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When you start learning Spanish for beginners (A1 level), one of the most useful things you can do is build your vocabulary around daily activities. After all, these are the basic Spanish words and phrases you’ll use the most in everyday conversations.
Whether you’re talking about waking up, eating, working, or relaxing, these words will help you express yourself naturally.
As a Spanish learner myself, I’ve learned the hard way that aiming for fluency right away isn’t the best goal when learning a new language. So, if you’re just starting out with Spanish, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). It will guide you on what to focus on at each stage of your learning journey. Check out this article to get a clearer idea of what you should learn as a beginner and what’s expected of you along the way.
Morning Routine – La rutina de la mañana
Let’s start with the beginning of the day. Here are some common verbs and phrases related to your morning routine:
- Despertarse (to wake up)
- Me despierto a las siete. (I wake up at seven.)
- Levantarse (to get up)
- Me levanto de la cama. (I get out of bed.)
- Ducharse (to take a shower)
- Me ducho todas las mañanas. (I shower every morning.)
- Cepillarse los dientes (to brush one’s teeth)
- Me cepillo los dientes después de desayunar. (I brush my teeth after breakfast.)
- Vestirse (to get dressed)
- Me visto rápido porque tengo prisa. (I get dressed quickly because I’m in a hurry.)
- Desayunar (to have breakfast)
- Desayuno café y pan con mantequilla. (I have coffee and bread with butter for breakfast.)
Work and Study – El trabajo y el estudio
Once the morning routine is done, it’s time to go to work or school. Here are some words and phrases you’ll need:
- Ir a la escuela (to go to work / school)
- Voy a la escuela en metro. (I go to work by metro.)
- Trabajar (to work)
- Trabajo en una oficina. (I work in an office.)
- Estudiar (to study)
- Estudio español todos los días. (I study Spanish every day.)
- Leer (to read)
- Leo un libro antes de la clase. (I read a book before class.)
- Escribir (to write)
- Escribo correos electrónicos en el trabajo. (I write emails at work.)
- Hacer una pausa (to take a break)
- Hago una pausa para tomar café. (I take a break to have coffee.)
Afternoon and Evening – La tarde y la noche
After work or school, it’s time to unwind. Here are some useful words and phrases:
- Almorzar / Comer (to have lunch)
- Almuerzo a la una de la tarde. (I have lunch at one in the afternoon.)
- Descansar (to rest)
- Descanso un poco después del trabajo. (I rest a little after work.)
- Hacer ejercicio (to exercise)
- Hago ejercicio en el gimnasio. (I work out at the gym.)
- Ver la tele (to watch TV)
- Veo la tele por la noche. (I watch TV at night.)
- Cocinar (to cook)
- Cocino la cena con mi familia. (I cook dinner with my family.)
- Cenar (to have dinner)
- Ceno a las ocho de la noche. (I have dinner at eight at night.)
Night Routine – La rutina de la noche
Before going to bed, there are a few more things to do:
- Preparar la ropa (to prepare clothes)
- Preparo la ropa para el día siguiente. (I prepare my clothes for the next day.)
- Apagar las luces (to turn off the lights)
- Apago las luces antes de dormir. (I turn off the lights before sleeping.)
- Escribir en un diario (to write in a journal)
- Escribo en mi diario sobre mi día. (I write in my journal about my day.)
- Acostarse (to go to bed)
- Me acuesto temprano entre semana. (I go to bed early during the week.)
- Dormirse (to fall asleep)
- Me duermo rápido cuando estoy cansado. (I fall asleep quickly when I’m tired.)
Try Mondly for Free Now!
Want to improve your Spanish as a beginner? I personally recommend Mondly, as it helped me tremendously when I was just starting out. With its interactive lessons and real-world conversations, it’s an excellent tool for expanding your vocabulary and building confidence in Spanish. Try Mondly now for free!
Final Thoughts: Basic Spanish Words
These basic Spanish words and phrases are a great start to talking about your daily routine in Spanish. Try using them in your conversations or writing a short paragraph about your own routine. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel.
¡Practica todos los días! (Practice every day!)