Spanish linking words vocabulary

40 words at level A2, with English translations and example sentences. Spain's words come first, with Latin American alternatives where they differ.

Spanish	English	Example
y	and (e before a word starting with an i sound: padres e hijos)	Tengo un hermano y una hermana. I have a brother and a sister.
o	or (u before a word starting with an o sound: siete u ocho)	¿Té o café? Tea or coffee?
pero	but	Es caro, pero es muy bueno. It's expensive, but it's very good.
porque	because	Estudio español porque me gusta viajar. I study Spanish because I like travelling.
como	like, as; since (at the start of a sentence); how; also: I eat (from comer)	Como llovía, nos quedamos en casa. As it was raining, we stayed at home.
así que	so (result)	Estaba cansado, así que me fui a dormir. I was tired, so I went to bed.
entonces	then; so, in that case	Entonces, ¿quedamos a las ocho? So, shall we meet at eight?
además	also, besides, as well; además de = as well as	El piso es barato y, además, está en el centro. The flat is cheap and, what's more, it's in the centre.
también	also, too, as well	Yo también soy estudiante. I'm a student too.
sin embargo	however, nevertheless	Es muy simpático; sin embargo, no tiene muchos amigos. He's very nice; however, he doesn't have many friends.
aunque	although, even though; even if	Aunque llueve, vamos a salir. Although it's raining, we're going out.
por eso	that's why, so	Tengo examen mañana; por eso no salgo. I have an exam tomorrow; that's why I'm not going out.
por ejemplo	for example	Me gustan las frutas tropicales, por ejemplo, el mango. I like tropical fruit, for example mango.
en primer lugar	firstly, in the first place	En primer lugar, quiero dar las gracias a todos. Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone.
luego	then, later; hasta luego = see you later	Primero desayuno y luego me ducho. First I have breakfast and then I have a shower.
después	after, afterwards, later	Después de cenar, veo una serie. After dinner, I watch a series.
al principio	at first, at the beginning	Al principio no entendía nada. At first I didn't understand anything.
al final	in the end; at the end	Al final, fuimos al cine. In the end, we went to the cinema.
por último	lastly, finally	Por último, apagamos las luces. Finally, we turned the lights off.
por fin	at last, finally	¡Por fin es viernes! It's Friday at last!
de repente	suddenly	De repente, empezó a llover. Suddenly, it started to rain.
mientras	while	Escucho música mientras cocino. I listen to music while I cook.
cuando	when; whenever	Cuando era niño, vivía en Cádiz. When I was a child, I lived in Cádiz.
si	if; whether	Si llueve, nos quedamos en casa. If it rains, we'll stay at home.
o sea	I mean, in other words (informal)	Llego el día doce, o sea, el lunes. I'm arriving on the twelfth, I mean, on Monday.
es decir	that is (to say)	Vivo en la capital, es decir, en Madrid. I live in the capital, that is, in Madrid.
en cambio	on the other hand, whereas	Mi hermana es muy alta; yo, en cambio, soy bajita. My sister is very tall; I, on the other hand, am quite short.
por un lado… por otro (lado)…	on the one hand… on the other (hand)…	Por un lado, es caro; por otro, es muy cómodo. On the one hand it's expensive; on the other, it's very comfortable.
de todas formas	anyway, in any case	De todas formas, te llamo mañana. Anyway, I'll call you tomorrow.
la verdad es que	the truth is, actually	La verdad es que no me apetece salir. Actually, I don't feel like going out.
ya que	since, given that	Ya que estás aquí, ¿me ayudas? Since you're here, will you help me?
sobre todo	above all, especially	Me gusta la fruta, sobre todo las fresas. I like fruit, especially strawberries.
incluso	even; including	Trabaja todos los días, incluso los domingos. She works every day, even on Sundays.
es que…	it's just that…, the thing is… (giving a reason or excuse)	No puedo ir; es que tengo mucho trabajo. I can't go; the thing is, I've got a lot of work.
pues	well; then, so	Pues no sé, la verdad. Well, I don't really know.
a lo mejor	maybe, perhaps (+ indicative)	A lo mejor voy a la fiesta. Maybe I'll go to the party.
por lo menos	at least	Duerme por lo menos ocho horas. Sleep at least eight hours.
en realidad	actually, in fact	En realidad, no es tan difícil. Actually, it's not that difficult.
tampoco	neither, not either	No me gusta el café. —A mí tampoco. I don't like coffee. – Neither do I.
ni… ni…	neither… nor…	No bebo ni café ni té. I drink neither coffee nor tea.

Learn them with flashcards. SparkAI turns this list into flashcards that come back when they're due, with audio and example sentences.

Learn these words free All Spanish word lists

Spanish linking words vocabulary

More Spanish vocabulary