Top 10 YouTube channels to improve your Spanish listening
Want more Spanish listening practice? Lucía shares YouTube channels she recommends for learners, with ideas you can use to broaden what you hear.
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Try it yourself
Pick one channel from the lesson and watch a short video. Record three new phrases, then decide whether its speed and topic suit your current level.
Watch the original lesson on YouTube.
Edited lesson transcript and examples
Read the complete substantive instructor explanation in its original order. This readable transcript is edited from the full original manual English captions and automatic caption track, with Spanish instructional examples checked against source captions and available video graphics. Caption errors and punctuation are repaired. English example translations and labelled learner notes are additions; the instructor’s advice, humor and teaching priorities remain. Timestamps are approximate. Music, the brand bumper and incidental montage audio are omitted.
All ten original channels, the instructor’s selected Spanish example from each, the free study-guide break, humor and closing are retained. This is the original September 2023 recommendation list, with official channel links and clearly dated popularity descriptions.
- 0:00 — Ten channels and a Spanish example from each
- 0:42 — 1. Ibai
- 1:36 — 2. Ter
- 2:32 — 3. Willyrex
- 3:03 — 4. Estirando el chicle
- 3:33 — 5. Portillo
- 4:28 — The free Spanish study guide
- 4:40 — 6. TikTak Draw
- 5:18 — 7. Sara Baceiredo
- 5:55 — 8. Memorias de Pez
- 6:41 — 9. Jep
- 7:15 — 10. Easy Spanish
- 7:48 — And one more channel…
0:00 — Ten channels and a Spanish example from each
¡Hola!
Example translation: Hello!
Something that helped me learn other languages was watching YouTube content in those languages. Here are ten channels from Spain that I really like, to improve listening while having fun. No boring lessons: real-life content to build vocabulary. I’m Lucía, a native Spanish speaker from Sevilla, in southern Spain, teaching at My Daily Spanish. I’ll teach you some Spanish from every recommended channel. Get ready for immersion!
Learner note — Recording context: These are Lucía’s recommendations from the September 2023 video. Descriptions of schedules and popularity belong to that recording, rather than a current ranking. The ten official channel links remain available.
0:42 — 1. Ibai
I would say Ibai is Spain’s biggest internet celebrity at the time of this video. In the recording I describe his Twitch channel as the fourth most followed in the world and say he streams every day, with many fun YouTube videos too. He’s funny; I laugh a lot at what he says and think he’s an incredible person. He does gaming and e-sports commentary, but also varied content: food from The Simpsons, celebrities and reactions. He makes special programs such as Disaster Chefs and La Velada del Año, a boxing tournament. A phrase he says often:
Me la pela
Example translation: I don’t give a damn.
This is really vulgar.
Official channel: Ibai.
1:36 — 2. Ter
I love Ter! An architect, YouTuber and, I would add, modern philosopher, she mixes architecture with celebrities, history and everyday life. Super varied; I think you’ll love it. She can be difficult to understand: when learning we infer from context, but she’s ironic and says crazy, unexpected things, so guessing what comes next is hard. If you understand her perfectly, I call you advanced. I really recommend her. Videos include Taylor Swift’s song bridges as actual bridges, the importance of Kim Kardashian’s ass, and why Notre-Dame didn’t fall. Spanish from Ter:
No lo hizo sin querer, lo hizo aposta
Example translation: He didn’t do it accidentally; he did it on purpose.
Official channel: Ter.
2:32 — 3. Willyrex
Willyrex is a famous gamer. He uploads gameplay to his main channel and reactions to a secondary one. If you like that content, he’s very nice. I don’t really watch his videos, but he’s famous and I describe him as not using swear words—uncommon among gamers on YouTube or Twitch. Spanish time:
Si te ríes, pierdes
Example translation: If you laugh, you lose.
This is a common video challenge these YouTubers do.
Learner note — Language in individual videos: The description of Willyrex avoiding swearing is the instructor’s impression in the recording, not a guarantee that every video is free of strong language.
Official channel: Willyrex.
3:03 — 4. Estirando el chicle
This comedy podcast is made by Carolina and Victoria. They talk about things they don’t like in life, with famous guests. It’s a talk show I usually listen to as a podcast. Very funny, with stories and amusing language. A little Spanish:
No se puede eliminar el pasado
Example translation: The past can’t be deleted.
Official channel: Estirando el chicle.
3:33 — 5. Portillo
Portillo explores cities, countries, cultures and random interesting topics, and talks about technology and society. I like his approach, editing and overall style. You can learn a lot; it’s entertaining. I recommend his English subtitles if you need them. Videos include Japanese capsule hotels, Barcelona’s sewage system, an abandoned nuclear power plant and futurism in South Korea. Spanish time:
Hay gente con mala suerte y después estoy yo
Example translation: There are people with bad luck, and then there’s me.
In this joking context, I explain the idea as “I have the worst luck in the world.”
Learner note — Captions: Subtitle availability depends on the individual video and language. Look for the CC control and available language tracks; the recommendation does not mean every Portillo video has an English track. Source: YouTube caption settings.
Official channel: Portillo.
4:28 — The free Spanish study guide
At My Daily Spanish we have a free study guide with a step-by-step process to help you learn Spanish faster. Download it using the link in the video description.
4:40 — 6. TikTak Draw
They tell stories while drawing. Most seem to be scary stories, so I don’t watch the channel much. If you like horror, it may be great for you. There are other stories too. The drawings make it easier to understand what’s being said. Let’s learn from a video:
En el 2009 lanzó su cuarto álbum
Example translation: In 2009, she released her fourth album.
Dos mil nueve
Example translation: Two thousand and nine: 2009.
The original drawing clip is about Rihanna.
Official channel: TikTak Draw.
5:18 — 7. Sara Baceiredo
Sara is a fashion, beauty and travel vlogger with a nice lifestyle. She speaks slowly and calmly, and I find her easy to understand. Her videos are beautiful. If you like this kind of vlog, it’s a great channel for listening practice. Her life might make you jealous, but at least we can dream! Spanish time:
No podía tener más ganas de llegar
Example translation: I couldn’t be more eager to arrive.
¡Un segundo!
Example translation: One second!
If you like this video, please give it a thumbs-up.
¡Gracias!
Example translation: Thank you!
Official channel: Sara Baceiredo.
5:55 — 8. Memorias de Pez
This channel explains history with lots of pictures. I think the vocabulary suits advanced learners, but the visuals can help you follow the topic. I love these videos to keep up with what has happened and is happening in the world. Examples: why the Vatican is a country, China’s history and a summary of the nineteenth century. Here’s a little Spanish:
Brasil se separó de Portugal en el año 1822
Example translation: Brazil separated from Portugal in 1822.
Mil ochocientos veintidós
Example translation: One thousand eight hundred and twenty-two: 1822.
Official channel: Memorias de Pez.
6:41 — 9. Jep
Jep is a photography and video enthusiast who makes little travel documentaries. I love his content. It’s very well filmed and edited: you can tell he’s a videographer. Examples include things nobody told you about Paris, building a professional camera with Lego and finding a sunken boat in the Caribbean. Some Spanish:
Se encuentra en lo alto de las montañas
Example translation: It is located at the top of the mountains.
Official channel: Jep.
7:15 — 10. Easy Spanish
They go into the streets of Spain and Latin America to interview locals on various topics, with English and Spanish subtitles on screen. It’s great practice. Example topics include what tapas really are and summer in Barcelona. Spanish:
Es muy cara en comparación con los sueldos que recibimos
Example translation: It’s very expensive compared with the salaries we receive.
This is the interviewed speaker’s comment about cost in that discussion.
Official channel: Easy Spanish.
7:48 — And one more channel…
Do you know which other channel will help your Spanish? This one—hehe, unexpected! Subscribe to My Daily Spanish. All ten links are in the video description: follow the ones that interest you. If you want another kind of content, tell me in the comments, and I’ll reply with a Spanish channel that suits you. Have a fantastic day!
Que tengáis un día fantástico
Example translation: Have a fantastic day! Addressed to several people with the informal plural used in Spain.
¡Adiós!
Example translation: Goodbye!
