How to learn Spanish vocabulary that actually sticks
You cram a list of words, and by the next day most of them are gone. Everyone has been there. The problem is rarely effort, it is the method. Reading a list and recognizing the words gives you the feeling that you know them, without anchoring them in memory.
With the right technique you learn the same number of words in less time and keep them longer. Here are the key principles, and how Recallo applies them for you automatically.
Four principles that make the difference
- Recall actively: cover the translation and produce the word yourself instead of just reading it.
- Spaced repetition: review at growing intervals. The effect is strongest just before you would forget.
- Learn in context: an example sentence anchors a word better than a bare translation.
- Learn the pronunciation too: if you only ever read a word, you won't say it with confidence later. Audio helps.
How Recallo does this for you
You don't have to plan the schedule. Every day Recallo puts together a batch for you: a few new words, plus exactly the reviews that are due today. If you answer a card confidently, the gap before its next review grows. If you struggle, it comes back sooner.
Every word comes with an example sentence, audio and, where useful, a short learning tip. For verbs, you don't just practice the infinitive, you practice the conjugation along with it.
The first 150 words
Where the learning path begins, sorted by frequency. Each word links to its own page with translation, example sentence and pronunciation.
- holahello
- síyes
- nonot
- serto be
- tenerto have
- yoI
- la casahouse
- el/la aguawater
- buenogood
- unoone
- graciasthanks
- elthe
- lathe
- estarto be
- quererto want
- hablarto speak
- el díaday
- el amigofriend
- muyvery
- dostwo
- adiósgoodbye
- yand
- túyou (informal)
- irto go
- hacerto make
- comerto eat
- el hombreman
- la mujerwoman
- grandebig
- tresthree
- por favorplease
- una
- deof
- poderto be able to
- vivirto live
- la comidafood
- la familiafamily
- la ciudadcity
- aquíhere
- cuatrofour
- perdónexcuse me
- enin
- quéwhat
- beberto drink
- trabajarto work
- el tiempotime
- el nombrename
- pequeñosmall
- hoytoday
- cincofive
- buenos díasgood morning
- élhe
- ellashe
- decirto say
- verto see
- el paíscountry
- el trabajowork
- el dineromoney
- nuevonew
- seissix
- de nadayou're welcome
- ato
- mimy
- venirto come
- comprarto buy
- necesitarto need
- el cochecar
- la callestreet
- la horahour
- sieteseven
- haythere is
- conwith
- tuyour
- saberto know
- gustarto like
- el añoyear
- la nochenight
- tambiénalso
- másmore
- ochoeight
- lo sientoI'm sorry
- quethat
- parafor
- llamarseto be called
- entenderto understand
- tomarto take
- el niñochild
- la mesatable
- la cosathing
- el nuevenine
- hasta luegosee you later
- perobut
- oor
- salirto go out
- llegarto arrive
- mañanatomorrow
- muchoa lot
- la personaperson
- la manohand
- diezten
- qué talhow are you?
- nosotroswe
- estethis
- pensarto think
- encontrarto find
- dormirto sleep
- la semanaweek
- el padrefather
- la madremother
- difícildifficult
- buenas nochesgood evening
- porfor
- quiénwho
- buscarto look for
- pagarto pay
- abrirto open
- la playabeach
- el bañobathroom
- cómohow
- dóndewhere
- buenas tardesgood afternoon
- tener queto have to
- bienwell
- ahoranow
- el fin de semanaweekend
- la puertadoor
- la tiendastore
- malobad
- después deafter
- por esotherefore
- me llamomy name is
- ir ato be going to
- llamarto call
- por quéwhy
- un pocoa little
- la cuentabill
- el librobook
- el problemaproblem
- antes debefore
- fácileasy
- de acuerdoI agree
- quedarseto stay
- irseto leave
- tener ganasto feel like
- en casaat home
- a vecessometimes
- el lugarplace
- la veztime
- cerca denear
- importanteimportant
The complete vocabulary is in the A to Z word index.
Frequently asked questions
How many Spanish words should I learn per day?+
Fewer, but regularly. 5 to 15 new words a day plus reviews will get you further than 100 words in one sitting. In the Free plan, Recallo deliberately keeps the pace at a healthy five new words a day.
How long does it take for new words to stick?+
With spaced repetition, a word moves into long-term memory over several successful reviews. Consistency matters more than time spent: short daily practice beats rare, long cram sessions.
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