Put on your grammar goggles, and let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of these two verbs!

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Preterite vs Imperfect: Definitions and Meaning

Native English speakers have a hard time telling the difference between these two past tense verbs because we don’t use them the same way that Spanish speakers do. The good news is that we can break it down into simple and useful comparisons.

For example, the preterite verb expresses an action that began in the past and also ended in the past, with a clear finish time, while the imperfect verb refers to an action that was happening or used to happen and has no clear ending.

Additionally, the preterite tense can describe an action that interrupts an imperfect tense action, like él me llamó cuando leía el periódico (he called me when I was reading the newspaper).

To put it more clearly, think of these two comparisons:

• what you did (preterite) vs (imperfect) what you were doing
• what happened (preterite) vs (imperfect) what used to happen

What You Did vs What You Were Doing

An action that began in the past and has a clear ending is “what you did.” Examples of this in Spanish are:

Me comí la ultima galleta.
I ate the last cookie. (I ate the cookie once, it was a definite action.)

Tuve seis llamadas entre las 2 y 4 de la tarde.
I received six calls between 2 and 4 pm. (The calls started and ended at an exact time.)

Ella hizo su mayor esfuerzo para alcanzar el estante de arriba.
She tried her hardest to reach the top shelf. (She tried and then stopped.)

Tu hija cantó muy bien en su obra de teatro.
Your daughter sang really well in her play. (She sang only during the play.)

Take the examples above and try to replace the verb with the imperfect tense. You’ll notice they all sound pretty strange, even in English. After a while, the intuitive sense you get about English grammar will come naturally as you speak Spanish. It just requires practice!

Now, let’s talk about the imperfect again. It describes a past action that is still going on and doesn’t have a clear end. This is “what you were doing.”

For example:

Cuando la conocí, ella enseñaba español.
When I met her, she was teaching Spanish. (She was teaching Spanish and could still be teaching it.)

Limpiabas la casa tantas veces sin usar desinfectante.
You cleaned the house so many times without using disinfectant. (You were doing it that way and maybe still are.)

Todas las semanas yo pedía comida china.
Every week I ordered Chinese food. (I was doing this before without any clear indication that I no longer do it.)

What Happened vs What Used to Happen

A common way to translate the imperfect verb tense into English is to insert “used to,” implying that the action once happened on a recurring basis. For example: 

I used to fish with my grandfather.

Pescaba con mi abuelo.

Whereas, if you were to say “I only fished once with my grandfather,” then you’d use the preterite tense to define the end of the activity: Pesqué solo una vez con mi abuelo.

As we mentioned before, when combining these two tenses in a sentence, the preterite describes an interrupting action, while the imperfect describes the interrupted action. Let’s take a look at some examples:

Me bronceaba cuando empezó a llover.
I was sunbathing when it started to rain.

Mientras ella trabajaba, su jefe la llamó.
While she was working, her boss called her.

Me di cuenta que hacía frío.
I realized it was cold.

Spanish Verbs that Change Meaning Depending on the Tense

At least 7 common verbs change meaning depending on which tense is being used. They are important to memorize so that you’re aware of what you’re saying when you use them. 

Conocer

Preterite: yo la conocí (I met her).

Imperfect: yo la conocía (I knew her).

Saber

Preterite: tú lo supiste (You figured it out).

Imperfect: tú lo sabías (You knew it).

Tener

Preterite: él tuvo un regalo de su esposa (he received a gift from his wife).

Imperfect: él tenía un regalo de su esposa (he had a gift from his wife).

Querer

Preterite: ella quiso ver la película (she tried to see the movie).

Imperfect: ella quería ver la película (she wanted to see the movie).

No Querer

Preterite: no quisimos hacer la tarea (we refused to do the homework).

Imperfect: no queríamos jugar pelota (we didn’t want to play ball).

Poder

Preterite: ustedes pudieron comprar la casa (you all succeeded in buying the house)

Imperfect: ustedes podían negociar el precio (you all were able to negotiate the price)

No Poder

Preterite: ellos no pudieron arreglar la computadora (they failed at fixing the computer).

Imperfect: ellos no podían encontrar sus herramientas (they weren’t able to find their tools).

Quiz Yourself!

Here’s your chance to shine! You’ve mastered the conjugations and studied hard to know when to use them. Now, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice! Jot down your answers in a notebook or download our PDF to quiz yourself on paper. Check your answers down below.

Preterite vs Imperfect Quiz

Pick the correct answer.

1. _______ el piano con mi abuelo con frecuencia.
   
   1. Tocaba
   2. Toqué
      
2. El otro día, _______ semillas en mi jardín.
   
   1. sembraba
   2. sembré
      
3. Nunca me _______ el color verde.
   
   1. gustaba
   2. gustó
      
4. Él siempre _______ su tarea en su cuarto.
   
   1. hacía
   2. hizo
      
5. El mes pasado, me _______ y _______.
   
   1. resbalé, caí
   2. resbalé, caía
   3. resbalaba, caí
   4. resbalaba, caía
      
6. Cuando yo _______ niña, _______ pizza todos los días.
   
   1. estaba, comía
   2. era, comí
   3. fui, comía
   4. era, comía
      
7. Cuando me _______, yo _______ inglés en el colegio.
   
   1. conociste, enseñaba
   2. conocías, enseñaba
   3. conociste, enseñé
   4. conocías, enseñé
      
8. Yo _______ libros de fantasía cuando _______ aburrido.
   
   1. leí, estaba
   2. leía, estaba
   3. leí, estuve
   4. leía, estuve
      
9. Mientras tú _______, tu mama te _______.
   
   1. trabajaste, llamó
   2. trabajabas, llamó
   3. trabajaste, llamaba
   4. trabajabas, llamaba
      
10. Yo _______ la manzana cuando _______ el gusano adentro.
    
    1. comí, vi
    2. comía, vi
    3. comí, veía
    4. comía, veía

Fill in the blank.

1. Yo _______ revistas. (I used to read magazines)
2. Ella _______ mi madre. (She met my mom)
3. _______ comprar un carro, pero no _______ el perfecto. (I wanted to buy a car, but I didn’t find the perfect one)
4. Nosotros _______ todos los días. (We used to walk every day)
5. Ustedes me _______ ayer. (You all called me yesterday)
6. Ella _______ el helado. (She ate the ice cream)
7. Cuando _______ niña, le _______ jugar futbol. (When she was little, she liked playing soccer)
8. Nosotros _______ una carta de nuestra abuela. (We received a letter from our grandma) (hint: tener)
9. El _______ la verdad. (He figured out the truth)
10. Usted _______ subir la montaña. (You tried to climb the mountain) (hint: querer)

Translate English to Spanish

1. Yesterday I fell. 
2. She worked from 8 to 5.
3. He used to call me every day.
4. When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher.
5. My brother called me while I was cooking.
6. We used to dance together.
7. I wanted to go to college.
   

Correct or Incorrect?

1. Caminaba en la calle cuando la vi.
2. Ayer me levantaba a las seis.
3. Siempre comí tortillas con mis abuelos.
4. Nosotros pudimos cocinar el pastel.
5. La película empezaba a las 8.
6. Nunca leía el periódico cuando fui niño.
7. Ella hizo mi tarea por años.
8. Miraba tele cuando me mandaste un texto.

Click here to see the answer key!

Practice Your Conversation

I’m sure you did a great job on this preterite vs imperfect quiz! No matter where you’re at on your journey to Spanish fluency, having a conversation in your target language is a necessary skill to practice. If you’re looking for a friendly professional Spanish teacher, try one of our certified native Spanish-speaking teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Sign up for a free trial today and give yourself the key to fluency!

Want more excellent Spanish grammar resources? Check out our recent posts!

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• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
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• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

ANSWER KEY

Pick the correct answer.

1. Tocaba
2. sembré
3. gustaba
4. hacía
5. resbalé, caí
6. era, comía
7. conociste, enseñaba
8. leía, estuve
9. trabajaste, llamó
10. comía, vi

Fill in the blank.

1. leía
2. conoció
3. Quise, encontré
4. caminabamos
5. llamaron
6. comió
7. era, gustaba
8. tuvimos
9. supo
10. quiso

Translate English to Spanish

1. Ayer me caí.
2. Ella trabajó de 8 a 5.
3. Él me llamaba todos los días.
4. Cuando era niño, quería ser maestro.
5. Mi hermano me llamó mientras cocinaba.
6. Bailábamos juntos.
7. Quería ir a la universidad.

Correct or Incorrect?

1. Correct
2. Incorrect – Ayer me levanté a las seis.
3. Incorrect – Siempre comía tortillas con mis abuelos.
4. Correct
5. Incorrect – La película empezó a las 8.
6. Incorrect – Nunca leía el periódico cuando era niño.
7. Incorrect – Ella hacía mi tarea por años.
8. Correct

The post Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

To be clear, we have been offering credit to our high school students for years through our third-party partnership with NARHS. But we wanted a more direct, faster, and cheaper solution for our students—and thanks to recent updates in ACS WASC’s accreditation offerings, we suddenly became eligible (learn more about that here). 

But what does this mean for you and your K-12 student? In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of Homeschool Spanish Academy’s ACS WASC accreditation and how it can help your student develop strong language skills, cultural awareness, and gain a competitive advantage in their studies.

Try out Homeschool Spanish Academy at no risk!
Sign up for your free accredited online Spanish class today.

Homeschool Spanish Academy Is Trusted By:

What Is ACS WASC Accreditation, and Why Is It Important?

First, let’s define what ACS WASC accreditation is and why it matters. 

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC), is a highly respected accreditation agency for K–12 schools and educational institutions. This globally recognized accrediting agency evaluates schools and educational programs in the United States to ensure that they meet high levels of quality and effectiveness.

Accreditation from ACS WASC is known for its strict requirements and thorough evaluation process, which includes a thorough look at a school’s academic programs, administrative practices, and overall effectiveness. 

For online language schools like Homeschool Spanish Academy, obtaining ACS WASC accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality Spanish language instruction to K-12 students. It also assures parents that our program meets high standards of quality and effectiveness.

Truly, our accredited online Spanish classes are one of a kind!

How HSA Became Eligible for ACS WASC Accreditation

Previously, ACS WASC only gave accreditation to full diploma-granting schools. Meanwhile, HSA was committed to providing high school credits to our students, so we partnered with North Atlantic Regional High School (NARSH) to provide third-party accreditation. But because this was a deal with a third party, it had some problems, like being slower, more expensive, and requiring more paperwork.

Fortunately, ACS WASC recently began giving accreditation to supplementary education programs, allowing HSA to apply for certification directly with their agency. This was a big deal for us because it meant we could finally get formal accreditation on our own!

What Exactly Is a Supplementary Education Program?

A supplementary education program, according to ACS WASC, is an educational program or course that gives students additional learning opportunities outside of their regular school programs. These programs, which might include after-school programs, summer school programs, tutoring services, and online courses, are frequently provided by institutions or specialized groups.

Our students can now take advantage of HSA’s accredited status while remaining assured of our high quality and strict standards.

7 Benefits of HSA’s ACS WASC Accreditation

So, what are the major benefits you can expect from Homeschool Spanish Academy’s ACS WASC accreditation for your K-12 student? 

Here are just a few:

1. High-Quality Curriculum Aligned With State and National Standards

One of the most significant benefits of Homeschool Spanish Academy’s ACS WASC accreditation is that we follow a high-quality curriculum that aligns with state and national standards in the United States for language learning. 

This means that our Spanish classes are designed to provide K-12 students with a solid foundation in the Spanish language and culture, which can prepare them for further language studies and the practical application of their skills.

Our curriculum includes not only engaging live instruction but also a variety of interactive materials, such as videos, games, and audio. 

We also provide assessments and feedback to help your K-12 student track their progress and stay motivated in their language learning journey.

You might like: Spanish Curriculum Options at Homeschool Spanish Academy

2. Experienced and Certified Spanish Instructors

To meet the standards of ACS WASC accreditation, Homeschool Spanish Academy must employ highly skilled and experienced Spanish instructors who are knowledgeable about best practices in language instruction. 

This means that K-12 students who take our accredited online Spanish classes can benefit from the expertise of seasoned instructors who can guide them in their language learning journey.

Our Spanish instructors are native Spanish speakers with years of experience teaching Spanish to K–12 students of all ages and proficiency levels. 

They use various teaching methods and techniques to accommodate different learning styles. Additionally, they provide personalized instruction and feedback to help each student achieve their language learning goals.

You might like: 12 Things Our Effective Spanish Instructors Do Differently

3. Ongoing Assessment and Improvement

To maintain ACS WASC accreditation, Homeschool Spanish Academy must engage in ongoing assessment and improvement of its Spanish language program. This means that we are constantly evaluating our program, making improvements as needed, and ensuring that our program meets the evolving needs of K-12 students. 

This focus on continuous improvement can help ensure that K-12 students receive the best possible language instruction in every program we offer.

See what families are saying about our Spanish programs! HSA Customer Testimonials

4. Recognition by Universities and Colleges

ACS WASC accreditation is recognized by universities and colleges throughout the United States, which means that K-12 students who complete our accredited online Spanish classes may have an advantage when applying to colleges and universities. 

Our accreditation status demonstrates that we meet high standards of quality and effectiveness, which can assure colleges and universities that our K-12 students have received a rigorous and comprehensive education in Spanish language and culture.

You might like: A Guide to College Admissions for Homeschool Students

5. Preparation for Advanced Spanish Language Learning

K-12 students who take our accredited Spanish classes can also benefit from the preparation for advanced Spanish language learning. 

Our curriculum is meant to give students a strong foundation in Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and culture. This can help them get ready for more advanced language classes in high school and college.

In addition, our Spanish classes are taught in a conversational style, which can help students develop the oral communication skills needed to communicate effectively in Spanish. 

This can be especially important for students who plan to study abroad, work in international settings, or pursue careers in fields that require proficiency in Spanish.

You might like: 8 Reasons Why Bilingual Employees Get Paid More

6. Cultural Awareness and Understanding

Another benefit of Homeschool Spanish Academy’s ACS WASC accreditation is the emphasis on cultural awareness, understanding, and connection. We even encourage our students to use their Spanish skills with local native speakers, regardless of where they live! 

Some of the cultural resources we use in our Spanish classes are videos, audio recordings, and readings. These help students learn about the different cultures and traditions of Spanish-speaking countries.

In addition, our instructors are knowledgeable about cultural differences and can help students develop cross-cultural communication skills essential in today’s globalized world. 

By learning about and appreciating different cultures, K-12 students can become more open-minded, empathetic, and culturally aware individuals.

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7. Flexibility and Convenience

Finally, Homeschool Spanish Academy’s accredited Spanish classes offer the flexibility and convenience that homeschooling parents and K–12 students need. 

Our online classes can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, and students can learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. This can be especially beneficial for K-12 students with busy schedules or unique learning needs.

Check out: What To Expect From a Year With Homeschool Spanish Academy

Homeschool Spanish Academy Is Your Ideal Choice!

Our ACS WASC accreditation is a game-changer for K–12 Spanish language learners. This accreditation status demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality Spanish language instruction and prepares K–12 students for further language studies and practical application of their skills. 

With our high-quality curriculum, experienced instructors, ongoing assessment and improvement, and emphasis on cultural awareness and understanding, Homeschool Spanish Academy is the ideal choice for parents looking for an online Spanish language program for their K-12 students.

Sign up for your free class today and see how we can support your family in achieving your language goals!

Hear Your Child Speak Spanish! Your Free Trial Class Is Waiting

Who Is Homeschool Spanish Academy?
We are an online Spanish school that wants to give parents and their children the tools they need to live happier lives, do better in school, and have real success. Learn about our free Spanish class for kids!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want high-quality Spanish resources to learn on your own? Check these out!

• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• From YouTube to Fluent: How to Use Media to Boost Your Child’s Spanish at Home
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• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
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• 7 Online Spanish Classes for Kids Offering Free Trials

The post Top-Rated Accredited Online Spanish Classes for Kids appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

The lack of available professionals in education is rising as candidates who could be the perfect teacher are instead offering up their skills to other industries that pay higher wages.

What’s more, curricula and resources within most schools are sorely out-of-date, where the use of irrelevant tools, outdated standards, and obsolete information has become the norm.

Despite the fact that it’s more important than ever to be bilingual (thanks to globalization), a shocking 1% or less of American adults are proficient in a foreign language that they studied in school. The sad truth is students who should otherwise be learning to speak a foreign language end up only memorizing trivial sets of vocabulary that never lead to fluency.

The Future of Language Instruction

The old model is breaking down and it’s time to make room for the future: outsourcing virtual foreign language classes from highly qualified, specialized language schools. Outsource Spanish as a way to propel your school forward.

Homeschool Spanish Academy is a pioneer on the frontier of specialized virtual foreign language education, targeting the second-most spoken language in the world, Spanish, and tailoring its selection of curricula to each of its client’s needs.

The Concern for Competition

When you consider your school and its competitors, do you know how you measure up? How does your school stand out? What is your institution known for?

Competition is getting fierce among public schools, charter schools, private schools, and even homeschool, which is currently growing by double digits. What do you have to offer that will convince a parent to choose your school over the competition?

Effective and interactive foreign language classes will make you stand out and give you a competitive advantage. Let’s check out the most impactful reasons to outsource Spanish class that will benefit your school.

6 Reasons to Outsource Spanish Class for Your School’s Benefit

1. It’s More Affordable

Group classes are much more cost-effective than a full-time local Spanish teacher. The ultimate benefit for your school is that you replace cost with value. Major advantages to this include less overhead and labor costs, no additional payouts toward benefits—like social security or insurance—and you only pay for the hours you need. Our prices go as low as $2.50 per student* for 50 minute lessons at high school level and $1.33 per student** for 25 minute lessons at elementary level.

We provide all of the resources, high-quality content, smooth and user-friendly platform, and top-of-the-line teaching instruction.

*for 10 students per group for 60 classes per year for High School (50 min)

**for 10 students per group for 60 classes per year for elementary (25 min)

2. It’s More Attractive to Potential Students

Prove to potential students and their parents that your school is forward-thinking and inclined toward future trends, and you will attract a wider group of families focused on success, relevance, and excellence. Simply by outsourcing your Spanish classes and saving money for your education institution, you will be showing your student body that your school values technical savvy and digital literacy as essential preparatory skills.

A Spanish language program bolstered by native Spanish-speaking instructors demonstrates an international mindset that is hard to compete with. If your school is this unique, it has a higher value proposition to parents, which translates to higher tuition rates. The more you can offer, the more you can charge. 

In effect, we’re offering you a way to show students and parents why they should send their kids to you.

3. It’s More Efficient

Instead of wasting precious funds, time, and talent on choosing, organizing, and implementing a Spanish program for your students—that will ultimately lead to students forgetting what they learned after each semester—delegate your Spanish curriculum tasks to experts who live it and breathe it every day. 

Let go of the old in-house model of language instruction that’s inefficient and difficult to manage or control. Homeschool Spanish Academy provides all the benefits of outsourcing your Spanish classes to certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers.

4. It Comes with Quality Assurance 

You’re still not completely sure you’d like to make the switch from a local teacher to an outsourced Spanish school? We know that these kinds of decisions are not to be taken lightly. That’s why we offer premium quality assurance, or you will receive a full refund. That’s right, if you’re not satisfied with the class package that you buy, you receive a full money-back guarantee within 30 days, or after using 4 classes. Even after your 30-day period ends, you can talk to our Care Team to discuss options for modifying your curriculum or receiving a prorated refund.

5. It’s Globally-Minded 

By implementing an outsource Spanish program like we have at Homeschool Spanish Academy, your students gain access to what most schools lack internally—that is, access to native Spanish-speaking professional educators who live in Latin America. Take advantage of your chance to tap into an international knowledge base, where students have consistent and direct contact with a teacher whose culture is diverse and pertinent to the curriculum that they’re exploring.

6. It Mitigates Risk

Our curricula are customizable to meet the needs of your school and those of your students, which reduces the overall risk you take in buying a program elsewhere that may be ineffective. We give you the option of revising and upgrading the course of study based on your students’ needs and the school’s requirements. The difference is in implementing another Spanish curriculum that is rigid and proven to be unproductive long-term versus a dynamic and collaborative, customer-oriented Spanish program. By tailoring our curriculum to match your needs and offering flexible class times to fit your school’s scheduling demands, we reduce the stress and the risk of ineffectuality.

Our customized classroom package includes all homework, quizzes, and exams as well as direct access to our Care Team. The Care Team will go out of their way to help you with registration, payment preferences (group or individual family billing), payment tracking, explanation of software requirements, virtual set-up assistance, grades and student progress as well as any other questions you might have about the program. 

What Are Some Unique Ways Your Students Benefit? 

When your school profits from the benefits of our virtual Spanish programs, the students will gain a tremendous advantage in multiple ways. Take a look at some of the unique ways that students benefit from having their school outsource Spanish classes to Homeschool Spanish Academy!

With HSA, students will:

• Connect emotionally to Latin America, which allows them to expand their hearts and minds toward countries other than their native one.
• Gain access to a Spanish-speaking certified teacher who lives in Guatemala.
• Learn better and faster Spanish by having conversations with native speakers.
• Earn foreign language credits transferable to university, if they are in high school
• Get personalized attention and instruction within smaller group settings.
• Remember more lesson material through interactive, dynamic classes
• Learn Spanish from someone who is certified to teach Spanish as a 2nd language as per the Ministry of Education in Guatemala
• Participate in a safe learning environment, where all teachers have had double background checks (local and federal level)
• Experience Spanish instruction from the best of the best teachers (less than 1% of applicants to Homeschool Spanish Academy become certified teachers with us)
• Interact with teachers who teach from one centralized location with dedicated infrastructure (teachers are not in their individual homes)
• Enjoy smooth instruction via state of art fiber optic internet with multiple redundancies ensuring a quality internet connection

Register Your School Today

Don’t let another year go by without catapulting your school to the top of the competition. Contact our Care Team today to get more information on our Spanish programs, including price quotes and customizable options. We’re waiting to connect your students to our certified native Spanish-speaking teachers in Guatemala!

Would you like to learn more about HSA? Check these out!

• 12 Beginner Spanish Books for Middle School and High School
• 10 Ways Learning Spanish Can Improve Your Child’s Behavior
• 7 Spanish Reading Games for Kids: Boosting Literacy Skills
• Spanish Books That Teach More Than Words: Boosting Culture and Connection Early
• 9 Free Homeschool Curriculum Options with Daily Lesson Plans
• The 10 Most Impressive Spanish Books to Read Before College (And Why They Matter)
• 10 Simple Spanish Words Your Preschooler Can Learn This Week
• 9 Ways to Keep Your Middle Schooler Engaged in Spanish (Even if They’re Already Fluent)

The post 6 Compelling Reasons Why Your School Should Outsource Spanish Class appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

• Preschoolers (2-5)
• Kids (6-12)
• Teens (13-17)
• Adults (18+)

All the links have been checked and approved for quality!  

Who Is Homeschool Spanish Academy?
We are an online Spanish school that wants to give parents and their children the tools they need to live happier lives, do better in school, and have real success. Learn about our free Spanish class for kids!

Hear Your Child Speak Spanish! Your Free Trial Class Is Waiting

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• The Importance of Spanish Literacy
• How To Use Stories To Practice Spanish
• Extra Hand-Picked Spanish Resources for You
• Free Spanish Books for Preschoolers, ages 2-5
• Free Spanish Books for Kids, ages 6-12
• Free Spanish Books for Teenagers, ages 13-18
• Free Spanish Books for Adults, age 18+
• Even More Free Spanish Books & Resources
• Enhance Your Spanish Comprehension by Speaking

The Importance of Spanish Literacy

Why is it important to read in Spanish? The fact is, bilinguals are not only able to communicate with more people in more ways, they actually have a higher cognitive capacity. If you or your child learn to read in both English and Spanish, you will improve your verbal and nonverbal skills in a big way! Read as many Spanish books and stories as you can to improve your reading skills in both languages.

You might like: How To Teach Sight Words in Spanish to Kids

How To Use Stories To Practice Spanish

While reading in Spanish, you likely have two main goals:

• Increase your vocabulary
• Improve your comprehension

The most effective way to achieve these goals is to study the text that you’re reading in four main stages:

1. Pre-study: list up to 20 new vocabulary words at a time and search for their definitions in a free online dictionary. Write new words on flashcards or download a flashcard app.
2. Read the text: depending on your fluency level, read through a paragraph or a page at a time, highlight phrases or words that catch your eye. Read it out loud, if possible.
3. Self-check for comprehension: ask yourself the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, why) and keep a language journal where you jot down all the details. 
4. Grade your comprehension: Since you’ll be using the Spanish books in PDF form from our list, it’s easy to copy and paste text into Google translate. If you feel stuck, this is an easy way to get answers fast.

Extra Hand-Picked Spanish Resources for You

Do you need a master list of free Spanish resources, like the best dictionaries, translators, and apps? Take a look at 45+ Free Spanish Resources Proven to Promote Fluency.

If you’d like more reading tips for beginner Spanish learners, check out No More Boring Textbooks! Top 5 Spanish Books for Beginners. 

Are you reading to your child? You’ll definitely want to read up on Reading Strategies for Bilingual Kids at Home.

Take Your Free eBook With You!

Before you jump into our curated list of free books, download Homeschool Spanish Academy’s free eBook for beginners called Weird & Wacky Spanish Stories for Beginners! It’s best suited for A2 level and above, but it’s also perfect for A1 learners who wish to improve their fluency through reading. It’s fun for kids and adults!

¡Y ahora, miremos el listado de libros en español!
Now let’s look at the list of books in Spanish!

Free Spanish Books for Preschoolers, ages 2-5

Preschoolers experience exponential growth in every facet of their development. In fact, 90% of a child’s brain development happens before age five! It’s during this time that you can foster early literacy by promoting listening competence, vocabulary expansion, and comprehension skills. This list of preschool Spanish books in PDF form showcases large, colorful pictures and simple, repetitive sentences to engage your little one.

• A mí me gusta leer – free PDF download
• Mírame a mi – free PDF download
• El Tigre – free PDF download
• Bees Like Flowers (Spanish-English bilingual) – free PDF download
• La Lagartija en la Pared – free PDF download

** ¿Puedo jugar? and other titles by Gilberto Mariscal are free on Amazon for Kindle Unlimited members.

Are you interested in English and Spanish side-by-side books for preschoolers? Learn more from our list of 12 Spanish Books for Preschoolers.

Free Spanish Books for Kids, ages 6-12

This age group is busy learning how to use books as a source of information, entertainment or escape. Elementary kids begin understanding how fiction and non-fiction texts compare to their own experience of the world: their inner life, opinions, and other books they’ve read. It’s important to enhance their exploration of a book through activities, such as:

1. A Lifetime Tale: Draw the main character from a book you’re reading. What do you think they looked like as a baby, a middle aged person, and as an older person?
2. Text to Self: Write a story about yourself that is related to an event or character from the book you’re reading.
3. A User Manual: Choose an important object or creature from the book you’re reading and write a creative user manual or guide that explains how to care for it.

Free Spanish Books PDF Downloads for Kids:

• Volando alto – free PDF download
• ¡Todo por culpa de la gata! – free PDF download
• ¿Qué edad tiene Muttajji? – free PDF download
• El patito feo – free PDF download
• El lobo bobo y la zorra astuta – free PDF download

If you’d like to expand your Spanish library to include physical books, check out 10 Spanish Books Perfect for Grades 1-3.

Free Spanish Books for Teenagers, ages 13-18

The teenage years provide students with the opportunity to master reading comprehension using various techniques like identifying story elements and asking questions while reading. They enjoy longer texts and can handle a heavier load of new vocabulary. Some important reading strategies they can use while reading these Spanish books in PDF include:

1. Using context clues to determine the meaning of a new word
2. Taking notes to organize and summarize information
3. Remembering new words using mnemonic devices
4. Sequencing story elements with the order of events

Free Spanish Books PDF Downloads for Teens:

• Lo que no nos contaron by Marc Levy – free PDF download
• Todo saldrá bien by Emilio Ortiz – free PDF download
• Mil veces hasta siempre by John Green – free PDF download
• El Principito by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – free PDF download
• Las Brujas by Roald Dahl – free PDF download

Free Spanish Books for Adults, age 18+

As is the case for any age, adults do best learning from content that they actually enjoy. The key to unlocking the true potential of these Spanish books is to love what you’re reading. If the topic is interesting enough, then the occasional overwhelm of new vocabulary won’t feel as heavy. Whether you’re the type to dog-ear the pages of your book or you’re more likely to cringe at such a sight, the fact is—marking all over your book with notes and highlights is extremely useful! Give it a shot by downloading one of these Spanish books in PDF for adults, printing it out, and studying it using the strategies you’ve learned from this article and the ones we’ve shared with you.

• La Gaviota by Fernán Caballero – free download
• Fortunata y Jacinta by Benito Pérez Galdós – free download
• Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós – free download
• La Isla del Tesoro by Robert Louis Stevenson – free download
• El Poder del Ahora by Eckhart Tolle – free PDF download
• La Mujer en la Ventana by A.J. Finn – free PDF download
• Una Mañana de Mayo by Anne Holt – free PDF download

Even More Free Spanish Books & Resources

Have you already read all the titles we shared with you and you’re ready for more? Here is a list of free Spanish books in PDF resources for learners of every age! 

Free Google Play Books in Spanish from weeblebooks.com

Free Spanish Kids Books from freekidsbooks.org

100+ Free Classics in Spanish from elestudiantedigital.com

Kids Books in PDF from elestudiantedigital.com

Collection of Spanish Literature from Project Gutenberg

Spanish Books for Young Adults from educalibro.info

Literature, Fiction, and More from libros.center

Kindle Unlimited Spanish Books from Amazon.com

50 Classics for Kids in Spanish from portaldeeducacion.com

Enhance Your Spanish Comprehension by Speaking

Would you like to practice your Spanish accent, speaking skills, or check your comprehension of something you’ve read recently? Sign up for a free class with a native Spanish-speaking teacher at Homeschool Spanish Academy. Take the time to make your learning journey a priority and to get one-on-one attention from a certified Spanish teacher who loves to talk about books!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more high-quality Spanish resources? Check these out!

• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• From YouTube to Fluent: How to Use Media to Boost Your Child’s Spanish at Home
• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• 7 Online Spanish Classes for Kids Offering Free Trials

The post 20 Free Spanish Books, Novels, and Stories in PDF and Printables appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

These classic love poems are the ideal way to express your feelings for someone special on Valentine’s Day in a unique and romantic way. Dedicating a short Spanish love poem to a loved one is a wonderful way to show your devotion and how much you care about them.

There are many treasures and amazing things in life, but none are as valuable as your partner’s and closest friends’ love. Even if they were not with you from the beginning, you have a strong bond with them. Your love for each other is unparalleled, and what better way to express it than through Spanish poetry?

We have hand-picked ten short Spanish love poems for you to read and share. Each one is packed with powerful emotions that will make you think, pique your imagination, and send a deep, loving message. Write a poem from the heart for your loved one instead of a simple Valentine’s Day gift.

Continue reading to find out more about these short Spanish love poems that have also been translated into English.

Join 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for a free trial Spanish class today!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Abrazo (Hug) by Pablo Neruda
• Amor eterno (Eternal Love) by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer Poema de la amistad (Friendship Poem) by Octavio Paz
• Poema de la amistad (Friendship Poem) by Octavio Paz
• Dame la mano (Give Me Your Hand) by Gabriela Mistral
• Amistad (Friendship) by Carlos Castro Saavedra
• Rima XXI (Verse XX) by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
• Contigo (With You) by Luis Cernuda
• Amor (Love) by Salvador Novo
• Creo en ti amigo (I Trust You My Friend) by Pablo Neruda
• Amo, amas (I Love, You Love) by Rubén Darío
• How To Dedicate Your Love Poems in Spanish
• Improve Your Spanish With Our Friendly, Certified Teachers

1. Abrazo (Hug) by Pablo Neruda

Do you ever feel that words just can’t quite capture the depth of your love? Luckily, there is a universal language that transcends words and conveys affection in the most powerful way: hugs.

Hugs are a simple yet powerful way to show someone else how much you care. They can convey love, comfort, and support in a way that words just can’t. And what better way to express these feelings than through the beauty of poetry about hugs?

This short love poem by Neruda perfectly captures the feeling of longing for those we love, especially when they aren’t near us. It expresses the desire to share hugs and feel their warmth, even when distance separates us. This poem is a reminder of the power of love and how it can transcend even physical distance.

Neruda’s words remind us of the importance of hugs in expressing our love to those we care about the most.

Abrazo por Pablo Neruda

Un simple abrazo nos enternece el corazón;
nos da la bienvenida y nos hace más llevadera la vida.

Un abrazo es una forma de compartir alegrías
así como también los momentos tristes que se nos presentan.

Es tan solo una manera de decir a nuestros amigos
que los queremos y que nos preocupamos uno por el otro
porque los abrazos fueron hechos para darlos a quienes queremos.

El abrazo es algo grandioso.
Es la manera perfecta para demostrar el amor que sentimos
cuando no conseguimos la palabra justa.

Es maravilloso porque tan sólo un abrazo dado con mucho cariño,
hace sentir bien a quien se lo damos, sin importar el lugar ni el idioma
porque siempre es entendido.

Por estas razones y por muchas más…
hoy te envío mi más cálido abrazo.

English Translation: Hug by Pablo Neruda

A simple hug softens our hearts;
welcomes us and makes life more bearable.

A hug is a way of sharing joys
as well as the sad moments that come our way.

It is just a way of saying to our friends
that we love them and that we care about each other
because hugs were made to give to those who we love.

A hug is an amazing action.
It is the perfect way to show the love we feel
When we don’t get the right word.

It is wonderful because just a hug given with lots of love,
makes feel good to who we give it to, regardless the place or language
because it is always understood.

For these, and for many more reasons…
Today, I send you my warmest hug.

Read more poems from Pablo Neruda here.

2. Amor eterno (Eternal Love) by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Love is a strong force that can catch us off guard, overpowering our ability to think logically and leaving us lost in a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings. We may pass the time thinking about our loved one day and night, no matter the weather, and imagining them as a permanent part of our lives.

This next poem by Bécquer is a work of art that shows how deep and intense love can be and how it can take over our minds and hearts.

Bécquer’s words remind us that love is not just a feeling, but a powerful force that can change our lives forever.

Amor eterno por Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

Podrá nublarse el sol eternamente;
Podrá secarse en un instante el mar;
Podrá romperse el eje de la tierra
Como un débil cristal.

¡Todo sucederá! Podrá la muerte
Cubrirme con su fúnebre crespón;
Pero jamás en mí podrá apagarse
La llama de tu amor.

English Translation: Eternal Love by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

The sun can cloud forever;
The sea can dry up in an instant;
The axis of the earth can be broken
Like a weak crystal.

Everything will happen! Death can 
cover me with its funereal crepe;
But the flame of your love 
Can never be turned off in me.

3. Poema de la amistad (Friendship Poem) by Octavio Paz

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate all kinds of love and affection, including the special bond between friends. 

This poem by Paz is the perfect way to show how much you care about and love your lifelong friends. It showcases the fact that there are many kinds of love, and that the love between friends is special and wonderful. It’s built on trust, support, and shared memories, and it’s something to be treasured.

Paz’s words help us  show our best friends how much we appreciate them on Valentine’s Day by honoring the unique and wonderful love that exists in a strong friendship.

Poema de la amistad por Octavio Paz

La amistad es un río y un anillo.
El río fluye a través del anillo.
El anillo es una isla en el río.
Dice el río: antes no hubo río, después sólo río.
Antes y después: lo que borra la amistad.
¿Lo borra? El río fluye y el anillo se forma.
La amistad borra al tiempo y así nos libera.
Es un río que, al fluir, inventa sus anillos.
En la arena del río se borran nuestras huellas.
En la arena buscamos al río: ¿dónde te has ido?
Vivimos entre olvido y memoria: este instante
es una isla combatida por el tiempo incesante.

English Translation: Friendship Poem by Octavio Paz

Friendship is a river and a ring.
The river flows through the ring.
The ring is an island in the river.
The river says: before there was no river, then only river.
Before and after: what erases friendship.
Does it erase that? The river flows and the ring is formed.
Friendship erases time and thus frees us.
It is a river that, as it flows, creates its rings.
In the sand of the river our footprints are erased.
In the sand we look for the river: where have you gone?
We live between oblivion and memory: this moment
is an island fought by incessant time.

4. Dame la mano (Give Me Your Hand) by Gabriela Mistral

Gabriela Mistral was the first Latin American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945. Her poem Dame la mano—like so many of her other poems—is full of life and energy. 

It conveys the joy of the present moment when we spend it with the people we love. The prose exudes natural themes and movement, when the love between two people feels like a dance in the middle of the forest. Interestingly, this poem’s refrain of “give me your hand” is in relation to the unity of love and couplehood as well as the beauty of achieving such a bond.

Dame la mano por Gabriela Mistral

Dame la mano y danzaremos;
dame la mano y me amarás.
Como una sola flor seremos,
como una flor, y nada más…

El mismo verso cantaremos,
al mismo paso bailarás.
Como una espiga ondularemos,
como una espiga, y nada más.

Te llamas Rosa y yo Esperanza;
pero tu nombre olvidarás,
porque seremos una danza
en la colina y nada más…

English Translation: Give Me Your Hand by Gabriela Mistral

Give me your hand and we will dance;
give me your hand and you will love me.
As a single flower we will be,
like a flower, and nothing else…

We will sing the same verse
at the same step you will dance.
Like a spike we will undulate,
like a spike, and nothing else…

Your name is Rose and mine is Hope;
but you will forget your name,
because we will be a dance
on the hill and nothing else…

5. Amistad (Friendship) by Carlos Castro Saavedra

A true friend is one who is always there for you—in good times and bad. Cheers to your friend who goes out of their way to show you that you’re not alone. In this poem by Saavedra, you explore that sincere feeling of love that exists between true friends. This is another ideal poem to dedicate to your best friend. 

Amistad es lo mismo que una mano que en otra mano apoya su fatiga y siente que el cansancio se mitiga y el camino se vuelve más humano.

El amigo sincero es el hermano claro y elemental como la espiga, como el pan, como el sol, como la hormiga que confunde la miel con el verano.

Grande riqueza, dulce compañía es la del ser que llega con el día y aclara nuestras noches interiores.

Fuente de convivencia, de ternura, es la amistad que crece y se madura en medio de alegrías y dolores.

English Translation: Friendship by Carlos Castro Saavedra

Friendship is the same as a hand that supports its fatigue in another hand and feels that tiredness is mitigated and the path becomes more human.

The sincere friend is the clear and essential brother like the spike, like the bread, like the sun, like the ant that mistakes honey for summer.

Great wealth, sweet company is of the being that arrives with the day and brightens our inner nights.

Source of coexistence, of tenderness, is the friendship that grows and matures in the middle of joys and pains.

6. Rima XXI (Verse XX) by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer 

When it comes to short love poems, this poem by Bécquer is the best. In just four verses, he expresses all the love felt for another person. Out of all the short love poems, this poem acts as a reflection on the very function and nature of poetry itself—clarifying that love has no definition within words, but instead within the beloved. 

In just a few words, you can tell someone how much you love them by dedicating this short love poem to them on Valentine’s Day.

Rima XXI por Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

¿Qué es poesía?, dices, mientras clavas
en mi pupila tu pupila azul,
¡Qué es poesía! ¿Y tú me lo preguntas?
Poesía… eres tú.

Verse XXI – Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

What is poetry ?, you say, while you put
your blue pupil in my pupil,
What is poetry! Are you asking me that?
Poetry… is you.

7. Contigo (With You) by Luis Cernuda

This poem by Cernuda is short but mighty in its ability to transmit the feeling of falling in love. As a simple, sweet poem, it asks us to reflect on how the most important details are often hidden in the simplest of things. In a few words it explores the intensity of deep love that sustains a person’s reason for existing. It has an important message about love, these verses say love is pure, personal, and simple.

Contigo por Luis Cernuda

¿Mi tierra?
Mi tierra eres tú.

¿Mi gente?
Mi gente eres tú.

El destierro y la muerte
para mi están adonde
no estés tú.

¿Y mi vida?
Dime, mi vida,
¿qué es, si no eres tú?

English Translation: With You by Luis Cernuda

My world?
You are my world.

My people?
You are my people.

For me, exile and death
are where you are not present.

And… My life?
Tell me, my life,
What is it, if it’s not you?

8. Amor (Love) by Salvador Novo

The best way to explain that love has no language, price, time or space and that love is simply infinite, is through this poem. With these verses you can tell someone that you love them very much and that when you miss them terribly when you’re not together.

Amor por Salvador Novo

Amar es este tímido silencio
cerca de ti, sin que lo sepas,
y recordar tu voz cuando te marchas
y sentir el calor de tu saludo.

Amar es aguardarte
como si fueras parte del ocaso,
ni antes ni después, para que estemos solos
entre los juegos y los cuentos
sobre la tierra seca.

Amar es percibir, cuando te ausentas,
tu perfume en el aire que respiro,
y contemplar la estrella en que te alejas
cuando cierro la puerta de la noche.

English Translation: Love by Salvador Novo

To love is this shy silence
close to you, without you knowing,
and remember your voice when you leave
and feel the warmth of your greeting.

To love is to wait for you
as if you were part of the sunset,
neither before nor after, so that we are alone
between games and stories
on dry land.

To love is to perceive, when you are absent,
your perfume in the air that I breathe,
and appreciate the star in which you walk away
when I close the door at night.

9. Creo en ti amigo (I Trust You My Friend) by Pablo Neruda

One could argue that without friendship, there is no love. 

Friends make us feel loved and the especially unique ones earn our trust in incalculable ways. This poem by Neruda is perfect for dedicating to your friend who you trust the most and to whom you want to express your appreciation.

Creo en ti amigo por Pablo Neruda

Creo en ti amigo:
Si tu sonrisa es como un rayo de luz
que alegra mi existencia.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si tus ojos brillan de alegría al encontrarnos.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si compartes mis lágrimas y
sabes llorar con los que lloran.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si tu mano está abierta para dar y
tu voluntad es generosa para ayudar.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si tus palabras son sinceras y
expresan lo que siente tu corazón.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si sabes comprender bondadosamente mis debilidades y
me defiendes cuando me calumnian.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si tienes valor para corregirme amablemente.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si sabes orar por mí,
y brindarme buen ejemplo.

Creo en ti amigo:
Si tu amistad me lleva a amar más a Dios
y a tratar mejor a los demás.

Creo en tí amigo:
Si no te avergüenzas de ser mi amigo
en las horas tristes y amargas.

English Translation: I Trust You My Friend by Pablo Neruda

I trust you my friend:
If your smile is like a ray of light
that makes me happy.

I trust you my friend:
If your eyes shine with joy when we are together.

I trust you my friend:
If you share my tears and
you know how to cry with those who cry.

I trust you my friend:
If your hand is open to give and
your will is generous to help.

I trust you my friend:
If your words are sincere and
they express what your heart feels.

I trust you my friend:
If you can kindly understand my weaknesses and
you defend me when others slander me.

I trust you my friend:
If you have the courage to correct me with affection.

I trust you my friend:
If you know how to pray for me,
and give me a good example.

I trust you my friend:
If your friendship leads me to love God more
and to treat others better.

I trust you my friend:
If you are not ashamed to be my friend
in the sad and bitter hours.

10. Amo, amas (I Love, You Love) by Rubén Darío

Love presents itself throughout our life as a limitless feeling that when shared with others, it’s unique and special. This poem by Darío shows us the power of love and the intensity with which we can feel it. It is a feeling that gives us life and even if time passes—if we truly love someone—love will never die.

Amo, amas por Rubén Darío

Amar, amar, amar, amar siempre, con todo
el ser y con la tierra y con el cielo,
con lo claro del sol y lo oscuro del lodo;
amar por toda ciencia y amar por todo anhelo.

Y cuando la montaña de la vida
nos sea dura y larga y alta y llena de abismos,
amar la inmensidad que es de amor encendida
¡y arder en la fusión de nuestros pechos mismos!

English Translation: I Love, You Love by Rubén Darío

Loving, loving, loving, loving always, with everything
the being and with the earth and with the sky,
with the light of the sun and the dark of the mud;
love for all science and love for all desire.

And when the mountain of life
be hard and long and high and full of abysses,
love the immensity that is of love on
And burn in the fusion of our souls!

How To Dedicate Your Love Poems in Spanish

To help you dedicate your short love poems in Spanish, try out some of these sentences:

Te dedico este poema.
I dedicate this poem to you.

Tengo un regalo especial para ti.
I have a special gift for you.

Te doy este poema como obsequio de San Valentín.
I give you this poem as a Valentine’s gift.

Te quiero.
I love you.

Te quiero mucho.
I love you so much.

Gracias por tu amistad.
Thanks for your friendship.

Quise obsequiarte un poema corto de amor en español.
I wanted to give you a short love poem in Spanish.

Lee este poema, es para ti.
Read this poem, it is for you.

Te regalo este poema. ¡Espero que te guste!
I give you this poem. I hope you like it!

Improve Your Spanish With Our Friendly, Certified Teachers

You can dedicate these short love poems in Spanish on Valentine’s Day and make those people who are important in your life feel loved.

The simple joys of life can’t be compared to objects, and reading these short love poems in Spanish will be one of those simple pleasures for you and your beloved friend or partner.

If you’d like to practice reading these poems out loud, sign up for a free class with one of our professional, native Spanish-speaking teachers who would love to help you bring your chosen poem to life. Empower the magic of your poetic gifts by reciting them perfectly in Spanish! Give our Spanish class a try and have the best Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had.

Want more Spanish resources and fun content? Check these out!

• 12 Beginner Spanish Books for Middle School and High School
• Immerse Yourself: The Best Spanish Magazines to Read
• 10 Websites Offering Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners
• The Best Comics in Spanish for Language Learners
• 8 Free Bilingual Spanish-English Books Online
• 20 Free Spanish Books, Novels, and Stories in PDF and Printables
• Short Love Poems in Spanish Are the Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift
• 10 Spanish Articles for Beginners: Learn to Read the News

The post Short Love Poems in Spanish Are the Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

With more than seven methods of homeschool available for you to choose from, you have your work cut out for you as you begin to weigh the options. In this blog post, we’ll explore the brilliant results that happen when you combine the classic approach and unschooling (aka self-directed education) to build a balanced homeschool experience for your preschool child. 

Hear Your Child Speak Spanish! Your Free Trial Class Is Waiting

Academic Rigor vs Learning Through Living

Is the child who plays in the backyard for hours learning as much as the child who sits at the dining table tracing letters? 

Evolutionary psychologist and proponent of the unschooling movement Peter Gray would say no; that the child playing outdoors is actually learning more through exploration than the child who is simply tracing letters.

“This issue of self-directed — what does it mean to be self-directed? I’m an evolutionary psychologist, so I’m interested in human nature and the nature of children. Look at little kids: Have you ever seen a little kid who hasn’t yet gone to school who’s not self-directed? Who’s not just curious and playful and eagerly doing things? They’re exploring the world almost from the moment they’re born. They’re looking around — ‘What’s out there? What’s new? What can I learn about?’ Think of all of the things that children learn before they ever go to school.” 

— Peter Gray

Where’s the Balance?

Learning through life and play is fantastic and magical. In fact, it’s a complete and total luxury. Most parents don’t have the opportunity to homeschool their children for a decade or more. If you plan to send your child to a traditional school after preschool or kindergarten, it’s important to train them to meet the structured expectations set by academic school settings, such as:

• Following a schedule
• Being able to follow directions
• Sitting and listening without interrupting
• Taking turns with others
• Waiting in line

The solution to preparing your child for a future in a traditional school while strengthening their personal motivations for learning about the world is to balance academics, structured play, and free (unstructured) play. 

Play Is Your Preschool Child’s Job

“Play is the way kids try the world on for size and imagine their place in it.” — Raffi

The foundation for all areas of development for preschool children—physical, mental, social, emotional, and moral—is play. It is through play that children learn about themselves and their world while they garner the skills to express themselves and expand their imagination. A preschool child (between the ages of 2 to 5) will be developing specific skills that you can supplement with play, such as:

• Using language to communicate
• Recognizing that objects have names
• Recognizing that objects are quantifiable
• Grouping objects by similar features

Structured vs Unstructured Play

Two types of play exist that are equally beneficial: structured and unstructured. Structured play revolves around achieving a particular objective and includes things like goal-oriented games, assembling toys or puzzles, matching socks, and sorting fruit by color. The point of structured play is to find activities that promote learning the objective you have in mind. Conversely, unstructured play has no specific goal aside from the exploration of possibilities. Examples of unstructured play include playing with blocks, coloring, drawing, inventing games, and running around in the yard or on a playground.

By incorporating both types of play into your homeschool routine, you can organize activities for your preschool child using both the classic approach and unschooling.

Homeschool Preschool Activities

Important subjects like science, reading, phonics, and math are easy to teach at home. Through these subjects, you can foster your preschool child’s development of the three essential skills listed above. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Science

• Sensory Skill-Builder: Set up a sensory table with plastic tubs full of lentils, water, sand, or magnets. The contents within your tubs can include almost anything you could imagine.
• Eruption Experiment: Hollow out two apples. Then, ask your child which sequence will make a bigger eruption: vinegar and baking soda or baking soda then vinegar? Watch their amazement as they see the results!
• Box of Textures: Cut a hole in a small cardboard box or an old tissue box. Pick out 5-10 toys with varying textures and show them to your child. Have them cover their eyes while you put one toy in the box. Let them reach inside, feel the toy, and try to guess which one it is. 

Reading

• Bring Stories to Life: Read aloud in a dramatic way by varying your pace, changing your tone of voice, and making engaging facial expressions. Make sure to read the same books over and over again, since children love the repetition and ability to predict.
• Interact with Books: Point to the illustrations in the book and ask what it is or what’s happening based on what you’ve read. Encourage them to ask questions and to “read” to you, by “reading” the illustrations or retelling the story.
• Memorize Finger Plays: Improve several skills at once including fine motor, listening, and pre-reading by acting out rhymes with your fingers! Preschool children love finger plays. For a ton of ideas, check out Successful Homeschooling Finger Plays.
• Practice Nursery Rhymes: understanding the relationship between letters and sounds is an important pre-reading skill. Rhymes teach young learners that words have a structure, a pattern, and a rhythm. Plus, they’re fun! 

Phonics

• Rainbow Letter Hop: using colored paper, mark letters of the alphabet that your preschool child has learned and lay them on the floor of a room in a stepping-stone style. Use a die to roll a number and have your child hop that many steps/papers. Have them read the one they land on!
• Phonic Photo Album: have your preschool child create a photo album with a photo of an item for every letter sound (“a” for apple to “z” for zoo). Build their album alongside their skills, eventually adding sounds like “ch” and “sh.”
• Mystery Letter Bag: fill a bag with 3-4 objects that all start with the same letter. Have your child pull them out, name them, and then guess what the sound is that unites them all.

Math

• Sort by Size, Type, or Color: Gather up the family’s shoes and make a big pile. Tell your child to find the ones that fit the best and the rest need to be sorted by size or type! Have your child sort the family’s socks on laundry day, sort their toys by color or size, or sort dead leaves on the ground. The options are endless. 
• Identify and Create Shapes: Make shapes with clothespins, form shapes with playdough, print shape flashcards and do a scavenger hunt in the yard to find natural items of each shape, play the “I Spy a Shape” game when you’re in town or on the road.
• Number Recognition and Counting: paint the front side of a flat stone with a number and the backside with a butterfly and its corresponding number of spots. Ask your child, “How many spots does the butterfly have?” Grab a die and a bowl of blueberries (or raisins). Have your child roll the die and then count out that many blueberries before they eat them.

Homeschool Preschool Routine

No matter which approach you favor between classic and unschooling, it’s essential to understand that a routine is more appropriate for your preschool child than a strict schedule. To be clear, a routine is a habitual procedure that you create for your child, while a schedule adheres to a strict set of times, dates, and divisions. Your routine should be fluid in that it accommodates your child’s mood and state of health, as well as your personal schedule as a busy parent.

The point of a routine is to build a flexible structure into your everyday homeschool experience while providing you with the chance to switch between academic-focused activities and self-directed experiential learning. Preschool students don’t need more than 45 minutes a day of structured learning, so keep that in mind when you build your own routine. Here is an example routine you might want to use:

“Letter of the Week” — Each week, you introduce one letter.

Daily, include:

15 min. — Read aloud

15 min. — Structured learning (e.g., teach letters, sounds, and writing/tracing)

30 min. — Structured play (e.g., learn a song, rhyme, or finger play)

5-10 min. — Model (show your child how to do it) a hands-on activity

20-30 min. — Let your child self-direct the hands-on activity

School of Life

Outside of your homeschool routine, remember that the entire day that your child spends with you is also technically “homeschool,” where they learn through living. Ways to foster learning outside of your routine include:

• Asking your child questions, like “Why do you think the sky is blue?” or “How many dinosaurs do you know?”
• Encourage your child to help around the house
• Make an area in your home for them to build or construct (with blocks or legos, for example)
• Give them spaces where they can safely climb (a pile of pillows in the room or a playground set outside)
• Bake cookies or banana bread together
• Fold laundry together (even though you’ll likely have to fold it again once they’re done “helping”!)
• Count toys as you work together to clean up their play area

Top Homeschool Preschool Blogs

We’ve compiled a list of high-quality homeschool preschool blogs that supply you with curriculum, lesson plans, activity ideas, and free printables. Check them out and start enjoying homeschool with your preschool child today!

Teach Preschool by Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.

Pocket of Preschool by Jackie Kops, M.Ed.

Preschool Powol Packets by Carla Jensen, certified National Geographic Educator

Preschool Blog by Tulip Tree Preschool

Happenings with Hemme by Ashley Hemme, a kindergarten teacher and homeschooling mom

Modern Preschool Blog by Nicole, preschool teacher and homeschooling mom

The Primary Parade by Jessica, M.Ed

Preschool Wonders by Lola, a special education preschool teacher

Kids Sparkz by Susan, a curriculum designer and preschool teacher

Add Spanish to Your Homeschool for Preschool

In summation, preschool is the perfect age to set your child up for success as a bilingual speaker in English and Spanish! At Homeschool Spanish Academy, we offer a Preschool Program with native Spanish speakers, where your child will learn pronunciation, greetings, basic conversational phrases, numbers, colors, and more. If you’d like to get started today, we offer a free trial class for curious parents who want to see what it’s like for their child. Additionally, if you’d like to jump in right away with Spanish lessons for your preschool child, check out our list of themes below!

Want free Spanish lesson materials for your preschooler? Check these out!

• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• From YouTube to Fluent: How to Use Media to Boost Your Child’s Spanish at Home
• 7 Online Spanish Classes for Kids Offering Free Trials
• 5 Fun and Engaging Ways to Introduce Spanish to Your Preschooler
• Your Child’s First Spanish Conversation: How to Prep, Practice, and Cheer Them On
• 10 Ways Learning Spanish Can Improve Your Child’s Behavior
• 7 Spanish Reading Games for Kids: Boosting Literacy Skills
• 10 Funny Spanish Memes You Can Share With Your Child

The post The Brilliant Way to Homeschool Your Preschool (Pre-K) Child, Ages 2-5 appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Ok, ok, so today isn’t really my birthday, but without the use of ordinal numbers, I wouldn’t be able to tell you all about it.

Ordinal numbers tell us about an object’s position in relation to others. They are the numerical labels that help us arrange objects or ideas in order: first, second, third, etc. They are different from cardinal numbers, or natural numbers, that represent a quantity that we can count.

Keep reading to master using ordinal numbers in Spanish!

Join 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for your free trial class with us at Homeschool Spanish Academy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Ordinal Numbers in Spanish: 1-10
• Ordinal Numbers in Spanish as Adjectives
• Ordinal Numbers vs Cardinal Numbers
• Number Order in Spanish
• Ordinal Numbers in Spanish: 11-100
• Abbreviations of Ordinal Numbers in Spanish
• Use Numbers in Your Free Spanish Class
• Ordinal Numbers QUIZ with Instant Results

Ordinal Numbers 1-10

The most commonly used números ordinales in Spanish are numbers 1-10. As you will soon see, the numbers after 10 grow in complexity and length, which has undoubtedly persuaded Spanish speakers to use the cardinal numbers between 11 and a million much more frequently. Let’s start with a list of the numbers 1-10 in their ordinal form with a pronunciation cheat sheet!

It is important to take note that we do not use these ordinal numbers in Spanish exactly the same way that we use them in English. For example, unlike English, we write the days of the month with the cardinal number to specify a date. The only exception is for the first day of the month, where we use the ordinal number:

Cardinal number: El diez de agosto (August 10th)

Ordinal number for the first day of any month: El primero de abril (April 1st), el primero de agosto (August 1st)

The use of the ordinal number to denote the first of the month is a general and common rule for Spanish, but it is acceptable only in Spain to use uno instead of primero (El uno de abril).

Give it a try

Here is a quick quiz to see if you can fill in the blanks with the correct ordinal number, using the chart above to help! (See the answers at the end of the blog to check your work!)

1. el ______________ (8th) carro
2. el ______________ (1st) de noviembre
3. el ______________ (10th) suéter
4. el ______________ (5th) hermano
5. el ______________ (9th) cuadro

Ordinal Numbers as Adjectives

A smart way to approach ordinal numbers is to see them as the adjective form of cardinal numbers. 

Remember, every adjective in this language has to agree with the number and gender of the noun. 

Let’s look at some examples to better understand this:

La primera lluvia del año
The first rain of the year

In this case, lluvia is the noun. A feminine, singular noun. So, the adjective primera reflects that. 

Los primeros vuelos del día
The first few flights of the day 

In this example, vuelos is a masculine, plural noun, and the ordinal number primeros works as an adjective to reflect the qualities of the noun. 

Although ordinal numbers behaving as adjectives usually precede the noun, when they’re used as part of a name, royalty or nobility title, they come after the noun. 

Ricardo Tercero es una obra de teatro escrita por Shakespeare. 
Richard the Third is a theater play written by Shakespeare.

Ordinal Versus Cardinal

While cardinal numbers act as adjectives, ordinal numbers can be adverbs, pronouns, and adjectives. The major difference between them is that cardinal numbers do not usually change according to the gender and number of the noun, as ordinal numbers do. Here are a few examples that show how ordinal numbers change in order to adapt to the noun that they describe:

Ordinal Numbers

Cardinal Numbers

You will see that the ordinal number ending in “-o” comes before masculine nouns, while the ordinal number ending in “-a” precedes feminine nouns.

Primer or Primero?

Do you notice anything strange in the chart above?

Take a closer look at the ordinal number in the sentence: Me dieron el primer boleto.

In our example, it’s no mistake that primer is written without the final “-o.” Ordinal numbers primero and tercero both lose the final “-o” when they are in front of a singular noun. This is the case even if another word appears before the noun, as in, el primer gran día (the first big day).

Mi primer momento libre
My first free moment

El ganador del tercer lugar
The third place winner

Give it a try

Which ordinal or cardinal numbers do you need to fill in the following blanks? (See the answers at the end of the blog post to check your work!)

6. Tengo ______________ (2) animales.
7. Tengo el ______________ (2nd) animal.
8. Hoy es la ______________ (1st) vez.
9. Lo hago solo ______________ (1) vez.
10. Comienza la ______________ (4th) entrada.

Click here to see the answer key.

Number Order in Spanish

We have just learned that ordinal numbers are often adjectives. As you may know, an adjective generally comes after the noun it describes in Spanish. In the case of ordinal numbers, however, they come before the noun unless discussing a member of royalty or the pope.

El sexto libro = the sixth book
Mi primera foto = my first photo
Juan Carlos Primero = Juan Carlos the First, the former king of Spain
San Juan Pablo Segundo = Pope John Paul the Second

Ordinal Numbers 11 to 100

Ordinal numbers are not ordinarily used after 10, but it is still important to expose yourself to them so that you can recognize them when they do appear. Both 11th and 12th have two acceptable forms, which the chart below shows. While there is, unfortunately, no formula to memorize for all the ordinal numbers after 11, there are a few guidelines we can follow. For numbers 13-19, we use a combination of decimo + ordinal number 3-9, as in decimocuarto (14th). For numbers in between 20-100, we use the ordinal number ending in -gésimo or -agésimo + the unique singular ordinal number 1-9, as in vigésimo primero (21st).

As you view the chart, keep in mind that all of these ordinal numbers can be written together or apart, as in decimoprimero or décimo primero. Additionally, if they describe a feminine noun, their form changes to decimaprimera or décima primera.

Abbreviations of Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

Similar to English, Spanish ordinal numbers can be written in long form or using superscriptions. While in English we use “st” “nd” “rd” and “th” as the superscriptions (as in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th), Spanish uses “o” for masculine nouns or “a” for feminine nouns, as in the following examples:

Masculine:

Long form: Primer capítulo
Superscript: 1er capítulo
English: 1st chapter

Long form: Cuarto capítulo
Superscript: 4to capítulo
English: 4th chapter

Femenine:

Long form: Primera dama
Superscript: 1a dama
English: 1st lady

Here’s a handy chart:

Roman Numeral Abbreviations

Another way of abbreviating numbers is by using roman numerals, which we read as ordinal numbers. We can use roman numerals with centuries, popes, monarchs, emperors, books, volumes, chapters, and recurring events. Keep in mind that in informal speech, the use of ordinal numbers above 10 is fairly rare. Instead of saying, el quincuagésimo capítulo, one would more likely say el capítulo cincuenta.

Use Your Number Knowledge in This Free Spanish Class

Now that you have learned how to use ordinal numbers, be sure to keep practicing them regularly in speech and writing. To enhance your language skills, schedule a free class at Homeschool Spanish Academy and start speaking Spanish with one of our friendly, certified teachers today!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Ordinal Numbers QUIZ with Instant Results

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• What to Say When You’re Not Sure What to Say – in Spanish!
• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• Your Child Knows Some Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary Into Real Conversations
• 29 Cool and Catchy Spanish Phrases To Use With Friends [+Audio]
• Fun Ways to Practice Spanish with Family (Even If Everyone’s at Different Levels)
• 10 Simple Spanish Words Your Preschooler Can Learn This Week
• The 25 Most Useful Spanish Phrases You Need to Learn Today

Answers to “Give It a Try”:

1. octavo
2. primero
3. décimo
4. quinto
5. noveno
6. dos
7. segundo
8. primera
9. una
10. cuarta

The post Ordinal Numbers in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

The infinitive is the basic form of a verb, without it being conjugated or connected to a particular subject.

Verbs express action. You also use them when telling a story. Spanish uses 3 main verb types with the following endings:

• -AR endings (hablar, mirar, abrazar)
• -ER endings (ver, prender, llover)
• -IR endings (abrir, escribir, fingir)

In this lesson, we’re focusing exclusively on regular -AR verbs to improve your Spanish grammar understanding. Regular verbs are unlike irregular verbs in that their root does not change. When you begin to study irregular verbs, you will see how the basic root of a verb (when you drop the ending -AR, -ER, or -IR) will also change and you must memorize these changes. For now, with regular verbs, you will not have to memorize any root changes—simply the changes in the verb endings.

Verb Infinitive vs Verb Root:

Verb infinitive = hablar (to talk)
Verb root = habl- (drop the -AR)

You will begin to use these verbs in both the infinitive form and their conjugated forms.

Example Infinitive Form of Hablar:

Quiero hablar contingo. (hablar is in its infinitive, or basic, form)
I want to talk to you.

Example Conjugated Form of Hablar:

¡Hablamos luego! (hablar is in its conjugated form for the first person plural, nosotros or “we”)
Let’s talk later!

Keep reading to learn how to conjugate -AR Spanish verbs in 2 major tenses (present and simple past), then discover 35 of the most common -AR verbs in Spanish to use!

Join 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today.

NOTE! We will explore Latin American Spanish in this lesson—and you’ll be able to practice all of these verbs and expressions with any of our certified Spanish teachers from Guatemala (learn more about our free trial Spanish class here).

How to Conjugate -AR Verbs in Spanish

When you conjugate a verb, it changes to reflect the person, tense, number or mood that it refers to. What exactly does that mean?

The Person Is the Subject

The person is the subject. In English, our subjects are: I, you, he, she, we, and they. In Latin American Spanish, they are:

• yo = I
• tú = you, informal
• usted = you, formal
• él = he
• ella = she
• nosotros = we, masculine
• nosotras = we, feminine
• ellos = they, masculine
• ellas = they, feminine
• ustedes = you all

NOTE! Spanish regularly drops the subject from the sentence and you will have to train yourself to immediately recognize the missing subject by understanding which conjugation is being used.

With the subject: Yo te llamo. (I call you.)
More common, without the subject: Te llamo. (I call you.)

The Tense Is When the Action Happens

The tense of a verb tells you when the action is taking place. In English, we use 12 verb tenses, while in Spanish, we use 18 verb tenses. You can view all of these 18 verb tenses in Spanish here. For purposes of this introductory lesson, we’re going to focus on 2 main verb tenses:

• Present tense (el presente)
• Simple past tense (el pretérito)

The present tense is happening now or still regularly happens. Let’s see how to use the verb mirar, which means “to look” or “to watch.”

Él nunca mira hacia arriba. (verb infinitive: mirar / conjugated to él mira)
He never looks up.

¿Porqué tú me miras así? (verb infinitive: mirar / conjugated to tú miras)
Why are you looking at me like that?

The simple past tense happened once and is no longer happening:

Él me miró a los ojos. (verb infinitive: mirar / conjugated to él miró)
He looked me in the eyes.

¿Tú miraste la tele anoche? (verb infinitive: mirar / conjugated to tú miraste)
Did you watch tv last night?

The Number Is a Singular or Plural Subject

The number refers to whether the subject is singular or plural. If we take our Spanish subject list from above, we can locate the singular and plural subjects. The verb must agree in number with the subject.

• yo = I (singular)
• tú = you, informal (singular)
• usted = you, formal (singular)
• él = he (singular)
• ella = she (singular)
• nosotros = we (plural)
• ellos = they, masculine (plural)
• ellas = they, feminine (plural)
• ustedes = you all (plural)

To learn more about mood of Spanish verbs, see the following articles:

• Master the 3 Moods in Spanish
• Subjunctive vs Indicative in Spanish: Learn How to Use Them!

Present Tense Regular -AR Spanish Endings

As we mentioned, the present tense is happening now or still regularly happens. In the present tense, regular -AR verbs lose the final -AR from the infinitive and are replaced by the following verb endings, that depend on the subject:

Example Sentences in Spanish

Yo enseño español. (-AR verb infinitive: enseñar)
I teach Spanish.

Tú abrazas a tu hermana .(-AR verb infinitive: abrazar)
You hug your sister.

Simple Past Tense Regular -AR Spanish Endings

Example Sentences in Spanish

Yo enseñé español.
I taught Spanish.

Tú abrazaste a tu hermana.
You hugged your sister.

35 Regular -AR Verbs in Spanish

These 35 regular -AR verbs will be highly useful as you continue to improve in your Spanish conversations and ability to express yourself. You will notice that most of the time, Spanish sentences drop the subjects altogether because the verb conjugation is clear on who the subject is. Prepare yourself to see plenty of dropped subjects in these examples!

1. Abrazar – to hug, to hold, to embrace

Me gusta abrazar a mi madre cuando la veo.
I like to hug my mom when I see her.

¡No me abrazaste!
You didn’t hug me!

2. Acabar – to end, to finish

Voy a acabar la universidad el otro año. 
I am going to finish university next year. 

¿Quién acabó el café?
Who finished the coffee?

Learn more: Detailed Guide on How to Use the Spanish Verb ‘Acabar’

3. Aceptar – to accept, to agree to, to admit

Aceptamos las consecuencias.
We accept the consequences.

Hay que aceptar lo que hiciste.
You have to accept what you did.

4.  Admirar – to admire, to surprise

Admiro mucho a Milena Muzquiz por su arte.
I admire Milena Muzquiz a lot for her art.

¿En serio la admiras?
Do you actually admire her?

5. Amar – to love

Amo a mi hijo. 
I love my son.

Amar a alguien es fácil. 
Loving someone is easy.

You might like: Te Amo vs Te Quiero: Don’t Say the Wrong ‘I Love You’

6. Apoyar – to support, to lean, to rest

Ustedes no me apoyan como deberían.
You (all) don’t support me like you should.

¿En qué datos apoyas tu teoría?
On what data do you support your theory?

7. Ayudar – to help

¿Puedes ayudarme?
Are you able to help me?

No ayudo a nadia.
I don’t help anyone.

8. Bailar – to dance

Me encanta bailar con mis amigos. 
I love to dance with my friends. 

Bailaste muy bien en la fiesta de ayer.
You danced really well at the party yesterday.

9. Bajar – to take down, to lower, to come down, to get out of a vehicle

 Bajamos en la siguiente parada.
We get out (of the vehicle) at the next stop.

¿Podrías bajarme ese libro?
Could you get that book down for me?

10. Caminar – to walk, to function

Me gusta salir a caminar por las mañanas. 
I like to go out for a walk in the morning. 

La cafetera ya no camina.
The coffee maker doesn’t work anymore.

11. Cocinar – to cook

Quiero cocinar mejor. 
I want to cook better.

¿Sabes cocinar?
Do you know how to cook? 

12. Crear – to create, to cause, to establish (a company)

Cuando escribo, creo nuevos mundos.
When I write, I create new worlds.

Mi ansiedad me crea muchos problemas.
My anxiety causes a lot of problems for me.

13. Dejar – to allow, to let, to leave, to lend

Voy a dejar de preocuparme por lo que no puedo controlar. 
I’m going to stop worrying about what I can’t control. 

Hay que dejar en paz al perro.
You need to leave the dog alone.

14. Desayunar – to eat (or have) breakfast

¿Usted ya desayunó?
Did you already eat breakfast?

Desayunamos juntos de vez en cuando.
We have breakfast together from time to time.

You might like: Irresistible Breakfast Food Vocabulary in Spanish

15. Disfrutar – to enjoy

¡Qué lo disfrutes!
I hope you enjoy it!

Disfruto leer.
I enjoy reading.

16. Enseñar – to teach, to show

Te voy a enseñar a hablar español. 
I’m going to teach you how to speak Spanish. 

No me enseñó su nuevo juguete.
He didn’t show me his new toy.

17. Entrar – to enter, to fit (into)

No puedes entrar sin permiso. 
You can’t come in without permission.

La llave no entra en la cerradura.
The key doesn’t fit into the lock.

18. Escuchar – to listen to, to hear

¿Escuchas eso?
Do you hear that?

No puedo escucharte muy bien.
I can’t hear you very well.

19. Estudiar – to study

Hay que estudiar mucho para graduarse de la universidad. 
You have to study a lot to graduate from university. 

Estudio biologia.
I study biology.

20. Evitar – to avoid, to prevent, to save from

Evito todo tipo de mariscos.
I avoid all types of seafood.

Es mejor lavarse las manos para evitar la contaminación.
It’s better to wash your hands to avoid contamination.

21. Expresar – to express, to voice, to state

Prefiero expresar lo que siento sin miedo. 
I prefer to express what I feel without fear. 

Expresamos nuestras opiniones libremente.
We voice our opinions freely.

22. Ganar – to win

¿Qué ganaste?
What did you win?

Sé que vamos a ganar.
I know we’re going to win.

23. Gustar – to like, to please, to taste

Me gusta andar en bicicleta.
I like to ride bikes.

¿No le gustó la película (a usted)?
You didn’t like the movie?

24. Hablar – to talk

Ella tiene que hablar con su madre. 
She has to talk to her mom.  

Hablaron mal de mi.
They said bad things about me.

25. Invitar – to invite, to treat someone to something, to buy 

Mi novio me invitó a almorzar. 
My boyfriend invited me to lunch.

Invitamos nosotros.
It’s on us. (We’re buying.)

26. Lavar – to wash, to launder

Voy a lavar la ropa sucia. 
I’m going to wash the dirty laundry. 

Hay que lavar la lechuga antes de comerla.
You have to wash the lettuce before you eat it.

27. Limpiar – to clean, to wipe (down or off)

Tengo que limpiar la casa una vez por semana. 
I have to clean the house once a week.

Limpiamos la mesa después del desayuno.
We clean the table after breakfast.  

28. Llorar – to cry, to whine, to water

Nunca lloro. 
I never cry.

Me lloran los ojos cuando corto cebolla.
My eyes water when I cut onion.

29. Llevar – to carry, to take, to bring, to give a ride

Tienes que llevar tu abrigo.
You need to take your coat.

¿Me llevas al parque?
Can you give me a ride to the park?

30. Lograr – to achieve, to accomplish, to attain

Logré conseguir dinero para el proyecto.
I managed to get money for the project.

¿Qué hizo usted para lograr sus sueños?
What did you do to achieve your dreams?

31. Manejar – to drive, to handle

¿Quieres aprender a manejar?
Do you want to learn to drive?

Hay que manejar con cuidado el paquete.
You need to handle the package with care.

32. Olvidar – to forget

Quiero olvidar ese recuerdo doloroso. 
I want to forget that painful memory.

Olvidé mis llaves en casa.
I forgot my keys at home.

33. Parar – to stop, to end up

Ella paró el tráfico.
She stopped traffic.

¡Para!
Stop!

34. Pasar – to pass, to happen

¿Qué te pasó?
What happened to you?

¿Me pasas la sal?
Will you pass me the salt?

35. Preguntar – to ask

Preguntan por tí. 
They’re asking for you.

¿Qué me querías preguntar?
What did you want to ask me?

Practice Your -AR Verbs in Spanish 

These are some of the most popular and useful AR verbs in Spanish. Introduce them into your daily conversations and try conjugating them. Your Spanish will feel more natural every day! 

The more you practice, the better your skill. And there’s no better way to practice than speaking to a native Spanish speaker today! Sign up for a free class with one of our certified teachers from Guatemala and start using -AR verbs in Spanish conversation today!

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
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The common way to refer to insects in Spanish is to say los insectos, while los bichos is also perfectly acceptable. Then there are synonyms like las alimañas (pests), las plagas (plagues), and las sabandijas (creepy-crawlies) that signal the damage and discomfort these creatures can cause.

For those of you who like to get really specific about bugs, we’re dealing entirely with arthropods in this post, which includes los insectos y los arácnidos (arachnids). 

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Arachnids and Insects in Spanish: What’s the Difference?

To break down the differences between arachnids and insects in the simplest way, we’ll stick to one major distinction:

• Arachnids have 8 legs
• Insects have 6 legs

If you’re into etymology, the vast differences between these two classes in the phylum are long, detailed, and truly fascinating (but completely outside the scope of this article!). To further explore your curiosity, read more about it here.

At some point, you’ve likely mentioned how los mosquitos te molestan or how you saw una abeja en el jardín. Those are basic insects that are essential to know. Now let’s build up your vocabulary skills by adding even more insects in Spanish!

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Creepy-Crawly List of Insects in Spanish

Take a deep breath before you jump into our list of insects in Spanish. Soon you might start feeling an uncontrollable urge to itch, but don’t worry—it’s all in your mind. It’s true, las sabandijas (creepy-crawlies) have a visceral effect on our bodies when we begin to think about them! 

Intermittent in our list of insects, you’ll see some easy phrases you can start using with your students, kids, or friends who like bugs.

Example Sentences in Spanish

El abejorro es similar a una abeja, pero este tiene un cuerpo más grueso.
The bumblebee is similar to a bee, but it has a thicker body.

Es difícil eliminar a los chinches porque casi no se ven.
It’s difficult to get rid of bed bugs because you can hardly see them.

A pesar de su nombre, los ciempiés tienen entre treinta y tres cientos cuarenta y cinco patas.
Despite their name, centipedes usually have between 30 and 345 feet.

Example Sentences in Spanish

El gusano de seda se ha hecho famoso por producir un tejido natural que se usa en la producción de ropa.
The silkworm has become famous for producing a natural fiber that’s used in the production of clothing.

Solo las hembras de los mosquitos se alimentan de la sangre humana.
Only female mosquitoes consume human blood.

El insecto palo tiene forma de una ramita y cuenta con su camuflaje para sobrevivir.
The stick bug looks like a little twig and relies on its camouflage in order to survive. 

Example Sentences in Spanish

Parientes de los grillos, los saltamontes emiten un chirrido especial para atraer a su pareja.
Similar to crickets, grasshoppers emit a special chirping sound to attract a mate.

Los termites son una plaga a tener en su casa porque consumen todos tipos de madera.
Termites are a plague to have in your home because they consume all types of wood.

Cuando te pica una abeja, tu piel se pone hinchada.
When a bee stings you, your skin gets swollen.

A los niños les gusta jugar con las cochinillas del jardín.
Kids like to play with the rolly pollies from the garden.

Example Sentences in Spanish

Nos encanta buscar mariquitas en nuestro jardín.
We love to look for ladybugs in our garden.

La hembra de la mantis religiosa es un caníbal que devora al macho.
The female praying mantis is a cannibal who consumes the male.

En cuanto oscureció, vimos aparecer luciérnagas brillantes.
As soon as it got dark, we saw sparkling fireflies appear.

Example Sentences in Spanish

Una manera de deshacerse de moscas en la casa es usar una trampa de luz para matarlas.
One way to get rid of flies in your house is to use a light trap to kill them.

Contrario a otras especies de polilla, las polillas de ropa no son atraídas por la luz.
Contrary to other species of moths, clothes moths aren’t attracted to light.

¡Qué bueno que tu perro ya no tiene pulgas!
It’s great that your dog no longer has fleas!

Creepy-Crawly List of Arachnids in Spanish

Arachnids are a classic creepy-crawly. They’ve even inspired horror films like the famous black comedy Arachnophobia. We tend to fear these creatures because a select few of them have deadly bites, like the black widow spider. Others are fast and aggressive like the scorpion.

Our list of arachnids in Spanish is extremely short in comparison to the 100,000 named species in existence. But we’ve got to start somewhere! 

Example Sentences in Spanish

Algunos ácaros son parásitos que pueden infectar a un humano.
Some mites are parasites that can infect a human.

A las arañas patudas les gusta hacer sus telarañas en las esquinas del cuarto de baño.
Daddy-long-leg spiders like to make their webs in the corners of bathrooms.

Después de recorrer el bosque con tu perro, hay que inspectarlo por garrapatas.
After trekking across the woods with your dog, you must inspect him for ticks.

¿Cual es tu insecto favorito, y por qué?
What’s your favorite insect, and why? Let me know in the comments!

Talk About Insects in Spanish

Haven’t had your fill of insects studies in Spanish? Sign up for a free trial class with one of our certified, Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala and start talking about insects in Spanish today!

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The post The Creepy-Crawly Guide to Insects in Spanish: Free Printables and More! appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

The first name can be simple, such as José (Joseph), or composite such as José Miguel (Joseph Michael). Nevertheless, in the given name, Miguel is not a middle name but is part of the name José Miguel. Contrary to English-speaking countries, middle names are not mandatory elements of a person’s name, although exceptions exist, as we will explore later on.

Transmission of Spanish Surnames

The two last names come from what is called a “generational transmission” from both parents. Currently, the two first surnames of each parent are combined. As stated above, the father’s surname is often first while the mother’s surname comes after. Interestingly, the paternal, or father’s, name will eventually eliminate the maternal name of the family line. An example of this is with two parents, Lucía López García and Jorge Rosales Castillo. Their child will most likely use the traditional order and hold a name such as Paola Rosales López. She will marry and her name will change to Paola Rosales Mendoza or Paola Rosales de Mendoza. As you can see, the maternal name has been dropped and replaced by the husband’s name. Nonetheless, the transfer of the father’s surname was not always the norm. Spanish-speaking societies once practiced the transmission of one Spanish surname, choosing between the mother or father.

The Four Categories of Surnames

When looking at Spanish surnames, a clear pattern emerges. History tells us that by the twelfth century, as populations grew, people needed a way to distinguish one name or family from another. They began to follow specific traditions that helped them understand which surname to use. Namely, four types of surnames appeared. They became the origin of most Spanish surnames we see today.

1. Patronymic and Matronymic Surnames

Patronymic means the surname comes from the father’s first name, while matronymic means it’s from the mother’s name. Now, if you met two men name Juan, you might mix them up. However, by distinguishing who their fathers are, their names suddenly become distinct. The paternal surname was a combination of the man’s father’s name and a suffix meaning “son of”: -ez, -az, -is, -oz (or -es), -as, -os. In other words, someone with the name Juan Fernandez means Juan “son of Fernando”. If he had a son, his name would have been Diego Juanez, Diego “son of Juan.” Given this fact, surnames weren’t at all consistent. Eventually, a specific surname stuck with the family and was passed to future generations. Matronymic surnames are less common, often a result of illegitimate children or a mother of higher noble ranking.

2. Geographic

Geographic surnames tell us where the first person with a surname lived. This includes very specific surnames, such as de Soto (from Soto), from families that typically owned land. More general surnames like Iglesias (lived near a church) acted much like nicknames. Similarly, they may refer to what type of land the person lived on. For example, del Valle (from the valley) or de la Vega (from the meadow) depict certain features of the original homeland.

3. Occupational

Occupational surnames refer to a person’s job or trade. Two types of occupational surnames are standard and titular. Standard occupational surnames represent a common trade, such as Zapatero (shoemaker) and Barros (an artisan or builder who used clay). Nobility often gave these surnames to the commoners under their rule. Conversely, the nobility used titular occupational surnames that denoted their position. For example, Hidalgo means “nobleman,” and Marques means “marquis.”

4. Descriptive

Descriptive surnames are less common and much more personal. They refer to a quality, characteristic, or physical trait of a person. It’s worth noting that this type of surname was frequently given to commoners as a form of insult. For this reason, the bulk of these surnames have not survived over time. Those that remain show a fairly neutral trait or a positive attribute. Examples include Bravo (brave), Cano (gray), Cortes (courteous), Delgado (thin), and Orejón (big ear).

Spanish Surnames in Foreign Countries

Entering into a foreign naming system often requires vigilance and necessary changes. One example is when a Spanish person lives under an English naming system. In order to avoid confusion, they may hyphenate their last name, turning Marcela Pérez Rubio into Marcela Pérez-Rubio. In view of the one-surname system used by English-speakers, there may be legal confusion and her name could become Marcela P. Rubio on a government document. This poses a big problem for her identity since, in her home country, her name would be abbreviated as Marcela Pérez R.

Foreign Surnames in Spanish-Speaking Countries

In Spanish-speaking countries, foreign immigrants keep using their cultural naming customs. However, if they choose to obtain citizenship, they must assume a name in the Spanish manner. If the person comes from a culture with a unique family name, they repeat it twice. As a result, an English name “William Stewart Mirren” turns into “William Stewart Mirrén Mirrén.” The law allows a person to adopt the mother’s maiden name if they choose to. Lastly, the Spanish custom connects the first and middle name making it the two first names for legal documents.

Top 50 Most Common Spanish Surnames in Spain

The chart below shows the top 50 most common Spanish surnames in Spain. As well, you will see the estimated population of how many people have this particular last name. Take a look at the chart and see how many names you recognize. Do you see which of the suffixes is most common among these names?

Most Common Spanish Surnames in Latin America

Prepositions “de” and “y”

There are times that Spanish surnames include a preposition between the paternal and maternal surnames. Some people choose to use “de” and/or “y” for three main reasons. Firstly, it shows nobility, such as the name of Gabriel de la Cueva y Girón, who was a sixteenth-century nobleman and military leader. Secondly, it denotes location, as is the case for the name Lope Félix de Vega y Carpio (de Vega means “of the meadow”), a famous playwright of undistinguished origin. Lastly, it helps to distinguish between the first name and a surname that could be mistaken for a first name like Antonio Miguel y Morales. In this case, we understand that Miguel is not his second name, but instead the first of his surnames.

Conclusion

Obviously, Spanish surnames give us the chance to learn about a person’s family history. Not only is it fascinating to take a closer look at the meaning of a person’s surname, but it is also educational. By learning how these surnames were created, how they’re used in present day, and how to understand them, we can better comprehend their importance. Furthermore, it allows us to appreciate the complexity of the naming system in Spanish culture.

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The post What’s in a Name? The Origin and Meaning of Spanish Surnames appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.