Verbs

The most common Spanish verbs

Name: Most Common Spanish Verbs
Creator: Most Common Spanish

Verbs carry the action of every sentence, so the highest-frequency verbs are the ones that unlock the most comprehension per verb learned. Below are the 150 most common Spanish verbs, ranked by real-world frequency, each with its meaning and an example sentence. Start at the top — ser, estar, tener, hacer, ir — and work down. For all parts of speech, see the full frequency list.

Words on this list

150

Comprehension coverage

Top 150

of everyday spoken Spanish

Free PDF

Download the 1,000-word list

The full frequency-ranked list as a printable PDF. Enter your email and it's yours.

1,000 most common Top 100 Top 500 How this list is built

#	Spanish	English	Example
1	ser	to be (permanent) · being	Mi hermano es médico.My brother is a doctor.
2	estar	to be (temporary) · to be located	La sopa está fría.The soup is cold.
3	ir	to go · to match	Mañana vamos al cine.Tomorrow we are going to the movies.
4	tener	to have · to hold	¿Tienes tiempo para hablar?Do you have time to talk?
5	haber	to have · to be (there is/are) · to have to	He terminado el proyecto a tiempo.I have finished the project on time.
6	hacer	to do · to make	¡Hazlo! No tengas miedo.Do it! Don't be afraid.
7	poder	to be able to · power	No puedo abrir la puerta.I can't open the door.
8	decir	to say · to tell · to mean	Ella dice que vendrá mañana.She says she will come tomorrow.
9	querer	to want · to love	Quiero un café, por favor.I want a coffee, please.
10	saber	to know · knowledge · to taste like	No sé la respuesta.I don't know the answer.
11	ver	to see · to watch · to view	Sin mis gafas no puedo ver los letreros.Without my glasses I can't see the signs.
12	creer	to believe · to think	No te creo.I don't believe you.
13	deber	to have to · to owe · duty	Mañana debo levantarme temprano.Tomorrow I have to get up early.
14	dar	to give · to hit · to produce · to face	Me dio un regalo.He gave me a gift.
15	pasar	to pass · to spend (time) · to happen · to hand	El tren pasa por aquí a las ocho.The train passes by here at eight.
16	dejar	to leave · to let · to stop	Dejé las llaves en la mesa.I left the keys on the table.
17	hablar	to speak · to talk	Ella habla español con fluidez.She speaks Spanish fluently.
18	venir	to come	¿A qué hora vienes a casa?What time are you coming home?
19	esperar	to wait · to hope · to expect	Estoy esperando el autobús.I am waiting for the bus.
20	pensar	to think · to intend	Pienso que tienes razón.I think you are right.
21	necesitar	to need · to require	Necesito un vaso de agua.I need a glass of water.
22	mirar	to look at · to watch · to check	No mires directamente al sol.Don't look directly at the sun.
23	llamar	to call · to name	Te llamo mañana para contarte todo.I'll call you tomorrow to tell you everything.
24	sentir	to feel · to be sorry	Siento frío en las manos.I feel cold in my hands.
25	volver	to return	Mañana volvemos a casa después del viaje.Tomorrow we return home after the trip.
26	salir	to go out · to leave	Esta noche salimos a cenar.Tonight we are going out to dinner.
27	parecer	to seem · to look · opinion	Parece difícil, pero podemos hacerlo.It seems difficult, but we can do it.
28	matar	to kill · to slaughter	Un tiburón puede matar a su presa con un solo mordisco.A shark can kill its prey with a single bite.
29	tomar	to take · to drink · to have (food/drink)	Voy a tomar el autobús a las ocho.I am going to take the bus at eight.
30	gustar	to like · to be pleasing to	A María le gustan los gatos.María likes cats.
31	quedar	to be left · to fit · to turn out	Quedan dos entradas para el concierto.There are two tickets left for the concert.
32	llevar	to carry · to take · to wear · to run	El camarero lleva tres platos en una mano.The waiter is carrying three plates in one hand.
33	encontrar	to find · to meet	No encuentro las llaves por ninguna parte.I can't find the keys anywhere.
34	oír	to hear	No te oigo bien.I can't hear you well.
35	llegar	to arrive · to reach	El tren llega a las ocho.The train arrives at eight.
36	poner	to put · to set	Puso la taza en la mesa.He put the cup on the table.
37	morir	to die	Las flores del jardín mueren en otoño y vuelven a crecer en primavera.The flowers in the garden die in autumn and grow again in spring.
38	conocer	to know · to meet	Conozco a María desde hace años.I have known Maria for years.
39	seguir	to follow · to continue	Sígueme, por favor.Follow me, please.
40	ayudar	to help · to assist	¿Puedes ayudarme con la tarea?Can you help me with the homework?
41	trabajar	to work	Mañana tengo que trabajar temprano.Tomorrow I have to work early.
42	escuchar	to listen	Siempre escucho a mis abuelos.I always listen to my grandparents.
43	entender	to understand · to know about	No entiendo lo que dices.I don't understand what you're saying.
44	buscar	to look for · to pick up	Estoy buscando mis llaves.I'm looking for my keys.
45	perder	to lose · to miss	Perdí las llaves esta mañana.I lost my keys this morning.
46	acabar	to finish · to end up	Acabé mi entrenamiento y me siento genial.I finished my workout and I feel great.
47	vivir	to live	Vivo en Puerto Rico desde 2015.I have lived in Puerto Rico since 2015.
48	suponer	to assume · to entail	Supongo que no vendrás hoy.I assume you won't come today.
49	tratar	to try · to treat · to deal with	Vamos a tratar de observar las estrellas esta noche.We are going to try to observe the stars tonight.
50	entrar	to enter · to start · to fit	Entró en la casa antes de que empezara la tormenta.He entered the house before the storm started.
51	importar	to matter · to import	Me importa tu opinión.Your opinion matters to me.
52	traer	to bring · to fetch	¿Puedes traerme un vaso de agua?Can you bring me a glass of water?
53	preguntar	to ask · to ask about	¿Puedo preguntarte algo?May I ask you something?
54	recordar	to remember · to remind	No puedo recordar su nombre.I can't remember his name.
55	empezar	to start · to begin	El concierto va a empezar al atardecer.The concert is going to start at sunset.
56	pedir	to ask (for) · to order (food)	Le pedí ayuda para mover los muebles.I asked him for help to move the furniture.
57	intentar	to try · to attempt	Voy a intentar aprender francés este año.I'm going to try to learn French this year.
58	contar	to count · to tell	Puedo contar hasta cien sin equivocarme.I can count to a hundred without making a mistake.
59	regresar	to return · to go back	Ella regresó a casa tarde anoche.She returned home late last night.
60	terminar	to finish · to end	Quiero terminar el rompecabezas antes de dormir.I want to finish the puzzle before going to sleep.
61	usar	to use · to wear	Me encanta usar el telescopio para ver las estrellas.I love to use the telescope to see the stars.
62	comer	to eat	Me gusta comer fruta todas las mañanas.I like to eat fruit every morning.
63	olvidar	to forget	Siempre olvido dónde dejo las llaves.I always forget where I leave the keys.
64	preocupar	to worry · to concern	La noticia me preocupa.The news worries me.
65	sentar	to sit · to seat · to suit	Voy a sentarme en la silla.I'm going to sit down in the chair.
66	suceder	to happen · to succeed (to follow/take over)	¿Qué sucedió anoche?What happened last night?
67	ganar	to win · to earn · to gain	El equipo ganó el partido.The team won the match.
68	jugar	to play · to gamble	Los niños juegan en el parque todas las tardes.The children play in the park every afternoon.
69	amar	to love	Ella ama a su perro.She loves her dog.
70	disculpar	to forgive · to excuse	Ella lo disculpó por su error.She forgave him for his mistake.
71	sacar	to take out · to remove	Saca la basura antes de irte.Take out the trash before you leave.
72	cambiar	to change · to exchange	Voy a cambiar de trabajo el año que viene.I'm going to change jobs next year.
73	mover	to move · to move (emotionally)	¿Puedes mover la caja al otro lado de la habitación?Can you move the box to the other side of the room?
74	ocurrir	to happen · to come to mind	¿Qué ocurrió anoche durante la fiesta?What happened last night during the party?
75	conseguir	to get · to manage to	Conseguí las entradas para el concierto.I got the tickets for the concert.
76	leer	to read	Ella leyó la carta en voz alta.She read the letter out loud.
77	dormir	to sleep	Anoche no pude dormir.I couldn't sleep last night.
78	pagar	to pay · to pay for	Ella siempre paga las entradas para el cine cuando salimos.She always pays for the movie tickets when we go out.
79	abrir	to open	Abre la puerta, por favor.Please open the door.
80	tocar	to touch · to play (an instrument) · to be someone's turn	No toques ese cable, está enchufado.Don't touch that cable; it's plugged in.
81	significar	to mean · to signify	¿Qué significa esta palabra?What does this word mean?
82	detener	to stop · to detain / to arrest	Por favor, detén la música; está demasiado alta.Please stop the music; it's too loud.
83	fumar	to smoke	Mi abuelo fuma un cigarrillo todas las mañanas.My grandfather smokes a cigarette every morning.
84	callar	to be quiet · to silence	Los niños deben callarse durante la película.The children must be quiet during the movie.
85	funcionar	to work · to function (as)	Mi carro no funciona, así que tomaré el autobús.My car doesn't work, so I'll take the bus.
86	correr	to run · to pay for	Ella corre todos los días para mantenerse en forma.She runs every day to stay in shape.
87	acordar	to agree · to remember	Acordamos trabajar juntos en el proyecto.We agreed to work together on the project.
88	caer	to fall · to drop	Las hojas caen en otoño.The leaves fall in autumn.
89	comprar	to buy	Voy a comprar pan en la panadería.I'm going to buy bread at the bakery.
90	casar	to marry	El cura va a casar a la pareja mañana.The priest is going to marry the couple tomorrow.
91	disparar	to shoot · to trigger · to skyrocket · to take a photo	El cazador disparó al ciervo desde lejos.The hunter shot the deer from a distance.
92	andar	to walk · to be	Cada mañana ando tres kilómetros por el parque.Every morning I walk three kilometers through the park.
93	meter	to put · to insert · to score	Voy a meter los platos en el lavavajillas.I'm going to put the dishes in the dishwasher.
94	salvar	to save (rescue) · to save (store a file or data)	El bombero salvó a la familia de las llamas.The firefighter saved the family from the flames.
95	caminar	to walk	Me gusta caminar por la playa al atardecer.I like to walk along the beach at sunset.
96	escribir	to write	Voy a escribir una carta esta tarde.I'm going to write a letter this afternoon.
97	comenzar	to begin · to start	La ceremonia comenzará a las nueve.The ceremony will begin at nine.
98	encantar	to love · to enchant	Me encanta esta canción; no puedo dejar de escucharla.I love this song; I can't stop listening to it.
99	mantener	to keep · to maintain · to support	Decidieron mantener la casa limpia durante la visita.They decided to keep the house clean during the visit.
100	prometer	to promise	Te prometo que llegaré a tiempo.I promise you that I will arrive on time.
101	odiar	to hate	Odio levantarme temprano.I hate getting up early.
102	subir	to go up · to upload · to lift · to increase	El ascensor sube hasta el décimo piso.The elevator goes up to the tenth floor.
103	cuidar	to take care of · to look after	Ella cuida a su abuela todos los días.She takes care of her grandmother every day.
104	desear	to desire/want · to wish	Deseo un café, por favor.I want a coffee, please.
105	recibir	to receive · to welcome	Recibí un paquete por correo ayer.I received a package by mail yesterday.
106	robar	to steal · to rob	Ella robó una manzana del puesto del mercado.She stole an apple from the market stall.
107	parar	to stop · to stand up	El autobús paró en la esquina.The bus stopped at the corner.
108	preparar	to prepare	Voy a preparar la cena esta noche.I'm going to prepare dinner tonight.
109	enviar	to send · to submit	Te enviaré el archivo mañana.I will send you the file tomorrow.
110	cerrar	to close	Por favor, cierra la puerta.Please close the door.
111	bajar	to go down · to lower · to get off (a vehicle) · to download	La temperatura va a bajar esta noche.The temperature is going to go down tonight.
112	temer	to fear	No temas pedir otra porción de postre; es para disfrutar.Don't be afraid to ask for another portion of dessert; it's to be enjoyed.
113	despertar	to wake up · to wake (someone)	Me desperté a las seis y no pude volver a dormir.I woke up at six and couldn't go back to sleep.
114	partir	to leave · to split · to start from	El tren parte a las ocho.The train leaves at eight.
115	faltar	to lack · to miss (an event) / to be absent from	A este plato le falta sal.This dish lacks salt.
116	beber	to drink	Siempre bebo agua con las comidas.I always drink water with meals.
117	pelear	to fight · to argue	Dos pandilleros pelearon en la calle anoche.Two gang members fought in the street last night.
118	permitir	to allow · to permit · to let	Mis padres no me permiten salir tarde.My parents don't allow me to go out late.
119	confiar	to trust · to rely on	Confío en ti.I trust you.
120	mentir	to lie	Ella miente sobre su edad.She lies about her age.
121	perdonar	to forgive · to pardon	No puedo perdonarte por lo que hiciste.I can't forgive you for what you did.
122	sonar	to ring · to sound	El teléfono empezó a sonar a las tres.The phone started to ring at three.
123	volar	to fly · to blow up	El avión va a volar esta noche.The plane is going to fly tonight.
124	lograr	to achieve · to manage to	Logró un gran éxito en su carrera.He achieved great success in his career.
125	referir	to tell · to refer	El testigo refirió los hechos ante el juez.The witness recounted the events to the judge.
126	escapar	to escape · to run away · to escape notice	El preso logró escapar de la prisión.The prisoner managed to escape from prison.
127	aprender	to learn	Quiero aprender español.I want to learn Spanish.
128	alegrar	to make happy · to cheer up	La noticia alegró a la familia.The news made the family happy.
129	levantar	to lift · to pick up · to get up	Ella levantó la caja con facilidad.She lifted the box easily.
130	servir	to serve · to be useful · to work	El camarero sirve la cena a las ocho.The waiter serves dinner at eight.
131	romper	to break · to tear · to break up	El niño rompió el jarrón por accidente.The child broke the vase by accident.
132	molestar	to bother · to disturb · to mind	Su comentario me molestó mucho.His comment bothered me a lot.
133	quitar	to remove · to take off	El técnico quitó el disco duro para reemplazarlo.The technician removed the hard drive to replace it.
134	existir	to exist	No existen pruebas suficientes para condenarlo.There isn't enough evidence to convict him.
135	cortar	to cut · to cut off	Voy a cortar el pan para la cena.I'm going to cut the bread for dinner.
136	calmar	to calm · to soothe	El maestro intentó calmar a los niños después del susto.The teacher tried to calm the children after the scare.
137	mostrar	to show · to demonstrate	Ella me mostró las fotos de sus vacaciones.She showed me the photos from her vacation.
138	imaginar	to imagine · to suppose	No puedo imaginar cómo pasó.I can't imagine how it happened.
139	enseñar	to teach · to show	Ella enseña matemáticas en la universidad.She teaches mathematics at the university.
140	mandar	to send · to order	Voy a mandar el paquete mañana.I'm going to send the package tomorrow.
141	vender	to sell	Ella quiere vender su carro este mes.She wants to sell her car this month.
142	desaparecer	to disappear	El gato desapareció de la ventana en segundos.The cat disappeared from the window in seconds.
143	apostar	to bet	Aposté cincuenta euros a que ganaría la carrera.I bet fifty euros that he would win the race.
144	echar	to throw · to put · to pour · to fire · to lie down	Echó la pelota al río.He threw the ball into the river.
145	preferir	to prefer	Prefiero el té al café.I prefer tea to coffee.
146	bailar	to dance	Me encanta bailar en las fiestas.I love to dance at parties.
147	convertir	to convert · to turn into	Voy a convertir este archivo PDF a Word.I'm going to convert this PDF file to Word.
148	jurar	to swear (to take an oath / to vow) · to swear (to use profanity / to curse)	Juro decir la verdad y nada más que la verdad.I swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.
149	aceptar	to accept · to agree to	Ella aceptó el regalo con una sonrisa.She accepted the gift with a smile.
150	decidir	to decide	Finalmente decidimos aceptar la oferta.We finally decided to accept the offer.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common Spanish verbs?

The most common Spanish verbs are ser (to be, permanent), estar (to be, temporary), tener (to have), hacer (to do/make), ir (to go), poder (to be able to), decir (to say), and ver (to see). These appear in a huge share of everyday sentences, which is why they are the first verbs worth mastering.

How many Spanish verbs do I need to know?

Around 100–150 verbs cover the vast majority of everyday spoken Spanish. Because verbs carry the action of a sentence, knowing the most frequent ones — plus how to conjugate them in the present, past, and future — unlocks comprehension quickly.

Should I learn ser or estar first?

Learn them together, since both mean "to be" and Spanish uses them for different situations. Ser is for permanent or defining traits (soy médico — I am a doctor); estar is for temporary states and location (estoy cansado — I am tired). They are the two single most useful verbs in the language.

What order should I learn Spanish verbs in?

Frequency order. This list is ranked by how often each verb appears in real spoken Spanish, so learning top to bottom means every verb you study is one you will actually hear and use.

Learn these, don't just read them

Turn this list into real comprehension.

Free for your first 500 words, with spaced repetition built in. Or take the 2-minute level test to see which words you already know.

Create free account Take the level test →