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11 Dec 2025
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Essential Spanish Vocabulary for Beginners
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@gonexoxo.2025
1 / 6
Free Time Activities
Ever wondered how to chat about your hobbies in Spanish? These words help you express what you love (and hate!) doing in your tiempo libre (free time).
The basics are simple: bailar (to dance), cantar (to sing), leer (to read), and jugar . When describing activities, you might say they're aburrido (boring), entretenido (entertaining), or estimulante (challenging).
Time expressions are crucial too. Use siempre (always), a veces (sometimes), de vez en cuando (occasionally), or nunca (never) to say how often you do things. Por lo general (in general) is perfect for describing your usual routine.
Don't forget entertainment vocabulary like el cine (cinema), la película (film), los dibujos animados (cartoons), and las noticias (news). These words pop up constantly in conversations and GCSE exams!
Quick Tip: Practice saying "Me gusta..." followed by these activities to build confidence with expressing preferences!
Food and Drink Essentials
Food vocabulary is everywhere in Spanish conversations! Start with meal times: el desayuno (breakfast), la comida (lunch), and la cena (evening meal). The verbs desayunar, comer, and cenar match perfectly.
Basic foods include la carne (meat), el pescado (fish), el pollo (chicken), and las verduras (vegetables). For drinks, remember el agua (water), la leche (milk), and el té (tea). Tomar means "to have" when talking about food and drink.
Restaurant vocabulary gets more specific with el atún (tuna), el bacalao (cod), las gambas (prawns), and los mariscos (seafood). Las tapas are those small bar snacks Spain's famous for, whilst el gazpacho is that refreshing chilled tomato soup.
Spanish dining culture includes la sobremesa - sitting and chatting at the table after meals. It's not just vocabulary; it's understanding how Spanish families actually live!
Exam Boost: Learn food groups together (meats, fruits, vegetables) rather than random individual words - it sticks better!
Spanish Festivals and Traditions
Spanish festivals aren't just parties - they're deeply rooted in tradición and history. Many celebrations conmemorar (commemorate) historical events or religious occasions, creating an amazing ambiente (atmosphere).
Las costumbres (customs) vary dramatically between regions. Some festivals feature el encierro (bull run) - definitely peligroso (dangerous) but emocionante (exciting)! Others include desfiles (parades) with people wearing traditional trajes (costumes).
Festival vocabulary includes la actuación (performance), el espectáculo (show), and el concurso (competition). People divertirse (enjoy themselves) and pasarlo bien (have a good time) whilst celebrating their origen (origins).
Many celebrations are impresionante (impressive) and único (unique). From histórico battles to religious ceremonies, each festival tells Spain's story through varios (various) traditions passed down through generations.
Cultural Note: Understanding Spanish festivals helps you grasp the culture behind the language - perfect for speaking and writing tasks!
La Tomatina Festival
La Tomatina is Spain's most bonkers festival - imagine todo el mundo (everyone) throwing tomates at each other! This típico Spanish celebration happens al final del verano (at the end of summer) in Buñol.
Varios camiones (lorries) arrive carrying enormous montones (piles) of tomatoes. When the festival empezar (starts), people get completely mojado and sucio (wet and dirty) within minutes. Visitantes from around the world come to join the madness.
The whole plaza mayor (main square) turns rojo (red) with tomato juice. After an hour of throwing, voluntarios help limpiar (clean) the streets with mangueras (hoses). Everyone needs to duchar (shower) afterwards!
La gente (people) sacar fotos and create amazing memories. What started as a local tradition has become a massive turismo attraction, showing how Spanish culture spreads globally.
Exam Tip: La Tomatina is perfect for describing festivals in speaking tasks - it's fun, memorable, and shows cultural knowledge!
Hispanic Festivals Worldwide
Hispanic festivals extend far beyond Spain's borders. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrarse throughout Latin America, especially Mexico, where families honour their antepasados (ancestors).
During this festival, familiares (family members) visit cementerios (cemeteries) and decorate tumbas (graves) with flores (flowers) and velas encendidas (lit candles). They leave regalos (gifts) and special foods like mole sauce for their departed loved ones.
The imagery includes calaveras (skulls) and esqueletos (skeletons), but it's not triste (sad) - it's actually celebratory! People get disfrazado (dressed up) and join desfiles through their pueblos (villages) or ciudades (cities).
These festivals show how Spanish-speaking cultures proteger (protect) their traditions whilst adapting to modern life. Each celebration maintains its normalidad within the community whilst attracting global interest.
Global Perspective: Learning about Hispanic festivals worldwide helps you understand Spanish as an international language, not just European!
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Essential Spanish Vocabulary for Beginners
.
@gonexoxo.2025
Ready to master Spanish vocabulary about free time, food, and festivals? This vocab collection covers everything you need for talking about hobbies, meals, and amazing Spanish celebrations like La Tomatina and Day of the Dead.
Free Time Activities
Ever wondered how to chat about your hobbies in Spanish? These words help you express what you love (and hate!) doing in your tiempo libre (free time).
The basics are simple: bailar (to dance), cantar (to sing), leer (to read), and jugar . When describing activities, you might say they're aburrido (boring), entretenido (entertaining), or estimulante (challenging).
Time expressions are crucial too. Use siempre (always), a veces (sometimes), de vez en cuando (occasionally), or nunca (never) to say how often you do things. Por lo general (in general) is perfect for describing your usual routine.
Don't forget entertainment vocabulary like el cine (cinema), la película (film), los dibujos animados (cartoons), and las noticias (news). These words pop up constantly in conversations and GCSE exams!
Quick Tip: Practice saying "Me gusta..." followed by these activities to build confidence with expressing preferences!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Food and Drink Essentials
Food vocabulary is everywhere in Spanish conversations! Start with meal times: el desayuno (breakfast), la comida (lunch), and la cena (evening meal). The verbs desayunar, comer, and cenar match perfectly.
Basic foods include la carne (meat), el pescado (fish), el pollo (chicken), and las verduras (vegetables). For drinks, remember el agua (water), la leche (milk), and el té (tea). Tomar means "to have" when talking about food and drink.
Restaurant vocabulary gets more specific with el atún (tuna), el bacalao (cod), las gambas (prawns), and los mariscos (seafood). Las tapas are those small bar snacks Spain's famous for, whilst el gazpacho is that refreshing chilled tomato soup.
Spanish dining culture includes la sobremesa - sitting and chatting at the table after meals. It's not just vocabulary; it's understanding how Spanish families actually live!
Exam Boost: Learn food groups together (meats, fruits, vegetables) rather than random individual words - it sticks better!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Spanish Festivals and Traditions
Spanish festivals aren't just parties - they're deeply rooted in tradición and history. Many celebrations conmemorar (commemorate) historical events or religious occasions, creating an amazing ambiente (atmosphere).
Las costumbres (customs) vary dramatically between regions. Some festivals feature el encierro (bull run) - definitely peligroso (dangerous) but emocionante (exciting)! Others include desfiles (parades) with people wearing traditional trajes (costumes).
Festival vocabulary includes la actuación (performance), el espectáculo (show), and el concurso (competition). People divertirse (enjoy themselves) and pasarlo bien (have a good time) whilst celebrating their origen (origins).
Many celebrations are impresionante (impressive) and único (unique). From histórico battles to religious ceremonies, each festival tells Spain's story through varios (various) traditions passed down through generations.
Cultural Note: Understanding Spanish festivals helps you grasp the culture behind the language - perfect for speaking and writing tasks!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
La Tomatina Festival
La Tomatina is Spain's most bonkers festival - imagine todo el mundo (everyone) throwing tomates at each other! This típico Spanish celebration happens al final del verano (at the end of summer) in Buñol.
Varios camiones (lorries) arrive carrying enormous montones (piles) of tomatoes. When the festival empezar (starts), people get completely mojado and sucio (wet and dirty) within minutes. Visitantes from around the world come to join the madness.
The whole plaza mayor (main square) turns rojo (red) with tomato juice. After an hour of throwing, voluntarios help limpiar (clean) the streets with mangueras (hoses). Everyone needs to duchar (shower) afterwards!
La gente (people) sacar fotos and create amazing memories. What started as a local tradition has become a massive turismo attraction, showing how Spanish culture spreads globally.
Exam Tip: La Tomatina is perfect for describing festivals in speaking tasks - it's fun, memorable, and shows cultural knowledge!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Hispanic Festivals Worldwide
Hispanic festivals extend far beyond Spain's borders. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrarse throughout Latin America, especially Mexico, where families honour their antepasados (ancestors).
During this festival, familiares (family members) visit cementerios (cemeteries) and decorate tumbas (graves) with flores (flowers) and velas encendidas (lit candles). They leave regalos (gifts) and special foods like mole sauce for their departed loved ones.
The imagery includes calaveras (skulls) and esqueletos (skeletons), but it's not triste (sad) - it's actually celebratory! People get disfrazado (dressed up) and join desfiles through their pueblos (villages) or ciudades (cities).
These festivals show how Spanish-speaking cultures proteger (protect) their traditions whilst adapting to modern life. Each celebration maintains its normalidad within the community whilst attracting global interest.
Global Perspective: Learning about Hispanic festivals worldwide helps you understand Spanish as an international language, not just European!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
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Where can I download the Knowunity app?
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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
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4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user