Common verbs in Spanish : complete course

What Are Frequent Verbs in Spanish?

In every language, some words appear much more often than others. In Spanish, frequent verbs are the action words you will hear and read almost every day. Knowing these verbs is the first big step to speaking and understanding Spanish.

Think of them as the building blocks of the language. Without them, it is very hard to form even simple sentences.

Simple Examples to Get Started

Here are a few very common Spanish verbs used in everyday life:

• ser – to be (permanent or identity)
• estar – to be (temporary state or location)
• tener – to have
• hacer – to do / to make
• ir – to go

For example:

• Yo soy estudiante. – I am a student.
• Ella está en casa. – She is at home.
• Nosotros tenemos un perro. – We have a dog.

The Key Elements of Frequent Verbs in Spanish

Understanding frequent verbs means looking at a few important ideas. Let us explore the main ones below.

1. Regular vs. Irregular Verbs

Some Spanish verbs follow a clear and predictable pattern. These are called regular verbs. Others change in unexpected ways. These are called irregular verbs.

Most of the most frequent verbs in Spanish are actually irregular. That is why it is important to learn them early and practice them often.

2. Verb Groups: -AR, -ER, -IR

In Spanish, verbs in their base form (called the infinitive) always end in -ar, -er, or -ir. Each group follows its own set of conjugation rules.

• -AR verbs: hablar (to speak), caminar (to walk), trabajar (to work)
• -ER verbs: comer (to eat), beber (to drink), leer (to read)
• -IR verbs: vivir (to live), escribir (to write), abrir (to open)

Once you learn the pattern for one group, you can conjugate many other verbs in the same group.

3. Using Verbs in the Present Tense

As a beginner, the most useful tense to learn first is the present tense. It lets you talk about what is happening now or what you do regularly.

Here is how the verb hablar (to speak) is conjugated in the present tense:

Why Frequent Verbs Really Matter

You might wonder: why focus on these specific verbs? Here is the simple answer. Studies show that just 100 to 200 high-frequency words cover a large part of everyday conversations. Learning the most common verbs first means you can start communicating much faster.

Instead of trying to memorize hundreds of random words, focus on the verbs that appear in almost every sentence. This saves time and builds your confidence quickly.

For example, with just five verbs – ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer – you can already express a huge variety of ideas in Spanish.

Comparison With Other Languages

If you speak English or French, you will notice some interesting similarities and differences with Spanish verbs.

One key difference: Spanish uses two verbs for ‘to be’ – ser and estar. This can be tricky at first, but with practice it becomes natural. English and French each use only one main verb for this idea.

A Complete Example

Let us look at a short everyday dialogue using frequent Spanish verbs:

• – Hola! ¿Cómo estás? – Hello! How are you?
• – Estoy bien, gracias. ¿Y tú? – I am fine, thank you. And you?
• – Yo también. ¿Adónde vas? – Me too. Where are you going?
• – Voy al mercado. Tengo que comprar comida. – I am going to the market. I need to buy food.

In just four lines, you can spot: estar, ir, tener. These are all very frequent verbs. Learning them well means you can already understand and take part in basic conversations.

Key Takeaways

• Frequent verbs are the most commonly used action words in Spanish.
• Spanish verbs are grouped into -AR, -ER, and -IR families.
• Many top verbs are irregular – so it is worth memorizing them one by one.
• Start with the present tense. It is the most useful tense for beginners.
• Just a small set of verbs can unlock a large part of everyday Spanish.
• Practice little and often. Repetition is the key to remembering verb forms.

Remember: every expert Spanish speaker started exactly where you are now. Focus on these core verbs, play with them, use them in sentences, and you will make fast progress!

Sources

• Davies, M. (2006). A Frequency Dictionary of Spanish. Routledge.
• Real Academia Española. (2023). Diccionario de la lengua española. Available at: dle.rae.es
• Moreno, C., Zurita, P., & Moreno, V. (2007). Nuevo Español sin fronteras. SGEL.