40+ Spanish Conversational Connectors To Improve Fluency

  • Jada Lòpez
    Written byJada Lòpez
    Jada LòpezSpanish teacher, translator
    🎓 B.A., Translation and Interpreting English and Spanish, Universidad de Granada
    🎓 M.A., Formación de Profesores de Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE), Universidad Pablo de Olavide

    Passionate language teacher and translator. Wife, mother of 3 and amateur surfer.
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40+ Spanish Conversational Connectors To Improve Fluency

It’s not always easy to make a conversation flow naturally, particularly when speaking a language that you haven’t mastered.

So, what’s the best way to impress Spanish speakers and ensure your conversation flows smoothly?

Knowing your Spanish conversational connectors is one of the best ways to do this.

Although the list below is long, there are some Spanish conversational connectors that you’ll use more frequently than others.

What are Spanish conversational connectors?

Spanish conversational connectors are small words or short phrases that link sentences together and help Spanish speakers to engage in your conversations.

To help you understand what a Spanish conversational connector is, it helps to know that some examples of English conversational connectors are “and”, “but” and “although”.

A group of sentences that lack conversational connectors can sound disjointed or disconnected since they stop and start so frequently.

If you’ve found that your conversations sound a bit elementary, perhaps you need to use more Spanish conversational connectors.

With this in mind, let’s go ahead and start the list.

Spanish conversational connectors

Here are the conversational connectors you should keep in mind when expressing yourself in spoken or written Spanish.

Do you recognise any of these?

1. Y

This one-letter Spanish conversational connector is pronounced “ee” and means “and” in English.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

A mí me gustan el chocolate negro y el chocolate blanco.

I like dark chocolate and white chocolate.

2. O

Another one-letter Spanish conversational connector is o. O means “or” and is pronounced as a short “o” sound, like the letter o in “otter”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

A tí te gusta viajar en avión o en tren?

Do you like to travel by plane or train?

3. Para

Use para when you want to say “for” in Spanish. There are particular situations when you should use para and when you should use por, so take a look at our article por vs para to get the gist.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Sofía ha comprado una flor para su abuela.

Sophia has bought a flower for her grandmother.

4. Por

It’s true that por means “for” just as para does. Use por when you want to say “because of” or “through” in Spanish.

Listen to audio

Sofía ha pasado por la calle Real.

Sophia walked through Royal Street.

5. Aún

Aún means “not yet” and can be used in similar examples to its English equivalent. Sometimes you might hear Spanish speakers adding a no to the word aún.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Has terminado la tarea?

Have you finished the task?
Listen to audio

Aún no.

Not yet.

6. Ni

The meaning of this short Spanish conversational connector is “nor”. It can be used to rule out something or two options when speaking.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No voy a viajar en avión ni en coche.

I’m not going to travel by plane or by car.

7. Todavía

Use the Spanish conversational connector todavía when you want to say “yet” in Spanish. It can also mean “still”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Estoy trabajando todavía. Déjame concentrarme.

I’m still working. Let me concentrate.

8. Así que

The Spanish conversational connector phrase así que means “so that”. You might also have heard de esta manera or de este modo used in similar situations.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Pon la chaqueta así que no tendrás frío.

Put your jacket on so that you will not be cold.

9. Pero

This is a common connector. Pero means “but” or “however”. Don’t confuse this one with perro which, with its double rr means “dog”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

A mí me encantaría ir a la fiesta pero tengo que estudiar.

I would love to go to the party, but I have to study.

10. Para mí

When giving your opinion in Spanish, use the Spanish conversational connector para mí to express yourself. It means “for me” or “from my perspective”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Para mí, es una crisis tan grave que el mundo no se recuperará.

For me it’s a crisis so serious that the world won’t recover.

11. Por eso

Por eso means “for that reason” or “because of this”. It can join two logically connected statements or arguments together in Spanish.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No estaba feliz. Por eso estaba llorando mucho.

She wasn’t happy. For that reason, she was crying a lot.

12. Ya que

If you want to say “now that” in Spanish, use ya que. It can be used when one statement follows on from another statement and both are connected to each other.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No voy a la fiesta ya que mi novio ha terminado conmigo.

I’m not going to the party since my boyfriend has broken up with me.

13. No creo que

Giving your opinion can be as simple as starting your sentence with no creo que. It means “I don’t think that”… So you might use it when you disagree with something. Use it with a Spanish subjunctive verb.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No creo que tengas razón. Todo el mundo debería ayudarles.

I don’t think that you’re right. The whole world should help them.

14. Por lo visto

Por lo visto sort of means “as you can see”, or “apparently”. It is used to demonstrate what you’re trying to say by connecting your argument or point to an example.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Es evidente que no podemos ayudarla. Por lo visto, ella no se va a recuperar.

Obviously we can’t help her. Apparently, she’s not going to recover.

15. Por consiguiente

Use por consiguiente when you want to say “therefore”. If you need to draw a conclusion from a point you’ve made previously, por consiguiente is the phrase you’ll need.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Esta tarea es demasiado difícil. Por consiguiente, vamos a pedir ayuda.

This task is too difficult. Therefore, we are going to ask for help.

16. Que yo sepa

Que yo sepa is a Spanish conversational connector that means “as far as I am aware”. Use it to indicate that you’re going to share information or facts to the best of your knowledge.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No creo que haya más pan en las tiendas, que yo sepa.

I don’t think that there is more bread in the stores, as far as I’m aware.

17. Aunque

Aunque means “despite”. It can also mean “even though” and can be used to contrast two separate points that present two sides of an argument.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Aunque te he dicho que el dinero es importante, hay una cosa más importante. Ser feliz.

Even though I have told you that money is important, there is one thing more important. To be happy.

18. A pesar de

Just like aunque, a pesar de means “despite”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

A pesar de las fuertes nevadas, vamos a esquiar por las montañas.

Despite the heavy snow, we’re going to ski through the mountains.

19. Sin embargo

The Spanish conversational connector sin embargo means “however” in English. Use it when you want to make a contrasting point or argument to the point you have made earlier.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

He dicho que no puedes salir después de las diez. Sin embargo, puedes hablar con tus amigos por teléfono.

I have said that you can’t go out after ten o’clock. However, you can speak to your friends on the phone.

20. Además

Además is a Spanish conversational connector that means “in addition” or “what’s more”. If you want to make an additional point, use it to indicate that you’re about to join two ideas together.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Las manzanas tienen mucha vitamina C. Además contienen fibra.

Apples have a lot of vitamin C. What’s more, they contain fibre.

21. De todas formas

The Spanish conversational connector de todas formas means “anyway”. If you want to move on to a different point of view or consider something from a different perspective use this connector to indicate that you want to make a new point.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Este vestido es muy viejo ya. De todas formas, tengo más vestidos que son más bonitos.

This dress is very old already. Anyway, I have more dresses that are prettier.

22. En vez de

If you want to offer an alternative point of view or move from one point to another, use en vez de. It’s a Spanish conversational connector that means “instead of”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Lo sé. Estar sin trabajo es duro. Pero, en vez de quejarte, busca otro puesto.

I know. Being unemployed is hard. But, instead of complaining, look for another position.

23. En concreto

If you want to specify or focus on one particular part of your conversation, use en concreto. This Spanish conversational connector means “specifically” and indicates that you’re going to talk about a particular point in more detail or use a particular example from what you’ve already been talking about.

Listen to audio

Durante la pandemia, no había nada en las tiendas, en concreto pan y pasta.

During the pandemic, there was nothing in the stores, specifically bread and pasta.

24. Aparte de

Aparte de means “except for”. If you’re going to talk about something that is anomalous or doesn’t follow the train of thought that you were making previously, use aparte de.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Todos mis compañeros fueron inteligentes, aparte de yo.

All of my classmates were intelligent, except for me.

25. De todos modos

Use de todos modos when you want to say “anyway” or shift to another perspective. You might hear it in a debate or heated discussion when someone wants to talk about something they perceive as more important than what has already been said.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No creo que su libro esté bien escrito. De todos modos, ha escrito otros más interesantes.

I don’t think that her book is well written. Anyway, she has written others that are more interesting.

26. Tal como

If you want to give an example of something, use tal como to indicate that you’re about to do so. Tal como is a Spanish conversational connector that means “such as” or “for example”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

A mí me gustan los libros del género ciencia ficción, tal como Children of Time y Children of Ruin.

I like science fiction books, such as Children of Time and Children of Ruin.

27. Tan pronto como

Use tan pronto como if you want to show that one event has immediately led onto another point and indicate that these two events might be linked to each other. Tan pronto como means “as soon as”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Tan pronto como la lluvia paró, salió el sol.

As soon as the rain stopped, the sun came out.

28. Mientras

If two events take place at the same time, or you’re making two points that are linked or happen simultaneously, use mientras. It means “while”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Mientras entiendo su punto de vista, no creo que tengas razón.

While I understand your point of view, I don’t think you’re right.

29. Mientras tanto

Don’t get mientras tanto confused with mientras. This Spanish conversational connector means “in the meantime”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Julia estaba trabajando en casa mientras tanto su hermano estaba preparándose para el examen.

Julia was working at home while her brother was preparing himself for the exam.

30. En primer lugar

Use en primer lugar to open or start a list of points all related to the same argument or theme. It means “firstly” in English and can be followed by en segundo lugaren tercer lugar.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

En primer lugar, las mascarillas no serán obligatorias en las calles a partir del jueves.

Firstly, face masks will not be obligatory on the streets from Thursday.

31. Hasta

If one event happens for a duration of time, up until another event, use hasta to show that the event continued up until it was interrupted.

Or if one event is triggered by something else, use hasta. Hasta means “until”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No voy a hablar con mi madre hasta que sepa que todo está mejor.

I’m not going to speak to my mother until I know that everything’s better.

32. Hasta que

Hasta que also means “until”, but can also mean “before”. Note that hasta que is normally used with the subjunctive mood and is followed by a subjunctive verb.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No te daré un helado hasta que limpies tu habitación.

I will not give you an ice cream before you clean your bedroom.

33. Por último

Use por último when you want to bring your argument or point to a close. Por último means “finally”, or “lastly” and you’ll hear it in political discussions.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Y por último, vamos a aumentar los sueldos mínimos de los trabajadores de España.

And finally, we are going to increase the minimum wages of workers in Spain.

34. Pues

Pues means “well…” It’s a short word used in the same way you would pause for thought and contemplate what someone has said to you. Use this Spanish conversational connector to pause and think for a moment.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

¿Piensa usted que el gobierno ha tomado la decisión correcta?

Do you think the government has taken the correct decision?
Listen to audio

Pues… no sé. Tienes que pensar en el futuro.

Well... I don’t know. You have to think about the future.

35. Digo

If you want to clarify what you’re trying to say, use digo to say “I mean”, or “what I’m saying is”. Digo is also a verb that means “I say”.

Listen to audio

Tiene depresión. Digo, pues, no está bien.

She has depression. I mean, what I’m saying is that she’s not well.

36. Bueno

Bueno can mean “good”. But as a Spanish conversational connector, bueno means “well”. It’s used in a similar way to the word “so” or “okay” in speech, or to pause and think for a moment while you gather your thoughts and think of what you want to say next.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

No está feliz. Bueno… la cosa es que he hecho todo lo que puedo.

She is not happy. Well... the thing is that I’ve done all I can.

37. Es que

Es que means “well, the thing is”. It’s a phrase you’ll hear when someone wants to use an excuse to get out of doing something, or to defend their point of view.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Deberías ayudar a tu hermana.

You should help your sister.
Listen to audio

Es que… no necesita mi ayuda.

The thing is... she doesn’t need my help.

38. Vamos a ver

You might hear a variation of this Spanish conversational connector, which is a ver. A ver means “let’s see” or “let’s think for a moment”. Use it when you’re trying to think about the arguments someone has made and want to consider them objectively.

Listen to audio

¿Piensas que el precio del oil va a subir? A ver… Es una posibilidad.

You think that the price of petrol is going to increase. Let’s think for a moment. It’s a possibility.

39. En fin

Use en fin when you’re concluding an argument or finishing up your speech. It means “all in all” in English.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

En fin, todos los seres humanos deberían tener derecho a la libertad de expresión.

All in all, all human beings should have the right to free speech.

40. Es decir

Emphasising a point, or reiterating it in other words, can be signalled with this Spanish conversational connector. Es decir means “in other words”, or “to put it another way”.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

El gobierno es corrupto. Es decir, no toman las decisiones correctas y no ayudan a la gente.

The government is corrupt. To put it another way, they do not make the right decisions and don’t help people.

41. O sea

Use o sea as you would use es decir. It means “in other words” as well.

Usage example:

Listen to audio

Hay demasiados exámenes para los jóvenes. O sea, deberían ser menos.

There are too many exams for young people. I mean in other words, there should be less.

Connect your sentences together with Spanish conversational connectors

Now you’ve got all of these Spanish conversational connectors, you’ll find that your conversations with native Spanish speakers will flow more easily. You won’t be stopping and starting and each point will connect together more seamlessly.

Keep this list handy and try using the connectors to help you sound like a native and impress your Spanish colleagues and friends.


Which Spanish conversational connectors have we missed?

Add them to the comments section just below!

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