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Spanish Essay Phrases: 40 Useful Phrases for an Impressive Writeup

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May 30, 2019

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Do you need to write a lot of essays in Spanish? If you do, don’t worry. It's about to get a little bit easier for you because here in this article, we’ve listed many useful Spanish essay phrases that you can readily use in your essays.

Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

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Spanish Essay Phrases

Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

Try to use the essay phrases in Spanish that you learned in this lesson and write a few example sentences in the comments section!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

VERY VERY useful !! Gracias

Amazing! This will definitely help me in tomorrow’s spanish test 🙂

Sounds good

Thanks for the assistance, in learning Spanish.

Amazing article! Very helpful! Also, this website is great for Spanish Beginners.

It’s easy when you put it that way

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Spanish Writer Freelance

65 spanish phrases to use in an essay.

If Spanish is not your first language, memorizing specific phrases can help you improve your essay-writing skills and make you sound more like a native speaker. Thus below, you will find a list of useful phrases categorized by groups to help you appear more proficient and take your essays to the next level!

Introductory Phrases

Based on my vast experience as a freelance writer , I can say that starting an essay is undoubtedly the most challenging part of essay writing. Nonetheless, many phrases have proven to help organize my thoughts and form cohesive and intriguing introductions, such as:

• “Para empezar” – To begin with

• “Al principio” – At the beginning… 

• “En primer lugar” – To start… 

• “Empecemos por considerar” – Let’s begin by considering/acknowledging 

• “A manera de introducción” – We can start by saying…

• “Como punto de partida “ – As a starting point

• “Hoy en día” – Nowadays… Notice that these introductory phrases are not exactly the same than those you would use in a conversation. For that, I suggest reading my article about Sentence Starters in Spanish .

You can also use phrase to introduce a new topic in the text such as:

• En lo que se refiere a – Regarding to
• Respecto a – Regarding to
• En cuanto a – Regarding to
• Cuando se trata de – When it comes to
• Si pasamos a hablar de – If we go ahead to talk about

Concluding Phrases

It is also crucial that you know how to finish your essay. A good conclusion will allow you to tie all your ideas together and emphasize the key takeaways. Below, a few ways in which you can begin a concluding argument:

• “En conclusion” – In conclusion

• “En resumen/resumiendo…” – In summary

• “Como se puede ver…” – As you can see

• “Para concluir” – To conclude

• “Para finalizar” – To finish

• “Finalmente, podemos decir que…” – We can then say that…

• “ En consecuencia, podemos decir que…” – As a result, one can say that…

• “Por fin” – Finally

Transitional Phrases

Transitions phrases are crucial if you wish your essay to flow smoothly. Thus, I recommend you pay special attention to the following sentences:

• “Además” – Besides

• “Adicionalmente” – In addition…

• “Dado que…” – Given that…

• “Por lo tanto” – Therefore

• “Entonces” – Thus/So

• “Debido a…” – Hence

• “Mientras tanto” – Meanwhile

• “Por lo que” – This is why

• “Desde entonces” – Since then

Argumentative Phrases

When writing essays, it is very common for us to need to include argumentative phrases to get our message across. Hence, if you are looking for new ways to introduce an argument, below a few ideas:

• “Por otro lado…” – On the other hand…

• “En primera instancia…” – First of all 

• “A diferencia de…” – As oppossed to

• “De igual forma” – More so

• “Igualmente” – The same goes for… 

• “En otras palabras” – In other words

• “A pesar de que…” – Although 

• “Aunque” – Even though 

• “En contraste” – By contrast 

• “De hecho…” – In fact… 

• “Sin embargo” – Nevertheless

• “No obstante” – However

Opinion Phrases

There are many formal (and less formal ways) to express your opinions and beliefs in Spanish. Here, a few examples: 

• “Considero que…” – I considerthat…

• “Mi opinión es” – It is my opinion

• “Pienso que…” – I think that…

• “Opino que” – In my opinion…

• “Afortunadamente” – Fortunately

• “ Lamentablemente” – Unfortunately

• “Me parece que…” – It seems to me that…

• “En mi opinión” – I believe that…

• “En mi experiencia” – Based on my experience

• “Como yo lo veo…” – As I see it…

• “Es mi parecer” – My pointview 

General Phrases

Finally, I wanted to include a group of useful common phrases that can enrich your essay’s vocabulary:

•   “En realidad” – In reality

• “Actualmente” – Today/Nowadays 

• “De acuerdo a…” – According to… 

• “Por ejemplo” – For example

• “Cabe recalcar que…” – It is important to note that… 

• “Vale la pena resaltar que…” – It is important to highlight that… 

• “No podemos ignorar que…” – We can’t ignore that… 

• “Normalmente” – Usually/Normally 

• “Por lo general” – In general

• “Es normal que…” – It is normal to…

• “Otro hecho importante es…” – Another relevant factor is… 

• “Podría decirse que…” – One could say that… 

• “Para ilustrar” – To illustrate 

There you have it! A list of 60 useful phrases you can memorize to make your essays sound more professional and become more appealing to readers. However, if you are struggling and need further assistance with your essay, here you can see an Spanish essay example that can help you to structure and edit your work.

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The BIG List of Spanish Idioms and Expressions

The big list of spanish idioms (100+).

We’ve tweeted and posted a lot of Spanish idioms, but now they’re all here! We’ll keep updating them for you in our BIG list of Spanish idioms and expressions.  We’ve included a literal translation when appropriate and additional links will bring you to posts that give examples of these expressions in use.

Get a FREE PDF with 25 of our favorite Spanish Idioms + practice exercises

I am looking for the English translation for “ lo poquito encanta y lo mucho enfada”.

I’d say “less is more” or “too much of a good thing”

Como dirían: No tenemos arreglo

The very little enchanted (happy or pleased here) and the very angry. I Guess It depends on the context but looks just like somebody is angry, not happy

Sorry, I read It wrong. It litteraly means “the little enchantes (pleases, likes very much) and the much angers” It just means a little is better than too much

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51 Spanish Phrases for Essays to Impress with Words

• January 7, 2021

Joanna Lupa

Communicating in a foreign language is hard enough, even in everyday situations, when no sophisticated or academic vocabulary is needed. 

Being able to write an actual essay in Spanish requires you not only to have a solid grammar base but also be knowledgeable about specific phrases and words typically used in school and university writing. 

For those of you who study in one of the Spanish speaking countries or are toying with the idea of signing up for an exchange program, I have prepared a summary of useful Spanish phrases for essays. They are divided into the following categories:

• Connectors (sequence, contrast, cause and effect, additional information, and conclusion)
• Expressions to give your opinion, agree and disagree with a thesis
• fancy academic expressions

Spanish Connectors to Use in Essays

Written language tends to be more formal than the spoken one. Ideas get explained in complex sentences showing how they relate to each other. A fantastic tool to achieve that is connectors.

What are some useful Spanish connectors for essays? Let’s have a look at the ten examples below:

• 🇪🇸 primero – 🇬🇧 first
• 🇪🇸 segundo – 🇬🇧 second
• 🇪🇸 el siguiente argumento – 🇬🇧 the next argument
• 🇪🇸 finalmente – 🇬🇧 finally, last but not least 
• 🇪🇸 sin embargo – 🇬🇧 however, nevertheless, nonetheless
• 🇪🇸 por lo tanto – 🇬🇧 therefore, thus
• 🇪🇸 además – 🇬🇧 besides
• 🇪🇸 por un lado….por el otro lado – 🇬🇧 on the one hand….on the other hand
• 🇪🇸 a menos que – 🇬🇧 unless
• 🇪🇸 a pesar de (algo) – 🇬🇧 despite / in spite of (something)
• 🇪🇸 aunque / a pesar de que – 🇬🇧 although / even though
• 🇪🇸 debido a – 🇬🇧 due to
• 🇪🇸 puesto que / dado que – 🇬🇧 given that
• 🇪🇸 ya que –  🇬🇧 since
• 🇪🇸 mientras que – 🇬🇧 whereas
• 🇪🇸 en conclusión – 🇬🇧 in conclusion
• 🇪🇸 para concluir – 🇬🇧 to conclude

Do you think you would know how to use these connectors in an essay? Let’s suppose you are writing about ecology:

🇪🇸 Los paises han estado cambiando sus politicas. Sin embargo, aún queda mucho por hacer.  🇬🇧 Countries have been changing their policies. However, there is still a lot to do. 

🇪🇸 Una de las amenazas climáticas es el efecto invernadero. Además está la contaminación del agua que presenta un serio riesgo para la salud.  🇬🇧 One of the climate threats is the greenhouse effect. Besides, there is water pollution that presents a severe health hazard. 

🇪🇸 A pesar de los acuerdos internacionales, varios países no han mejorado sus normas ambientales.  🇬🇧 Despite international agreements, many countries haven’t yet improved their environmental standards. 

🇪🇸 Debido a la restricción en el uso de bolsas de plástico desechables, Chile ha podido reducir su huella de carbono.  🇬🇧 Due to the restrictions in the use of disposable plastic bags, Chile has been able to reduce its carbon print. 

Spanish Phrases to Express Your Opinion in Essays

Essay topics commonly require you to write what you think about something. Or whether you agree or disagree with an idea, a project, or someone’s views. 

The words below will allow you to express your opinion effortlessly and go beyond the typical “creo que ” – “ I think ”:

• 🇪🇸 (yo) opino que – 🇬🇧 in my opinion
• 🇪🇸 me parece que – 🇬🇧 it seems to me
• 🇪🇸 desde mi punto de vista – 🇬🇧 from my point of view
• 🇪🇸 (no) estoy convencido que  – 🇬🇧 I am (not) convinced that
• 🇪🇸 no me cabe la menor duda – 🇬🇧 I have no doubt 
• 🇪🇸 estoy seguro que – 🇬🇧 I’m sure
• 🇪🇸 dudo que – 🇬🇧 I doubt
• 🇪🇸 sospecho que – 🇬🇧 I suspect
• 🇪🇸 asumo que – 🇬🇧 I assume
• 🇪🇸 estoy (totalmente, parcialmente) de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I (totally, partially) agree
• 🇪🇸 no estoy de acuerdo en absoluto – 🇬🇧 I absolutely disagree
• 🇪🇸 opino diferente – 🇬🇧 I have a different opinion
• 🇪🇸 me niego a aceptar – 🇬🇧 I refuse to accept
• 🇪🇸 estoy en contra / a favor de – 🇬🇧 I am against / in favor of
• 🇪🇸 no podría estar más de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I couldn’t agree more
• 🇪🇸 encuentro absolutamente cierto / falso  – 🇬🇧 I find it absolutely correct / false

Phrases like these can really give shape to your essay and increase its formality level. This time, let’s verify it with views on education: 

🇪🇸 Opino que estudiando remotamente los jóvenes están perdiendo las habilidades sociales.  🇬🇧 In my opinion, remote schooling makes youngsters lose their social skills. 

🇪🇸 Dudo que esta decisión traiga verdaderos cambios para el sistema educacional en mi país.  🇬🇧 I doubt this change will bring any real changes to the educational system in my country. 

🇪🇸 Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con que todos deberían tener acceso a educación de calidad. 🇬🇧 I totally agree that everyone should have access to good quality education. 

🇪🇸 Estoy en contra de escuelas solo para niñas o solo para niños.  🇬🇧 I am against girls-only or boys-only schools. 

Pay attention to certain language differences between English and Spanish versions. The most common mistake that my students make is to say “ I am agree ” ❌ (direct translation from “ Estoy de acuerdo ”) instead of “ I agree ”✔️. 

Fancy Academic Verbs and Expressions for Essays in Spanish

Would you like to impress your professor with sophisticated academic vocabulary or get extra points on your DELE? Grab a pen and take notes:

• 🇪🇸 afirmar  – 🇬🇧 to state
• 🇪🇸 refutar – 🇬🇧 to refute, to reject
• 🇪🇸 argumentar – 🇬🇧 to argue that
• 🇪🇸 poner en duda  – 🇬🇧 to cast doubt
• 🇪🇸 poner en evidencia – 🇬🇧 to shed light 
• 🇪🇸 demostrar – 🇬🇧 to demonstrate
• 🇪🇸 concentrarse en – 🇬🇧 to focus on
• 🇪🇸 sostener – 🇬🇧 to sustain
• 🇪🇸 reflejar – 🇬🇧 to reflect
• 🇪🇸 considerando (que) – 🇬🇧 considering (that)
• 🇪🇸 siendo realista – 🇬🇧 realistically speaking
• 🇪🇸 de cierto modo – 🇬🇧 in a way
• 🇪🇸 en lo que se refiere a – 🇬🇧 with regards to
• 🇪🇸 en vista de – 🇬🇧 in view of
• 🇪🇸 de acuerdo a – 🇬🇧 according to
• 🇪🇸 no obstante – 🇬🇧 nevertheless

So many great words to work with! And some of them sound really similar to English, right? This is exactly why Spanish is such a good option when you want to learn a second language.

Let’s see how to make all these verbs and phrases work:

🇪🇸 Los resultados de los nuevos estudios ponen en duda la relación entre el consumo de huevos y altos niveles de colesterol.  🇬🇧 The recent study findings cast doubt on the relation between egg consumption and high cholesterol levels. 

🇪🇸 Los autores del estudio argumentan que los azucares y los carbohidratos juegan un rol importante en este asunto.  🇬🇧 The authors of the study argue that sugars and carbs play an important role in this topic. 

🇪🇸 En lo que se refiere al consumo de carne, este influye directamente los niveles de colesterol malo, sobre todo si es carne con mucha grasa. 🇬🇧 Regarding meat consumption, it directly influences the levels of “bad” cholesterol, especially in the case of greasy meat. 

Spanish Resources

Spanish conditional tenses – the complete guide, 56 words for computer parts in spanish (geek friendly).

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26 Popular Spanish Idioms to Change Up Your Vocab

The Spanish language has a rich history, which has culminated in an array of idiomatic expressions that go beyond literal translations. If you’re aiming to sound more natural in Spanish—or just understand native speakers better—understanding these phrases can help elevate your fluency.

Here’s a curated list of popular Spanish idioms, their meanings and examples to help you integrate them into your conversations.

1. Tomar el pelo

2. ser pan comido, 3. estar como una cabra, 4. no tener pelos en la lengua, 5. tirar la casa por la ventana, 6. quedarse de piedra, 7. lo dijo de labios para fuera, 8. estar hecho un ají, 9. empezar la casa por el tejado, 10. estar más sano que una pera, 11. tener un humor de perros, 12. se me hace agua la boca, 13. tiene más lana que un borrego, 14. echar agua al mar, 15. estar en la edad del pavo, 16. darle la vuelta a la tortilla, 17. no hay color, 18. estar sin blanca, 19. llover a cántaros, 20. acostarse con las gallinas, 21. ser un ave nocturna, 22. ser como buscar una aguja en un pajar, 23. dar a luz, 24. estar en cueros, 25. despedirse a la francesa, 26. no hay tutía, why learn spanish idioms, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Meaning: To pull someone’s leg

“ Tomar el pelo ” literally means “to take the hair,” and is used when someone is tricking or making fun of someone else, but in a good-natured way. So if a friend tells you he won $10 million, you might say:

“ Me estás tomando el pelo . ” (You’re pulling my leg.)

Meaning:  To be a piece of cake

The literal translation of “ ser pan comido ” is “to be bread eaten,” and it means that something is very easy to do. It’s the English equivalent of saying something is a piece of cake. For example:

“ El trabajo es pan comido. ” (The job is a piece of cake.)

Meaning: To be a little crazy

“ Estar como una cabra ” is a commonly used Spanish idiom for when somebody is doing something bizarre or a little out of the ordinary. The literal translation is “to be like a goat,” and the English equivalent is saying someone is a little nuts or crazy:

“ Esta noche estás como una cabra. ” (Tonight you are a little crazy.)

Meaning:  To be straightforward / To tell it like it is

The literal translation of “ no tener pelos en la lengua ” is “not to have hairs on your tongue.” This Spanish idiom means that someone is a straight shooter and will always speak their mind:

“ Mi amigo no tiene pelos en la lengua . ” (My friend tells it how it is.)

Meaning:  To spare no expense

“ Tirar la casa por la ventana ” is literally translated as “to throw the house through the window,” and it means that no expense has been spared or that money is no object:

“ Tiré la casa por la ventana cuando compré mi nuevo coche. ” (I spared no expense when I bought my new car.)

Meaning:  To be stunned

“ Quedarse de piedra ” is literally to “stay like a stone,” and it means to be amazed. In other words, you’re so stunned by something that you stay like a stone:

“ Me quedé de piedra cuando me dijo la historia. ” (I was stunned when he told me the story.) 

Meaning:  To say something you didn’t mean

“ Lo dijo de labios para fuera ” is literally translated as “he said it from the lips outwards,” and it means that a person didn’t mean what they said:

“ Lo dijo de labios para fuera cuando dijo que era culpable. ” (He didn’t mean it when he said he was guilty.)

Meaning:  To be very angry

“ Estar hecho un ají ” is literally translated as “to be made a chili,” and it means to be very angry about something:

“ No le gustó el resultado. Está hecho un ají. ” (He didn’t like the outcome. He’s very angry.)

Meaning:  To put the cart before the horse

“ Empezar la casa por el tejado ” is literally “to start the house by the roof,” and it means to put the cart before the horse, or to have things in the wrong order:

“ Si empezáramos la construcción sin los fondos, estaríamos empezando la casa por el tejado. ” (If we started construction without the funds, we’d be putting the cart before the horse.)

Meaning:  To be fit as a fiddle

“ Estar más sano que una pera ” is literally translated as “to be healthier than a pear.” The English equivalent is to be as fit as a fiddle, and it means that someone feels great and is very healthy:

“ Mi abuela tiene 85 años, pero está más sana que una pera . ” (My grandmother is 85, but she’s as fit as a fiddle.)

Meaning:  To be in a bad mood

“ Tenemos un humor de perros ” is literally translated as “to have a mood of dogs,” and it means to be in a bad mood:

“ Ellos tienen un humor de perros porque no aprobaron los exámenes en la universidad. ” (They’re in a bad mood because they didn’t pass their exams at the university.)

Meaning:  To make one’s mouth water / To be mouthwatering

“ Se me hace agua la boca ” is a common Spanish idiom translated as “it makes my mouth water,” meaning that an item of food or a meal is so delicious it makes the saliva flow in a person’s mouth:

Se me hace agua la boca solo pensar en la paella. ” (It makes my mouth water just thinking about paella.)

Meaning:  To be loaded [with cash]

“ Tiene más lana que un borrego ” translates as “he has more wool than a lamb,” and it means that a person is loaded with cash: 

“ Él pagó la cuenta en el restaurante porque tiene más lana que un borrego ” . (He paid the bill in the restaurant because he’s loaded with cash.)

Meaning:  To do something pointless / To put a drop in the bucket

“ Echar agua al mar ” is literally translated as “to throw water into the sea,” a Spanish idiom used in some Spanish-speaking regions to mean that something is pointless:

“ Tratar de convencerla es como echar agua al mar . Ella nunca va a cambiar. ” (Trying to convince her is pointless. She’s never going to change.)

Meaning:  To be at that awkward age

This literally means “to be in the age of the turkey,” which fits the idiomatic meaning perfectly since it’s used to say “at that awkward age:”

Miguel, tienes 35 años ya, deja de hacer el tonto. ¡Ya no estás en la edad del pavo !  — Miguel, you are 35 already, stop playing the fool. You are not at that awkward age any more!

Meaning:  To turn the tide

While you can flip a tortilla while cooking, this phrase can also refer to turning the tide:

Íbamos perdiendo, pero le dimos la vuelta a la tortilla y al final ganamos. —  We were losing, but we turned the tide and ended up winning.

Meaning:  There is no comparison

This literally means “there is no color,” but it is really saying that something cannot compare:

Mi coche es mucho más rápido que el tuyo. ¡No hay color! — My car is much faster than yours. There’s no comparison!

Meaning:  To be broke

This literally translated to “be without white,” but blanca  was actually a Spanish coin in the 16th century, so this phrase is really used to say that you don’t have any money:

He gastado todos mis ahorros para comprar un coche y ahora estoy sin blanca . —  I have spent all my savings to buy a car and now I am penniless.

Meaning:  To rain cats and dogs

Literal translation: to rain to pitchers

English meaning: to rain cats and dogs

This literally means “to rain to pitchers,” but is more easily understood as “it’s raining cats and dogs.”

Estaba lloviendo a cántaros , así que no fuimos al concierto. — It was raining cats and dogs, so we didn’t go to the concert.

Meaning:  To go to bed early

This literally means “to go to bed with the hens” but refers to someone going to bed very early:

Son las 4 de la tarde y ya estás cansado. Me parece que hoy te vas a acostar con las gallinas .  —  It’s 4 p.m. and you’re already tired. I think you’ll be going to bed very early today.

Meaning:  To be a night owl

While this one technically means “to be a night bird,” you can probably catch on that this is the same as a “night owl” in English:

Me gusta estudiar por la noche. Soy un ave nocturna . —  I like studying at night. I am a night owl.

Meaning:  To be like looking for a needle in a haystack

Literal translation: to be like looking for a needle in a straw loft

English meaning: to be like looking for a needle in a haystack

This expression translates almost directly into “be like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Hay unas 2.000 personas aquí. Encontrar a María va a ser como buscar una aguja en un pajar . —  There are around 2,000 people in here. Finding María is going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Meaning:  To give birth

Literal translation: to give to light

English meaning: to give birth

This is a fun expression as it literally means “to give to light,” but is actually used to say someone is giving birth:

Lucía dio a luz a su segundo hijo hace unas horas. —  Lucía gave birth to her second child a few hours ago.

Meaning:  To be naked

Literal translation: to be in leathers/in skins

English meaning: to be naked

Spanish speakers use this to say “to be naked,” although it literally means “to be in leathers.”

Juan siempre está en cueros .   —  Juan is always naked.

Meaning:  To take a French exit

This literally means “to say goodbye like the French” but is otherwise known as the “French exit,” or when you leave without saying goodbye. You might have heard of an Irish goodbye — that’s the same thing.

Pepe se ha despedido a la francesa y ahora tengo que pagar toda la cuenta. —  Pepe has taken the French Exit and now I have to pay the whole bill.

Meaning:  No way

Literal translation: there is no solution, there is no remedy

English meaning : no way, not gonna happen, forget about it, no dice, nothing doing

No irás a la fiesta,  ¡no hay tutía! — You will not go to the party. No way!

Idioms are essential for speaking a language like a native, and Spanish is no exception.

There are hundreds of Spanish idioms, and while some are common to many Spanish language speakers, others are only used in one or a handful of countries in the Spanish-speaking world. There are even idioms that are only spoken in specific regions .

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Advanced Spanish Phrases for Studying and Working

Learning a language, whether in the classroom or on your own, is a rewarding and fun experience. It allows you to watch movies and understand lyrics in another language, and it can even help you make new friends. When you reach an advanced level, however, a world of opportunities opens.

If you’re dreaming of an academic or professional career in Spain or another Spanish-speaking country, you’re already aware that it can be the pathway to a brilliant future. More than 500 million people around the planet speak the language—just imagine the possibilities! 

Need a little help getting there? Here are some advanced Spanish phrases that can put you on track. Also, stick around for some bonus everyday Spanish idioms that will make you sound like a native. Enjoy!

Here’s to a brilliant career doing business in Spanish!

• Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
• Power Phrases for Your Cover Letter
• Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings
• Bonus: Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
• Final Thoughts

1. Useful Phrases for Academic Writing

Academic writing is one of the most formal ways to express yourself. Once you’ve reached an advanced level in Spanish, you’ll be able to produce fluid and coherent texts for the academic sphere. Here are some advanced Spanish phrases for essays that will make your work look great:

Ace your essay in Spanish!

2. Power Phrases for Your Cover Letter

In Spain, a cover letter goes a long way when applying for a job. Now that so many people have a good education and are well-experienced, showing who you really are in a few paragraphs can turn the tables in your favor. However, try to maintain a formal structure and use sophisticated vocabulary with these advanced Spanish phrases:

A good cover letter can get you your dream interview.

3. Smart Phrases for Business and Meetings

The business world has its own expressions and slang. Learning how to properly communicate in the workplace can make all the difference when trying to succeed in business. With these advanced Spanish phrases, you’ll learn how to express yourself in a meeting and also how to address others in a professional manner.

Thank your coworkers for coming to your meeting!

4. Bonus: Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

Spanish idioms are very present in everyday conversations. Do you want to know what your teacher means when (s)he tells you to “put on the batteries”? Or maybe what the young people mean when they say “molar”?

Fear not! We’re here to help you master advanced Spanish phrases, idioms, and slang expressions.

Otro gallo cantaría… (“Things would be very different…”)

5. Final Thoughts

In this guide to advanced Spanish phrases, you learned a variety of expressions that will help you improve your speaking and writing for the academic and business worlds. You even picked up several Spanish idioms! 

Studying and working in a Spanish-speaking country is possible for an advanced student such as yourself. However, it’s best to keep on learning and to memorize even more advanced phrases in Spanish. You can continue your studies with the variety of advanced Spanish lessons available on SpanishPod101.com , each one designed with both progress and fun in mind! In fact, we have advanced pathways for different varieties of Spanish: 

• Level 5 Mexican Spanish
• Level 5 European Spanish
• Level 5 Peruvian Spanish

And don’t forget to check out the free vocabulary lists and other useful tools on SpanishPod101.com. They will make your path to mastery both fun and convenient. Create your free lifetime account to get started! 

¡Que te diviertas! (Have fun!)

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Spanish Idioms: 46 Expressions You’ll Hear From Native Speakers

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A fun part of learning to become a more well-rounded Spanish speaker, is learning the more nuanced Spanish, be it slang vocabulary or expressions, that native speakers use in everyday life.

In this post, you’ll learn 46 of the most common Spanish Idioms that native speakers use, so that you can add some flavor to the conversation the next time you are speaking to a friend, colleague or stranger.

So what exactly do we mean by: Spanish idioms.

An idiom is a phrase or fixed expression , which is used with a figurative meaning, rather than the literal meaning.

For example:

• Every cloud has a silver lining
• A stitch in time saves nine
• When life gives you lemons, make lemonade

Just like the English language, many of these idiomatic expressions don’t make a whole pile of sense when translated directly – but are used on a frequent basis by native speakers. Idioms are an abstract entity, often with layers of meaning, nuance, and humor which means that typically you won’t understand what they mean when used in Spanish conversation if you haven’t already learned them.

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A List of Spanish Idioms That You Should Know

Idioms tend to be used most often in certain countries or regions (e.g Latin America vs Spain), which means that the number of idioms we could cover in this post is huge!

For now, we’ll stick the most popular ones in general.

Our list of Spanish idioms includes many familiar English Idioms, but also some idioms that only exist in the Spanish language.

Let’s begin

Spanish Idioms With Colors

Spanish idioms with animals, spanish idioms with food and drinks, spanish idioms with body parts, other important spanish idioms.

Did we miss any Spanish idioms that should be on this list?

Comment below and let us know!

Spanish Idioms: Exercises

Change the word in bold from the sentence with a correct Spanish Idiom

• Rafael compró un auto nuevo la semana pasada, y le costó muchísimo dinero
• Claudia sueña con conocer a su pareja perfecta en el crucero al que irá en diciembre.
• Luis se consigue a su ex-jefa en la farmacia, en la panadería, en el cine. Ella está en todos los lugares  donde él va.
• El hermano de mi mejor amiga nunca le ha gustado estudiar, trabajar o hacer algo productivo. Es el bueno para nada de su familia .
• Mi esposa no pudo dormir anoche , debido a su importante entrevista de trabajo de hoy.
• Daniela olvidó el cumpleaños de su hermana como siempre. Ella tiene muy mala memoria .
• La esposa de Francisco se enojó muchísimo  cuando se enteró de la verdad.
• La familia de mi vecino se comporta de forma muy extraña. Parece que  están locos .
• Él proviene de una familia muy adinerada y educada. Es un joven  perteneciente a la realeza .
• Estoy leyendo un libro muy interesante sobre la mitología griega, pero es muy muy viejo.
• La chica nueva del trabajo es  muy guapa . Le preguntaré su nombre.
• La estudiante  acertó la respuesta rápidamente.
• Las integrantes de mi familia son personas que hablan  de forma   directa, y siempre dicen lo que piensan .
• José llegó  con mucha dificultad  a su trabajo, a causa del tráfico de la mañana.
• Mi abuelo solía ser   una persona muy sagaz. . Siempre con una respuesta a los problemas.

Change the word in bold from the sentence with the correct Spanish Idiom

• Rafael compró un auto nuevo la semana pasada, y le costó un ojo de la cara.
• Claudia sueña con conocer a su media naranja / príncipe azul ,   en el crucero al que irá en diciembre.
• Luis se consigue a sus ex-jefa en la farmacia, en la panadería, en el cine. Ella está hasta en la sopa .
• El hermano de mi mejor amiga nunca le ha gustado estudiar, trabajar o hacer algo productivo. Es la oveja negra de su familia .
• Mi esposa no   pegó un ojo anoche , debido a su importante entrevista de trabajo de hoy.
• Daniela olvidó el cumpleaños de su hermana como siempre. Ella tiene memoria de un pez.
• La esposa de Francisco perdió los estribos  cuando se enteró de la verdad.
• La familia de mi vecino se comporta de forma muy extraña. Parece que  le falta un tornillo / está como una cabra .
• Él proviene de una familia muy adinerada y educada. Es un joven  de sangre azul .
• Estoy leyendo un libro muy interesante sobre la mitología griega, pero es   del año de la pera .
• La chica nueva del trabajo es un bombón . Le preguntaré su nombre.
• La estudiante  dio en el clavo rápidamente.
• Los integrantes de mi familia son personas que hablan sin pelos en la lengua .
• José llegó  a duras penas  a su trabajo, a causa del tráfico de la mañana.
• Mi abuelo solía ser   más astuto que un zorro . Siempre con una respuesta a los problemas.

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50 Spanish Idioms To Use in Your Everyday Conversations

If your goal is to speak Spanish like a native, then at some point you will have to learn to use a variety of Spanish idioms. 

Why not start today? 

In this post, I’m discussing what Spanish idioms are and why you should learn them. I will also give you a list of some of the most common Spanish idioms that you can use in your everyday conversations.

What’s an Idiom?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an idiom is “an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements or in its grammatically atypical use of words.” 

In other words, an idiom is a phrase or an expression that conveys a meaning different from what its words actually say. For example, saying something is “a piece of cake” is an English idiom to express that something is easy to do. 

Spanish Idioms

Every language has its own idioms and Spanish isn’t the exception. For language learners, idioms tend to be a big challenge, as they can be deceiving expressions. It doesn’t matter how many vocabulary words you have learned, the meaning of idioms doesn’t depend on the meaning of their words but on the context and cultural background. 

A proper use and a good understanding of idioms are signs of an advanced learner of the language. Studying Spanish idioms is a way to take your Spanish skills to the next level and dig deep into the most peculiar intricacies of the language. 

50 Best Spanish Idioms 

The following list of Spanish idioms includes the literal meaning of Spanish idioms in English, an explanation of the actual meaning of the idioms, and an example of each one so you can learn how to use them. 

Spanish Idioms About Love

1. encontrar tu media naranja.

Literal meaning: to find your half orange. 

Actual meaning: to find the love of your life.

Carlos encontró su media naranja y se casó.   Carlos found the love of his life and got married.  

2. Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente

Literal meaning: eyes that don’t see, heart that doesn’t feel.

Actual meaning: if you are not around to witness something negative, or don’t find out about it, then it cannot hurt you.

No te preocupes por lo que los demás digan de ti; ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.   Don’t worry about what other people say about you; out of sight, out of mind. 

3. Buscar el príncipe azul

Literal meaning: to look for the blue prince. 

Actual meaning: to look for prince charming.

Sigo buscando a mi príncipe azul.   I keep looking for my prince Charming. 

4. Más vale pájaro en mano, que cien volando

Literal meaning: one bird in the hand is more valuable than one hundred flying birds. 

Actual meaning: value or focus on what you have, instead of what you haven’t gotten.

Tomaré la plaza que me ofrecieron en lugar de seguir esperando. Más vale pájaro en mano, que cien volando.  I will accept the offer rather than keep waiting. I’d better take advantage of what is actually available. 

5. Un clavo saca a otro clavo

Literal meaning: one nail pulls out another nail. 

Actual meaning: a new person will make you forget the old one.

Juan olvidó muy rápidamente a María. —Claro, porque conoció a Erika. Un clavo saca a otro clavo.  

Juan forgot María very quickly. —Of course, because he met Erika. She made him forget her. 

Spanish Idioms About Life

6. ahogarse en un vaso de agua.

Literal meaning: to drown yourself in a glass of water. 

Actual meaning: to make a problem bigger than it is.

Conjugar verbos en español es muy fácil; no te ahogues en un vaso de agua.   It’s easy to conjugate Spanish verbs, don’t make it a big deal. 

7. Ver todo color de rosa

Literal meaning: to see everything in pink color.

Actual meaning: to be extremely positive and think that everything is alright.

Erika no se preocupa; ella lo ve todo color de rosa.   Erika doesn’t worry about anything; she’s very optimistic.

8. Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente

Literal meaning: a shrimp that falls asleep, it’s taken away by the current.

Actual meaning: pay attention or the opportunities will pass you by. 

¡No sabía que había examen!   —Lo siento mucho. Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente.

I didn’t know we had a test! —I’m very sorry. You need to pay attention.

9. Zapatero a tus zapatos

Literal meaning: shoemaker to your shoes.

Actual meaning: focus on doing what you are good at. 

Tú eres buen portero; ¿para qué quieres jugar de delantero? Zapatero a tus zapatos.   You’re a great goalkeeper; why do you want to play forward? Focus on what you’re good at.

10. En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo

Literal meaning: in the house of the blacksmith, knife of wood.

Actual meaning: when you’re an expert in something, you don’t apply it to your own life. 

Eres maestro de español y tus hijos no hablan español. En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.  You’re a Spanish teacher and your kids don’t speak Spanish. 

Funny Spanish Idioms

11. te comió la lengua el gato.

Literal meaning: the cat ate your tongue.

Actual meaning: usually said to kids when they’re very quiet and don’t want to talk. 

¿No quieres hablar conmigo? ¿Te comió la lengua el gato?   Why don’t you want to talk with me? Cat got your tongue?

12. Tomar el pelo

Literal meaning: to grab by the hair.

Actual meaning: to trick or make fun of someone. 

No te estoy tomando el pelo, de verdad hablo cuatro idiomas.   I’m not pulling your leg; I do speak four languages.

13. La curiosidad mató al gato

Literal meaning: curiosity killed the cat.

Actual meaning: don’t be curious about stuff that doesn’t concern you. 

¿Ya son novios Juan y Martha? —No sé, ni me importa. La curiosidad mató al gato.

Are Juan and Martha dating? —I don’t know and I don’t care. It’s none of my business.

14. Dar gato por liebre

Literal meaning: to give a cat instead of a hare.

Actual meaning: to trick, to con, to cheat. 

La pizza que ordené no se ve como en la foto del menú. ¡Me dieron gato por liebre! The pizza I ordered doesn’t look like the one in the picture. They conned me!

15. No tener pelos en la lengua

Literal meaning: to not have hairs in the tongue.

Actual meaning: to say everything without any filter. 

Miguel siempre dice lo que piensa; él no tiene pelos en la lengua.   Miguel always says what’s on his mind; he doesn’t keep anything for himself.

16. Estar hasta en la sopa

Literal meaning: to be even in the soup.

Actual meaning: when someone seems to be everywhere. 

Estoy hastiado de Shakira; está hasta en la sopa.   I’m fed up with Shakira; she’s everywhere.

17. Estar como una cabra

Literal meaning: to be like a goat.

Actual meaning: when someone behaves in a weird or crazy way. 

Jorge está como una cabra.   Jorge is acting out.

18. No tener ni pies ni cabeza

Literal meaning: to not have either feet or head.

Actual meaning: to make no sense. 

Lo siento, pero tu ensayo no tiene ni pies ni cabeza.   I’m sorry, but your essay doesn’t make any sense.

19. Faltarle un tornillo

Literal meaning: to miss a screw.

Actual meaning: when someone is a bit crazy. 

Parece que a María le falta un tornillo, ¿no crees?   It looks like María has lost a screw, don’t you think?

20. Ser uña y mugre

Literal meaning: to be like nails and dirt.

Actual meaning: when two people are too close and do everything together. 

Juan y Mario son los mejores amigos. Son como uña y mugre.   Juan and Mario are best friends; they do everything together.

21. Consultar con la almohada

Literal meaning: to consult with the pillow.

Actual meaning: to sleep on it. 

¿ Vas a inscribirte al curso de español? —No estoy seguro, lo voy a consultar con la almohada. 

Will you sign up for the Spanish course? —I’m not sure, I’m going to sleep on it first.

Spanish Food Idioms

22. pan comido.

Literal meaning: eaten bread.

Actual meaning: when something is too easy. 

Aprender español es pan comido.   Learning Spanish is easy peasy. 

23. A comer y a tomar que el mundo se va a acabar

Literal meaning: to eat and drink because the world is going to end.

Actual meaning: don’t worry and enjoy life now that you can. 

¿No tienes que estudiar para tu examen de matemáticas? —No te preocupes, a comer y a tomar que el mundo se va a acabar. 

Don’t you have to study for your Maths test? —Don’t worry, you only live once!

24. Donde comen dos, comen tres

Literal meaning: where two eat, three eat.

Actual meaning: there’s always enough food to share with someone else. 

¿A tu mamá no le importa que venga a comer a tu casa? —No te preocupes, donde comen dos, comen tres. 

Is your mom okay with me coming for lunch? —Sure! There is plenty of food for everyone.  

25. No importar un rábano (o un pepino)

Literal meaning: to not give a radish or a cucumber.

Actual meaning: not caring at all about something.

Me importa un rábano si Erika ya tiene novio.  I couldn’t care less if Erika has a boyfriend or not.

26. Darle la vuelta a la tortilla

Literal meaning: to turn the tortilla around.

Actual meaning: to reverse events.

El Real Madrid le dio la vuelta a la tortilla y ganó el campeonato.  Real Madrid turned the tide and won the championship.

27. Tener mala leche

Literal meaning: to have bad milk.

Actual meaning: to be upset about something.

Tengo mala leche por haber reprobado el examen de matemáticas.  I’m upset about failing the Math test.

Spanish Weather Idioms

28. llover a cántaros.

Literal meaning: to rain to pitchers.

Actual meaning: it rains very hard.

Está lloviendo a cántaros por mi casa.   It’s raining cats and dogs by my house.

29. Hacer un frío que pela

Literal meaning: to be so cold that it peels.

Actual meaning: to be too cold.

Hoy hace un frío que pela.  It’s too cold today.

30. Caerse el cielo

Literal meaning: the sky is falling.

Actual meaning: when it’s raining too hard.

¡Se está cayendo el cielo!  It’s pouring!

31. Estarse asando

Literal meaning: to be cooking oneself on a grill.

Actual meaning: it’s too hot.

Ayer me estaba asando.  I was too hot yesterday. 

32. Morirse de frío/calor

Literal meaning: to die from cold/heat.

Actual meaning: to be too cold/hot.

¡Me muero de frío!  I’m freezing!

Spanish Common Idioms

33. estar entre la espada y la pared.

Literal meaning: to be between the sword and the wall.

Actual meaning: having to choose between two bad options.

No sé qué hacer, estoy entre la espada y la pared.  I don’t know what to do, I’m between the devil and the deep blue sea.

34. Salirse con la suya

Literal meaning: to get away with it.

Actual meaning: to get your way.

Miguel siempre se sale con la suya.  Miguel always gets away with it.

35. Echarle leña al fuego

Literal meaning: to add wood to the fire.

Actual meaning: to make matters worse.

Déjalo así, ya no le eches más leña al fuego.  Just leave it like that; don’t make things worse.

36. Tener sangre azul

Literal meaning: to have blue blood.

Actual meaning: to belong to the nobility.

Martha piensa que tiene sangre azul.  Martha was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.

37. Tirar la casa por la ventana

Literal meaning: to throw the house out the window.

Actual meaning: to spare no expense.

El papá de María tiró la casa por la ventana con esta boda.  María’s dad spared no expense on this wedding.

38. Estar en todo

Literal meaning: to be in everything.

Actual meaning: to be on top of everything.

Mi profesora de español está en todo.  My Spanish instructor is on top of everything.

39. Ser una gallina

Literal meaning: to be a hen.

Actual meaning: to be a coward.

No seas gallina, ni hace tanto frío.  Don’t be a chicken; it’s not even that cold.

40. Meter la pata

Literal meaning: to put your paw inside.

Actual meaning: to ruin something or to make a mistake.

Metí la pata en el examen de español.  I made a mistake in my Spanish test.

41. Arma de doble filo

Literal meaning: double-edged weapon.

Actual meaning: something that can be positive but also negative.

Ser el preferido de la maestra es un arma de doble filo. Saco buenas notas, pero siempre tengo que poner atención.  Being the teacher’s pet is a double-edged sword. I get good grades, but I have to pay attention the whole time.

Mexican Spanish Idioms

42. a falta de pan, tortillas.

Literal meaning: in the absence of bread, tortillas.

Actual meaning: if you don’t have something, try something else.

No tengo bolígrafo, pero tengo un lápiz. ¿Te sirve?  —Está bien; a falta de pan, tortillas. 

I don’t have a pen, but I have a pencil. Does it help? —Yes, sure!

43. Ya salió el peine

Literal meaning: the comb came out.

Actual meaning: when the truth about something comes out.

¡Ya salió el peine! Fue Carlos quien olvidó cerrar la puerta.  Now we know who did it! It was Carlos who forgot to close the door. 

44. Ponerle mucha crema a sus tacos

Literal meaning: to put too much cream on your tacos.

Actual meaning: when someone is too dramatic or thinks too much of themselves.

María le pone mucha crema a sus tacos en sus proyectos.  María gets too dramatic with her projects.

45. Hacerse pato

Literal meaning: to make yourself a duck.

Actual meaning: to pretend that you don’t understand something.

No te hagas pato con la tarea de español.  Don’t forget to do the Spanish homework.

46. Sepa la bola

Literal meaning: to know the ball.

Actual meaning: having no idea.

¿Cuándo es el examen de español? —Sepa la bola.

When is the Spanish test? —I have no idea.

47. Hablar del rey de Roma

Literal meaning: to talk about the king of Rome.

Actual meaning: when someone appears exactly when you were talking about them.

Hablando del rey de Roma; ¡ahí está Carlos!  Look! It is exactly who we were talking about: Carlos. 

48. De chile, mole y pozole

Literal meaning: of chili, mole, and pozole.

Actual meaning: when there’s a mix of everything.

¿De qué están hablando? —De chile, mole y pozole .  

What are you talking about? —A bit of everything.

49. Dar el avión

Literal meaning: to give the airplane.

Actual meaning: to pretend that you care about what someone is saying.

Hazme caso Miguel, no me des el avión.   Listen to me Miguel, not just pretend that you do.

50. Echar un ojo

Literal meaning: to throw an eye.

Actual meaning: to look at something.

¿Le puedes echar un ojo a mi proyecto antes de que lo entregue?  Can you take a look at my project before I turn it in?

Practice Your Spanish Idioms!

Now that you have learned them, it’s time to practice your Spanish idioms using them in everyday conversations. Mastering these idioms will make your next trip to a Spanish-speaking country easier, as you’ll be able to understand the most colorful expressions of the locals.

Sign up for a free class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala. They teach more than 24,000 actively enrolled students every month and have been doing it for over 10 years! 

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

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Learn A Language Through Stories

90 Authentic Spanish Idioms That Will Get You Mistaken For A Native Speaker

You can measure your success in   learning Spanish  or any other language by how well you understand and use its idioms.

Idioms are phrases that have a figurative meaning, often very different from the literal translation of the words. Idioms are sometimes strange, often funny, and can be quite confusing to non-native speakers.

Think about the following phrases in English and imagine how they would sound to someone learning English.

• Friends like that are a ten a penny
• I just had to bite the bullet
• Don't get bent out of shape over it!

You probably know exactly what the sentences are trying to convey. But the meaning is not readily apparent with the words alone.

Spanish, like English, has a whole slew of idiomatic expressions and phrases that can add colour to your speech…if you can understand them.

By the way, if you want to learn Spanish fast (including Spanish idioms!) and have fun while doing it, my top recommendation is  Spanish Uncovered  which teaches you through StoryLearning®.

With Spanish Uncovered you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn Spanish naturally through story… not rules. It’s as fun as it is effective.

If you’re ready to get started,  click here for a 7-day FREE trial .

How To Learn Spanish Idioms

And going back to the list of English idioms, how did you learn what those phrases mean?

Chances are good you just know them through hearing them over and over in context.

That's also the trick when it comes to idioms in Spanish.

There's no substitute for hearing, reading, and saying idioms hundreds of times in authentic conversation to truly master their usage in Spanish. But before you can try them out yourself, it helps to know what they mean.

That's where this post comes in!

Here are 90 Spanish idioms, including the most common and some of the most memorable you will come across in the Spanish-speaking world.

Yes, this list will help you master Spanish idioms. But I hope it will also be fun to read. The literal translations of many idioms are just plain funny.

See if you can guess the meaning to any of these idioms before reading the translation!

7 Spanish Idioms (And What They Really Mean)

The first 7 idioms on this list are also explained at length in the Fluent Spanish Academy YouTube video below. Click to hear the pronunciation and detailed descriptions of each.

#1 Ser Pan Comido

• literal translation: bread to be eaten
• what it means: to be easy or simple
• English equivalent: a piece of cake

ejemplo: Este examen es pan comido . (This exam is a piece of cake)

#2 Acostarse Con Las Gallinas

• literal translation: to go to bed with the chickens
• what it means: to go to bed early

ejemplo: Ya eres muy aburrido, ahora solo te acuestas con las gallinas  (You are so boring, you only go to bed early now)

#3 Andarse Por Las Ramas

• literal translation: to walk around the branches
• what it means: to avoid the subject
• English equivalent: to beat around the bush

ejemplo: Se anda por las ramas. Aún no me ha confirmado nada  (He's beating around the bush. He still hasn't confirmed anything.)

#4 Peor Es Nada

• literal translation: worse is nothing
• what it means: better than nothing

ejemplo: Esperaba tener más que una semana de vacaciones, pero peor es nada.  (I was hoping to get more than a week of holidays, but it's better than nothing.)

#5 Tal Para Cual

• literal translation: such for which
• what it means: very similar
• English equivalent: like two peas in a pod

ejemplo: Sandra e Ismael son tal para cual (Sandra and Ismael are like two peas in a pod)

#6 Quemarse Las Cejas

• literal translation: to burn your own eyebrows
• what it means: to stay up late working on something
• English equivalent: to burn the midnight oil

ejemplo: No sé por qué te quemaste las cejas, yo te dije que sería fácil  (I don't know why you worked so hard. I told you it would be easy)

#7 Buscarle Tres Pies Al Gato

• literal meaning: to look for three legs on the cat
• what it means: to go looking for trouble

ejemplo: No le busques tres pies al gato. Sabes que tienes que hablar primero con tu novia  (Don't go looking for trouble. You know you have to talk to your girlfriend first)

Pretty fun, right?

Idioms make you sound less like you're speaking from a textbook and more like a native speaker. They use colourful language and can add variety and personality to your conversations.

Some idioms are more common in some areas or have slightly different meanings from place to place , so always take your cues from the native speakers you associate with.

Don't be afraid to ask if you need an idiomatic expression explained…but also don't be surprised if your Spanish-speaking friends have to think for a minute before they can explain what an idiom means.

Ready for more idioms? Then keep reading…

83 More Spanish Idioms To Liven Up Your Speech

Now that you have a feel for what idioms are like in Spanish, here are 83 more colourful idioms you can use to impress your friends.

You can learn these Spanish idioms (and more) in the video below. Otherwise keep scrolling to read all about them.

#1 Con Las Manos En La Masa

• literal translation: with hands in the dough
• what it means: to be caught in the act of misbehaving
• English equivalent: to be caught red-handed

#2 ¿Qué Le Hace Una Mancha Más Al Tigre?

• literal translation: what is one more stripe to a tiger?
• what it means: a little more won't make a difference

#3 Al Mal Tiempo, Buena Cara

• literal translation: to bad weather, a good face
• what it means: face disappointment and make the best of it
• English equivalent: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade

#4 Tener Memoria De Pez

• literal translation: to have the memory of a fish
• what it means: an inability to remember things

#5 Empezar La Casa Por El Tejado

• literal translation: to start the house with the roof
• what it means: do things out of order
• English equivalent: to place the cart before the horse

#6 Meter La Pata

• literal translation: to put the foot in, as into a trap
• what it means: to make a mistake or mess up

#7 Estar Hasta Las Narices

• literal translation: to be in all the way up to the noses
• what it means: to be fed up with something
• English equivalent: neck-deep, in over your head

#8 Estar Como Una Cabra

• literal translation: to be like a goat
• what it means: to act crazy

#9 Como Llevar Arena A La Playa

• literal translation: like taking sand to the beach
• what it means: to do something pointless

#10 Tirar La Casa Por La Ventana

• literal translation: to throw the house out the window
• what it means: to spare no expense and worry about the bill tomorrow

#11 Dar La Vuelta A La Tortilla

• literal translation: to turn the tortilla around
• what it means: to look at something from another side or to turn the tables
• English equivalent: the other side of the coin, on the other hand

#12 Tener Más Lana Que Un Borrego

• literal translation: to have more wool than a lamb
• what it means: to have lots of money

#13 Quedarse De Piedra

• literal translation: to stay like a stone
• what it means: to be shocked, especially into silence

#14 Hablando Del Rey Del Roma

• literal translation: speaking of the king of Rome
• what it means: when you're talking about someone and they just show up
• English equivalent: speak of the devil

#15 Sin Pelos En La Lengua

• literal translation: without hair on your tongue
• what it means: to speak in a straightforward manner

#16 Echar Agua Al Mar

• literal translation: to throw water into the sea
• what it means: to do something pointless or that makes no difference

#17 Si Mi Abuela Tuviera Ruedas Sería Una Bicicleta

• literal translation: if my grandmother had wheels she would be a bicycle
• what it means: this expression is used as a response when someone is wishing something had happened differently or wishing for something that just won't happen

#18 Una Media Naranja / Encontrar Tu Media Naranja

• literal translation: a half an orange / to find your orange half
• what it means: a soul mate/ to find your soul mate

#19 Bueno Y Barato No Caben En Un Zapato

• literal translation: good and cheap won't fit in the same shoe
• what it means: you get what you pay for

#20 No Tener Pies Ni Cabeza

• literal translation: to have neither feet nor head
• what it means: not making any sense

#21 Camarón Que Se Duerme Se Lo Lleva La Corrientes

• literal translation: sleeping shrimp get carried by the current
• what it means: if you don't do anything, you have no control over what happens
• English equivalent: you snooze, you lose

#22 Estar Hecho Un Ají

• literal translation: to be made into a chile
• what it means: to be or get very angry

#23 Estaban Como Tres En Un Zapato

• literal translation: they were like three in a shoe
• what it means: to be squished in or packed in tight
• English equivalent: packed like sardines

#24 A Fin De Cuentas

• translation: in the end
• example: A fin de cuentas , era una casa con mucho valor. (In the end, it was a house of great value.) 

#25 A La Vuelta De La Esquina

• translation: very near
• example: Un año parece mucho tiempo, pero al final el fin del año siempre está a la vuelta de la esquina. (A year seems like a long time, but the end of the year it’s always  just around the corner)

#26 Ahogarse En Un Vaso De Agua

• translation: to exaggerate a problem or give up too easily
• example: Ahora nos ahogamos en un vaso de agua cuando no tenemos Wi—fi (Nowadays, we feel lost when there is no Wi-fi)

#27 Al Tuntún

• translation: randomly 
• example: Comieron en un restaurante al tuntún .  (They ate at a random restaurant.) 

#28 Andar Con Pies De Plomo

• translation: to be cautious 
• example: Tenían que andar con pies de plomo. (They had to be very cautious)

#29 Andarse Con Rodeos

• translation: To not be focused on a matter /To be distracted
• example: No me voy a andar con rodeos . También tengo una historia que contarte. (I am not going to get distracted. I also have a story to tell you.)

#30 Apretarse El Cinturón

• translation: To tighten one’s purse straps 
• example: Pero sí que necesitaba apretarse un poco el cinturón , porque el dinero no crecía en los árboles. (But she did need to tighten her purse straps, since money does not grow on trees.)

#31 Arrimar El Hombro

• translation: Pitch in / to help someone
• example: Quería arrimar el hombro.  (He/She wanted to pitch in / help.)

#32 Así Como Así

• translation: too easily/ carelessly/ just like that
• example: Como comprenderá, no puedo dar el dinero a alguien así como así . (As you can understand, I can’t give the money to someone just like that.)

#33 Caer En Saco Roto

• translation: To fall on deaf ears
• example: Mateo pensaba que el plan de Julia no iba a caer en saco roto . (Mateo thought that Julia’s plan wasn’t going to fall on deaf ears.)

#34 Comerse El Coco / Comerse La Cabeza

• translation: To rack one’s brain over something / to overthink
• example: Se estaba comiendo mucho la cabeza con todo el asunto de Manuel (She/He was racking his/her own brain over Manuel’s whole story)

Tendría que comerse el coco para inventar una excusa. (He/She had to rack his/her brain to make up an excuse)

#35 Como Agua De Mayo

• translation: Something very needed
• example: Además, necesitaba descansar un poco y eso le vendría como agua de mayo . (Moreover, she needed to rest a little, and this seemed to be something she really needed.)

#36 Como Pez En El Agua

• translation: Like a fish in water / to be comfortable in a situation
• example: Se sentía como pez en el agua , nunca imaginó que le podría gustar tanto estar allí.  (He felt like a fish in water, he would have never imagined that he could have liked it so much there.)

#37 Como Un Libro Abierto

• translation: Like an open book / Very clear; with nothing to hide
• example: Nicolás y la gente de Asturias eran como un libro abierto y estaba muy agradecida por el trato recibido. (Nicolas and the people of Asturias were like an open book, and she was very grateful for the way in which she was treated.)

#38 Con Pelos Y Señales

• translation: With many details / precisely 
• example: Julia le contó a Nicolás con pelos y señales cuál era la situación de Manuel. (Julia told Nicolas, with many details, what Manuel’s situation was.)

#39 Cortar Por Lo Sano

• translation: To abruptly stop or finish something
• example: Cortar por lo sano con este estilo de vida va a ser duro. (To abruptly stop this lifestyle is going to be tough.)

#40 Coser Y Cantar

• translation: Very easy
• example: Pensaba que su proyecto tenía mucho sentido pero no iba a ser coser y cantar . (He/she thought that his/her project was sensible, but that it wasn’t going to be easy.)

• translation: To work
• example: Hay que currar mucho. (You have to work a lot.)

#42 Dar El Brazo A Torcer

• translation: To not give in / To put up a fight
• example: Sabía que no ibas a dar el brazo a torcer .  (I knew you weren’t  going to give in.)  

#43 Dar En El Blanco

• translation: To be right / to get something right
• example: Has dado en el blanco . (You got it right)

#44 Dar La Chapa

• translation: To annoy someone / To be insistent
• example: Prometo no darte mucho la chapa. (I promise not to bother you too much.)

 #45 Dar Una Vuelta De Tuerca

• translation: To abruptly change a situation
• example: Sin embargo, la historia dio una vuelta de tuerca . (However, the story changed abruptly.)

#46 Dar La Vuelta (A Algo)

• translation: To think about something a lot
• example: Pensó, entonces en tomar una decisión después de darle vueltas durante varias semanas. (She thought, therefore, to make a decision after having thought about it carefully during the next few weeks.)

#47 Darse Con Un Canto En Los Dientes

• translation: To have better results than initially thought 
• example: En ese mes allí, se dio con un canto en los dientes , porque solo pretendía escribir. (In that month, she realized she was doing better than she thought since she was only pretending to write.)

#48 Echar Leña Al Fuego

• translation: To add wood to the fire / To make a situation worse
• example: No se preocupe, no estoy aquí para juzgarlo ni para echar más leña al fuego . (Do not worry, I am not here to judge you, nor to make the situation worse.)

#49 El Dinero No Crece En Los Árboles

• translation: Money doesn’t grow on trees
• example: Pero sí que necesitaba apretarse un poco el cinturón, porque el dinero no crecía en los árboles. (But she did need to tighten her purse straps, since money does not grow on trees.)

#50 Estar De Coña

• translation: To be joking (colloquial)
• example: ¡Pensaba que estabas de coña! (I thought you were joking!)

#51 Estar En La Cuerda Floja

• translation: To be walking a tightrope 
• example: A Manuel no le quedaba mucho tiempo y su trabajo estaba en la cuerda floja. (Manuel didn’t have much time left and he was walking a tightrope at work.)

#52 Estar Hecho/a Unos Zorros

• translation: to look bad / to be visibly tired or weary
• example: Es muy bonito pero acabas los días hecho unos zorros. (It’s very nice but you end up weary by the end of the day.)

#53 Estar Metido/a En El Ajo

• translation: to be involved / part of an event
• example: Han estado metidas en el ajo de muchos acontecimientos famosos. (They are involved in many famous events.)

#54 Estar Sin Blanca 

• translation: (to be) without money
• example: Estuvo sin blanca para pagar la carrera universitaria mucho tiempo (I didn’t have money to pay for my university tuition for a long time)

#55 Estar/Sentirse Empanado/a

• translation: to be stunned or sleepy
• example: Se sentía empanada.  (She felt sleepy.)
• translation: To flip out/ To freak out 
• example: Te voy a enseñar el fondo del mar. ¡Vas a flipar ! (I am going to show you the bottom of the sea. You are going to freak out!)

#57 Hablar Por Los Codos

• translation: to talk a lot 
• example: ya sé que hablo por los codos , todo el mundo me lo dice. (I already know I speak a lot, everybody tells me so.)

#58 Hacer Algo Al Pie De La Letra

• translation: To do something very precisely / To the letter/ To the T
• example:  Ella no quería seguir un plan al pie de la letra , quería improvisar.  (She didn’t want to follow a plan to the letter, she wanted to improvise.)

#59 Hacer Buenas Migas (Con Alguien)

• translation: to get along with someone
• example: Hice buenas migas con un profesor.  (I got along with one professor.)

#60 Hacer La Pelota

• translation: to flatter someone in order to get something
• example: ¡Deja de hacerme la pelota ! (Stop flattering me!)

#61 Hacerse El/La Sueco/a

• translation: to pretend not knowing something
• example: No te hagas la sueca , amiguita. No te vas a escapar.  (Don’t pretend not to know, little friend. You are not going to escape.)

#62 Hacerse Un Lío

• translation: to be confused about something
• example: Quiero ir a visitarte porque mi próximo destino es Menorca, pero me estoy haciendo un lío con los autobuses y los vuelos. (I would like to come visit you since I am coming to Menorca, but I am getting confused about buses and flights.)  

#63 Hasta Las Tantas

• translation: until a very late hour
• example: Hablaron hasta las tantas y al final Mateo contó su propia historia. (They talked until very late and finally Mateo told his own story.)

#64 Hincar Los Codos

• translation: to study a lot
• example: Mi plan fue hincar los codos hasta llegar a ser abogado.  (My plan was to study a lot until I become a lawyer.)  

#65 Ir Al Grano

• translation: to go straight to the point
• example: Pero no quiero demorarme mucho en contar esta historia, déjeme ir al grano . (But I don’t want to take too long to tell this story, let me get straight to the point.)

#66 Irse A Freír Espárragos

• translation: to send someone packing; tell them to get lost
• example: ¡La universidad se puede ir a freír espárragos ! (The university can go get lost!)

#67 Largo Y Tendido

• translation: for a long time
• example: Tendría que escribir largo y tendido hasta completar el libro. (She has to write for a long time to complete the book.)  

#68 Lavarse Las Manos Con Algo

• translation: to wash one’s hands of something / to avoid responsibility
• example: La universidad todavía se seguía lavando las manos con el caso de Manuel. (The university was still washing its hands of Manuel’s case.)

#69 Liarse La Manta A La Cabeza

• translation: to do something with no fear of repercussions
• example: Es hora de liarse la manta a la cabeza . (It’s time to do something without fear.)

#70 Más Claro Que El Agua

• translation: Crystal clear/very clear
• example: Pero luego, se dio cuenta y lo tuvo más claro que el agua : se trataba de una canción desconocida de un compositor español muy famoso. (Afterwards, it became crystal clear: it was an unknown song by a famous Spanish composer.)

#71 Matar Dos Pájaros De Un Tiro

• translation: To kill two birds with one stone
• example: Así mataría dos pájaros de un tiro (This way, I could kill two birds with one stone.)

#72 Matar El Gusanillo

• translation: to eat something quick to avoid being hungry
• example: Para matar el gusanillo , desayunó algo rápido en un bar del aeropuerto y pidió un taxi. (To calm her hunger, she ate breakfast quickly at the airport and called a taxi.)

#73 Menos Mal

• translation: thank God
• example: Menos mal que estás aquí, Julia. (Thank god you are here, Julia!)

#74 Meterse En Camisa De Once Varas

• translation: to get into trouble
• example: No quería meterse en camisas de once varas. Su prioridad en ese momento era la ruta, ayudar a Manuel. (She didn’t want to get into trouble. Her priority in that moment was her plan to help Manuel.)

#75 No Dar Un Palo Al Agua

• translation: to be lazy
• example: Después de tanto trabajo, ¡va a parecer que no doy un palo al agua ! (After all this work it’s going to look as if I have been lazy!)

#76 No Hay Color

• translation: there’s no comparison
• example: Vivir en la naturaleza es mejor que vivir en la ciudad. ¡No hay color! (Living among nature is better than living in the city. There’s no comparison!)  

#77 No Hay Mal Que Por Bien No Venga

• translation: a bad situation can be a chance to do something good
• example: No era la primera vez que visitaría la ciudad, pero no hay mal que por bien no venga. (It wasn’t the first time she had visited the city, but she made the best of a bad situation)

#78 No Pegar Ojo

• translation: Not being able to sleep a wink 
• example: Julia no pegó ojo en toda la noche, pensando en su decisión  (Julia could not sleep a wink all night thinking of her decision.)

#79 Pasar Por El Aro

• translation: To fall in line / To get over it
• example: Tendría que pasar por el aro y aceptar su despido dentro de un año  (She/ he had to fall in line and accept her dismissal within a year)

#80 Sacar (A Alguien) Las Castañas Del Fuego

• translation: To get (someone) out of trouble
• example: Voy a sacarle las castañas del fuego (I am going to get her out of trouble)

#81 Tener Un As En La Manga

• translation: To have a trick up one’s sleeve
• example: Ella tenía un as en la manga (She had a trick up her sleeve)

#82 Tirar La Toalla

• translation: Throw in the towel 
• example: Nunca tiró la toalla (He never threw in the towel)

#83 Traer Algo Entre Manos

• translation: To have a plan / to be up to something
• example: Confío en ti, Julia. Sé que te traes algo entre manos . No sé qué es, pero necesitas arreglarlo . (I trust you, Julia – I know you are up to something. I don’t know what it is but you need to fix it.)  

Spanish Idioms: The Fun Has Only Just Begun

This list is not exhaustive. Each country and region in the Spanish-speaking world has more idioms than I can list here.

In fact, many Spanish idioms are quite similar to those in English, but I've chosen to focus on those you might not be able to guess the meaning of straightaway.

Idioms are yet another reason why relying on straight translation will only get you so far in learning a new language.

Hopefully this list has inspired you to try your hand at some more colourful expressions. Idioms are supposed to be fun, after all!

Like I said at the start though, there's no substitute for getting exposure to or using idioms when you speak. So that's another great excuse, if ever you need one, to dive into Spanish-speaking literature or movies in Spanish .

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