by Olly Richards
Early on in learning Spanish, it's not uncommon to sound stilted. A bit like a robot, even.
One solution for more fluent speech is to use Spanish conversational connectors. These small linking words like “and”, “but”, “so” can really help you level up your Spanish fast.
By the end of this post, you will:
- Know the most common Spanish conversational connectors
- Learn the types of connectors and how to recognise them in conversations
- Eliminate awkward pauses and unnaturally short, robotic sentences
- Speak Spanish more naturally with what you already know
- Never be at a loss for words again!
Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? But it really is that easy.
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Why Learn Spanish Conversational Connectors?
One common roadblock when you learn a language is figuring out how to go from the scripted phrases in language textbooks to fluid, authentic conversation.
Take a look at these two examples of something you might say in English:
- I live in the country. I work in the city. I commute to work every day.
- Although I live in the country, I currently work in the city. As a result, I commute to work every day.
Which example sounds more realistic?
The second one, right?
Both examples share the same information about you. But the second is much closer to something you would say or hear in a natural conversation.
Why? Thanks to something called “conversational connectors”
- Although I live in the country, I currently work in the city. As a result, I commute to work every day.
The connector words italicised above don't change the information conveyed. But they do make the conversation move along more smoothly.
You probably use conversational connectors in English without even thinking about it. Most native speakers do.
Time to learn some Spanish conversational connectors.
You can either hit play on the video below from the StoryLearning Spanish YouTube channel. Otherwise, keep scrolling to read the post and learn all the Spanish linking words you'll ever need.
Common Spanish Conversational Connectors
The Spanish conversational connectors you will hear the most are simple words that connect groups of words or phrases.
If you're familiar with grammar terminology in English, these words are known as “coordinating conjunctions”.
Simply put, coordinating conjunctions are words that join words, phrases, and clauses together.
Coordinating clauses are incredibly common in Spanish (and in English), so you probably know and use many of them already.
Check this list of the most common coordinating conjunctions in Spanish and see how many you currently use in most of your Spanish conversations:
- #1 y (and)
- #2 pero (but)
- #3 o (or)
- #4 ni (nor)
- #5 para (for)
- #6 por (for)
- #7 así que (so)
- #8 todavía (yet)
- #9 aún (not yet)
These coordinating conjunctions are probably the first conversational connectors you mastered in Spanish.
Instead of, Voy a comprar zapatos. Voy a comprar un vestido (I will buy shoes. I will buy a dress), you learn to say, Voy a comprar zapatos y un vestido para la fiesta (I will buy shoes and a dress for the party).
These basic connectors are a great starting point, but you will want to learn a larger collection of conversational connectors in order to improve your fluency and communicate more like a native Spanish speaker.
Four More Types Of Spanish Conversational Connectors
I've broken down some of the most useful Spanish conversational connectors into four categories based on when they are used.
This should make it easier for you to notice opportunities to use them in your own conversations and immediately increase the depth of your conversational skill.
1. When You're Sharing Your Opinion, Giving Justification, Or (Dis)agreeing
You can soften a disagreement or give a reason for your opinion with the following conversational connectors. The actual point of your statement doesn't change when you use them. But each one adds something to the tone of the conversation overall.
- #10 por eso (that's why)
- #11 por lo visto (apparently)
- #12 ya que (since, now that)
- #13 por consiguiente (thus, therefore)
- #14 no creo que (I don't believe that)
- #15 para mí (for me, in my opinion)
- #16 que yo sepa (as far as I know)
2. When You Want To Add To Or Contrast With An Idea
Whether you're supporting what has already been said, providing examples, or offering another point of view, these connectors can be tacked on to many sentences to sound more fluid and less robotic:
- #17 además (moreover, additionally)
- #18 de todas formas (anyway)
- #19 aparte de (besides, except for)
- #20 tal como (such as)
- #21 a pesar de (in spite of)
- #22 aunque (even though)
- #23 en vez de (instead of)
- #24 sin embargo (nevertheless)
- #25 en concreto (specifically)
- #26 en pocas palabras (in a few words)
3. When You're Talking About When Something Will (Or Did) Happen
These words and phrases connect two events and put them in relation to each other. With just a simple one- or two-word addition, your stories will feel much more natural and make more sense:
- #27 tan pronto como (as soon as)
- #28 primero que nada (first of all)
- #29 por último (finally)
- #30 mientras tanto (meanwhile)
- #31 hasta (until)
- #32 hasta que (before)
4. When You Need To Fill In A Pause
Making use of these filler words may be the biggest step you can take to sounding more fluent right away.
Where you might use “um” or “like” in English, native Spanish speakers are far more likely to use one of the following:
- #33 es decir (that is to say, in other words)
- #34 pues (since, well)
- #35 eso (that, like I said)
- #36 en fin (all in all)
- #37 o sea (in other words)
- #38 a ver (let's see)
- #39 digo (I mean, that is to say)
- #40 es que (the thing is)
- #41 bueno (well, good)
Recognising Connectors In Spanish Conversation
Once you start looking for them, you'll notice Spanish conversational connectors all throughout the authentic Spanish you hear and read every day.
Pay attention to both how the phrases are used and what they actually sound like when native speakers are using them.
Some of the expressions, like pues and bueno, are often drawn out and accompanied by pauses. Others, like primero que nada and por consiguiente are often used to make a point…and will be emphasised accordingly.
You'll soon find that just about any Spanish sentence can be enhanced and feel more natural with the inclusion of one—or more!—conversational connectors.
If you're still unsure how to fit these connectors into your conversation, write down a few phrases that you hear in your Spanish studies each day. Underline or circle the connector.
Then, see how many times you can find that same conversational connector used in a different sentence. You might be surprised at how many you find.
Putting Spanish Conversational Connectors Into Action
You might be surprised at how easy it is to make your conversations sound more natural by learning just a few new connectors.
Conversational connectors will improve your Spanish fluency and help you sound more like a native speaker fast…
…without learning any more vocabulary or complex Spanish grammar.
In fact, using more conversational connectors is an easy way to “cheat” and sound like you know more Spanish than you actually do.
Take a look at the following examples of conversational connectors in action.
You'll notice that none of these sentences are particularly complex. But they do sound completely authentic.
All thanks to the connectors.
- Ellos son de Inglaterra. ¿Así que hablan inglés? (They are from England. So they speak English?)
- La película era popular, aunque no la mejor (The movie was popular, although not the best)
- Mi hermano no está listo todavía. ¿Qué queremos hacer mientras lo esperamos?(My brother isn't ready yet. What do we want to do while we wait for him?)
- La cosa más importante es, primero que nada, la educación (The most important thing, first of all, is education)
- ¿Quieres ir conmigo a la playa este fin de semana? (Do you want to come to the beach with me this weekend?)
Bueno…lo tengo que pensar (Well….I have to think about it) - Miguel fue al restaurante con Sasha—digo, con Katherine (Miguel went to the restaurant with Sasha—I mean, with Katherine)
Say Goodbye To Robotic Spanish Conversations!
So many of the problems new Spanish learners encounter in conversations can be solved by mastering a few common connectors.
Do you have long pauses in your conversations while you try to remember how to say something specific in Spanish?
- Use a filler connector like pues or bueno instead.
Do you sometimes say the wrong thing but don't notice until it's too late?
- Digo and o sea to the rescue, allowing you to modify your meaning without having to stammer and admit to the mistake.
Have you ever wanted to contribute to a passionate discussion but felt like your short, simple sentence wouldn't be worth the effort?
- Que yo sepa and además can help you sound more informed and less stilted as you join the debate.
With just a handful of Spanish conversational connectors, you can eliminate awkward pauses and sound more like a native speaker at your current skill level now…without needing to master the rest of the language first.
