Learn Spanish for Beginners Free: Start Today

Ready to learn Spanish as a true beginner? This free, online guide keeps things simple and practical so you can start speaking in minutes a day. You’ll get clear pronunciation tips, must-know phrases, a 10-minute mini lesson, and a 14-day plan you can save as a PDF. Whether you’re learning for travel, work, or fun, follow the steps below to build real confidence fast—without paying a cent.

Start here: quick wins for beginners

When you’re brand-new, aim for consistency over perfection. Commit to 10–15 minutes daily. You’ll make more progress with short, focused practice than with long, irregular sessions. Keep a notebook (or a simple PDF tracker) and write something in Spanish every day.

Pick a simple goal—like ordering a coffee or introducing yourself—and learn only the words needed for that goal. Small wins keep your learning fun and sustainable.

  • Learn the 5 Spanish vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and their single sounds.
  • Memorize 6 greetings and goodbyes: hola, buenos dĂ­as, buenas tardes, buenas noches, hasta luego, adiĂłs.
  • Numbers 1–20 in 10 minutes: 1–10 first, then 11–20.
  • Understand gender endings: -o (often masculine), -a (often feminine).
  • Set a 10-minute timer and speak out loud daily.

Pronunciation & alphabet made easy

Spanish spelling is consistent, which is great for beginners. Vowels are short and pure: a (ah), e (eh), i (ee), o (oh), u (oo). Practice reading out loud; it accelerates learning and builds confidence.

Watch for common sound rules: c and g change before e/i; j is a strong h sound; ll and y often sound similar; r is tapped (like a quick d) and rr is rolled. Accent marks show the stressed syllable (e.g., canciĂłn).

  • c before e/i sounds like s (Spain) or soft s/sh (Latin America): cine.
  • g before e/i is like the harsh h in “Bach”: gente, gimnasio.
  • h is silent: hola, ahora.
  • r single is a tap (pero), rr is rolled (perro).

Core phrases for real-life chats

Master a small set of high-use phrases. Say them slowly, then at natural speed. Pair them with your name, country, and daily routines to create mini conversations.

  • Hola, ÂżcĂłmo estás? – Hi, how are you?
  • Me llamo… / Soy… – My name is… / I am…
  • Soy de… – I’m from…
  • Quisiera… / Me gustarĂ­a… – I’d like…
  • ÂżCuánto cuesta? – How much is it?
  • ÂżDĂłnde está…? – Where is…?
  • No entiendo. – I don’t understand.
  • Más despacio, por favor. – Slower, please.

10-minute mini lesson: present tense + gender

In this quick lesson, you’ll combine a verb, a noun, and a simple adjective. Focus on -ar verbs like hablar (to speak) and the verb ser (to be). Keep sentences short and clear.

Model sentences: Yo soy Ana. Soy de Texas. Hablo inglés y un poco de español. Tengo una taza roja. Note the gender agreement: una taza roja (feminine noun + feminine adjective).

  • Minute 1–2: Warm up vowels aloud: a, e, i, o, u. Read a short sentence twice.
  • Minute 3–4: Conjugate ser: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son. Say: Soy estudiante. Ella es mi amiga.
  • Minute 5–6: Conjugate hablar: hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan. Say: Hablo español un poco.
  • Minute 7–8: Gender practice: un libro rojo (m), una casa blanca (f). Make 4 noun + color pairs.
  • Minute 9–10: Combine: Soy de…; Hablo…; Quisiera… Create 3 mini dialogues and read them twice.

Free 14-day beginner study plan (online + PDF)

Use this flexible plan to build daily momentum. Save it as a PDF so you can check off each day. Keep sessions short—10–20 minutes—and repeat yesterday’s items before adding new ones.

Mix listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Lean on online dictionaries, free podcasts, graded readers, and subtitle settings to stay immersed without getting overwhelmed.

  • Day 1–2: Alphabet, vowels, greetings; introduce yourself out loud.
  • Day 3–4: Numbers 1–20, days, months; ask and tell the date.
  • Day 5–6: Ser + nationalities; soy de…, eres…, es….
  • Day 7–8: Present tense -ar verbs (hablar, estudiar); create 6 personal sentences.
  • Day 9–10: Essential travel phrases; practice ÂżdĂłnde está…?, Âżcuánto cuesta…?
  • Day 11–12: Food words; order with quisiera…; polite phrases por favor, gracias.
  • Day 13–14: Review and record yourself; turn notes into a one-page PDF summary.
  • Helpful free tools: online dictionaries, YouTube channels for beginners, public-domain PDFs (phrase lists), spaced-repetition flashcards, and bilingual subtitles.

FAQ

How many minutes a day should a beginner learn Spanish?
Start with 10–15 minutes daily. Short, focused sessions beat long, inconsistent ones. If you feel good, add another 5 minutes for speaking or review.
What’s the best way for beginners to learn Spanish online for free?
Combine a core phrase deck, a beginner podcast or video with subtitles, and a simple grammar mini lesson. Speak out loud, and write 3–5 sentences daily to lock it in.
Is a PDF enough, or do I need apps too?
A PDF study plan is great for structure, but you’ll progress faster by pairing it with online audio and video so you can train listening and pronunciation.
Should I learn Spain or Latin American Spanish?
Either is fine for beginners. Pick the accent you hear most in your media or travel plans. Core grammar and vocab are 95% the same, so you can switch later.
How long to reach A2 level in Spanish?
With 15–30 minutes a day, many learners reach A2 in 3–6 months. Focus on high-frequency words, present tense, and constant speaking practice.

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