Spanish Time Expressions Vocabulary for Beginners
Learning Spanish becomes easier when you understand how native speakers talk about time. These words and phrases help you build real conversations. The great news is that you can start using them from day one. In daily conversations, people constantly refer to time. They talk about the past, the present, and the future without even thinking about grammar rules.
This guide highlights 25 Spanish time expressions every beginner must know. The phrases are simple, practical, and very common. You will see them in movies, books, and real conversations. Even small sentences sound natural when you use them correctly. Because of that, students improve confidence very quickly. The focus keyword, Spanish time expressions, will guide the entire lesson. You will learn how they work and how to use them in real life. Soon, you will notice how easy conversations become.
Spanish learners love time phrases because they help connect ideas. If you know the time frame, you can tell stories and plan tasks. You can explain routines, schedules, or habits. In fact, time words appear in almost every sentence when you speak with someone. So, learning them early gives you a real advantage.
Why Time Expressions Matter in Spanish
Every language uses time expressions to show when something happened. Spanish works the same way. However, some expressions do not translate literally into English. Beginners often translate word by word. That makes the sentence sound strange, or even incorrect. When you learn these phrases as complete expressions, everything becomes smoother.
Time expressions are also important for verbs. Even if your grammar is not perfect, good vocabulary helps people understand you. For example:
- “Ayer fui al mercado.” (Yesterday I went to the market.)
- “Ahora estoy trabajando.” (Right now I am working.)
Both sentences are short and easy. So, you do not need complicated grammar. You just need useful phrases.
How to Practice Spanish Time Expressions
There are many simple ways to practice:
- Add one new expression to your daily routine.
- Write short diary entries using the phrases.
- Describe your day in Spanish before going to bed.
- Talk about your plans for tomorrow or next weekend.
Each small step helps you speak naturally. With regular practice, you will remember everything without effort.
25 Spanish Time Expressions Every Beginner Must Know
Below is a clear list of expressions with meanings and examples. None of them are difficult. You can start using them today.
1. Hoy – today
Hoy tengo clase de español. – Today I have Spanish class.
2. Mañana – tomorrow
Mañana voy al supermercado. – Tomorrow I am going to the supermarket.
3. Ayer – yesterday
Ayer vi una película. – Yesterday I watched a movie.
4. Ahora – now / right now
Ahora estoy estudiando. – Right now I am studying.
5. Después – later / after
Después vamos a comer. – Later we are going to eat.
6. Luego – then / afterwards
Primero trabajo y luego descanso. – First I work and then I rest.
7. Antes – before
Antes vivía en Madrid. – Before, I lived in Madrid.
8. Siempre – always
Siempre desayuno café. – I always have coffee for breakfast.
9. Nunca – never
Nunca llego tarde. – I never arrive late.
10. A veces – sometimes
A veces estudio por la noche. – Sometimes I study at night.
11. De vez en cuando – once in a while
De vez en cuando viajo a la playa. – Once in a while I travel to the beach.
12. Todos los días – every day
Voy al gimnasio todos los días. – I go to the gym every day.
13. Cada semana – every week
Tenemos reunión cada semana. – We have a meeting every week.
14. Esta semana – this week
Esta semana tengo mucho trabajo. – This week I have a lot of work.
15. El fin de semana – the weekend
El fin de semana voy al cine. – On the weekend I go to the movies.
16. Hoy en día – nowadays
Hoy en día la gente estudia online. – Nowadays people study online.
17. A tiempo – on time
Ella llega a tiempo a la escuela. – She arrives at school on time.
18. Tarde – late
Llegué tarde al restaurante. – I arrived late to the restaurant.
19. Temprano – early
Me levanto temprano todos los días. – I wake up early every day.
20. Ya – already / now
Ya terminé la tarea. – I already finished the homework.
21. Todavía – still / yet
Todavía no he comido. – I still have not eaten.
22. Aún – still / even
Aún estoy esperando. – I am still waiting.
23. Mientras – while
Escucho música mientras cocino. – I listen to music while I cook.
24. En este momento – at this moment
En este momento estoy viajando. – At this moment I am traveling.
25. Dentro de una hora – in an hour
Dentro de una hora salgo de casa. – In an hour I leave home.
Vocabulary Table- Spanish Time Expressions for Beginners
| Spanish Expression | Meaning | Example + Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Hoy | today | Hoy tengo clase de español. – Today I have Spanish class. |
| Mañana | tomorrow | Mañana voy al supermercado. – Tomorrow I am going to the supermarket. |
| Ayer | yesterday | Ayer vi una película. – Yesterday I watched a movie. |
| Ahora | now / right now | Ahora estoy estudiando. – Right now I am studying. |
| Después | later / after | Después vamos a comer. – Later we are going to eat. |
| Luego | then / afterwards | Primero trabajo y luego descanso. – First I work and then I rest. |
| Antes | before | Antes vivía en Madrid. – Before, I lived in Madrid. |
| Siempre | always | Siempre desayuno café. – I always have coffee for breakfast. |
| Nunca | never | Nunca llego tarde. – I never arrive late. |
| A veces | sometimes | A veces estudio por la noche. – Sometimes I study at night. |
| De vez en cuando | once in a while | De vez en cuando viajo a la playa. – Once in a while I travel to the beach. |
| Todos los días | every day | Voy al gimnasio todos los días. – I go to the gym every day. |
| Cada semana | every week | Tenemos reunión cada semana. – We have a meeting every week. |
| Esta semana | this week | Esta semana tengo mucho trabajo. – This week I have a lot of work. |
| El fin de semana | the weekend | El fin de semana voy al cine. – On the weekend I go to the movies. |
| Hoy en día | nowadays | Hoy en día la gente estudia online. – Nowadays people study online. |
| A tiempo | on time | Ella llega a tiempo a la escuela. – She arrives at school on time. |
| Tarde | late | Llegué tarde al restaurante. – I arrived late to the restaurant. |
| Temprano | early | Me levanto temprano todos los días. – I wake up early every day. |
| Ya | already / now | Ya terminé la tarea. – I already finished the homework. |
| Todavía | still / yet | Todavía no he comido. – I still have not eaten. |
| Aún | still / even | Aún estoy esperando. – I am still waiting. |
| Mientras | while | Escucho música mientras cocino. – I listen to music while I cook. |
| En este momento | at this moment | En este momento estoy viajando. – At this moment I am traveling. |
| Dentro de una hora | in an hour | Dentro de una hora salgo de casa. – In an hour I leave home. |
How These Expressions Sound in Real Conversations
Short, simple sentences are the best place to begin. For example:
- Hoy estudio español.
- Mañana cocino pasta.
- Luego hablo con mi amigo.
These sentences are clear and natural. The listener understands the time and the action. Because of that, you can communicate even with basic vocabulary.
When you combine two or three expressions, sentences become richer:
- A veces estudio en la mañana y después en la noche.
- El fin de semana voy al parque y luego a casa.
- Hoy en día trabajo desde casa casi siempre.
These ideas show habits, schedules, and changes. And you did it without advanced grammar.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
Beginners sometimes translate directly from English. That can create errors. For example, some students say:
❌ En el fin de semana
✅ El fin de semana
Another mistake is mixing ya and todavía. They are opposites. So, learning them together helps a lot.
- Ya = something has happened or is happening
- Todavía = something has not happened yet or continues
For example:
- ¿Terminaste? – Did you finish?
- Sí, ya terminé. – Yes, I already finished.
- No, todavía no. – No, not yet.
Once you learn them, you stop translating word by word. You start thinking in Spanish.
Mini Practice: Build Sentences
Try these simple exercises. They are short and practical.
A. Complete the sentence:
- ____ tengo una reunión. (today)
- ____ voy al banco. (tomorrow)
- ____ me levanto temprano. (always)
- Estudio español ____. (every day)
B. Translate into Spanish:
- I arrived late.
- We always eat early.
- Sometimes I cook pasta.
- Right now I am busy.
Daily Routine Example Using Time Expressions
Here is a sample routine you can copy and adjust:
Me levanto temprano todos los días. A veces desayuno en casa y a veces en la oficina. Después trabajo hasta las cinco. Luego voy al gimnasio. El fin de semana descanso y paso tiempo con mi familia.
Translation:
I wake up early every day. Sometimes I eat breakfast at home and sometimes at the office. After that, I work until five. Then I go to the gym. On the weekend I rest and spend time with my family.
This small paragraph uses many common time expressions. It shows how natural they sound together.
Final Thoughts
Time expressions make Spanish smoother, clearer, and more natural. These words help you describe your past, present, and future with confidence. Even if your verb tenses are not perfect, people still understand your meaning. Because of that, beginners see fast progress.
If you practice a little every day, you will master these 25 Spanish time expressions in a very short time. Read them again, repeat them out loud, and write simple sentences. Step by step, speaking becomes easier. You do not need long, complicated grammar. You only need useful words and a bit of confidence.
Soon, you will talk about your plans, your routine, and your memories in Spanish. And native speakers will understand you clearly. That is exactly what every learner wants.
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Vikas Kumar is a multilingual educator, language specialist, and book author, and the founder of My Language Classes, an independent language learning platform dedicated to structured, clarity-driven language education.
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