (how are you?) are great starting points.

For English speakers in the UK, Spanish is considered one of the easier languages to learn. It’s phonetic, meaning words are pronounced as they’re written, and it shares many Latin-based words with English. However, mastering verb conjugations and gendered nouns requires consistent practice.

In short, Spanish is easy to start but needs dedication to master fluency.

It’s possible to learn basic conversational Spanish in three months with focused daily practice. Immersing yourself in the language through online courses, podcasts, Spanish media, and speaking with native speakers can accelerate progress. While fluency usually takes longer, consistent effort can help you hold simple conversations within that timeframe.

For most learners, English is harder than Spanish due to its irregular spelling and grammar rules. Spanish is more consistent — words are pronounced as written, and grammar follows clear patterns. However, English speakers may find Spanish verb tenses and gendered nouns challenging at first.

Overall, Spanish is often seen as easier to learn than English, especially for UK beginners starting from scratch.