10 Common Mistakes English Speakers Make When Learning Spanish (and How to Avoid Them)

Hola! I still remember the first time I started teaching Spanish to English speakers over eight years ago. My students were bright, determined, and full of curiosity — but they all faced the same recurring challenges. It didn’t matter whether they were beginners or advanced learners — these hurdles kept showing up again and again.
The good news? After years of teaching, I’ve identified the most common mistakes — and, more importantly, how to avoid them. That’s why I created this guide, brought to you by Pallas Lingua, to share the lessons I’ve learned from working with hundreds of students like you.
This guide is designed to help you avoid the most common Spanish mistakes so you can learn smarter, not harder. My goal is to provide clear, practical strategies and expert guidance so you can master Spanish with confidence. Let’s get started!

Mini Glossary: Key Language Terms
• Noun: A word for a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., “dog,” “Spain,” “happiness”).
• Verb: An action word (e.g., “run,” “speak,” “is”).
• Adjective: A word that describes a noun (e.g., “blue” car, “happy” child).
• Adverb: A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb (e.g., “quickly,” “very,” “well”).
• Pronoun: A word used in place of a noun (e.g., “he,” “she,” “it”).
• Conjugation: Changing a verb to match the subject (e.g., “I run” vs. “he runs”).

Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes English Speakers Make When Learning Spanish

1. Direct Translation from English to Spanish

The Mistake: Translating sentences word-for-word from English to Spanish.
Why It’s a Problem: Spanish sentence structures and idiomatic expressions don’t always match English.
Example:
• English: “I am 30 years.”
• Incorrect Spanish: “Yo soy treinta años.”
• Correct Spanish: “Tengo treinta años.” (Which means “I am 30 years old.”)
• Incorrect English translation: “I have 30 years old.”

Pro Tip: Instead of memorizing single words, focus on learning full phrases. Practice frequently used Spanish expressions and see how they’re constructed.
Remember:
• I am = soy (for permanent states) or estoy (for temporary states)
• I have = tengo

2. Mixing Up Ser vs. Estar (“To Be”)

The Mistake: Using ser and estar interchangeably.
Why It’s a Problem: English only has one verb for “to be,” but Spanish has two, each with distinct uses.
Example:
• She is tired.
• Incorrect: Ella es cansada.
• Correct: Ella está cansada.” (Since being “tired” is a temporary state, estar is required.)

Pro Tip: Use the acronym DOCTOR for ser (Description, Occupation, Characteristics, Time, Origin, Relationship) and PLACE for estar (Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion).
Write 3 simple sentences for each category using ser/estar to get comfortable with the distinction.

3. Misusing Por vs. Para (“For”)

The Mistake: Confusing when to use por vs. para since both mean “for” in English.
Why It’s a Problem: The context changes which one you should use.
Example:
• Cause/Reason: Gracias por la ayuda. (Thanks for the help.)
• Purpose/Goal: Este regalo es para ti. (This gift is for you.)

Pro Tip: Use this simple rule:
• If you can replace “for” with “in order to,” use para.
• If you can replace it with “because of,” use por.
Make a list of five sentences for each case.

4. Forgetting Adjective-Noun Agreement

The Mistake: Not matching the gender or number of adjectives to nouns.
Why It’s a Problem: Adjectives must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of nouns.
Example:
• Incorrect: El niña es alta. (“El” is masculine, “niña” is feminine.)
• Correct: La niña es alta. (Both “la” and “alta” match the feminine gender of “niña.”)

Pro Tip: Practice describing objects around you.
Write descriptions of five items, paying attention to the endings of adjectives.

5. Ignoring Accent Marks

The Mistake: Overlooking the small but powerful accent marks.
Why It’s a Problem: Accent marks change pronunciation and meaning.
Example:
• Papa (potato) vs. Papá (dad)
• Tu (your) vs. Tú (you)
• Mi ( my) vs. Mí (to me)

Pro Tip: Write down 5 Spanish words with and without accents, like “papa” and “papá”. Say them out loud and listen for the difference. Focus on question words like qué, dónde, cuándo since they all require accents.

Feeling a bit stuck? Learning Spanish can feel overwhelming at times, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’d like extra guidance on topics like accents, formal vs. informal pronouns, or common verbs, Pallas Lingua offers personalized lessons where you can practice with a native-speaking instructor. Sometimes, a little personalized feedback makes all the difference.

6. Mixing Up Formal (Usted) and Informal (Tú) Pronouns

The Mistake: Using “tú” (informal) when you should be using “usted” (formal) and vice versa.
Why It’s a Problem: It’s seen as rude in formal situations.

Pro Tip: Use tú with friends, family, and peers. Use usted in formal settings, with elders, or in professional environments. Practice common introductions using both tú and usted.
Remember: people generally understand that Spanish is not your first language and they will appreciate your effort to speak their language, this rile apply mostly for native Spanish speakers.

7. Misusing Muy vs. Mucho

The Mistake: Using “muy” and “mucho” incorrectly.
Why It’s a Problem: Muy (very) modifies adjectives/adverbs, while mucho (a lot) modifies nouns and verbs.
Example:

• Incorrect: Mucho bien.
• Correct: Muy bien. (Very well.)
• Incorrect: Es mucho difícil.
• Correct: Es muy difícil. (“It’s very difficult.)
• Correct: Hay mucho trabajo. (There’s a lot of work.)

Pro Tip: Create two columns, one for muy and one for mucho. Write down five adjectives for muy and five nouns/verbs for mucho.

8. Overloading on Verb Conjugations

The Mistake: Trying to learn all verb conjugations at once.

Pro Tip: Focus on the present tense first. Use spaced repetition to gradually add new tenses. Set a goal to master one tense at a time.

9. Translating Idioms Literally

The Mistake: Translating idioms word-for-word.
Example:
• English: It’s raining cats and dogs.
• Incorrect Spanish: Está lloviendo gatos y perros.
• Correct Spanish: Está lloviendo a cántaros. (It’s raining jugs.)

Pro Tip: Avoid translating idioms literally. Instead, learn the equivalent idioms in Spanish. You can find a comprehensive list of common English idioms and their Spanish equivalents on the Pallas Lingua Instagram. Practice using these idioms in your own sentences to build familiarity and confidence.

10. Fear of Speaking (Perfectionism)

The Mistake: Staying silent due to fear of making mistakes.

Pro Tip: Start with simple sentences daily. Don’t wait to “be ready” — practice makes perfect.

Take the Next Step

Learning Spanish is a journey, and every step forward counts. With the right guidance and support, you can avoid common mistakes and learn faster than you ever thought possible.
You’ve just learned how to avoid the 10 most common mistakes English speakers make when learning Spanish. But don’t stop here. Every little bit of progress builds your confidence and fluency.

Ready to take it further? Pallas Lingua offers Spanish courses from Beginner to Upper Intermediate for general Spanish and industry-specific needs, along with personalized guidance, one-on-one feedback, and expert instruction from native-speaking teachers.
Download our free PDF guide with extra tips to practice on your own, and stay tuned for our upcoming free Spanish Masterclass — it’s the perfect way to continue your journey with confidence.

Muchas gracias,
Elizabeth Colina
Founder of Pallas Lingua