30 Everyday Spanglish Words You Need to Know
Spanglish blends Spanish and English in everyday speech. Lucía introduces common examples so you can recognise them and understand when they appear in conversation.
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Pick five words from the lesson. Write a natural sentence for each one and say the sentences aloud.
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Edited lesson transcript and examples
Read the complete substantive lesson in its original order. This readable transcript is edited from the full original manual English captions and original automatic caption track, with Spanish forms and examples checked against the actual video graphics. Caption errors and punctuation are repaired. Contextual English 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.
All thirty numbered word groups and the extra bocadillo/hamburguesa examples are included. Usage and pronunciation recommendations follow the instructor’s Spain and Latin America context; loanword use varies by speaker and setting. Unadapted English words are italicized in the Spanish models.
- 0:00 — English gives you a head start
- 0:21 — 1. Snack
- 0:51 — 2. Smoothie
- 1:06 — 3. Sándwich, plus bocadillo and hamburguesa
- 1:32 — 4. Catering
- 1:40 — 5. Fitness
- 1:58 — 6. Playlist
- 2:10 — 7. Look
- 2:20 — 8. Glamour
- 2:31 — 9. Show
- 2:41 — 10. Fan
- 2:50 — 11. Ticket
- 3:21 — 12. Parking
- 3:33 — 13. Check-in / Check-out
- 3:39 — Check out the study guide
- 3:53 — 14. Marketing
- 4:04 — 15. Spoiler / Espoilear
- 4:33 — 16. Bullying
- 4:46 — 17. Hobby
- 4:56 — 18. Casting
- 5:07 — 19. Camping
- 5:28 — 20. Fútbol
- 5:43 — 21. Surf / Surfear
- 6:01 — 22. Internet
- 6:23 — 23. Wifi
- 6:32 — 24. Online
- 6:38 — 25. Pendrive
- 6:57 — 26. Email
- 7:06 — 27. Chat / Chatear
- 7:17 — 28. Influencer
- 7:26 — 29. Spam
- 7:38 — 30. Link and closing
0:00 — English gives you a head start
Most learners think English and Spanish are totally separate languages. But guess what? You already speak more Spanish than you think, just by knowing English. I’ve put together thirty words you already know—but do you actually know how they’re used in Spain or Latin America? Here’s how English can give you a head start.
0:21 — 1. Snack
Let’s start with food-related words.
El snack
Example translation: A snack.
Yes, we say “esnack” in Spain. Starting a word with s followed by another consonant is too difficult for us—that’s the joke! We often add a masculine or feminine article when we use English nouns. In this case, el snack.
Learner note — Pronunciation shortcut: An initial e-like sound before s plus a consonant is a common Spanish tendency. The instructor’s joke does not mean that every Spanish speaker is unable to pronounce the English cluster. Source: University of La Laguna.
Falta aún para la cena, así que me comeré un snack
Example translation: There’s still a while until dinner, so I’ll have a snack.
0:51 — 2. Smoothie
El smoothie
Example translation: A smoothie.
Another s—are you trying to kill us? Watch the video for my Spain pronunciation of smoothie.
¿Has probado el smoothie de fresa? ¡Es mi favorito!
Example translation: Have you tried the strawberry smoothie? It’s my favorite!
¿Lo habéis probado?
Example translation: Have you tried it?
1:06 — 3. Sándwich, plus bocadillo and hamburguesa
El sándwich
Example translation: A sandwich.
Me voy a hacer un sándwich mixto
Example translation: I’m going to make myself a ham-and-cheese sandwich.
Pro tip: in Spain, we also say bocadillo. It looks like a sandwich, but it’s usually made with a baguette-style roll. In the video I say it’s smaller, then the caption catches my mistake: why did I say that? It’s usually bigger! The kind of bread is the useful distinction here.
El bocadillo
Example translation: A sandwich made with a bread roll or similar bread.
Do you know what looks similar to a sandwich? A hamburger! Not the same English word, but close.
Una hamburguesa
Example translation: A hamburger.
Vamos a pedir hamburguesas esta noche, ¿te apuntas?
Example translation: We’re ordering burgers tonight. Are you in?
1:32 — 4. Catering
El catering
Example translation: Catering; a catering service.
¿Sabes si el servicio de catering de Miguel tiene opción vegetariana?
Example translation: Do you know whether Miguel’s catering service has a vegetarian option?
1:40 — 5. Fitness
Now let’s move beyond food.
El fitness
Example translation: Fitness.
Voy al gym tres veces por semana. Estoy muy en modo fitness últimamente
Example translation: I go to the gym three times a week. I’m really in fitness mode lately.
1:58 — 6. Playlist
La playlist
Example translation: A playlist.
¿Habéis escuchado ya nuestra playlist de canciones en español?
Example translation: Have you listened to our playlist of Spanish songs yet?
Seriously, have you? You can find the link in the video’s description.
2:10 — 7. Look
El look
Example translation: A look; a style or overall appearance.
¿Os gusta mi nuevo look?
Example translation: Do you like my new look?
2:20 — 8. Glamour
El glamour
Example translation: Glamour.
La gala estuvo llena de glamour, todos iban elegantísimos
Example translation: The gala was full of glamour; everyone was dressed very elegantly.
2:31 — 9. Show
El show
Example translation: A show; a scene or spectacle in the example.
Tía, deja de gritar, que estás montando un show
Example translation: Girl, stop yelling. You’re making a scene.
2:41 — 10. Fan
El fan / La fan
Example translation: A fan, male / female.
Soy fan de Christina Aguilera desde 2013
Example translation: I’ve been a fan of Christina Aguilera since 2013.
2:50 — 11. Ticket
El ticket
Example translation: A receipt or ticket, depending on region and context.
The adapted spelling is tique, though we often write ticket, as in English. In Spain it’s mainly used for a receipt. You might also hear tiquete in some Central American countries.
Quiero cambiar la camiseta que compré en Zara pero he perdido el ticket de compra
Example translation: I want to exchange the T-shirt I bought at Zara, but I’ve lost the receipt.
So sad! Pro tip: in many Latin American countries, ticket is also used for entrada or boleto—an entrance ticket.
3:21 — 12. Parking
El parking
Example translation: A car park or parking facility.
We aren’t using it as a verb here. In this Spanish use it’s a noun for the parking facilities.
Guarda el ticket del parking, que hay que validarlo
Example translation: Keep the parking ticket; it needs to be validated.
3:33 — 13. Check-in / Check-out
El check-in / El check-out
Example translation: Check-in / check-out.
¿A qué hora hacemos el check-out mañana?
Example translation: What time are we checking out tomorrow?
3:39 — Check out the study guide
Speaking of checking out, have you checked out My Daily Spanish’s free study guide? It offers a step-by-step process to help you learn Spanish faster. Download it by scanning the QR code in the video or using the link in its description.
3:53 — 14. Marketing
El marketing
Example translation: Marketing.
Yes—what I just did! It’s everywhere.
Ella trabaja en marketing digital para una empresa pequeña
Example translation: She works in digital marketing for a small company.
4:04 — 15. Spoiler / Espoilear
Wait—spoiler alert! We’re midway through the lesson. And yes, that’s another word.
El spoiler
Example translation: A spoiler.
Estoy enfadada con Ana porque me hizo spoiler de la película
Example translation: I’m angry with Ana because she spoiled the movie for me.
We’ve turned it into a verb as well, but not the English way: espoilear.
Espoilear
Example translation: To spoil a story by revealing what happens.
¡No me espoilees el final! Aún no he visto el capítulo
Example translation: Don’t spoil the ending for me! I haven’t seen the episode yet.
Learner note — Written forms: The original English spelling spoiler is a foreign word. The adapted Spanish noun espóiler is also standard. The colloquial verb espoilear used in this lesson is retained. Source: RAE dictionary.
4:33 — 16. Bullying
El bullying
Example translation: Bullying; school bullying in the example.
The video enthusiastically says there’s literally no other word for this, so you’ll be understood in every Spanish-speaking country.
Learner note — Spanish alternative: Acoso escolar is an established Spanish expression for school bullying. The English loan is used too, but it is not the only term, and recognition is not guaranteed for every speaker. Source: RAE dictionary.
El bullying escolar es un problema muy serio
Example translation: School bullying is a very serious problem.
4:46 — 17. Hobby
El hobby
Example translation: A hobby.
Dicen que el arte no es una profesión, que es un hobby. ¡Mentira!
Example translation: They say art isn’t a profession, that it’s a hobby. Wrong!
4:56 — 18. Casting
El casting
Example translation: An audition; casting.
Also known as audición.
¿Te presentaste al casting para esa serie?
Example translation: Did you audition for that series?
5:07 — 19. Camping
El camping
Example translation: A campsite, in the example.
Same English word, but here we use it for the campsite.
El año pasado fuimos al camping de Isla Cristina
Example translation: Last year we went to the campsite in Isla Cristina.
Ir de camping
Example translation: To go camping.
¿Nos vamos de camping la semana que viene?
Example translation: Shall we go camping next week?
Learner note — Spelling: The video writes cámping in two labels. The unadapted English word camping has no Spanish written accent and is italicized in Spanish prose. The RAE also proposes the adaptation campin. The original campsite and go-camping meanings are preserved. Source: RAE dictionary.
5:28 — 20. Fútbol
El fútbol
Example translation: Football; soccer.
From football—the European game. For American football, we say fútbol americano.
El fútbol americano
Example translation: American football.
Juego al fútbol desde que tenía cinco años
Example translation: I’ve been playing soccer since I was five.
5:43 — 21. Surf / Surfear
El surf / Surfear
Example translation: Surfing / to surf.
Watch the video for my pronunciation, which I describe as “soorf”. The verb is surfear.
A mi amigo Pablo le gusta hacer surf
Example translation: My friend Pablo likes surfing.
I love surfing—or is it surfers? Anyway, let’s ride the wave into our last category: internet and tech.
6:01 — 22. Internet
El internet
Example translation: The internet, using the masculine article in this example.
The video describes el internet as usual and connects la internet with la red, the net.
Learner note — El or la: Both masculine and feminine gender are accepted for internet. La red helps explain the feminine association, but there is no rule that feminine usage belonged only to the past or that masculine is compulsory now. Source: RAE dictionary.
El internet lo cambió todo
Example translation: The internet changed everything.
6:23 — 23. Wifi
El wifi
Example translation: Wi-Fi.
For Spain, follow the pronunciation I model in the video rather than the English “waifai”. This is my regional speaking recommendation.
¿Cuál es la clave del wifi?
Example translation: What’s the Wi-Fi password?
6:32 — 24. Online
Online
Example translation: Online.
Tengo una entrevista de trabajo online a las 6
Example translation: I have an online job interview at six.
6:38 — 25. Pendrive
El pendrive / La memoria USB
Example translation: A flash drive; a USB stick.
In Spanish, we use pendrive for a flash drive or USB stick. We also say memoria USB.
Traje la presentación en el pendrive
Example translation: I brought the presentation on the flash drive.
Yeah, a pen drive. Some may call it vintage. I call it classy.
6:57 — 26. Email
El email
Example translation: An email; email.
¿Te paso los detalles por email?
Example translation: Shall I send you the details by email?
7:06 — 27. Chat / Chatear
El chat / Chatear
Example translation: A chat / to chat online.
Estuvimos chateando hasta las 3 de la mañana
Example translation: We chatted until three in the morning.
7:17 — 28. Influencer
El influencer / La influencer
Example translation: An influencer, male / female.
Ella es influencer de moda y viajes
Example translation: She’s a fashion and travel influencer.
7:26 — 29. Spam
El spam
Example translation: Spam.
You love starting words with s, huh? And we love starting them with e.
Mi bandeja de entrada está llena de spam
Example translation: My inbox is full of spam.
7:38 — 30. Link and closing
El link
Example translation: A link.
Si quieres seguir aprendiendo a hablar español como un nativo, haz clic en el link al siguiente vídeo
Example translation: If you want to keep learning to speak Spanish like a native, click the link to the next video.
For real! For another shortcut into real-world modern Spanish, watch the recommended video and learn the trendiest Spanish slang. You’re too cool for common words!
