15 Spanish Verbs for Beginners: A PDF List and Conjugations

Our list of Spanish verbs for beginners is perfect for those who are motivated to start speaking Spanish right away. Is that you?

While there are thousands of verbs in Spanish, you’ll be fully equipped to survive in a Spanish conversation after mastering only 15 of them!

This handy list of Spanish verbs for beginners is printable and easy to take on-the-go to assist you in communicating with native Spanish speakers.

As we present the conjugations of each verb on our list, we share links with more details and practical ways to use the verb in conversations (check out these common expressions, too!).

Set yourself up for success by understanding how to become conversant in Spanish and use these Spanish verbs for beginners as a stepping stone to your goal to fluency! 

15 Most Important Spanish Verbs for Beginners

To speak conversational Spanish quickly, these 15 essential Spanish verbs for beginners will give you the heard start you need to survive a conversation completely in Spanish.

In each of the following sections, we only discuss the verb in the present simple tense. Note that the irregularity and conjugations will change for other tenses. 

To learn more about other conjugation forms, click on the link to a free verb lesson at the end of each section.

1. Tener = to have (an object or feeling)

Yo tengo miedo de hablar en público.

I am scared to talk in public. (literally: I have fear)

Ella tiene el documento para ti. 

She has the document for you.

Nosotros tenemos algunas ideas para el proyecto.

We have some ideas for the project. 

Tener is an irregular verb with a stem-change in most conjugations and an irregular yo form. 

Verbs like contener (to contain), mantener (to maintain), retener (to retain), detener (to stop), and obtener (to obtain) all have the same conjugation forms. 

Get all the details: Tener Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

2. Querer = to want, to love 

Yo quiero viajar a Rusia. 

I want to travel to Russia. 

Él quiere verte pronto.

He wants to see you soon.

Ellos quieren mucho a su hermanita pequeña.

They love their little sister very much. 

Querer is an irregular stem-changing verb. 

Get all the details: Querer Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

3. Hacer = to do, to make

Yo hago todo en la casa.

I do everything around the house.

Usted hace un trabajo impecable.

You do impeccable work. 

Nosotros hacemos pan para mañana.

We’re making bread for tomorrow.

Hacer is only irregular in the yo form. The other conjugations are normal.

The verbs deshacer (to undo) and rehacer (to redo) use the same conjugation forms as hacer. 

Get all the details: Hacer Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

4. Pedir = to ask for

Yo te pido un favor. 

I ask you for a favor.

Ella me pide dinero cada mes.

She asks me for money every month.

Nosotros pedimos los documentos de la recepcionista.

We ask for the documents from the receptionist.

Pedir is a stem-changing verb in which -e- changes to an -i- in most forms. 

Get all the details: Pedir Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

5. Ser = to be (permanent situations)

Hoy es lunes. 

Today is Monday.

Ella es doctora.

She is a doctor. 

Ellos son altos.

They are tall.

Ser is one of the few verbs that is completely irregular. 

Get all the details: Ser Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

6. Saber = to know (facts and information)

Yo no sé.

I don’t know.

Usted sabe todas las respuestas.

You know all the answers. 

Ellos ya saben lo que pasó.

They already know what happened. 

Saber is only irregular in the yo form. 

Get all the details: Saber Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

7. Jugar = to play (games and sports)

Yo juego baloncesto.

I play basketball.

Tú juegas ajedrez.

You play chess.

Ellos juegan fútbol juntos.

They play soccer together.

Jugar is a stem-changing verb in which -u- changes to -ue- in most forms.

Get all the details: Jugar Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

8. Dar = to give

Yo te doy la respuesta enseguida.

I’ll give you the answer right away.

Ella da buenas clases.

She gives good classes.

Nosotros le damos un regalo.

We give him a gift.

Dar is only slightly irregular in the yo form. All other conjugations are regular.

Get all the details: Dar Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

9. Estar = to be (temporary situations)

Yo estoy muy feliz hoy.

I am very happy today.

¿Está usted en el hospital?

Are you at the hospital?

Nosotros estamos cerca. 

We are close.

While estar looks regular, it is actually irregular because of the accent marks in many conjugations. The yo form is also irregular.

Get all the details: Estar Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs.

10. Llevar = to take, to carry

Yo llevo la mochila conmigo.

I take my backpack with me.

Ella lleva el perro en sus brazos.

She carries the dog in her arms. 

Ellos llevan el pastel a la fiesta.

They’re taking the cake to the party.

Llevar is a regular verb.

Get all the details: Llevar Conjugation: Free Spanish Class, Exercises, and PDFs.

11. Ir = to go

Yo voy a la biblioteca.

I’m going to the library.

Tú vas con él al supermercado.

You’re going with him to the supermarket.

Ellas van al cine.

They are going to the movie theater.

Ir is an irregular verb. 

Get all the details: Ir Conjugation: A Spanish Verb Lesson for Inspired Beginners.

12. Haber = to have (as a helping verb), there is + there are

Hay tres manzanas en la mesa.

There are three apples on the table. 

Hay un perro afuera.

There is a dog outside. 

Yo he estudiado mucho. 

I have studied a lot.

Haber is a unique verb. When you use it as “there is” or “there are,” it has only one irregular form (hay). Meanwhile, as a helping verb, all the conjugations of haber are irregular. 

Get all the details: Haber Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDFs. 

13. Gustar = to please, to like

Me gustan las películas cómicas.

I like funny movies. 

¿Te gusta la comida?

Do you like the food?

Nos gusta ir a la ciudad cada fin de semana.

We like going to the city every weekend.

Gustar is a regular verb, but pay special attention to the sentence structure where the object becomes the subject. 

Instead of saying “yo gusto los perros” (incorrect), you say “me gustan los perros” (which means, “dogs please me”). As such, the third person conjugations gusta and gustan are more common than the others. 

The verb gustar always follows a pronoun (me, te, le, nos). 

Disgustar, the opposite of gustar, uses the same conjugations listed above. 

Learn how to use gustar: 21 Verbs like Gustar You Should Start Using in Spanish Conversation.

14. Acabar = to finish, just

Acabo mi curso el siguiente mes.

I finish my course next month.

Ya acaba la presentación.

The presentation is ending soon.

Él acaba de salir.

He just left.

Acabar is a regular verb. Whenever you use it before de + infinitive verb, it translates to “just.”

Get all the details: The Only Guide You Need to Use the Spanish Verb ‘Acabar.’

15. Conocer = to know (to be familiar with, to know people)

Yo no te conozco.

I don’t know you. 

Conocemos España.

We are familiar with Spain.

Ustedes conocen a María.

You all know María. 

Conocer is a regular verb in all forms except the yo form. 

The verb desconocer (to not know) has the same conjugation form. 

Learn more about conocer: Saber vs. Conocer: Get to Know These Spanish Verbs

Practice These 15 Key Spanish Verbs for Beginners

Now that you have the complete overview of the 15 most important Spanish verbs for beginners, it’s time to commit them to long-term memory by using them in everyday speech. If you don’t have someone to practice Spanish with, sign up for a free trial class with us!

Our qualified, native Spanish-speaking teachers will guide you towards fluency quickly and answer any questions you may have.

Sign up today, and experience for yourself how fast you’ll start speaking the language.

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Ashley Reid

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I have a B.A. in Linguistics and a passion for Spanish. I've lived in Latin America for almost a decade. I'm a freelance writer and ESL teacher, as well as a loving mom and wife. In my free time, I dabble in art and music.

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