10 Spanish Filler Words to Sound Like a Native!
Filler words help conversations flow while you think. Lucía introduces ten Spanish expressions that can make your speech sound more natural.
Watch the lesson
Try it yourself
Pick three fillers and practise adding them to a short answer. Record yourself once, then listen for whether they fit naturally.
Watch the original lesson on YouTube.
Edited lesson transcript and examples
Read the complete substantive lesson in its original order, with the original Spanish examples and contextual English translations. This readable transcript is edited from local English and Spanish machine transcriptions of the original video audio, with Spanish models checked against the original video graphics. Transcription errors and punctuation are repaired; translations and labelled learner notes are additions. The instructor’s coaching, humor and teaching priorities are retained. Chapter timestamps are approximate. Music and the brand bumper are omitted.
The expressions include conversational fillers and reactions in Lucía’s Spain usage. The closing reference to learning Spanish in 2025 is part of the original video.
- 0:00 — Ten filler words and some extras
- 0:51 — 1. Pues
- 2:11 — 2. Bueno
- 2:49 — 3. O sea
- 3:12 — Study guide
- 3:31 — 4. A ver
- 3:52 — 5. ¿Sabes?
- 4:43 — 6. Oye / Oiga
- 5:26 — 7. Entonces
- 6:11 — 8. Vale, plus venga
- 7:26 — 9. En plan, plus en fin
- 8:11 — 10. ¡Qué guay!
- 8:38 — Closing
0:00 — Ten filler words and some extras
Ever wish you could sound more fluent in Spanish without actually being fluent? Today I’m giving you ten Spanish filler words that instantly make you sound more casual, confident and natural, even if you’re still learning. I saved the most important expression for last—the one I use most—and I’ve thrown in some extra pro tips here and there. Stick to the end and you’ll be able to fake fluency like a pro! Ready? Let’s go!
If you’re learning Spanish but still feel like you sound like a beginner, you’re not alone. Even when you know the grammar, native speakers use little words and expressions that make their speech flow more naturally. Pro tip: use these to buy time while thinking about what to say next.
0:51 — 1. Pues
Pues
Example translation: Well; so.
Pues has different meanings depending on the context. Here it is as a filler.
¿Te gustó la película?
Example translation: Did you like the movie?
Pues… más o menos
Example translation: Well… more or less.
You can also express doubt and hesitation.
¿Irás a la feria el domingo?
Example translation: Are you going to the fair on Sunday?
Pues no sé… Me gustaría quedarme descansando en casa
Example translation: Well, I don’t know… I’d like to stay home and rest.
Or do the opposite: give emphasis or react to something surprising.
¿Quieres salir conmigo?
Example translation: Do you want to go out with me?
¡Pues sí! Hombre, ya era hora de que preguntaras
Example translation: Well, yes! Come on, it was about time you asked!
Did you notice the extra hombre—literally “man”? We can also use that interjection with women. You can also say tío or tía.
Tío / Tía
Example translation: Dude or mate, addressing a man / a woman in the contrast shown.
The last use of pues I’m showing connects ideas.
¿Y qué hiciste después?
Example translation: And what did you do after that?
Pues me fui a casa y me dormí
Example translation: So I went home and fell asleep.
Can you give me another example with pues? Show me in the comments.
2:11 — 2. Bueno
Bueno
Example translation: Well.
It can have a similar meaning to pues.
Bueno, a ver qué pasa
Example translation: Well, let’s see what happens.
Or use it to wrap up a conversation.
Bueno, me tengo que ir. Hablamos luego
Example translation: Well, I have to go. We’ll talk later.
But beware: bueno also means good.
Es un chico tan bueno…
Example translation: He’s such a good boy…
I know, Spanish is so hard. O sea, it took me my whole life to learn it! That leads us to our third filler expression.
2:49 — 3. O sea
O sea
Example translation: I mean; like; so.
Me lo paso muy bien con ella
Example translation: I enjoy spending time with her.
O sea, que te gusta
Example translation: So you like her.
Es difícil, o sea, hay muchas reglas
Example translation: It’s difficult; I mean, there are lots of rules.
3:12 — Study guide
Are you finding Spanish hard to learn too? Remember you can download our study guide for free by scanning the QR code in the video or using the link in its description. Have you checked it out? It offers a step-by-step guided process to help you learn Spanish faster. Give it a chance so I can use our fourth filler word. It’s actually two words: a filler expression.
3:31 — 4. A ver
A ver
Example translation: Let’s see; hmm.
Did you read the guide?
A ver, dime tres preposiciones en español
Example translation: Let’s see, tell me three prepositions in Spanish.
A ver, ¿qué más puedo decir?
Example translation: Let’s see, what else can I say?
I know—the fifth expression. I love this one.
3:52 — 5. ¿Sabes?
¿Sabes?
Example translation: You know?
Es complicado, ¿sabes?
Example translation: It’s complicated, you know?
It’s like asking whether the listener understands. You can also emphasize something.
Es que me da igual lo que piensen los demás, ¿sabes?
Example translation: I just don’t care what other people think, you know?
Or show annoyance or impatience.
Me dijo que iba a venir y al final nada, ¿sabes?
Example translation: He told me he was coming, and in the end, nothing, you know?
¡Maldito!
Example translation: Damn him!
Pro tip: match the feeling you’re trying to convey. If you want to fake it till you make it while learning Spanish, get into character. This little word is super useful, ¿sabes? But you’re going to like the next one even more.
4:43 — 6. Oye / Oiga
Oye / Oiga
Example translation: Hey, addressing tú / usted respectively.
Use oye, or its more formal counterpart oiga, to get someone’s attention, like hey in English.
Oye, ¿tienes un minuto?
Example translation: Hey, do you have a minute?
Sí, dime
Example translation: Yes, go ahead.
Oye and oiga come from oír, to hear, in imperative forms. As conversational expressions, we don’t really think of them with that literal meaning. You can also express surprise or curiosity.
Voy a dejar mi trabajo y viajar por el mundo
Example translation: I’m going to leave my job and travel the world.
¡Oye, qué valiente!
Example translation: Wow, that’s brave!
What is your favorite word so far? Which will you use most? I bet you’ll use our seventh word a lot.
5:26 — 7. Entonces
Entonces
Example translation: So; then; at that time.
La niña respondió correctamente, entonces todos le aplaudieron
Example translation: The little girl answered correctly, so everyone applauded her.
Sometimes, as a filler, entonces doesn’t add much meaning. It gives you time to think and keeps the conversation flowing.
Ya hemos terminado la reunión
Example translation: We’ve finished the meeting.
Entonces, ¿qué hacemos ahora?
Example translation: So, what do we do now?
We’re getting closer to my most-used expression. Can you guess it? I really like our eighth word too, and it will make you sound very Spanish.
6:11 — 8. Vale, plus venga
Vale
Example translation: Okay; all right.
Vale expresses agreement or confirmation.
¿Quedamos a las ocho?
Example translation: Shall we meet at eight?
Vale
Example translation: Okay.
¿Pedimos una ensalada para compartir?
Example translation: Shall we order a salad to share?
Sí, vale, me parece bien
Example translation: Yes, okay, that sounds good.
Don’t confuse vale with another very common expression: venga.
Venga
Example translation: All right; come on; let’s go.
Sometimes they’re interchangeable. Vale agrees or confirms; venga can have a more active meaning: encouraging or hurrying someone, or wrapping things up.
No sé si debería apuntarme al curso de inglés…
Example translation: I don’t know if I should sign up for the English course…
¡Venga, anímate! Seguro que te irá bien
Example translation: Come on, go for it! I’m sure you’ll do well.
You might hear someone say both together.
Bueno, hablamos mañana
Example translation: All right, we’ll talk tomorrow.
¡Venga, vale, hasta luego!
Example translation: Okay, all right, see you later!
You can never have enough filler words. Are you liking this video? Please give it a thumbs up. To repay your generosity, I’m throwing in a two-for-one for our ninth expression.
7:26 — 9. En plan, plus en fin
En plan
Example translation: Like.
Use this as a filler in explanations.
Fuimos a su casa, en plan, a cenar y charlar un poco
Example translation: We went to his house, like, to have dinner and chat a bit.
Estoy muy nerviosa, en plan, no sé qué hacer
Example translation: I’m very nervous, like, I don’t know what to do.
Two for one!
En fin
Example translation: Anyway; oh well.
Bueno, en fin, ¿qué me estabas contando antes?
Example translation: Well, anyway, what were you telling me before?
El tren se ha retrasado otra vez. En fin, qué le vamos a hacer
Example translation: The train is delayed again. Oh well, what can we do?
En fin is one of those expressions that makes you sound much more natural in Spanish. Would you use it? Why not use it in a sentence in the comments?
8:11 — 10. ¡Qué guay!
¡Qué guay!
Example translation: How cool! That’s great!
Finally, the expression I use most. A friend tells you they’ve received a promotion at work. You say:
¡Qué guay! ¡Te lo mereces!
Example translation: That’s awesome! You deserve it!
Or if I tell you:
Ayer grabé un videoblog
Example translation: Yesterday I recorded a video blog.
You’d say:
¡Qué guay!
Example translation: How cool!
Pro tip: sound cheerful—that’s the best way to blend in.
8:38 — Closing
Now that you know how to fake it, you need to learn it for real. Watch the recommended video, where I teach you how to make a plan and learn Spanish in 2025, and subscribe if you haven’t already.
¡Hasta pronto!
Example translation: See you soon!
