Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is spoken by close to half a billion people in over 20 countries. It’s also one of the most common languages offered by language-learning applications.
So, what’s the best way to learn Spanish? It’s a language I have dabbled in myself, and in the following guide, I’ll highlight the best methods for learning as a beginner, on a budget, and as an advanced learner seeking fluency.
What Are the Best Ways to Learn Spanish?
First, let’s address the elefante in the room: there is no single “best” way to learn Spanish. It really depends on what type of learner you are and how you process information, as well as how you spend your free time.
In my case, for instance, I spend most of my time working, often sit in silence, and don’t really like talking to people. I’m as anti-social as they come.
You could tell me that the best way to learn Spanish is pure immersion—surrounding myself with as many Spanish people as possible and making lots of friends. It’s effective, sure, but it ain’t me. I also wouldn’t have the time for that, and can’t really play Spanish TV/music in the background while trying to read/write in English.
Your current level and budget are also important, so let’s address some of the different ways to learn depending on your situation.
What’s the Best Way to Learn Spanish as a Beginner?
Being a beginner is an exciting and crucial time. You’ll learn the most at this stage, but you’re also more prone to giving up and feeling like learning a language just isn’t for you.
It’s best, therefore, not to jump in at the deep end and start learning grammar or watching Spanish TV. You need to pick up as much as possible in as little time as possible.
Some of the best options include:
Pimsleur
I love Pimsleur. It is perfect for beginners.
I ignored it for a long time because I considered myself to be more of a visual learner. I also spend my days writing and reading and don’t have much free time, so it just wouldn’t work. Or so I thought.
But when I eventually caved in, I realized that just 30 minutes every other day (while working out, doing chores, or even playing video games) was enough to progress.
I use Pimsleur for every language that I learn. It doesn’t help with total fluency, but it’ll get you through the basics, especially with Spanish, as it covers 5 levels and multiple dialects.
Duolingo
Although Duolingo is not the best way to attain fluency, it’s great if you’re a complete beginner and it’s also ideal when used in combination with other learning methods.
The free version is often good enough, especially in the beginning. Make sure you take your time and read aloud to get the maximum benefits.
Short Stories by Olly Richards
Olly Richards is a YouTuber, educator, and author. He writes a series of books for new language learners. The books feature simple short stories and are easy to follow. Usually, beginner reading options are limited to children’s books. It’s nice to be able to read them, but they’re far from interesting and likely won’t hold your attention.
Olly’s books feel a little more substantial, they are more enjoyable, and you’ll get a sense of your true progress when you read those first few pages.
I’ve read Olly’s Norwegian stories, but he also has a book of Spanish stories.
Learn Simple Phrases
There are a lot of YouTube channels out there that explore the Spanish language and teach you about its nuances, as well as the customs and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. But you should keep it simple to start with.
This BBC page has some fantastic guides to Spanish words and phrases, and will also teach you Spanish grammar rules with some easy-to-follow videos.
This video is a good place to start as well, while this one contains an hour of basic conversions.
Babbel or Rosetta Stone
I don’t usually recommend these apps as I didn’t have the best experiences with them. But they worked…to an extent. I used Rosetta Stone when I started learning Greek and while it wasn’t the best method, I still recall words I learned from those app images and stories. I can even picture the Rosetta Stone images when I hear the words.
If you have a short attention span or tend to treat language apps like a game where the goal is to race to the finish, give them a miss. If you’re willing to spend time with the apps, read all the extra guides, play the games, and recite the phrases aloud, give them a try for a month or two.
If you like what you see, you can pick up a 6-month subscription. Don’t be tempted to get unlimited or even annual access. I very nearly made that mistake when I saw a “limited-time offer”, only to stop using the app a few weeks later.
How to learn the Spanish alphabet as a beginner
An hour today, an hour tomorrow, a few minutes thereafter—that’s usually all it takes to memorize the Spanish alphabet. It uses the same letters as the English alphabet, after all.
Take a look at the table below for a list of all the letters and tips on pronouncing them.
| Letter | Name | Pronunciation |
| A | A | Ah |
| B | Be | Beh |
| C | Ce | Seh |
| CH | Che | Cheh |
| D | De | Deh |
| E | E | Eh |
| F | Efe | Eh-Feh |
| G | Ge | Heh |
| H | Hache | Ah-cheh |
| I | I | Ee |
| J | Jota | Hoh-ta |
| K | Ca | Kah |
| L | Ele | Eh-leh |
| M | Eme | Eh-meh |
| N | Ene | Eh-neh |
| Ñ | Eñe | Eh-nyeh |
| O | O | Oh |
| P | Pe | Peh |
| Q | Cu | Koo |
| R | Erre | Eh-rreh |
| S | Ese | Eh-seh |
| T | Te | Teh |
| U | U | Oo |
| V | Ve or Uve | Beh or Oo-beh |
| W | Doble ve or Uve doble | Doh-bleh beh or Oo-beh doh-bleh |
| X | Equis | Eh-kees |
| Y | Ye | Ee |
| Z | Zeta | Seh-tah |
What is the fastest method to learn Spanish?
Learning a new language is a long process. You need to get used to certain words and phrases, and that takes time. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut.
If you want to learn as quickly as possible, try immersing yourself in the language. Get a tutor to teach you Spanish grammar. Make friends with Spanish speakers to keep the words and phrases fresh. Read books. Watch TV shows. The more you speak Spanish and immerse yourself in the language, the more you will learn.
Preply is a great place to meet tutors, and as Spanish is spoken by so many people in many countries, the competition is fierce and there are countless low-cost tutors.
How can I learn Spanish by myself?
Not keen on speaking to others? It will make it difficult to learn, and it’ll also leave you somewhat shell-shocked when you eventually encounter your first local.
If that’s where you want to go, I recommend finishing the Pimsleur Spanish course to master speaking and listening, using Duolingo to pick up new words, and watching TV/reading books when ready.
Best Ways to Learn Spanish for Free
Duolingo has a free version that’s worth a look. You can also find some helpful videos on YouTube. The BBC site outlined above is free and has some helpful Spanish courses. Memrise is helpful too, and if that doesn’t work for you, just create a document with the most common words and the words you struggle with. Check the document regularly, test yourself, and only delete the words when you know them.
When you reach the intermediate stage, you can start listening to Spanish podcasts, reading books, and watching films (English with Spanish subtitles; Spanish with English subtitles). To get to that point, it’s all about the grind.
Can Duolingo make you fluent in Spanish?
Duolingo is not going to make you fluent, not on its own. It would be nice to think that spending 5 or 10 minutes a day on an app is enough to attain fluency, but it’s not.
I know that from experience. You eventually reach a point where you race through each lesson just to meet your daily quota. You don’t process anything. You don’t learn anything. It’s just about keeping the streak alive. And even if you do it slowly and pay attention, it’s not enough.
If you want fluency, you’ll need to use Duolingo alongside other methods. Schedule lessons with a tutor. Chat with native speakers. Read. Watch TV. More importantly, practice Spanish every day and actually devote yourself to your practice.
Best Ways to Become Fluent in Spanish
You’ve completed Pimsleur and had your fill of Duolingo; you’ve tried Babbel, given up on other apps, and feel like you’ve hit a plateau. Now what?
Here are some of the best methods for attaining fluency in Spanish:
Preply
Preply is a peer-to-peer platform that connects students with teachers from around the world. There are probably more Spanish tutors than tutors in any other language, so you’re spoilt for choice.
You can connect with native Spanish speakers offering themselves as conversation partners or book lessons with knowledgeable and experienced educators. You can set the times and work with as few or as many tutors as you want. Everything happens on the platform, including the lessons, whereby the student and teacher connect via webcam and share conversations, texts, and exercises.
Spanish lessons begin at a very low price, so while it’s definitely not a free way to learn Spanish, it is one of the best.
Lingopie
Lingopie is a platform for watching TV shows in other languages. I haven’t had a chance to use it as often as I would have liked, as most of the languages I learn are not covered, but I have liked what little I have seen of it.
More importantly, it supports a method of learning I fully agree with, which is learning a new language by immersing yourself in native content.
Try the free version to see if it’s for you. It costs around $12 a month. If that’s too much, you can try watching native content elsewhere. Netflix has a lot of Spanish content, as do other streaming platforms.
Linq
I have spoken about Linq before. It’s an app filled with stories in other languages. You can read, listen, and store words for later use. It’s a great little app. The only issue I have with it is that the free version is very restrictive.
Give it a try. Spend some time on it, and keep going until you hit those limitations. If you find that you like it and don’t mind paying for it, get the premium version. It’s not for everyone though, so don’t rush in with that premium subscription.
Visit a Spanish-speaking country
Obviously, this is not a budget-friendly option. It’s not the most accessible option either. But it can make a massive difference.
If you have the time and money, book a vacation to a Spanish-speaking country and start speaking Spanish. Shop assistants, airport staff, hotel staff, locals—chat with as many people that will listen.
Try to avoid taking the easy road and asking ¿hablas inglés?. It’s tempting, especially when you’re struggling to be understood. But that’s not how you learn. Persist and you will find a way.
Why Should You Learn the Spanish Language?
Now we have addressed the best ways to learn Spanish, the only question that remains is why?
Well, most people learn Spanish because they have some connection to the language. They might have a friend or family member from a Spanish-speaking country. They might have a passion for Spanish TV or plan to move somewhere that speaks the language.
It’s also commonly taught at schools and is a popular second language choice for English speakers.
Regardless of how or why, it’s a language that’s well worth learning. There is a wealth of great Spanish TV shows, films, and books. The sheer amount of consumable content is enough to rival English, and while that won’t mean much when you’re a beginner, you’ll be thankful for it when you reach the intermediate stage.
Tutors are also cheap, and as it’s spoken in many countries and by hundreds of millions of people, you’ll have plenty of practice.