Core Vocabulary by Context for Learning

Spanish words by theme

You learn Spanish vocabulary far better when you group words by theme, such as home, food and family, rather than learning a long random list. Two habits help most. Meet each word inside a short phrase, so you know how to use it and not only what it means. And look for cognates, words that resemble their English meaning, which give you a head start. This module groups core Spanish words by everyday theme and shows how to build them into simple sentences you can say. Because Spanish grammar is covered in the grammar module, here you focus on the words and their genders.

How Spanish nouns work

Learn these ideas before the words themselves. They explain why every Spanish noun comes with a small word attached.

Pair the Spanish word with its meaning

Masculine against feminine in Spanish

Every Spanish noun is either masculine or feminine, and the small words in front of it change to match. The ending of the word is a useful clue.

Which Spanish word for the?

You want to say the apple in Spanish, and manzana is a feminine noun. Which word for the do you use?

• la
• el
• un
• una

Learn words in sets

Do not try to learn a long list of random words. Take one theme at a time, such as food, and learn about ten words together, each with el or la and a clear picture in your mind. Say each one in a short phrase, not on its own. Grouping like this means the words remind you of one another, the gender is fixed from the start, and you can reach for a whole set of words when you need them.

Pick the food words

Select every Spanish word below that belongs to the theme of food and drink.

• el pan, the bread
• la manzana, the apple
• el agua, the water
• el libro, the book
• la casa, the house

Order the Spanish sentence

Put the Spanish words in the right order to make the sentence meaning: there is an apple on the table.

• Hay
• una manzana
• en
• la mesa

Complete the Spanish phrases

You say _____ pan for the bread, because pan is masculine. You say _____ manzana for the apple, because manzana is feminine. The masculine word for a is _____, and the feminine word for a is _____.

One Spanish sentence, step by step

Start with the words you already know. Take una manzana, the apple, and la mesa, the table. To say where something is, Spanish uses hay, which means there is. Add en, which means on. Put them together and you have a full sentence: Hay una manzana en la mesa, which means there is an apple on the table. And to say you like something, use me gusta: Me gusta el pan means I like the bread. Building from known words like this is how you turn a vocabulary list into real sentences.

Spot the family words in Spanish

Tap the TWO Spanish words that belong to the theme of family.

• el padre, meaning the father
• la madre, meaning the mother
• el pan, meaning the bread
• el libro, meaning the book

Find the hidden Spanish words

Find the five Spanish words hidden in the grid. Each clue gives you the English meaning to search for.

Order in a Spanish cafe

You are using your Spanish in real situations. Choose the right word each time.

• You are in a cafe and want to ask for a coffee. Which word do you need?
• You want to buy some bread. Which word do you need?
• You want to say the apple, and manzana is feminine. Which word for the do you use?

Build a Spanish sentence

Choose the right Spanish word for each gap to build a sentence meaning: there is an apple on the table and I like it.

Write about your day in Spanish

Write four or five short Spanish sentences about your home and the food you like. Use words from this module, each with el or la, and try to use hay and me gusta.

• Name two things in your home using el or la
• Name two foods using el or la
• Use hay to say there is something
• Use me gusta to say what you like
• Check the gender of every noun