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January 5, 2023 by Olga Put Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

52 Spanish Connecting Words to Sound Like a Native

This list of Spanish connectors will immensely improve your conversational Spanish! 

These “connecting words” do precisely that—they connect your ideas to each other and help you to express relationships between one topic and another. With this list of Spanish connectors, you can easily contrast or compare things or ideas, and dramatically improve the efficiency of your communication.

In this article, we cover 4 main groups that total 52 Spanish connectors.

Are you ready to speak better and sound more natural? Of course, you are! 

Let’s get started.

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4 Main Groups of Spanish Connecting Words

This list is grouped into 3 different categories ordered by difficulty and includes a fourth group with super-handy fillers for covering any awkward silences in a conversation. 

Bookmark this page to come back for a refresher anytime you need it!

12 Basic Spanish Connectors

These connectors are the most basic ones. Use them to join phrases, clauses, and words. They are mainly coordinating conjunctions.

1. además – in addition, moreover

Las manzanas son ricas y, además, saludables.
Apples are delicious and, moreover, healthy.

2. así que – so

Así que, me puse a estudiar para no reprobar otra vez.
So, I began to study so as not to fail again.

3. aún – yet, still

Ya limpié pero aún tengo que cocinar.
I’ve already cleaned, but I still have to cook.

4. hasta – even

Hasta las personas que no saben nadar, pueden divertirse en esta alberca.
Even people that don’t know how to swim can have fun in this swimming pool.

5. ni – nor

No pude ni confirmar ni desmentir la noticia.
I could neither confirm nor deny the news.

6. o/u – or

No sé si quiero dormir o comer.
I don’t know if I want to sleep or eat.

7. para – for, in order to

Para tener éxito, tienes que trabajar más.
To be successful, you need to work more.

If you want to know more about how to use this word, check out When to Use Por versus Para in Spanish: Rules, Chart, and Quiz.

8. pero – but

Me gustan los dulces, pero no los puedo comer.
I like candy, but I can’t eat them.

9. por – for, through, by

Me encanta el agua de jamaica por su sabor.
I love hibiscus water for its flavor.

10. por eso – for that reason, that’s why

Por eso necesitamos cuidar más el planeta.
That’s why we need to take more care of the planet.

11. todavía – yet, still

Todavía no he visto la película más nueva de Guillermo del Toro.
I still haven’t seen the most recent movie by Guillermo del Toro.

12. y – and

He vivido en México y en España, y me encantan los dos lugares.
I have lived in Mexico and Spain, and I love both places.

16 Intermediate Spanish Connectors

Here are some more advanced Spanish connecting words. Sometimes, you need to use more complex grammar structures with them, such as the subjunctive mood. 

13. a pesar de – in spite of, despite

A pesar de que tengas razón, no puedo permitirlo.
Although you’re right, I cannot allow it.

14. aparte de – apart from, besides, aside from

Aparte de un departamento amueblado, la compañía proporciona un coche y seguro médico.
Besides a furnished apartment, the company provides a car and medical insurance.

15. aunque – although, even if

Aunque trabajes todo el día, no la vas a terminar.
Even if you work all day, you won’t finish it.

16. de todas formas – anyway

De todas formas no iba a ir.
I wasn’t going to go anyway. 

17. de todos modos – anyway

De todos modos no me gustaba.
I didn’t like it anyway.

18. en concreto – in particular, specifically

¿Qué harías tú, en concreto ahora después de haber vivido esta experiencia, para que una situación similar nunca se repita?
What would you do, specifically now after having lived this experience, so that a similar situation would never happen again?

19. en pocas palabras – in short

Es una alumna trabajadora, responsable y amable con sus compañeros; en pocas palabras, un ejemplo para los demás.
She is a hard-working, responsible, and kind student; in short, she is an example to others.

20. en vez de – instead of

Come arroz en vez de patatas.
Eat rice instead of potatoes.

21. hasta que – until

Hasta que te canses, no puedes parar.
Until you get tired, you can’t stop.

22. mientras tanto – in the meantime

Mientras tanto, preparamos las maletas y esperamos su llamada.
In the meantime, we can pack our luggage and wait for their call.

23. por último – lastly

Por último, quiero agradecer a mis padres.
Lastly, I want to thank my parents.

24. primero que nada – first of all

Primero que nada, les quiero pedir perdón por haber llegado tarde.
First of all, I want to apologize for being late.

25. sin embargo – however

Me gusta el café, sin embargo, no lo tomo casi nunca.
I like coffee, however, I almost never drink it.

26. tal como – such as

La empresa vende productos de limpieza tales como detergentes para lavar ropa o platos.
The company sells cleaning products such as laundry and dishwashing detergents.

27. tan pronto como – as soon as

Me despierto tan pronto sale el sol.
I wake up as soon as the sun comes up.

28. ya que – since

No pude terminar la tarea ya que nos cortaron la luz.
I was unable to finish the task as our power was cut off.

16 Spanish Connectors To Impress your Friends

And here are some Spanish connectors that will make you sound like a native speaker.

29. a propósito – by the way

A propósito, ¿quién viene hoy a la cena?
By the way, who is coming tonight for dinner?

30. ah, casi lo olvido – oh, I almost forgot

Ah, casi lo olvido, tenemos que recoger a Juan después de sus clases.
Oh, I almost forgot, we have to pick up Juan after his classes. 

31. ahora en serio – seriously now

Pero ahora en serio, ¿quién va a preparar la comida?
But seriously now, who is going to prepare the food?

32. ahora se me ocurre – now it occurs to me 

Ahora se me ocurre que podríamos organizar una venta de garaje para tener dinero para el viaje.
Now it occurs to me that we could organize a garage sale to have money for the trip.

33. bromas aparte – jokes aside

Bromas aparte, ¿qué vamos a hacer con esto?
All jokes aside, what are we going to do with this?

34. debo decir – I must say

Debo decir que me sorprendiste bastante con tu actuación.
I must say I was pretty surprised with your performance.

35. en otras palabras – in other words

En otras palabras, no todo lo que brilla es oro.
In other words, all that glitters is not gold.

36. entre tú y yo – between you and me

Entre tú y yo, a mí tampoco me gusta la política de la empresa. 
Between you and me, I don’t like the company policy either. 

37. no obstante – notwithstanding

Tu enfermedad no es grave, no obstante deberías quedarte en casa. 
Your illness is not serious, however, you should stay at home. 

38. para ser más preciso – to be more precise

Para ser más preciso, no puedes salir de la casa si no terminas toda tu tarea.
To be more precise, you can’t leave the house if you don’t finish all your homework.

39. por lo que a mí respecta – as far as I am concerned

Por lo que a mí respecta, esta discusión no tiene ningún sentido.
As far as I am concerned, this discussion makes no sense.

40. por otro lado – on the other hand

Por otro lado, sé que te esfuerzas.
On the other hand, I know you’re doing your best.

41. que yo sepa – as far as I know

Que yo sepa, esta tarde no hay clases.
As far as I know, there are no lessons in the afternoon.

42. quiero que sepas que – I want you to know that

Quiero que sepas que te aprecio.
I want you to know that I appreciate you.

43. quisiera recalcar que – I would like to emphasize that

Quisiera recalcar que este cambio nos beneficia a todos. 
I would like to emphasize that this change benefits us all. 

44. temo que – I’m afraid that

Temo que no tienes elección.
I’m afraid you have no choice. 

8 Common Spanish Fillers

Conversational fillers are handy in any language!

Fillers are there for you if you get stuck. You can always gain some time with conversational fillers. They’re also great for filling a pause, or more simply put: they help sound more fluent!

After you finish, don’t forget to look at The Ultimate Guide to Filler Words in Spanish for More Natural Conversations.

45. a ver – let’s see

A ver… ¿Qué es lo que tenemos que hacer?
Let’s see… What do we have to do?

46. bueno – well

Bueno, no digo que no, pero…
Well, I’m not saying no, but…

47. digo – I mean

Digo, ya sé que no es mi asunto, pero me importa igual.
I mean, I know it’s none of my business, but I care anyway.

48. en fin – anyway

En fin, cerremos y vamos a la playa.
Anyway, let’s close and go to the beach.

49. es decir – I mean

Tenemos el examen en tres días, es decir el jueves.
We have the exam in three days, meaning Thursday.

50. es que – but

Es que… ¡no fue mi culpa!
It’s just… it wasn’t my fault!

51. o sea – in other words

Podemos hacerlo juntos, es decir, yo escribo y tú haces la edición. 
We can do it together, that is, I write, and you do the editing. 

You might like: How to Use ‘O Sea’ to Sound Like a Native Spanish Speaker

52. pues – so

¿Vas a venir a la boda? Pues… no sé, no tengo dinero para el regalo.
Are you coming to the wedding? Well… I don’t know. I don’t have money for the gift.

You might like: How to Use ‘Pues’ in Spanish (and Other Cool Filler Words)

Practice Spanish Connectors in a Conversation

Enough theory, and let’s practice! Get yourself a Spanish-speaking friend, and use as many connecting words as possible.

If you don’t have anyone around, sign up for a free trial class with Homeschool Spanish Academy and practice with one of our teachers.

What do you get with HSA online Spanish lessons? Native, authentic Spanish instruction and student-tailored Spanish programs. A certified professional teacher will help you with your grammar doubts and fear of speaking.

Sign up now for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy, and practice Spanish connectors (and much more!) in a 1-to-1 conversation!
Check out our affordable pricing and flexible programs!

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“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.”

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Erica P. Parent of 1

“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 hand-picked Spanish language resources? Check these out!

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  • Author
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Olga Put
Olga Put
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.
Olga Put
Latest posts by Olga Put (see all)
  • 52 Spanish Connecting Words to Sound Like a Native - January 5, 2023
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