Essential Spanish Verbs for Beginners: 20 Verbs You Need to Know
Master the 20 most essential Spanish verbs with conjugations, example sentences, and audio pronunciation. Learn present tense conjugation for ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, and more.
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Essential Spanish Verbs for Beginners: 20 Verbs You Need to Know
You can't speak Spanish without verbs. But you don't need to memorize hundreds of them. Master these 20 essential verbs, and you'll be able to form sentences for 80% of beginner conversations.
Each verb includes the infinitive form, present-tense conjugation for all six pronouns, and example sentences so you can use them immediately.
The 5 Most Important Irregular Verbs
These five verbs are the foundation of Spanish. They're irregular (don't follow standard patterns), but they appear in almost every conversation.
1. SER (To Be - Permanent Identity)
Use SER for: Profession, nationality, permanent characteristics, identity
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo (I) | soy | "Soy ingeniero." (I am an engineer.) |
| Tú (You - informal) | eres | "¿Eres de España?" (Are you from Spain?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal) | es | "Ella es doctora." (She is a doctor.) |
| Nosotros (We) | somos | "Somos amigos." (We are friends.) |
| Vosotros (You all - Spain only) | sois | "Vosotros sois estudiantes." (You all are students.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all) | son | "Ellos son mexicanos." (They are Mexican.) |
2. ESTAR (To Be - Location/Condition)
Use ESTAR for: Location, temporary condition, how you feel, current state
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo (I) | estoy | "Estoy en la casa." (I am at home.) |
| Tú (You - informal) | estás | "¿Cómo estás?" (How are you?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal) | está | "Él está enfermo." (He is sick.) |
| Nosotros (We) | estamos | "Estamos listos." (We are ready.) |
| Vosotros (You all - Spain only) | estáis | "¿Estáis bien?" (Are you all okay?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all) | están | "Ellos están en Madrid." (They are in Madrid.) |
3. TENER (To Have)
Use TENER for: Possession, age, hunger, thirst, need
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo (I) | tengo | "Tengo un gato." (I have a cat.) |
| Tú (You - informal) | tienes | "¿Tienes hermanos?" (Do you have siblings?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal) | tiene | "Ella tiene 25 años." (She is 25 years old.) |
| Nosotros (We) | tenemos | "Tenemos hambre." (We are hungry.) |
| Vosotros (You all - Spain only) | tenéis | "¿Tenéis dinero?" (Do you all have money?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all) | tienen | "Ellos tienen un coche." (They have a car.) |
4. IR (To Go)
Use IR for: Movement, travel, direction, future plans (ir + a + infinitive)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo (I) | voy | "Voy al cine." (I go to the movies.) |
| Tú (You - informal) | vas | "¿Vas a la fiesta?" (Are you going to the party?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal) | va | "Él va a trabajar." (He is going to work.) |
| Nosotros (We) | vamos | "Vamos a la playa." (We go to the beach.) |
| Vosotros (You all - Spain only) | vais | "¿Vais al mercado?" (Are you all going to the market?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all) | van | "Ellos van a Madrid." (They go to Madrid.) |
5. HACER (To Do/Make)
Use HACER for: Actions, creation, weather, time expressions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo (I) | hago | "Hago la comida." (I make the food.) |
| Tú (You - informal) | haces | "¿Qué haces?" (What do you do?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal) | hace | "Ella hace ejercicio." (She exercises.) |
| Nosotros (We) | hacemos | "Hacemos un proyecto." (We make a project.) |
| Vosotros (You all - Spain only) | hacéis | "¿Qué hacéis?" (What do you all do?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all) | hacen | "Ellos hacen la tarea." (They do the homework.) |
Regular AR Verbs (5 Examples)
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns. Once you learn the pattern, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs.
6. HABLAR (To Speak)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablo | "Hablo español." (I speak Spanish.) |
| Tú | hablas | "¿Hablas inglés?" (Do you speak English?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | habla | "Ella habla francés." (She speaks French.) |
| Nosotros | hablamos | "Hablamos de la película." (We talk about the movie.) |
| Vosotros | habláis | "¿Habláis español?" (Do you all speak Spanish?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | hablan | "Ellos hablan rápido." (They speak fast.) |
7. TRABAJAR (To Work)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | trabajo | "Trabajo en una oficina." (I work in an office.) |
| Tú | trabajas | "¿Dónde trabajas?" (Where do you work?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | trabaja | "Él trabaja como profesor." (He works as a teacher.) |
| Nosotros | trabajamos | "Trabajamos juntos." (We work together.) |
| Vosotros | trabajáis | "¿Trabajáis los sábados?" (Do you all work on Saturdays?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | trabajan | "Ellos trabajan mucho." (They work a lot.) |
8. ESTUDIAR (To Study)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estudio | "Estudio español." (I study Spanish.) |
| Tú | estudias | "¿Qué estudias?" (What do you study?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | estudia | "Ella estudia medicina." (She studies medicine.) |
| Nosotros | estudiamos | "Estudiamos en la biblioteca." (We study in the library.) |
| Vosotros | estudiáis | "¿Estudiáis para el examen?" (Are you all studying for the exam?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | estudian | "Ellos estudian inglés." (They study English.) |
Regular ER Verbs (3 Examples)
9. COMER (To Eat)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | como | "Como pan todos los días." (I eat bread every day.) |
| Tú | comes | "¿Qué comes?" (What do you eat?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | come | "Ella come vegetales." (She eats vegetables.) |
| Nosotros | comemos | "Comemos en un restaurante." (We eat in a restaurant.) |
| Vosotros | coméis | "¿Coméis carne?" (Do you all eat meat?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | comen | "Ellos comen pizza." (They eat pizza.) |
10. BEBER (To Drink)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | bebo | "Bebo agua." (I drink water.) |
| Tú | bebes | "¿Bebes café?" (Do you drink coffee?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | bebe | "Él bebe vino." (He drinks wine.) |
| Nosotros | bebemos | "Bebemos jugo." (We drink juice.) |
| Vosotros | bebéis | "¿Bebéis cerveza?" (Do you all drink beer?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | beben | "Ellos beben leche." (They drink milk.) |
11. APRENDER (To Learn)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | aprendo | "Aprendo español." (I learn Spanish.) |
| Tú | aprendes | "¿Qué aprendes?" (What do you learn?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | aprende | "Ella aprende rápido." (She learns fast.) |
| Nosotros | aprendemos | "Aprendemos juntos." (We learn together.) |
| Vosotros | aprendéis | "¿Aprendéis música?" (Do you all learn music?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | aprenden | "Ellos aprenden inglés." (They learn English.) |
Regular IR Verbs (3 Examples)
12. VIVIR (To Live)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | vivo | "Vivo en Madrid." (I live in Madrid.) |
| Tú | vives | "¿Dónde vives?" (Where do you live?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | vive | "Ella vive en Barcelona." (She lives in Barcelona.) |
| Nosotros | vivimos | "Vivimos en la ciudad." (We live in the city.) |
| Vosotros | vivís | "¿Vivís cerca?" (Do you all live nearby?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | viven | "Ellos viven en el campo." (They live in the countryside.) |
13. ESCRIBIR (To Write)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | escribo | "Escribo un libro." (I write a book.) |
| Tú | escribes | "¿Escribes correos?" (Do you write emails?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | escribe | "Ella escribe poesía." (She writes poetry.) |
| Nosotros | escribimos | "Escribimos en español." (We write in Spanish.) |
| Vosotros | escribís | "¿Escribís en el diario?" (Do you all write in a diary?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | escriben | "Ellos escriben cartas." (They write letters.) |
14. PARTIR (To Leave)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | parto | "Parto mañana." (I leave tomorrow.) |
| Tú | partes | "¿Cuándo partes?" (When do you leave?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | parte | "Él parte a las 8." (He leaves at 8.) |
| Nosotros | partimos | "Partimos juntos." (We leave together.) |
| Vosotros | partís | "¿Partís pronto?" (Do you all leave soon?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | parten | "Ellos parten esta noche." (They leave tonight.) |
Other Essential Verbs
15. GUSTAR (To Like)
Note: GUSTAR is unique. Use "me gusta" (it pleases me) instead of "I like."
- "Me gusta el chocolate." (I like chocolate.)
- "Te gusta la música." (You like music.)
- "Le gusta el fútbol." (He/She likes soccer.)
- "Nos gusta viajar." (We like to travel.)
- "Os gusta bailar." (You all like to dance.)
- "Les gusta leer." (They like to read.)
16. PODER (To Be Able To/Can)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | puedo | "Puedo hablar español." (I can speak Spanish.) |
| Tú | puedes | "¿Puedes ayudarme?" (Can you help me?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | puede | "Él puede conducir." (He can drive.) |
| Nosotros | podemos | "Podemos ir juntos." (We can go together.) |
| Vosotros | podéis | "¿Podéis venir?" (Can you all come?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | pueden | "Ellos pueden nadar." (They can swim.) |
17. QUERER (To Want)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | quiero | "Quiero aprender español." (I want to learn Spanish.) |
| Tú | quieres | "¿Qué quieres?" (What do you want?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | quiere | "Ella quiere viajar." (She wants to travel.) |
| Nosotros | queremos | "Queremos comer pizza." (We want to eat pizza.) |
| Vosotros | queréis | "¿Queréis jugar?" (Do you all want to play?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | quieren | "Ellos quieren descansar." (They want to rest.) |
18. SABER (To Know - Information)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | sé | "Sé hablar español." (I know how to speak Spanish.) |
| Tú | sabes | "¿Sabes dónde está?" (Do you know where it is?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | sabe | "Él sabe la respuesta." (He knows the answer.) |
| Nosotros | sabemos | "Sabemos la verdad." (We know the truth.) |
| Vosotros | sabéis | "¿Sabéis cocinar?" (Do you all know how to cook?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | saben | "Ellos saben nadar." (They know how to swim.) |
19. CONOCER (To Know - People/Places)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | conozco | "Conozco a María." (I know María.) |
| Tú | conoces | "¿Conoces Madrid?" (Do you know Madrid?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | conoce | "Ella conoce a mi hermano." (She knows my brother.) |
| Nosotros | conocemos | "Conocemos el restaurante." (We know the restaurant.) |
| Vosotros | conocéis | "¿Conocéis a Juan?" (Do you all know Juan?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | conocen | "Ellos conocen Barcelona." (They know Barcelona.) |
20. DAR (To Give)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | doy | "Doy un regalo." (I give a gift.) |
| Tú | das | "¿Me das tu número?" (Do you give me your number?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | da | "Ella da consejos." (She gives advice.) |
| Nosotros | damos | "Damos dinero." (We give money.) |
| Vosotros | dais | "¿Dais permiso?" (Do you all give permission?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dan | "Ellos dan la bienvenida." (They give a welcome.) |
How to Master These Verbs
1. Conjugate daily. Spend 10 minutes each day conjugating verbs. Your brain needs repetition to make these automatic.
2. Use them in sentences. Don't just memorize conjugations. Create sentences using each verb and conjugation.
3. Speak out loud. Say each conjugation aloud. Your mouth needs to learn the muscle movements.
4. Focus on the most common first. Master SER, ESTAR, TENER, IR, and HACER before moving to less common verbs.
5. Learn patterns. Once you understand AR, ER, and IR patterns, you can conjugate hundreds of regular verbs.
Next Steps
For a complete breakdown of verb conjugation patterns and more irregular verbs, see our present-tense conjugation guide. For vocabulary to use with these verbs, check out our essential Spanish words guide.
The Bottom Line
Master these 20 verbs, and you'll be able to form sentences for 80% of beginner conversations. Focus on conjugation, practice daily, and use them in real sentences. Verbs are the engine of Spanish - get them right, and everything else becomes easier.
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