Etiqueta: learning spanish

Learning Spanish is an exciting journey, but just like with any new language, it’s normal to make mistakes in the beginning. In this post, I’ll share the most common mistakes Spanish learners make — and how you can avoid them to make faster progress!

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1. Translating word for word from your native language

❌ Example: Estoy caliente (when you mean I’m hot)

👉 Why it’s a mistake: Some expressions don’t translate literally. In Spanish, you use “tener” (to have) for physical sensations like being hot, hungry, or afraid (Tengo calor, tengo hambre, tengo miedo).

✅ Tip: Learn complete expressions as fixed phrases. Don’t try to translate each word — memorize the whole structure.

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2. Forgetting noun genders (el / la)

❌ Example: La problema
✅ Correct: El problema

👉 Why it’s a mistake: Every noun in Spanish is either masculine or feminine. Some don’t follow clear rules, so you have to learn the article with the noun.

✅ Tip: When you learn new vocabulary, always include the article (el or la) to help you remember the correct gender.

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3. Mixing up «ser» and «estar»

❌ Example: Estoy profesora
✅ Correct: Soy profesora

👉 Why it’s a mistake: Both verbs mean “to be,” but they’re used in different situations.

• Use ser for identity: Soy mexicana, soy estudiante.
• Use estar for temporary states or locations: Estoy cansado, estoy en casa.

✅ Tip: Learn through examples and make your own sentences to practice. Check our post on this topic: Blog or get the complete guide on this verbs: Ser vs Estar

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4. Mispronouncing letters based on English

❌ Common mistake: Saying the “h” sound or pronouncing “ll” like an English “L”

👉 Important to know:

• The “h” is silent in Spanish.
• In most accents, “ll” is pronounced like a “y”: llamo = yamo

✅ Tip: Listen to native Spanish speakers (on YouTube, in podcasts, or songs) and repeat what you hear. Imitation is key to good pronunciation!

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5. Being afraid to make mistakes

Many beginners hold themselves back because they want to speak perfectly from day one.

👉 Reality: Mistakes are part of the learning process. Everyone makes them!

✅ Tip: Talk, write, mess up — and learn from it! The more you practice, the faster you’ll gain confidence and fluency.

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✨ Gaby’s Tip

An error tracking sheet is an excellent tool for active learning. Here’s a free downloadable worksheet that you can use digitally or in print.

Use this sheet every time you make a mistake while speaking or writing in Spanish. And, of course, reflect on why it was a mistake (grammar? pronunciation? vocabulary?).

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What about you?

Have you made any of these mistakes? Which ones surprised you? Let me know in the comments!