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How Spanish works, how memory works, and how we build Vozelu.
- Coche, carro or auto? Spanish words that change by countryCoche, carro or auto for a car, zumo or jugo, ordenador or computadora, móvil or celular, conducir or manejar, and the many words for a bus. Who says which.
- How to ask politely in Spanish: usted, podría and quisieraHow to ask for something politely in Spanish: usted commands, ¿me pasas...?, podría, quisiera, ¿me pones...? and ¿me regala...?, with what each sounds like.
- Linking words in Spanish: why you cannot hear where words endSpanish speakers join words at vowels, a silent h and a final consonant. Learn how sinalefa works, with examples, so you can hear the separate words again.
- Spanish filler words: pues, bueno, vale, es que and o seaWhat pues, bueno, vale, es que, o sea, este and ¿no? do in Spanish conversation, when speakers use each one and what to listen for after it.
- Moving to Colombia: the Spanish you need in the first six monthsThe words for the visa office, the cédula, a flat with a codeudor, the estrato on every form, the EPS, TransMilenio, the building's vigilante and the WhatsApp to the plumber, in the order a move to Colombia asks for them.
- Arguing and making up in Spanish: disagreeing, calming down and apologising in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to disagree politely, argue without insulting anyone, ask for calm, and make up afterwards, with the words for angry, the phrases to avoid, and what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Asado and mate in Spanish: the cuts, the grill, the asador and the mate round in Argentina and UruguayWhat to say at an Argentine or Uruguayan asado, the names of the cuts, how done you want it, what to bring, and how the mate round works, with the words and the etiquette of Argentina and Uruguay.
- Asking a favour in Spanish: asking, softening, saying yes or no, and thanking in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to ask a friend, a neighbour or a stranger for a favour, the softeners each country uses, how to accept and refuse politely, borrowing and lending, and how to thank someone properly in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Body parts in Spanish: the face, the body, me duele, and why it is la manoThe Spanish words for the body and the face, how to say what hurts with me duele, why Spanish uses the article where English uses my, and the words that change between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Breaking up in Spanish: ending a relationship, what people say, and what friends tell you in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe verbs for breaking up in each country (terminar, cortar, tronar, dejar), what to say in person and by message, cheating, heartbreak, getting back together, and what friends say afterwards in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Colours in Spanish: the list, agreement, shades and colour idiomsEvery common colour in Spanish, how colours agree with the noun, light and dark shades, hair and eye colours, the idioms, and the words that change between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Compliments in Spanish: on looks, food, homes and work, and how to reply, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to compliment someone's appearance, cooking, home and work in Spanish, the words for nice and cool in each country, the ones that go wrong, and how people take a compliment in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Days of the week and months in Spanish: dates, seasons, and why it is el lunesThe seven days, the twelve months and the four seasons, how to say and write a date, why Monday is el lunes with no preposition, and what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Earthquakes and storms in Spanish: alerts, warnings, and what to say in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe Spanish for earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and storms, Mexico's earthquake alert, the colour warnings in Spain, Colombia and Argentina, what the official messages tell you to do, and what to say and ask.
- Family members in Spanish: parents, in-laws, step-family and what people really call themThe Spanish words for every family member, from parents and cousins to in-laws, step-family and godparents, and the pet names people use at home in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Food in Spanish: fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and staples, with the names that change by countryThe Spanish words for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy and staples, and the ones that change completely between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina, from aguacate and palta to fresa and frutilla.
- A hospital stay in Spanish: admission, the ward, nurses, visiting, tests and discharge in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe Spanish for being admitted to hospital, talking to nurses and doctors on the ward, pain and medication, tests, visiting hours, discharge papers and insurance, with the words that change between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- How to roll your r in Spanish: the tap, the trill, and drills that get you thereThe difference between the Spanish tap and trill, where each one goes, step-by-step drills for the rolled r, minimal pairs like pero and perro, what to say while you cannot trill yet, and how the r varies in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- How to say I love you in Spanish: te quiero or te amo, and who you say it toThe difference between te quiero and te amo, how to say I love you to a partner, your family and your friends, how to write it in a message or a card, and what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Ir conjugation in every tense, with ir a and irseEvery form of the Spanish verb ir in tables, from voy and fui to iba, vaya and andá, with ir a + infinitive, irse, the prepositions that go with ir, and the differences in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Nightlife in Spanish: going out, clubs, the door, drinks and getting home in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe words for going out and for a club in each country, what time people go out, getting past the door, ordering at the bar, dancing, getting home safely and the hangover, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Numbers in Spanish: 0 to a million, ordinals, prices, phone numbers and yearsEvery number from zero to a million, the ordinals, how prices, phone numbers and years are said, and what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Romantic and flirty Spanish for couples: pet names, messages and what you say in privateWhat couples in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina call each other, how to say you miss, want and love someone at every level, romantic texts, playful private lines, the lines that sound creepy, and what to keep from your partner's family.
- Ser conjugation in every tense, with when to use each formEvery form of the Spanish verb ser in tables, from soy and sos to fui, era, sea and fuera, with when to use ser, fixed phrases, and the differences in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Spanish accent marks and the rules for where they goHow Spanish stress works, when a word needs a written accent, the accents that separate tú and tu, sí and si, qué and que, and the accents on question words, with the few spellings that differ between Spain and Latin America.
- The Spanish alphabet: the letters, their names, their sounds, and spelling your name aloudThe 27 letters of the Spanish alphabet with their names and how to say each sound, ñ, ll, rr and ch, the differences between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina, and how to spell your name and email address out loud.
- Spanish commands for tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes and vosHow to form Spanish commands, affirmative and negative, for tú, usted, vosotros, ustedes and vos, with the irregular forms, where pronouns go, and how commands sound in Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- The Spanish conditional tense, from hablaría to me gustaríaWhen to use the Spanish conditional for hypotheticals, polite requests, advice and reported speech, how to form it, the irregular stems, and the si clauses that go with it.
- Spanish object pronouns lo, la, le and se lo, and where they goHow to choose between lo, la, los, las, le and les, why le lo becomes se lo, and where the pronouns go with infinitives, gerunds and commands, with the differences between Spain and Latin America.
- The Spanish future tense and ir a + infinitiveWhen to use the simple future (hablaré) and when to use ir a + infinitive (voy a hablar), how to form both, the twelve irregular stems, and how the choice differs between Spain and Latin America.
- The Spanish present perfect, he comido, in Spain and Latin AmericaWhen to use the present perfect (he comido) and when the preterite (comí), how the choice differs between Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina, and how to form it with haber and the irregular participles.
- Spanish reflexive verbs, from me levanto to se llamaWhen to use reflexive verbs in Spanish, how to conjugate them, where the pronoun goes, and the verbs that change meaning with se, with notes for Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Spanish swear words: what they mean, how strong they are, and where they offendThe common Spanish swear words and insults in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina, how strong each one is, when it is friendly and when it starts a fight, and the innocent words that are rude in another country.
- Studying abroad in Spanish: enrolling, classes, professors, exams and student life in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe Spanish for enrolling at a university, exchange programmes, the admin office, subjects and credits, talking to professors, exams and grades, and student life, with the words and grading scales of Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Tapas in Spanish: ordering tapas, raciones and pintxos, and the bar customs of each region of SpainHow to order tapas, raciones and pintxos in Spain, where the tapa comes free with a drink, how pintxo bars in the Basque Country work, the classic dishes, the drinks, paying, and what the barman will say.
- Tener conjugation in every tense, with tener que and tener hambreEvery form of the Spanish verb tener in tables, from tengo and tenés to tuve, tendré and tuviera, with tener que, age, and the tener expressions for hunger, cold, fear and more, and notes for Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
- Weather in Spanish: hace calor, está nublado, hay niebla, and the forecastHow to talk about the weather in Spanish with hace, está and hay, the words in a forecast, what to wear, and how the seasons and the vocabulary change between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- The airport, immigration and customs in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaChecking in, security, the questions the immigration officer asks and how to answer them, customs, delays, missed connections and lost luggage, with the word for each thing in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Answering the phone in Spanish: what to say first in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina¿Bueno? in Mexico, ¿diga? in Spain, ¿aló? in Colombia, ¿hola? in Argentina, plus who is calling, asking someone to slow down, messages, wrong numbers, a bad line, and how to end the call.
- Apologising and thanking in Spanish: perdón, disculpe, lo siento, gracias and the reply, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhich apology fits which mistake, how to say sorry for your Spanish, every level of thank you, and the answer you will get back in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Argentine Spanish: the tune, the vos and the Italian in itWhere the melody of Buenos Aires comes from, the second conjugation the textbooks skip, and the words that mean nothing anywhere else. With four native voices.
- At a house party in Spanish: what to bring, when to arrive, how to greet everyone and how to leave in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaAccepting the invitation, what to bring and what it is called, how late to arrive, the kiss rules, introducing yourself, offering to help, the very long goodbye, and the thank-you the next day, with what changes in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- At the bar in Spanish: ordering drinks, rounds, snacks and the tab in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat to call a beer in each country, how to order wine and spirits, who pays for the round, tapas in Spain and botanas in Mexico, asking for the tab, and how to turn down another drink.
- At the dentist in Spanish: booking, saying which tooth hurts, and what the treatments are called in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to book, describe the pain and point to the right tooth, the words for filling, crown, extraction, root canal, cleaning and braces, what the dentist says with your mouth open, and how paying works in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- At the doctor in Spanish: booking, describing symptoms and understanding the diagnosis in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to book an appointment, what reception will ask, how to describe pain precisely, the examination phrases you will hear, the words for tests and prescriptions, and how the health system works for a foreigner in each country.
- At the gym in Spanish: joining, classes, machines and cancelling, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe words for membership, the front desk questions, what the machines and classes are called, how to ask if something is free, the locker room, and how to cancel in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- At the hairdresser in Spanish: saying exactly what you want, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe words for a trim, the sides, the fringe, layers, clippers, the beard and colour, what the hairdresser will ask you, plus the gym and the pool, tipping, and what the shop itself is called in each country.
- At the market in Spanish: asking prices, tasting, choosing fruit and haggling in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat the market is called in each country, how to ask the price per kilo, how to ask to taste, how to pick ripe fruit, where haggling happens and where it does not, and what the vendor shouts at you in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- At the pharmacy in Spanish: saying what hurts, asking for medicine, and what is sold over the counter in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to say I have a headache, a cold, a stomach ache, an allergy, what the medicines are called, doses, prescriptions, and what the pharmacist will ask, with what changes by country.
- At the supermarket in Spanish: aisles, the deli counter, weighing produce and the checkout in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to ask where something is, weigh and label your fruit, order 200 grams sliced thin at the counter, answer the questions at the till, and know that papa, jugo, palta and durazno change names between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- At the vet in Spanish: booking, symptoms, vaccines and neutering in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to book a vet appointment, describe what is wrong with a dog or cat, ask about vaccines, deworming and neutering, buy food and a lead, and read the street rules, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Opening a bank account and buying a SIM card in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe ID they will ask for, the words at the bank counter, prepaid against contract phone plans, topping up, and what Bizum, Nequi, Mercado Pago and CoDi are, with the version for Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Calling customer service in Spanish: the phone menu, the agent and the complaint, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to get past the phone menu to a person, say what is wrong with your internet, bank or flight, give your details, hold, and file a complaint, with the words used in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Calling in sick in Spanish: the message to your boss, the sick note, and going back to work in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat to write or say when you cannot work, how to describe symptoms briefly, what the sick note is called in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina, whether to use tú or usted with a boss, and what HR and your colleagues will say.
- Cancelling plans and being late in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to say you cannot make it, postpone to another day, warn someone you are running late, and apologise the right amount, with how late counts as late in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Cinema, museums and tickets in Spanish: box office, seats, discounts and subtitles in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to buy a ticket at the window or online, ask for times and seats, get the student or free-day price, and tell a subtitled film from a dubbed one, with the word each country uses.
- Colombian Spanish: why it is called the clearest, and where that stopsBogotá speaks slowly and says usted to everyone; the coast speaks at twice the speed. The first hour, the courtesy, five Colombias, and what changes. With four native voices.
- Congratulations, condolences and good wishes in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat to say at a birthday, a wedding, a new baby, an exam passed and a funeral, including felicidades, enhorabuena, pésame and the toasts, with what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Dating in Spanish: the first message, asking someone out, and what to call it in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe opening line on an app, how to ask someone for a drink, compliments that do not sound translated, the words for flirting, terms of endearment and when they are too soon, and what to call the relationship, with what changes in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- The delivery driver can't find you: explaining where you are in SpanishBuzzers, floors, flat numbers and landmarks in Spanish, what the driver says when he calls, leaving it with the doorman, tipping, and how addresses are written in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Driving and filling up in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat the petrol is called and how you buy it, road signs and tolls, a police stop, parking, and a puncture, with the version for Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Emergencies and asking for help in Spanish: the number, the call and the emergency room in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe emergency number in each country, how to call an ambulance, what the operator will ask, the words for an accident, an unconscious person and an allergy, the emergency room, the police and the fire brigade, and the embassy and insurance words for Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Your first conversation with a Spanish tutor: what to say in the first five minutes, and how to be correctedThe phrases for introducing yourself, saying your level, asking to be corrected, agreeing on tú or vos, splitting the time in an exchange and booking the next session, with what tutors in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina correct first.
- A job interview and a first day at work in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe interview questions and how to answer them, tú or usted with a boss, introductions on day one, the office vocabulary, lunch and coffee customs, and the email lines you need in week one.
- Getting something fixed in Spanish: a phone, a bike, a tap, a lock, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to say what is broken, ask for a quote and a date, the words for parts and labour, the names of the trades, the warranty, collecting the repair, and whether you haggle, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Going to a football match in Spanish: tickets, stands, the words for the game and what the crowd shouts in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to buy a ticket, what the stands are called, club and national team words, the vocabulary of the game, what fans shout, and how to talk about the match afterwards in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Going to a wedding in Spanish: the invitation, the gift, the ceremony and the party, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to reply to the invitation, what to wear, whether to give money or a gift, the words for the ceremony and reception, how to congratulate the couple, and what time the party really ends in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Greetings and goodbyes in Spanish: hello, how are you, tú or usted, in four countriesEvery way to say hello, how are you and goodbye, what the answers are, when to use tú, usted and vos, kisses or handshakes, and what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Holidays and celebrations in Spanish: what people say and do in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaChristmas, New Year, Reyes, Semana Santa, national days, Día de Muertos and mother's day, with the greeting for each and what to bring if you are invited, country by country.
- Hostels and shared flats in Spanish: the dorm, the kitchen and the housemates in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaChecking into a hostel, the words for bunks, lockers and kitchen rules, how to look for a room, what a housemate is called in each country, the cleaning rota, splitting bills, noise, the deposit and the landlord, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Hotel check-in in Spanish, and everything about the room, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaBooking and arriving, the passport and the deposit, asking for a towel, the wifi password and the air conditioning, what to say when something is broken, Airbnb host messages and checking out, with the words for each country.
- How to ask for the bill in Spanish, and how tipping works in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaLa cuenta, por favor is the easy part. When the bill comes, who brings it, splitting it, paying by card, what to tip and how to say it, country by country.
- How to order coffee in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe phrases at the counter, what the cups are called in each country, milk, sugar, to go, the bill, and the small courtesies that make you sound local. Every line with its country versions.
- Invited to dinner in Spanish: what to bring, when to arrive and what to sayThe Spanish for arriving at someone's home, meeting the family, praising the food, taking seconds, the sobremesa and leaving, with meal names and arrival times for Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- A job interview in Spanish: introducing yourself, strengths, salary and contracts in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat to say when they ask you to talk about yourself, how to answer why you want the job, how to raise salary and hours, whether to use tú, usted or vos, and the contract words that change between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Laundry and dry cleaning in Spanish: the shop, the stain and the washing machine in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat the laundry shop is called in each country, how to ask for washing, ironing and dry cleaning, the words for a stain and a delicate garment, when it will be ready, and the machine and detergent words at home in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Lost or stolen in Spanish: reporting a phone, a wallet or a passport in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to report a theft or a loss in Spanish: where to go in each country, the words for the police report, the questions the officer asks, describing the item, blocking a card, the embassy and lost property.
- Making a complaint in Spanish without sounding rude, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to complain in a shop, a hotel or a restaurant in Spanish: the soft opener, the problem, what you want, asking for the manager, and the official complaint form, with the tone each of Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina expects.
- Meeting your partner's family in Spanish: usted or tú, the kisses, what they will ask, and the words for in-laws in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat to call your partner's parents, how many kisses, what they will ask you about work and family, how to praise the food, what to bring, and the words for every in-law, with what changes in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Mexican Spanish: what it sounds like and what only Mexico saysWhere the softness comes from, the words a visitor hears in the first hour, the -le words, and what the same things are called in four countries. With four native voices.
- Neighbours and your building in Spanish: the porter, the fees, the lift, the noise and the meeting in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to greet neighbours, what to call the porter, what the building fee is called in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina, how to leave a parcel, how to complain about noise politely, and what you will hear in the lift.
- Ordering food in a restaurant in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaBooking a table, the waiter's questions, the set lunch in each country, how to order with allergies, how you want the steak cooked, water, sharing and sending a dish back, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- The post office and parcels in Spanish: sending, tracking and collecting in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to send a letter or a parcel, fill in a customs form, track a shipment, collect one with your ID and return an online order, with the words used in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Public transport in Spanish: buses, metro, trains and tickets in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to buy a ticket, load a travel card, ask which stop is yours, ask the driver to tell you when to get off, change lines, and follow the announcements, in Mexico City, Madrid, Bogotá and Buenos Aires.
- Renting a car in Spanish: the counter, the insurance words and the damage check in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat the rental agent asks, the words for excess, deposit and cover, the fuel policy, how to point out a scratch before you drive off, tolls, and returning the car, with the version for Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Renting a flat in Spanish: the listing words, the viewing questions, the deposit and the guarantor in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat piso, departamento, fianza, aval, expensas and administración mean, the questions to ask at a viewing, how deposits and guarantors work, agency fees, and what to say when the boiler breaks, country by country.
- Residency and paperwork in Spanish: the immigration office, appointments and documents in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat the immigration office is called in each country, how to get an appointment, the names of the documents, how to ask what is missing, what the clerk will say, and how to get a copy or a certified translation, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Saying no to food and drink in Spanish, without offending anyoneHow to refuse a second helping, a shot, a round or a mate in Spanish, the insisting that comes first, allergies and vegetarian and I don't drink, and what changes in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- School and teachers in Spanish: enrolling a child, talking to the teacher and reading the report in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to enrol a child, what the school levels are called in each country, how to address a teacher, what happens at a parents' meeting, and how to read homework, marks and reports in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Setting up electricity, water and internet in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe utility words country by country, how to contract a service, give a meter reading, handle the installer visit, pay a bill, report a power cut, dispute a charge and cancel, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Shopping in Spanish: asking the price, sizes, bargaining and paying, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaEvery phrase for a market, a clothes shop, a supermarket and a pharmacy counter: how much, too expensive, do you have it in another size, can I try it on, I'll take it, the receipt. With what changes by country.
- Small talk in Spanish: how are you, the weather, work, family, and how to keep it going, in four countriesThe questions people actually ask a stranger, the answers that sound natural, the filler words, how to react, how to change the subject and how to leave. With what changes between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Spanish in Spain: the th, the vosotros and why nobody says pleaseWhere the Castilian th came from, the four ways of saying you, the perfect tense for today, and the directness that sounds abrupt to Latin American ears. With four native voices.
- Talking to children and dogs in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat adults say to kids, how children address adults, the words for kid and teenager in each country, dog commands, asking to pet a dog, and what a mutt is called in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Taxis, ride apps and asking for directions in Spanish, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHailing a taxi, saying where you are going, the meter, the fare, tipping, the apps, and every phrase for asking and understanding directions, with what changes by country.
- Teasing and jokes in Spanish: how to tell when you are being wound up in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow teasing works in each country, the words that mark a joke, how to give it back, what not to joke about, the nicknames people give you, and how to say you did not get it.
- Telling the time and making appointments in Spanish: the clock, the dates, cita or turno, and being late in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to say the time, where the 24-hour clock is used, when the afternoon becomes the evening, dates in day-month order, booking and changing an appointment, what the receptionist says, and how late is late in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- WhatsApp and texting in Spanish: greetings, abbreviations, voice notes and what to write to a landlord in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow people open and close a message, the short forms like q, xq, tb and ntp, jaja versus jeje, voice note etiquette, group chats, being left on read, and how the register changes between a friend and a landlord in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- When you don't understand in Spanish: what to say after the second repeat, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaThe full toolkit for not understanding: cómo, mande, perdón, no entendí, más despacio, what to say when you got the words but not the point, and how people in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina react to a learner.
- Writing a formal email in Spanish: openings, closings and the whole body, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaHow to open, write and sign a formal email to a landlord, a school, a company or an official, with the phrases for a request, a complaint, a cancellation and a follow-up, and what changes in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- Wrong order or overcharged in Spanish: fixing it at the table in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and ArgentinaWhat to say when the dish is wrong, the item is wrong, the bill is too high or the change is short, the receipt words in each country, what the staff say back, and how a correction is handled in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
- The best app to learn Spanish, by what it makes you doTen Spanish apps compared on what decides whether words stay: what your answer is, what you see, and who sets the review timing. Best Spanish apps by method, prices checked September 2026.
- The best way to learn SpanishThe best way to learn Spanish is three practices the memory research agrees on, done in an order. Here they are, with what to add and when.
- Easy Spanish news: where to read it and howReal Spanish news you can read as a learner: which sources are open and current, how to pick an article for your level, and how to read it so the words stay.
- How to learn conversational SpanishConversation needs three things: the words speech actually uses, an ear for how they sound joined up, and practice saying them. Here is how to build each, and when to add a person.
- How to learn Spanish fastFast means not forgetting. The three practices the memory research agrees on, why most app time misses them, and a plan for thirty minutes a day.
- How to learn Spanish as an adultAdults learn Spanish to conversation, reading and work every year. What the age research does and does not say, the advantages you have, and the best way to use them.
- Por vs para: choosing the meaning you needCompare purpose, cause, recipient, exchange and movement in Spanish. Learn fixed expressions without forcing every use into one rule.
- What does intermediate Spanish mean?Intermediate is a broad label. Use examples of reading, listening, writing and conversation to choose a level and useful practice.
- How long does it take to learn Spanish?The honest numbers: what the US diplomatic school counts, what that means at thirty minutes a day, why app time counts for less, and what shortens it.
- How to remember Spanish noun genderUse endings as clues and learn nouns with examples of agreement. El agua remains feminine, and some words vary in gender or meaning.
- Spanish pronunciation: where to startBegin with vowels, word stress and a few consonant contrasts. Spelling helps, but listening and feedback show how the sounds work in speech.
- English–Spanish cognates: using the words that look familiarRelated words can help you read Spanish, but resemblance is a clue rather than a guarantee. Check meaning, pronunciation and use.
- What to change when your Spanish feels stuck at B1Find the part of Spanish that is holding you back, compare your progress on similar tasks and choose practice that addresses the difficulty.
- Why your Spanish teacher is easier to understand than an unfamiliar speakerA familiar voice, shared topics and help from the speaker all affect comprehension. Use that support while gradually practising with other voices.
- What songs can teach you about SpanishSongs can help you learn Spanish phrases and explore their meaning. Add ordinary speech to practise how the same language sounds in conversation.
- How to watch a film in SpanishUse a film for sustained listening or choose a scene for close practice. Subtitles can help, especially when you check them against the audio.
- What flashcards teach, and what to practise alongside themFlashcards can build Spanish vocabulary. Reading, listening and using the words develop parts of word knowledge that a single prompt leaves out.
- When to change your Spanish app routineKeep the practice that serves a purpose and make room for the Spanish you want to use. There is no universal level at which an app becomes useless.
- What thinking in Spanish actually meansUnderstanding a sentence, finding a reply and talking to yourself in Spanish are different experiences. Here is what is useful to practise.
- Spanish in Spain and Latin America: the differences that matterCompare pronunciation, vosotros, ustedes, vos and everyday vocabulary. Choose useful Spanish for your circumstances while learning to understand other varieties.
- How to choose your first book in SpanishChoose a Spanish book you can follow, use a dictionary when it helps, and build from a short passage to sustained reading.
- Is Spanish easier than other languages for English speakers?What language-training estimates can tell an English speaker choosing Spanish, and why your goals, previous languages and opportunities to practise matter.
- Is Spanish hard to learn?For an English speaker, no. Spanish is in the easiest group of languages to learn. Here is what comes free, what takes practice, and where to start.
- Spanish subjunctive: four useful patterns to start withStart with wishes, doubt, reactions and future time clauses. Understand the examples without treating the subjunctive as a rule about unreal events.
- Learning Spanish with ADHD: a more manageable routinePractical ways to make Spanish study easier to start and resume, without assuming one attention span or routine works for everyone with ADHD.
- When you can read Spanish but cannot follow the audioUse a short recording and its transcript to connect familiar written Spanish to speech, then check your understanding on a new passage.
- How gustar works: who likes what?In me gusta el café, the coffee is the grammatical subject. Understand agreement, pronouns and useful related patterns without changing the natural translation.
- Why spoken Spanish can be hard to followWork out whether unfamiliar vocabulary, connected speech, grammar or the listening situation is making Spanish difficult to understand.
- What the subjunctive changes about a Spanish sentenceThe subjunctive can refer to real events as well as wishes and possibilities. Read the whole construction to understand what the speaker is doing.
- Spanish false friends: familiar words with different meaningsLearn common English–Spanish false friends in sentences, including actualmente, embarazada and sensible. Some meanings overlap, so avoid absolute rules.
- Why Spanish word order can differ from EnglishA Spanish subject can follow the verb or remain unstated. Use agreement, pronouns and context to follow the sentence without assuming words can move anywhere.
- Why you keep forgetting Spanish wordsA word can feel familiar before you can recall it reliably. Look at the prompt, the gaps between practice and what happens after a wrong answer.
- Spanish grammar patterns that are useful to know earlySpanish has demanding verb forms, but questions, negation and other common patterns can be straightforward. Learn the pattern and its limits together.
- How many words do you need to read Spanish?Vocabulary coverage helps explain why one Spanish text feels easier than another. It is more useful than a universal word-count target.
- Preterite vs imperfect: two ways to describe the pastCompare Spanish past events, habits and background descriptions. The tense reflects how an event is presented, whatever its length.
- Why Vozelu asks you to type the answerChoosing a Spanish word and producing it from memory test different things. Here is why Vozelu makes typed recall part of normal practice.
- Why English and Spanish share so many wordsEnglish and Spanish belong to different language branches, but borrowing from French and Latin explains many familiar words. Here is how that helps a learner.
- How to become fluent in SpanishFluent is not one thing. Name the situations you want, work on the skill that fails in them, and check against a real task. How long it takes is in the linked article.
- Spanglish: how English and Spanish meet in conversationSwitching between English and Spanish is not evidence of broken language. Learn how switching differs from borrowing, and what matters when you use either language.
- What to practise when Duolingo stops being enoughIf Spanish lessons feel easy but conversation is still difficult, look at the tasks you practise and the ones you want to do.
- What usted means in Colombia and SpainUsted can express respect, distance or familiarity, depending on the speakers and setting. Compare its grammar and social uses without relying on a national rule.
- Practising Spanish conjugations beyond the tableUse verb tables to check forms, then practise choosing and producing them in sentences. Start with language you need and vary the person and time.
- Why Caribbean Spanish can sound fast to a learnerUnfamiliar consonant patterns can make Caribbean Spanish difficult to follow. Learn what to listen for and how to use a transcript to understand a passage.
- How to rely less on translation when using SpanishTranslation can help you understand new Spanish. Practise familiar phrases in meaningful tasks when translating every word slows you down.
- Mexican Spanish is not one accentA voice from Mexico City will not prepare you for every speaker in Mexico. Hear regional examples and learn how to approach unfamiliar pronunciation and vocabulary.
- How to tell if your Spanish is improvingCompare what you can understand and produce on similar tasks. Use review results alongside examples of Spanish you use outside an exercise.
- Understanding Rioplatense Spanish: sounds, vos and everyday wordsGet familiar with Spanish from the Río de la Plata: the sounds of ll and y, common vos forms and regional vocabulary, with recordings to help you listen.
- How reading develops your Spanish vocabularyReading lets you meet Spanish words in different uses. Combine it with deliberate practice for words you want to remember and produce.
- Is Colombian Spanish easier to understand?A Colombian voice may be a useful listening model, but Colombia has many varieties of Spanish. Learn what makes a particular recording easier to follow.
- How to turn Spanish grammar study into useful practiceUse explanations, examples and feedback together. Knowing a rule and using it in a sentence are related tasks, and both deserve practice.
- What to look for in a Spanish learning appLook at the prompts, feedback, review schedule and material you will actually practise. A feature list alone cannot tell you whether an app suits your needs.
- Can one app cover your Spanish practice?One app can organise several kinds of practice. Decide what you need it to handle, then check what your routine still leaves out.
- How to build a Spanish study routineBuild a manageable week of vocabulary practice, reading, listening and Spanish you produce yourself. Adjust it to the tasks you want to handle.
- Spaced repetition for Spanish vocabularySpaced repetition brings Spanish words back for review over time. Learn what scheduling can estimate and how to keep review useful and manageable.
- Cloze exercises for learning SpanishA sentence with a gap can help you practise Spanish vocabulary and grammar. The prompt, surrounding language and feedback determine what you learn.
- Preparing for your first conversation in SpanishChoose a manageable conversation, prepare a few useful phrases and practise handling the reply. Your first attempt does not have to be a test of everything you know.
- Spanish words that take a phrase in EnglishEstrenar, sobremesa, madrugar and other useful Spanish words do not always have a neat one-word English equivalent. Learn them through ordinary situations.
- How to use Spanish media for practiceChoose a purpose for your Spanish listening, from following a story to studying a short passage with its transcript.
- Why you can read Spanish but struggle to write itWriting asks you to choose words, spelling and sentence forms that reading supplies. Practise those choices with short texts and specific feedback.
- What B2 Spanish lets you doB2 describes a broad range of language abilities. Here are practical examples, and why a difficult conversation does not settle your level.
- How to make more of Spanish immersionLiving around Spanish creates opportunities to learn. Use the difficulties you encounter to choose practice, feedback and a wider range of situations.
- What to say when someone speaks Spanish too fastSpanish phrases for asking someone to slow down, repeat a detail or explain a word, with ways to check that you understood.
- A practical order for learning Spanish verb formsStart with forms that let you describe your life, plans and past experiences. Use this sequence as a guide and adjust it to what you need to say.
- Ser vs estar: characteristics, states and locationUse clear examples to choose between ser and estar. Permanent versus temporary is not a reliable rule, and some adjectives change meaning with the verb.