A Complete List of Action Verbs in Spanish

Are you looking for a complete list of action verbs in Spanish that will help you construct perfect sentences and express absolutely everything?

In this article, I provide you with a comprehensive list of action verbs that are perfect for daily use.

If you’ve forgotten some grammar concepts, get a refresher lesson on verbs right at the beginning to make sure you’re prepared to use this list of action verbs to the fullest!

Ready? Vamos.

What are Verbs?

Before I start talking about the types of verbs and give you a list of action verbs in Spanish, let’s have a quick review of this part of speech.

Verbs are extremely important to learn as they are an essential part of each Spanish sentence. They can describe an action, occurrence, or state of being. They tell us what the subject of the sentence is or does.

The 12 verb tenses show us when an action takes place. Verbs conjugate to communicate details such as subject, number, and mood.

There are three types of conjugation to learn (-ar, -er, and -ir). Also, remember that irregular verbs do exist in Spanish. To refresh your knowledge on three types of conjugations, check out

• A Semi-Comprehensive List of -ER Verbs in Spanish
• A Semi-Comprehensive List of -AR Verbs in Spanish

Types of Verbs in Spanish

Not all verbs have the same function. Three basic types of verbs in Spanish exist, in terms of what message they transmit and how independent they are: 

• Action verbs
• Copulative verbs
• Auxiliary verbs

Let’s leave the action verbs as for now, and have a closer look at the copulative and auxiliary verbs.

Copulative Verbs

Copulative verbs are also known as linking verbs, copular verbs, or simply copulas. Linking verbs give us information about the state or condition of a subject. They link, hence the name, the subject with either a noun that renames it or with an adjective that describes it.

For example, the verb ser (to be) is a linking verb.

Yo soy Española.
I am Spanish.

In Spanish, we have three main copulative verbs: ser, estar (to be), and parecer (seem). These verbs are copulative only when they have a linking purpose.

Auxiliary or Modal Verbs

Auxiliary verbs are not independent in a sentence in which they appear as such, they introduce an infinitive. The infinitive completes the thought or idea of the helping verb.

Yo quiero trabajar.
I want to work.

Without the infinitive, the helping verb does not make much sense.

See also: The Key to Using Modal Verbs in Spanish Grammar

Action Verbs

Last but not least, action verbs are verbs that tell us what someone or something is doing. They express action and are totally independent in their meaning. For example: ir (to go), sonreír (to smile), beber (to drink).

The majority of verbs are action verbs, and you simply have to know them.

Without further ado, here is the list of action verbs in Spanish.

A List of Action Verbs in Spanish

Example Sentences

Let’s see some example sentences with some of the verbs from the list of action verbs.

No me abraces tan fuerte.
Don’t hug me so tight.

Escucha lo que te digo.
Listen to what I tell you.

¿Qué vamos a hacer?
What are we going to do?

Ojalá ganes la lotería.
Hopefully, you win the lottery.

Mi madre esta lavando el carro.
My mother is washing the car.

Los hombres también lloran.
Men cry too.

Ayer desayuné cereales.
Yesterday, I had cereal for breakfast.

Mañana iré a tu casa.
Tomorrow, I’ll go to your house.

Todos me culpan a mí.
Everyone blames me.

¿Que bonito dibujas!
How beautifully you draw!

Mi perro se esconde debajo de la cama cuando hay que ir al veterinario.
My dog hides under the bed when it comes to going to the vet.

En esta escuela aprenden cuatro idiomas a la vez.
In this school, they learn four languages at the same time.

¿Por qué comen tan lento?
Why do you eat so slowly?

Corre si no quieres llegar tarde. 
Run if you don’t want to be late.

Practice Time

I hope the list of action verbs will be useful for you. If you learn them, you will be making a huge step towards your Spanish fluency. I’m sure you know that learning languages is more fun and easier if you do it with somebody else. It can be a friend or simply a teacher.

Why don’t you sign up for a free 1-on-1 class with a certified, native Spanish-speaking teacher? You can prepare the list of action verbs beforehand and ask to practice them during the lesson. No credit card required so you have no excuse for not challenging yourself.

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• Connecting the Dots: Why Spanish Conjunctions Are Essential for Fluency
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Solo vs Solamente: What’s the Difference?
• What Is an Infinitive in Spanish?
• How To Use the Spanish Verb ‘Parecer’
• Having Fun in Spanish Using the Verb ‘Divertirse’
• How to Use the ‘Personal A’ in Spanish: Do’s and Don’ts

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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.

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