Sometimes the littlest things make the biggest difference. In Spanish, these "25 little words" are key in correctly interpreting the proper meaning of almost every Spanish sentence.
The bad news is that they are quite varied and it would not be easy to memorize this list and these meanings. The good news, however, is that these words all appear over and over (and over) in Spanish so, for better or for worse, you will get to know them and their meanings very quickly and early on.
Again, don't bother memorizing these, but maybe keep a printed copy with you as you read in Spanish. If you forget a meaning, you can look again at the list; eventually, you will need to do this less and less.
Here is the list, without examples. I repeat it with some examples of each below.
- de = of, from, "possessive"
- la = the (f.s.)*; the one (f.s. demonstrative pronoun); you (f.s. outsider), her, it (direct object pronoun)
- que = that, who (relative pronoun)
- y = and
- el = the (m.s.)
- en = in, on
- a = to, "personal a"
- los = the (m.pl.), them (direct object pronoun)
- se = "passive se"; (reflexive pronoun): itself, himself, herself, yourselves (outsiders), themselves, each other
- no = not, no
- un = a, an, one (m.s., before noun)
- las = the (f.pl.), them (direct object pronoun)
- del = of the (m.s.), from the (m.s.), belonging to the (m.s.)
- por = by means of, in exchange for, along, through, out of, for, because of, near
- con = with
- una = a, an, one (f.s.)
- es = it is, he is, she is, you (outsider) are [when describing how something is essentially]
- lo = it, what's [lo que = what]
- para = in order to, to (for the purpose of), by (a certain date), for
- su = its, his, her, your (outsider)
- al = to the
- como = as, like
- más = more
- o = or
- pero = but
This time with feeling (and examples):
- de = of, from, "possessive"
Es una muñeca de nieve. (literally, "it is a doll of snow") = It is a snowman.
Ellos son de Seattle. = They are from Seattle.
Están con los amigos de Araceli. = They are with Araceli's friends. - la = the (f.s.); the one (f.s. demonstrative pronoun); you (f.s. outsider), her, it (direct object pronoun)
La música de Colombia es la mejor. = Colombian music is the best (music).
¿No es ella la de ayer? = Isn't she the one from yesterday?
Mañana la llamo. (literally, "tomorrow you I call") = I'll call you tomorrow. - que = that, who (relative pronoun)
Es algo que hago todos los días. = It is something that I do every day.
Es una persona que juega muchos deportes. = She/He is a person who plays many sports. - y = and
Tú y yo somos amigos. = You and I are friends. (If both are female, then "Tú y yo somos amigas.") - el = the (m.s.)
El gato y el perro son amigos. = The cat and the dog are friends. - en = in, on
El pez nada en el río. = The fish swims in the river.
El pescado está en el plato. = The fish is on the plate.
["El pez" is a fish that has not been caught. After a fish is caught, it is called "el pescado" (literally, "fished," from the verb "pescar," to fish).] - a = to, "personal a"
Voy a la tienda. = I am going to the store.
[The "personal a" is the use of "a" before a specific direct object considered to have a soul.]
Vió a la niña. = S/he saw the girl. (A specific human.)
Necesito un ayudante. = I need a helper. (Human, but not a specific one.)
Vió el delfín. = S/he saw the dolphin. (Just some dolphin.)
Vió a su perro. = S/he saw his/her dog. (His/her pet.)
Vió el perro. = S/he saw the dog. (Just some dog, viewed as just another animal.)
Vió al perro. = S/he saw the dog. (The "personal a" here suggests that it is a dog which the person somehow recognizes as more than just an animal.)
Vió la lámpara. = S/he saw the lamp. (No soul.) - los = the (m.pl.), them (direct object pronoun)
Los lápices están en la mesa. = The pencils are on the table.
No los veo. = I do not see them. - se = "passive se"; (reflexive pronoun): itself, himself, herself, yourselves (outsiders), themselves, each other
Se dice "Mejor solo que mal acompañado." = It is said "Better [to be] alone than poorly accompanied." (Or if you are female, "Mejor sola que mal acompañada.")
Se llama Bob. = He is called Bob.
Se mira en el espejo. = S/he looks at himself/herself in the mirror.
Se miran. = They look at each other. - no = not, no
No me mires así. = Do not look at me like that.
¿Vienes con nosotoros, sí o no? = Are you coming with us? Yes or no? - un = a, an, one (m.s., before noun)
Él es un buen amigo. = He is a good friend.
Es un honor poder trabajar con ella. = It is an honor to be able to work with her.
Un día, todo esto será tuyo. = One day, all of this will be yours. - las = the (f.pl.), them (direct object pronoun)
Las científicas están dando una conferencia en el congreso. = The scientists [all female] are giving a lecture at the convention.
No encuentro las llaves. ¿Las tienes tú? = I can't find the keys. Do you have them? - del = of the (m.s.), from the (m.s.), belonging to the (m.s.)
Es el fin del camino. = It is the end of the road.
Sacó un libro del estante. = S/he took a book from the shelf.
Son los perros del vecino. = They are the neighbor's dogs. [Literally, "the dogs of the neighbor."] - por = by means of, in exchange for, along, through, out of, for, because of, near
Llegó al poder por una serie de conexiones personales y profesionales. = S/he came into power (literally, "arrived to power") by means of a series of personal and professional connections.
¿Cuánto me das por la bicicleta? = How much (money) will you give me (in exchange) for the bike?
Con la tiza, trazo una línea por el borde del papel. = With the chalk, I trace a line along the edge of the paper.
La Caperucita Roja camina por el bosque. = Little Red Riding Hood walks through the forest.
Él todo lo hace por amor. = He, everything he does (he does) out of love.
Lo hago por ti. = I do it for you.
Por descuido siempre pierde sus cosas. = Because of carelessness, s/he always loses his/her things.
La biblioteca está ahí por la catedral. = The library is over there near the cathedral. - con = with
Quiere arroz con pollo y café con leche. = S/he wants rice with chicken and coffee with milk. - una = a, an, one (f.s.)
Tengo un hermano y una hermana. = I have one brother and one sister.
Quiero una manzana y una caja de jugo. = I want an apple and a box of juice. - es = it is, he is, she is, you (outsider) are [when describing how something is essentially]
Es un edificio alto. = It is a tall building.
Es actor de cine. = He is a film actor.
Mi mamá es maestra de primaria. = My mom is an elementary (school) teacher.
Usted es la ganadora. = You are the winner. [For a male winner, "Usted es el ganador."] - lo = it, what's [lo que = what]
¿Tienes mi lápiz? No, no lo tengo. = Do you have my pencil? No, I do not have it.
Lo bonito de este carro es su diseño. = What's beautiful about this car is its design.
Eso no es lo que creo. = That is not what I believe. - para = in order to, to (for the purpose of), by (a certain date), for
Para ser rico hay que saber ganar el máximo de dinero en el mínimo de tiempo. = In order to be rich one must know how to earn the most money in the least time.
Prepara comidas ricas para hacer feliz a su pareja. = S/he makes delicious meals to make (for the purpose of making) his/her partner happy.
Lo necesito para el jueves. = I need it by Thursday.
¿Son para mí? = Are they for me? - su = its, his, her, your (outsider)
El perro está en su casa. = The dog is in his house.
Carlos siempre come su almuerzo en casa. = Carlos always eats his lunch at home.
Ella manda muchos texts a su novio. = She sends lots of texts to her boyfriend.
Su carroza le espera. = Your carriage awaits. - al = to the
Vamos primero a la playa y luego al parque. = First we are going to the beach and then to the park. - como = as, like
Se disfraza como Superman. = He gets dressed up as Superman.
De mayor quiero ser como ella. = When I grow up, I want to be like her. - más = more
Siempre quieren más y más. = They always want more and more.
¿Me das más arroz? = Could you give me more rice? - o = or
Es cuestión de vida o muerte. = It is a matter of life or death. - pero = but
Debo hacerlo, pero no quiero. = I should do it, but I don't want to.
*f.s.= feminine singular,
m.s. = masculine singular,
f.pl. = feminine plural,
m.pl. = masculine plural
