To learn Spanish, get the sounds right early, then read a little every day at your level and review the words you look up. These guides walk through each step: how hard Spanish is and how long it takes, pronunciation, the first 100 words, what A1 to B2 mean, a 15-minute daily routine and a 30-day reading plan.
- Spanish taught
- Spain Spanish
- Covers
- Complete beginner to B2
- Sources
- FSI, Cambridge English, Instituto Cervantes, RAE and vocabulary research, cited on each guide
- Contos data
- Word counts and examples measured from the Contos Spanish library
- A 30-day Spanish reading planA day-by-day 30-day Spanish reading plan built on real A1 and A2 stories: one short chapter a day, weekly reread days, and a free route through it all.
- Your first 100 Spanish wordsThe 100 Spanish words beginners meet most, counted from real A1 and A2 stories, grouped into small words, verb forms and everyday nouns.
- How long does it take to learn Spanish?Realistic Spanish timelines by CEFR level and hours a day, from FSI and Cambridge figures, plus what the Contos story library shows about each level.
- How many Spanish words do you need?How many Spanish words you need to read, talk and move up a level: research on vocabulary size, what Contos stories show, and what counts as a word.
- Is Spanish hard to learn for English speakers?How hard Spanish really is for English speakers: where the FSI ranks it, what makes it easy, and the verbs and subjunctive that slow everyone down.
- How to learn Spanish by readingA practical method for learning Spanish by reading: what to read at each level, how to handle unknown words, and why sticking with one series pays off.
- Spanish CEFR levels explained: A1 to B2What A1, A2, B1 and B2 mean in Spanish, how the DELE exams test each level, and the same story scene written at all four levels so you can see the difference.
- Spanish pronunciation for beginnersSpanish pronunciation for English speakers: five vowels, silent h, rolled r, the Spain th sound for c and z, seseo in Latin America, and stress.
- Spanish reading practice: a 15-minute daily routineA simple 15-minute daily Spanish reading routine: what to do minute by minute, how to plan a week, and how to tell if a story is too hard or too easy.
- Spanish vs Portuguese: which should you learn?Spanish or Portuguese? FSI difficulty, how close the two really are word for word, and how to choose. With side-by-side lines from Contos stories in both.
In what order should you read these guides?
Each guide stands alone, but this order follows the questions most learners ask as they go:
- Before you start. Is Spanish hard? and how long it takes set realistic expectations. Torn between two languages? Read Spanish vs Portuguese.
- Week one. Spanish pronunciation, so every word you read sounds right in your head, then your first 100 Spanish words.
- Building the habit. How to learn Spanish by reading explains the method, the 15-minute routine turns it into a daily slot, and the 30-day reading plan gives you a chapter for every day.
- Checking progress. Spanish CEFR levels shows what A1 to B2 look like on the page, and how many words you need tells you when you are ready to move up.
What does day one of reading Spanish look like?
Shorter and simpler than most people expect. This is the opening of the A1 version of El Edificio de la Calle Sol, the Contos series written separately at every level:
Alba llega a su nuevo apartamento en Madrid.A beginner can follow that with a tap or two. The CEFR guide shows one scene written at A1, A2, B1 and B2, so you can see where a few months of daily reading takes you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to learn Spanish on your own?
Combine plenty of easy reading with a little deliberate study. Read something at your level every day, look up only the words that block the meaning, review them as flashcards, and learn the pronunciation rules early. Speaking practice pays off most once you have words to speak with.
Can you learn Spanish just by reading?
Reading builds vocabulary and a feel for grammar, but on its own it will not train your ear or your speaking. Treat it as the engine and add listening and conversation alongside it. The reading guide above is honest about what reading does and does not do.
How long does it take to learn Spanish?
Our timeline guide uses Cambridge English's guided-learning-hours figures, which put B2 at roughly 500 to 600 hours, and the US Foreign Service Institute's ranking of Spanish among the languages closest to English. It also works out what those hours mean at an hour a day.
Should I learn Spain or Latin American Spanish?
Learn the variety you will hear most; the differences are small and either is understood everywhere. Contos teaches Spain Spanish, and its phrase and vocabulary pages note Latin American alternatives where they matter.