The Ultimate List of Spanish Transition Words
Contents
Transition words are a fundamental part of any language. They’re words or phrases that are used to connect ideas and allow you to "transition" between sentences and paragraphs in a natural manner.
Without them, speech sounds robotic and stilted. But by mastering a few key Spanish transition words, you can elevate both your speaking and writing skills to sound more fluent.
Follow this guide to Spanish transition words to understand what transition words are and how they can be used as well as to boost your conversational Spanish.
What Are Spanish Transition Words
Transition words in Spanish play the same role as transitional words or phrases in any other language. They allow us to move between sentences and ideas with greater clarity and flow. These "transitions" help guide the listener or reader through your speech or writing more smoothly, making it easier to communicate your message clearly.
Before we delve into the different categories of Spanish transition words, let’s start with a few simple examples to help you understand the role transition words play.
Examples:
- She wanted to stay home. However, her friends convinced her to go out.
"However" is the transition word, it signals the contrast between what she wanted and what happened.
- He didn’t study for the test. As a result, he didn’t pass.
"As a result" is the transition phrase. It indicates the consequence of an action, in this case, not studying.
Types of Transition Words in Spanish
Spanish transition words can be categorized into different groups depending on their purpose. Here are eight different categories Spanish transition words fall into:
- Addition. Used to add information or expand an idea.
- Contrast and compare. Used to show differences, similarities, or compare ideas.
- Result. Used to show cause and effect.
- Example or illustration. Used to explain a point by giving an example.
- Emphasis. Used to stress or highlight an important part of the sentence or paragraph.
- Time. Used to show order or progression in time.
- Place. Used to connect ideas according to their place.
- Summary or conclusion. Used to wrap up or conclude points.
Let’s now take a closer look at each category, with common transition words and examples to show how they’re used.
1
Addition
Use these transition words when you want to add information, context, or expand an idea.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Y | And | Empacó un suéter y trajo un paraguas por si llovía.
(She packed a sweater, and she brought an umbrella in case it rained.) |
| También | Also | El nuevo café sirve un excelente café. También, el personal es increíblemente amable.
(The new cafe serves great coffee. Also, the staff is incredibly friendly.) |
Además (formal) | Additionally | El medicamento puede reducir el dolor. Además, puede ayudar a mejorar el sueño.
(The medication can reduce pain. Additionally, it may help improve sleep.) |
Por otro lado (formal) | Moreover, on the other hand | La ciudad es emocionante y llena de vida. Por otro lado, puede ser abrumadora y ruidosa.
(The city is exciting and full of life. On the other hand, it can be overwhelming and noisy.) |
Igualmente (formal) | Likewise, similarly, furthermore | A María le encanta leer antes de dormir. Igualmente, su hermana pasa todas las noches con un libro.
(Maria loves reading before bed. Likewise, her sister spends every evening with a book.) |
Contrast and compare
Use contrast and compare Spanish transition words to help compare ideas, people, or objects.
| Spanish | English | Example |
Sin embargo (formal) | However | Le encanta la comida picante. Sin embargo, su estómago no la tolera bien.
(She loves spicy food. However, her stomach doesn’t handle it well.) |
| En cambio | In contrast | A Tom le gustan las actividades al aire libre. En cambio, su hermano prefiere quedarse en casa y leer.
(Tom enjoys outdoor activities. In contrast, his brother prefers to stay indoors and read.) |
A pesar de (formal) | Despite | A pesar de la lluvia, siguieron adelante con el picnic
(Despite the rain, they went ahead with the picnic.) |
| Como | Like | Carla es muy buena con los números, como su padre.
(Carla is very good with numbers, like her father.) |
| Pero | But | Trató de mantenerse despierto, pero se durmió durante la película.
(He tried to stay awake, but he fell asleep during the movie.) |
Just like in English, some transition words in Spanish are considered more formal than others. In general, formal words are reserved for academic writing, formal speech, business presentations, and essays.
Here’s an example of formal and informal transition words:
- Formal
La teoría es ampliamente aceptada. Sin embargo, estudios recientes cuestionan su validez.
(The theory is widely accepted. However, recent studies challenge its validity.)
- Informal
Suena bien, pero no estoy seguro de que funcione.
(It sounds good, but I’m not sure it’ll work.)
Result
These transition words and phrases are used to show cause and effect between sentences and ideas.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Como resultado | As a result | No durmió bien anoche. Como resultado, estuvo muy cansada en el trabajo.
(She didn’t sleep well last night. As a result, she was very tired at work.) |
En consecuencia (formal) | As a consequence | No cumplió con la fecha límite. Como consecuencia, el proyecto se retrasó.
(He missed the deadline. As a consequence, the project was delayed.) |
Por lo tanto (formal) | Therefore | La carretera estaba bloqueada. Por lo tanto, tuvimos que buscar otra ruta.
(The road was blocked. Therefore, we had to find another route.) |
| Así que | So, thus | Empezó a llover, así que cancelamos el picnic.
(It started raining, so we cancelled the picnic.) |
| Por eso | Therefore, that’s why | Estaba muy cansada. Por eso, se fue a dormir temprano.
(She was very tired. That’s why she went to bed early) |
Example or illustration
These Spanish transition words are used to give examples, to illustrate, or to explain an idea. They help give context to your sentence and make it easier for listeners to follow what you’re saying.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Por ejemplo | For example | Muchas frutas son ricas en vitamina C. Por ejemplo, las naranjas y los kiwis.
(Many fruits are rich in vitamin C. For example, oranges and kiwis.) |
| Ya que | Since, given that | Traje una chaqueta, ya que parecía que iba a llover.
(I brought a jacket, since it looked like it might rain.) |
| En otras palabras | In other words | El tratamiento no fue efectivo. En otras palabras, no funcionó.
(The treatment wasn’t effective. In other words, it didn't work.) |
Es decir (formal) | That is | Ella es dietista, es decir, una especialista en nutrición.
(She’s a dietitian, that is, a specialist in nutrition.) |
| Entre ellos | Including | Compré varios snacks para la reunión, entre ellos galletas y papas fritas.
(I bought several snacks for the meeting, including cookies and chips.) |
Emphasis
These transition words are used to strengthen the part of the sentence or paragraph that you wish to emphasize.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Especialmente | Especially, particularly | Me gustan todas las frutas, especialmente las bayas.
(I enjoy all fruits, especially berries.) |
| Sobre todo | Above all | Sobre todo, es importante mantenerse hidratado cuando hace calor.
(Above all, it’s important to stay hydrated when it’s hot.) |
De hecho (formal) | In fact | De hecho, los estudios muestran que el ejercicio regular mejora la salud mental.
(In fact, studies show that regular exercise improves mental health.) |
| Principalmente | Mainly, particularly | Mis hijos disfrutan de muchos deportes, principalmente fútbol y baloncesto.
(My children enjoy many sports, mainly soccer and basketball.) |
Time
Time transition words in Spanish are common and enhance the fluidity of a sentence. They help link ideas and sentences according to when events happened or their order in time.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Primero | First | Primero, necesitamos reunir todos los ingredientes.
(First, we need to gather all the ingredients.) |
Segundo (formal) | Secondly | En segundo lugar, precalienta el horno a 180 grados.
(Secondly, preheat the oven to 180 degrees.) |
| Después | After | Después de la reunión, revisaremos el informe.
(After the meeting, we will review the report.) |
En primer lugar (formal) | In the first place | En primer lugar, deberíamos revisar los datos cuidadosamente.
(In the first place, we should check the data carefully.) |
| Ahora | Now | Ahora, comencemos la presentación.
(Now, let’s start the presentation.) |
| Más tarde | Later | Podemos salir a jugar más tarde.
(We can go outside and play later.) |
Finalmente (formal) | Finally | ¡Finalmente, dejó de llover!
(Finally, it stopped raining!) |
| Mientras tanto | In the meantime, meanwhile | La comida no está lista aún. Mientras tanto, vamos a charlar o jugar un juego.
(The food is not ready yet. In the meantime, let’s chat or play a game.) |
| Pronto | Soon | Los resultados estarán disponibles pronto.
(The results will be available soon.) |
| Luego | Then, next, later | Terminamos de cenar, y luego vimos una película.
(We finished dinner, and then we watched a movie.) |
Place
Place transition words help us show where something is located or where an action happened by indicating position or direction.
| Spanish | English | Example |
| Aquí | Here | Ven a sentarte aquí conmigo
(Come sit here with me.) |
| Allí / Ahí | There | Las llaves están allí sobre la mesa.
(The keys are there on the table.) |
| Al lado de | Next to | Ella vive al lado del parque.
(She lives next to the park.) |
| Cerca / Próximo | Nearby | Hay una farmacia cerca.
(There is a pharmacy nearby.) |
| Fuera / Afuera | Outside | Estoy esperando fuera de tu casa.
(I’m waiting outside your house.) |
Summary or conclusion
These transition words are used to wrap up ideas, give a brief overview, or end a discussion or piece of writing. They help clearly signal that you're bringing everything together.
| Spanish | English | Example |
Para concluir (formal) | To conclude | Para concluir, debemos seguir investigando este tema.
(To conclude, we must continue researching this topic.) |
Para resumir (formal) | To summarize | Para resumir, el ejercicio y el sueño son claves para una buena salud.
(To summarize, exercise and sleep are key to good health.) |
| En resumen | In short | En resumen, fue un viaje excelente.
(In short, it was a great trip.) |
| En pocas palabras | To sum up | En pocas palabras, nos divertimos, aprendimos mucho y hicimos nuevos amigos.
(To sum up, we had fun, learned a lot, and made new friends.) |
How to Master Transitional Phrases in Spanish Effectively
Learning transitional phrases in Spanish can seem like a daunting task, but, as with any language, the more you practice, the quicker you will progress.
Here are some top tips to help you master Spanish transitional phrases:
- Make a top 10. Don’t try to master all of the Spanish transitional words in one go, there are too many. Instead, focus on writing down the words you’re most likely to use frequently and practice with those. Depending on whether you’re learning Spanish for business or pleasure, you may include more formal or informal transitions.
- Read Spanish blogs, magazines, and news articles. Not only is this a great way to practice your vocabulary, but it can also help you to understand how and where transition words are used.
- Use a language learning app. Consistency is the key to mastering any new language, and one of the easiest ways to stay consistent is by using a language learning platform like Promova.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When learning Spanish transition words, it’s normal to make mistakes. Here are a few of the most common mistakes people make when using transition words and how you can avoid them:
- Using transitions in the wrong context. Some transition words have a formal or informal tone, and using them in the wrong setting can sound awkward. In casual conversations, use everyday words like "entonces" (then) or "además" (besides). For essays or formal writing, go for words like "Por lo tanto" (therefore) or "en consecuencia" (as a consequence).
- Mixing English and Spanish transitions. A common mistake is translating English transitions word for word. For example, "actually" doesn’t translate to "actualmente" (currently).
- Overusing transitions. Using too many transitions can make your speech or writing feel cluttered and overly complicated. Try to use transitions in a natural way by using them purposefully to clarify ideas, not to fill space.
- Incorrect placement. Spanish grammar and sentence structure can affect where transitions should go. Pay attention to common placement patterns, many appear at the start of the sentence but some can go in the middle. Transition words used for emphasis can often be found in the middle of a sentence.
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Conclusion
Spanish transition words help you connect ideas smoothly and make your writing sound more natural. Master them to improve your conversations, avoid common mistakes, and boost your Spanish fluency with confidence.
FAQ
What are transitional words in Spanish?
Transitional words in Spanish are words or phrases that are used to connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. Transitional words improve flow and make it easier for people to follow your ideas.
For example:
- Without a transitional word
We packed our bags. We left for the airport.
- With a transitional word
We packed our bags. Then, we left for the airport.
As you can see, the first sentence makes sense, but it sounds robotic and choppy. Adding just one transitional word turns it into something natural and easier to follow.
What are the most important Spanish transition words for beginners?
The most important Spanish transition words to learn depend on why you’re learning Spanish. If you're learning Spanish for academic or business reasons, more formal transition words like "finalmente" (finally) and "Por lo tanto" (therefore) are useful.
However, if you’re learning Spanish for personal reasons, then mastering informal transitional words, especially those relating to time, place, and emphasis, will likely be more useful.
How do Spanish transition words differ from English ones?
Spanish transition words work just like English ones; they help connect ideas and make sentences flow better. But different words are often used in different contexts, for example, "Por lo tanto" (therefore) sounds formal, while "así que" (so) is more casual.
How to use transition phrases in Spanish conversation?
You use transition words in Spanish conversation the same way they’re used in English, to connect and clarify ideas and to guide your listener through your thoughts. By memorizing a select few transition words from each of the categories, you can enhance both the flow and fluency of your written and spoken Spanish.
How can I practice transitions in Spanish by myself?
Using transition phrases naturally in Spanish conversation requires practice. Start by learning a select number of transitional words or phrases that you’re most likely to use and then practice putting them into sentences. For example, "entonces" (so, then), "pero" (but), or "después" (after) are common ones that fit everyday situations.
One of the best ways to learn a language on your own is by using a language learning platform or app. Just a little daily practice can boost your confidence and skills, and you’ll soon start to notice a difference.
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