How to speak Spanish fluently

Communicate confidently with these 7 top tips.

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Do you want to learn how to speak Spanish? Great choice! Spanish is one of the easiest foreign languages for English speakers to learn. With simple pronunciation, grammar and spelling, it’s possible for anyone to speak Spanish fluently.

Whether you want to tell the time in Spanish or debate politics at the dinner table, we want to help you achieve your goals – so we’ve quizzed our experts for their top tips to speak Spanish fluently and confidently.

Want to learn Spanish quickly? Try a lesson on Busuu today – it's fun, free and effective.

7 tips on speaking Spanish fluently and confidently

1. Read aloud

Spanish pronunciation is easy as each letter of the alphabet can only be pronounced one way. Our top tip is to grab a book, magazine or news story and try reading it aloud. You’ll gain confidence speaking Spanish while expanding your vocabulary.

2. Practise, practise, practise

The best way to learn conversational Spanish is by simply speaking. Constantly look for opportunities to test out your speaking skills. Spanish classes, for example, are a great way to practise speaking Spanish in a fun and safe environment.

3. Buddy up

We are more likely to achieve a goal when we share it, so encourage a friend or family member to learn Spanish with you. Switch your text messages, meals and movie nights to Spanish and have fun learning together.

4. Build your own phrasebook

When you’re learning, there are a few common questions you’ll be asked regularly: Where are you from? What is your name? What do you do for work? How long have you been learning Spanish? Memorising these answers will give you a big confidence boost and keep the conversation going.

5. Stick to one Spanish variety

Twenty-two countries over four continents list Spanish as an official language. With slight differences, for instance, between the Spanish spoken in Latin America and the Spanish spoken in Spain, it can be overwhelming for Spanish learners. To avoid confusion, we recommend focusing on learning one.

6. Sing along

Singing is an extremely powerful aid for language learners. Whether you’re into rock, pop or jazz, find some Spanish songs you love and sing your heart out. If you’re not familiar with Spanish artists, we’ve put together a handy playlist of Spanish songs for learners.

7. Exercise your brain

Not only can exercise boost your brain function and memory, it’s the perfect time to fit Spanish into your routine. Listen to a Spanish podcast on a walk, or play Spanish music at the gym and reap the benefits of both.

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Topics you could speak about on different levels

Levels Topics
A1 Leading general conversations in Spanish
Discussing people and their characters
Your job and hobbies
A2 Talking about travelling and planning trips
Home and work
Health and wellness
B1 How to describe lifestyles
Cultures and entertainment
Feelings and emotions
B2 Discussing elections and politics
Life choices
The modern world

Still have questions?

1. How can I learn Spanish by myself?

Learning Spanish on your own is easier than ever. There are tons of online language learning resources, apps, and platforms available to Spanish learners at all levels (including Busuu’s self-led Spanish course).

You’ll need educational resources to help you learn grammar and vocabulary, and can practice listening skills by immersing yourself in Spanish-language media. That said, practicing speaking out loud can make a big difference in a learner’s confidence and pronunciation. So, even if you don’t sign up for live Spanish lessons, make sure you get speaking practice – whether it’s with a Spanish-speaking friend or neighbor, or with native Spanish speakers on Busuu.

2. Is Spanish easy to learn?

Yes! Spanish is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. While any language requires hard work to master, our language experts sat down and looked at spelling, pronunciation, and grammar and found Spanish to be the easiest option for beginners.

3. How long does it take to become fluent in Spanish?

While individual learning curves may vary, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has gathered data and found that relatively easy languages like Spanish take around 480 hours of study to reach basic fluency. That said, how long it’ll take you to get where you want to be really depends on what your goals are and how much time you can set aside for studying Spanish.

On Busuu, we use a tool called Study Plan tailored to our courses that lets you input your goal and a date to have reached that goal, helps you figure out how often you need to study and for how long to reasonably reach that goal.

4. What level of Spanish is fluent?

Fluency is sort of a subjective thing. In a literal sense, it means that you can speak fluidly, without needing to stop to translate things in your mind. There are different degrees of proficiency (which roughly means accuracy) and fluency (your ability to write, speak, and think in the language without straining).

We measure proficiency and fluency by Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels, starting with Beginner A1. The Busuu Spanish course goes up to the C1 level, at which point the learner should be able to speak fluently and without significant hesitation or repetition. They should also be able to form well-structured arguments and understand conversations about more complex topics, like religion and politics.

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