Here are 100 everyday Spanish verbs in the infinitive, from ser and tener to decidir. Learn these five first: ser (to be), tener (to have), ir (to go), hacer (to do, to make) and querer (to want, to love). Add estar and poder, the second "to be" and "can", which the sections below explain alongside stem changes.
- Words
- 100 verbs, in the infinitive
- Endings
- -ar, -er and -ir
- Variety
- Spain Spanish (coger, conducir)
- Level
- A1–A2
100 common Spanish verbs
Verbs are given in the infinitive, the form you find in a dictionary. The Contos web app uses this pack for flashcard review.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ser / estar | to be |
| tener | to have |
| hacer | to do |
| ir | to go |
| venir | to come |
| decir | to say |
| hablar | to talk |
| saber | to know |
| pensar | to think |
| ver | to see |
| querer | to want |
| usar | to use |
| encontrar | to find |
| dar | to give |
| explicar | to explain |
| trabajar | to work |
| llamar | to phone |
| intentar | to try |
| preguntar | to ask |
| necesitar | to need |
| sentir | to feel |
| salir | to go out |
| poner | to put |
| ayudar | to help |
| empezar | to start |
| mostrar | to show |
| jugar | to play |
| correr | to run |
| mudarse | to move house |
| vivir | to live |
| creer | to believe |
| traer | to bring |
| escribir | to write |
| sentarse | to sit down |
| perder | to lose |
| pagar | to pay |
| quedar con | to meet |
| aprender | to learn |
| cambiar | to change |
| entender | to understand |
| comer | to eat |
| beber | to drink |
| dormir | to sleep |
| abrir | to open |
| cerrar | to close |
| comprar | to buy |
| vender | to sell |
| esperar | to wait |
| leer | to read |
| pasear | to go for a walk |
| cocinar | to cook |
| lavar | to wash |
| querer a alguien | to love |
| gustar | to like |
| recordar | to remember |
| olvidar | to forget |
| viajar | to travel |
| llegar | to arrive |
| volver | to come back |
| continuar | to continue |
| elegir | to choose |
| enviar | to send |
| llevar | to wear |
| llorar | to cry |
| reírse | to laugh |
| bailar | to dance |
| cantar | to sing |
| nadar | to swim |
| conducir | to drive |
| limpiar | to clean |
| terminar | to finish |
| despertarse | to wake up |
| levantarse | to get up |
| escuchar | to listen |
| buscar | to look for |
| coger | to take |
| enseñar | to teach |
| estudiar | to study |
| construir | to build |
| visitar | to visit |
| sonreír | to smile |
| volar | to fly |
| saltar | to jump |
| caer | to fall |
| tirar | to throw |
| traducir | to translate |
| descansar | to rest |
| contar | to count |
| cortar | to cut |
| dibujar | to draw |
| responder | to answer |
| entrar | to enter |
| planificar | to plan |
| arreglar | to repair |
| tocar | to touch |
| compartir | to share |
| celebrar | to celebrate |
| invitar | to invite |
| agradecer | to thank |
| decidir | to decide |
The irregular verbs you need on day one
The most frequent verbs are also the most irregular, so it pays to learn their present tense by heart. The list gives ser / estar for "to be", because Spanish splits it in two: ser for identity and character (soy inglés), estar for states and locations (estoy cansado, está en casa). Poder (can, to be able to) does not appear in the list, because English "can" is not an infinitive, yet you will need it constantly.
| Verb | yo | tú | él, ella, usted |
|---|---|---|---|
| ser (to be) | soy | eres | es |
| estar (to be) | estoy | estás | está |
| tener (to have) | tengo | tienes | tiene |
| ir (to go) | voy | vas | va |
| hacer (to do, make) | hago | haces | hace |
| poder (can) | puedo | puedes | puede |
| decir (to say) | digo | dices | dice |
Ir a + infinitive is the easiest way to talk about the future: voy a comer, I'm going to eat. Tener que + infinitive means to have to: tengo que trabajar. When these feel solid, move on to the 100 useful everyday verbs that come next.
Stem changes: quiero, puedo, juego
Many common verbs change the vowel in their stem when it is stressed: in every present-tense form except nosotros and vosotros. The ending stays regular.
| Change | Verbs from the list | Example |
|---|---|---|
| e → ie | querer, pensar, empezar, entender, cerrar, sentir, perder | quiero, piensas, empieza |
| o → ue | encontrar, recordar, mostrar, dormir, volver, volar, contar | encuentro, duermes, vuelve |
| u → ue | jugar | juego, juegas, juega |
| e → i | elegir | elijo, eliges, elige |
Querer is worth a second look. With a thing, it means to want (quiero un café); with a person, it means to love (te quiero). People take the personal a: quiero a mi hermana.
Javier quiere mucho a María y quiere verla feliz.Verbs that work differently: gustar, coger, quedar
Gustar is the verb most English speakers get wrong at first. The thing you like is the subject, and the person is an indirect object: me gusta el café is literally "coffee pleases me". With a plural thing, the verb is plural: me gustan los perros. With another verb, use the infinitive: me gusta leer.
"Me gusta leer", dice Marta con la voz de Sara.Spain or Latin America?
Coger (to take, to catch, to pick up) is everyday Spanish in Spain: coger el autobús, coger el teléfono. In Mexico, Argentina and much of Latin America it is a vulgar word for sex, so use tomar or agarrar there.
Ella coge su bolsa.- conducir (to drive) is the Spain word; most of Latin America says manejar.
- The list gives querer a alguien for to love a person: te quiero is what partners and families say every day in Spain. Amar also means to love, but it is strong and slightly poetic; te amo is more common in Latin American speech.
- The list gives quedar con for to meet, the Spain way to arrange to see a friend: he quedado con Ana, ¿quedamos a las ocho? To meet by chance is encontrarse con, and to meet someone for the first time is conocer.
- llevar means to wear and to carry or take with you: lleva un abrigo, llevo el libro.
Read an A1 Spanish story and tap any verb to see what it means in that sentence.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Which Spanish verbs should I learn first?
Start with ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, poder and querer. They are irregular, they appear in almost every conversation, and with ir a and tener que you can already talk about the future and obligations.
Is coger a rude word in Spanish?
Not in Spain, where it simply means to take or catch: coger el tren. In Mexico, Argentina and many other Latin American countries it is vulgar, so use tomar or agarrar there instead.
What is the difference between ser and estar?
Ser describes what something is: identity, origin, profession and personality (soy inglés, es simpática). Estar describes states and locations: estoy cansado, el libro está en la mesa.
How do you say "I like" in Spanish?
Me gusta, followed by the thing you like: me gusta el chocolate. For plural things use me gustan: me gustan los gatos. With a verb, use the infinitive: me gusta leer.