Your Baby’s First 250 Spanish Words and Phrases

Written by Chris Collie in Language Development

Ever since my daughter was born, I try to introduce different Spanish words and phrases to her so that she can start picking up the language. At such a young age, words and phrases are hard to learn and understand, so I wanted to determine the easiest ones first. I did some research to figure out what words and phrases your kids can start learning from a very young age and wrote a helpful blog post.

Here are the first Spanish words and phrases for your babies and toddlers. This post is separated into two parts. I started with Spanish words first and then moved to Spanish phrases. Enjoy!

Your Baby’s First 150+ Spanish Words

Learning words is a very important part of learning a new language. The more words you know, the easier it is to understand what you are hearing or reading. In turn, the more vocabulary you know, the easier it is to speak and write the language.

There are thousands of Spanish words that you can learn. However, choosing which words to learn is not so easy. We suggest that you decide which words you want to learn first with your family and concentrate on those. Here are our suggestions for how to decide which words to learn first:

  • Learn the words that your kids are studying at school
  • Learn the words that your kids hear and read over and over again
  • Learn the words that you know you will need to use a lot with your kids
  • Don’t waste time learning words that are rare or not often used

We have made a list of the first Spanish words that we believe your babies and toddlers will learn. These words are easy and fun. Plus, your kids will use them often! I kept each word in a separate group as listed below.

  • Wild Animals
  • Farm Animals
  • Things That Go
  • Colors
  • Numbers
  • Bathtime
  • Bedtime
  • Mealtime
  • Food
  • Home
  • Outside
  • Clothes
  • People
  • Toys

Wild Animals

Lions, Tigers, and Bears . . . OH MY!!! Here are the animals you might see at the zoo or on an African safari. Feel free to add any words to this list if you want to add more. I have a link at the end of the post with a list of the words that you can download.

  1. Penguin – Pingüino
  2. Butterfly – Mariposa
  3. Zebra – Cebra
  4. Lion – León
  5. Parrot – Loro
  6. Tiger – Tigre
  7. Monkey – Mono
  8. Elephant – Elefante
  9. Fox – Zorro
  10. Owl – Búho
  11. Bear – Oso
  12. Gorilla – Gorila
  13. Camel – Camello

Farm Animals

Old MacDonald Had a Farm . . . E-I-E-I-O!

That song is an oldie, but goodie. My daughter loves having me sing that song over and over with the farm animals and the sounds they make.

Here are the animals we would typically find at the farm or near our house. You can add these animals to your version of Old MacDonald Had a Farm!

  1. Cat – Gato
  2. Dog – Perro
  3. Rabbit – Conejo
  4. Goat – Cabra
  5. Horse – Caballo
  6. Frog – Rana
  7. Goose – Ganso
  8. Pig – Cerdo
  9. Chicken – Pollo
  10. Sheep – Oveja
  11. Bee – Abeja
  12. Cow – Vaca

Things That Go

When you think of things that go, think about planes, trains, and automobiles! The amount of bikes, cars, and boats seems endless. My 3-year-old nephew is especially crazy about anything with wheels! (He may have as many as 300 toy cars!)

Here is our shortlist of Things That Go.

  1. Truck – Camión
  2. Train – Tren
  3. Car – Coche
  4. Airplane – Avión
  5. Tricycle – Triciclo
  6. Tractor – Tractor
  7. Ambulance – Ambulancia
  8. Digger – Excavadora
  9. Mail Truck – Camión De Correo
  10. Bulldozer – Bulldozer
  11. Fire Truck – Camión De Bomberos
  12. Garbage Truck – Camión De La Basura
  13. Bicycle – Bicicleta

Colors

All the colors of the rainbow . . . .

Research has shown that most kids will not be able to differentiate colors until the age of three. Once kids are three, they will be able to let you know all of the colors that they recognize.

Before children turn three, children are still able to learn the words . . . even if they cannot recognize the colors, they will still know their vocabulary.

Here are the basic colors to get your kids started.

  1. Colors – Colores
  2. Yellow – Amarillo
  3. Blue – Azul
  4. Green – Verde
  5. Pink – Rosado
  6. White – Blanco
  7. Purple – Morado
  8. Orange – Naranja
  9. Black – Negro
  10. Red – Rojo
  11. Silver – Plateado
  12. Gold – Dorado
  13. Brown – Marrón
  14. Gray – Gris

Numbers

For the young ones, I kept the numbers brief by only including 0 to 15. As your kids get older, they can slowly work their way up to 100. For now, 0 to 15 is pretty good for smaller kids.

  1. One – Uno
  2. Two – Dos
  3. Three – Tres
  4. Four – Cuatro
  5. Five – Cinco
  6. Six – Seis
  7. Seven – Siete
  8. Eight – Ocho
  9. Nine – Nueve
  10. Ten – Diez
  11. Eleven – Once
  12. Twelve – Doce
  13. Thirteen – Trece
  14. Fourteen – Catorce
  15. Fifteen – Quince
  16. Numbers – Números
  17. Zero – Cero

Bathtime

Most parents will agree that bathtime is a lot of fun for their kids. Splashing around in the warm water during bathtime is a treat.

Here are some of the toys and items you and your kids will use during bathtime.

  1. Boat – Barco
  2. Towel – Toalla
  3. Bathtub – Bañera
  4. Fish – Pez
  5. Duck – Pato
  6. Brush – Cepillo
  7. Toilet – Baño

Bedtime

And parents will also tell you that bedtime can be one of the least favorite times of the day for kids and parents. When things get hairy in our house, I try to throw in a pacifier or read a soothing book.

Here are some of the words we use preparing for bedtime.

  1. Teddy Bear – Osito De Peluche
  2. Book – Libro
  3. Pillow – Almohada
  4. Pajamas – Pijama
  5. Slippers – Pantuflas
  6. Crib – Cuna
  7. Bed – Cama
  8. Lamp – Lámpara
  9. Pacifier – Chupete

Mealtime

Mealtime can be an absolute mess! If you’re lucky, maybe your little one can keep all of their food on the plate. And all of their water or juice can stay in the bottle.

These are some of the words we use during mealtime.

  1. Cup – Taza
  2. Water – Agua
  3. Spoon – Cuchara
  4. Fork – Tenedor
  5. Juice – Jugo
  6. Bib – Babero
  7. Drink – Beber
  8. Bottle – Botella
  9. Eat – Comer
  10. High Chair – Silla Alta
  11. Bowl – Tazón

Food

Yum yum! These foods are some of the basics for a growing child . . . oranges, apples, milk, carrots, tomatoes, etc.

  1. Food – Comida
  2. Orange – Naranja
  3. Apple – Manzana
  4. Banana – Plátano
  5. Cheese – Queso
  6. Blueberries – Arándanos
  7. Pear – Pera
  8. Milk – Leche
  9. Strawberry – Fresa
  10. Carrot – Zanahoria
  11. Tomato – Tomate
  12. Broccoli – Brócoli

Home

From a young age, kids are able to understand when they are in their home. Kids will have a comforting feeling and know where to look for their favorite toys.

Below are some basic words to use for items around the house.

  1. Chair – Silla
  2. Telephone – Teléfono
  3. Clock – Reloj
  4. Picture – Foto
  5. Computer – Computadora
  6. Table – Mesa
  7. Home – Casa
  8. Keys – Llaves
  9. Television – Televisión
  10. Couch – Sofá

Outside

Outside! I’m not exactly sure how, but outside is one of my daughter’s new favorite words.

For these words, we tried to include leaf, stars, sun, tree, flower, and some other common words. Take a look for yourself.

  1. Outside – Afuera
  2. Leaf – Hoja
  3. Flower – Flor
  4. Stars – Estrellas
  5. Lake – Lago
  6. Sun – Sol
  7. Tree – Árbol
  8. Sky – Cielo
  9. Grass – Pasto

Clothes

Getting clothes on a screaming baby or squirmy toddler can be a challenge! Below are clothing items for your little one.

  1. Socks – Calcetines
  2. Shoes – Zapatos
  3. Coat – Abrigo
  4. Pants – Pantalones
  5. T-Shirt – Camiseta
  6. Dress – Vestido
  7. Hat – Sombrero
  8. Clothes – Ropa

People

Parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles love when their little ones can finally say their names. We have included those names and others for you and your kids to begin practicing.

  1. People – Personas
  2. Boy – Niño
  3. Girl – Niña
  4. Baby – Bebé
  5. Mom – Mamá
  6. Dad – Papá
  7. Grandma – Abuela
  8. Grandpa – Abuelo
  9. Brother – Hermano
  10. Sister – Hermana
  11. Uncle – Tío
  12. Aunt – Tía
  13. Cousin – Primo/Prima

Toys

Here are a couple of words commonly used for toys.

  1. Toy – Juguete
  2. Game – Juego
  3. Balloon – Globo
  4. Doll – Muñeca
  5. Ball – Pelota
  6. Kite – Cometa

Your Baby’s First 100 Spanish Phrases

Here are some simple and easy Spanish phrases that you can use with your kids. Keep the phrases short and sweet for good retention. Teach related phrases in groups so that they are easier to remember. And be sure to only introduce about three or four phrases at a time. Once a phrase has been mastered, make it a part of your everyday conversation so that you no longer need to use it in English.

Over time, you will build-up several phrases so that you and your kids can have conversations in Spanish. The key is to use these phrases consistently over time so that your kids remember them.

Greetings

  1. Hi/Hello – Hola
  2. Goodbye – Adiós
  3. Good morning – Buenos días
  4. Good afternoon – Buenas tardes
  5. Good evening – Buenas noches
  6. How are you? – ¿Cómo estás?

Phrases to Start the Day

  1. Wash your hands – Lava tus manos
  2. Brush your teeth – Cepillarse los dientes
  3. Brush your hair – Cepillate el pelo
  4. Put your shoes on – Ponte los zapatos
  5. Put your clothes on – Ponte la ropa
  6. Your pacifier stays in bed – Tu chupete se queda en la cama
  7. Do you want milk? – ¿Quieres leche?
  8. Do you want Cheerios? – ¿Quieres Cheerios?

Phrases for Being Considerate

  1. Please – Por favor
  2. Thank you – Gracias
  3. You’re welcome – De nada
  4. Help me, please – Ayudame, por favor
  5. Can I help you? – ¿Te ayudo?
  6. I’m sorry – Lo siento

Some Basic Phrases

  1. Let’s go – Vamonos
  2. Quick – Rápido
  3. Slow – Lento
  4. Calm down – Tranquilo
  5. Look – Mira
  6. Small – Pequeño
  7. Big – Grande
  8. Good – Bueno
  9. Well – Bien
  10. Bad – Mal
  11. How many are there? – ¿Cuántos hay?
  12. Where are you? – ¿Dónde estás?
  13. Close the door – Cierra la puerta (My daughter is in that phase where she loves closing doors by herself!)
  14. Up! – ¡Arriba! (This is what my daughter says so that we pick her up and hold her)
  15. You’re okay – Estas bien (We say this to comfort our daughter when she hurts herself.)
  16. What’s wrong? / What’s up? – ¿Que pasa? (We ask this when our baby is fussy.)
  17. What do you want? – ¿Qué quieres? (And this is used a lot with What’s wrong?)
  18. Where are you going? – ¿A dónde vas?
  19. Do you need a new diaper? – ¿Necesitas un pañal nuevo? (Common question with babies and toddlers.)
  20. How was school today? – ¿Como estuvo la escuela hoy?
  21. What did you learn? – ¿Qué aprendiste?
  22. Can you say ______? – ¿Puedes decir _________? (Fill-in-the blank with a word you are trying to learn.)
  23. You are my favorite – Tú eres mi favorita
  24. Is Mama your favorite? – ¿Mamá es tu favorita?
  25. Is Dada your favorite? – ¿Dada es tu favorito?

Encouragement and Game Playing

  1. Really good – Qué bien
  2. Good job – Buen trabajo
  3. You can do it – Tu puedes
  4. Well done – Bien hecho
  5. Try again – Intenta otra vez
  6. You did it well – Lo hiciste bien
  7. I like it – Me gusta
  8. I love it – Me encanta
  9. Do you like it? – ¿Te gusta?
  10. That’s it – Eso es
  11. Tell me again – Dime otra vez
  12. Do it again – Hazlo de nuevo
  13. It’s my turn – Me toca
  14. It’s your turn – Te toca

Mealtime

  1. All done? – ¿Todo listo?
  2. Do you want water? – ¿Quieres agua?
  3. Are you thirsty? – ¿Tienes sed?
  4. Are you hungry? – ¿Tienes hambre?
  5. Come eat – A comer
  6. It’s time to eat – Es hora de comer
  7. It’s time for dinner – Es hora de cenar
  8. It’s time for lunch – Es hora del almuerzo
  9. It’s time for breakfast – Es hora del desayuno
  10. Eat – Come
  11. Do you want more? – ¿Quieres más?

Bedtime

  1. It’s bedtime – Es la hora de dormir
  2. Sweet Dreams – Dulces Sueños
  3. Do you want to read a book? – ¿Quieres leer un libro?
  4. Sleep well – Que descanses
  5. I love you – Te quiero
  6. Change your diaper – Cambia tu pañal
  7. Where’s your pacifier? – ¿Dónde está tu chupete?

Simple Commands

  1. Stop – Alto
  2. Go – Adelante
  3. Come here – Ven acá
  4. Be careful – Con cuidado / Ten cuidado
  5. Give me your hand – Dame la mano
  6. Take my hand – Toma mi mano
  7. Walk, please – Camina, por favor
  8. Don’t run – No corras
  9. Don’t touch – No toques
  10. Sit down – Siéntate
  11. Be quiet – Silencio
  12. Hands up! – ¡Manos arriba! (We like to say this to our daughter when we are changing her out of dirty clothes.)

Simple Requests

  1. I need – Yo Necesito
  2. I want – Yo Quiero
  3. Kisses, please – Besos, por favor
  4. Hug, please – Abrazo, por favor
  5. Bring me your shoes – Tráeme tus zapatos
  6. Bring me your socks – Tráeme tus calcetines

Bathtime

  1. It’s time for your bath – Es hora de tu baño
  2. Is that your duck? – ¿Es ese tu pato?
  3. Is that your boat? – ¿Es ese tu barco?
  4. Is the water too hot? – ¿El agua está muy caliente?
  5. Let’s dry off – Sequemos

Want to download the list of all the Spanish words and phrases from this blog post?

CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE PDF FILE. IF YOU HAVE MORE WORDS AND PHRASES THAT YOU WANT TO LEARN, KEEP ADDING THEM TO THE LIST.

First 250 Spanish Words and PhrasesDownload

If you have any trouble downloading the list, please feel free to contact me and I will email it to you.

Chris Collie

Hi! My name is Chris Collie and I love teaching my daughter Spanish. If we are not at school, then we are thinking of new and fun ways to learn different Spanish words and phrases!

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