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52 Spanish Essay Phrases for Your AP Exam

In order to do well on the AP Spanish exam’s   free-response  section, you must be able to write a persuasive essay based on three Spanish-language sources.

Here we’ve put together a list of 52 vocabulary words and essays phrases that will come in handy for making and supporting arguments in your AP Spanish essays.

Handy Essay Phrases for Writing a Strong Spanish AP Composition

Starting your essay, agreeing and disagreeing, stating an opinion, supporting an opinion, contrasting (or comparing), transitional phrases, changing topics, concluding your essay, how to prepare for the ap spanish essay, what are the details of the ap spanish essay, and one more thing….

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Para empezar – To begin with

Hoy en día – Nowadays…

Hoy en día, las personas están en Internet hasta ocho horas por día. (Nowadays, people are on the Internet up to eight hours per day.)

A manera de introducción – We can start by saying…

Como punto de partida – As a starting point

Al principio – At the beginning… 

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En primer lugar  – To start… 

Empecemos por considerar – Let’s begin by considering…

Estoy de acuerdo/No estoy de acuerdo — I agree/I disagree

Estoy de acuerdo con lo que dice el autor. (I agree with what the author says.)

No estoy de acuerdo con la idea principal de la fuente número dos . (I disagree with the main idea of source number two.)

En mi opinión — In my opinion

En mi opinión, los jóvenes deberían comer más sano. (In my opinion, young people should eat healthier.)

La verdad es   — The truth is

La verdad es que todavía hay mucha desigualdad en los Estados Unidos . (The truth is there is still a lot of inequality in the United States.)

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Es verdad  — It’s true

Es verdad que las redes sociales pueden ser peligrosas . (It’s true that social media can be dangerous.)

Es falso   —   It’s false

Hay gente que dice que las redes sociales son peligrosas, pero esto es falso . (There are people who say that social media is dangerous, but this is false.)

Me parece/No me parece   —   It seems to me/It doesn’t seem to me

Me parece bien que los niños asistan a colegios bilingües . (I think it’s a good idea that children attend bilingual schools.)

No me parece bien que los niños asistan a colegios bilingües . (I don’t think it’s a good idea that children attend bilingual schools.)

Remember that since me parece implies an opinion or emotion, you must conjugate the verb in the subjunctive tense.

(Yo) pienso que   —   I think that

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Yo pienso que no hay nada más importante que la familia . (I think that there is nothing more important than family.)

(Yo) creo que  — I believe that

Yo creo que todos los adolescentes deberían aprender a tocar un instrumento . (I believe that all adolescents should learn to play an instrument.)

The following phrases all have the same structure: Es  + adjective +  que .

This structure is similar to the English “It’s [adjective] that…” and is great for expressing and supporting opinions in a strong and confident manner. Here are some phrases that are especially useful when making and defending claims in a persuasive essay:

Es evidente que   —   It’s evident that

Es claro que   —   It’s clear that

Es cierto que  —   It’s certain that

Es obvio que   — It’s obvious that

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Es importante que  — It’s important that

Es necesario que   — It’s necessary that

Es probable que   —   It’s probable that

Es dudoso que  — It’s doubtful that

For some of these phrases, the verb following the word que must be conjugated in the indicative, while others require the subjunctive . A good rule of thumb is that when implying that something is certain, use the indicative. When expressing doubt or expressing some other emotion, use the subjunctive.

On this list, evidente, claro, cierto  and obvio use indicative verbs, and importante, necesario, probable  and dudoso use subjunctive verbs.

Es cierto que nuestro clima está cambiando . (It is certain that our climate is changing.)

Es importante que la gente sepa hablar más de un idioma . (It’s important that people know how to speak more than one language.)

These words will help you refer to your three sources, which contain information that will help you support your argument. This section also contains transition words to connect one part of your argument to the next.

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Según   — According to  

Según el autor… (according to the author…)

La fuente  —   The source

Según la fuente numero 1… (According to source number one…)

El tema   —   The theme/topic

Esto es un tema muy importante. (This is a very important topic.)

Mostrar   —   To show

La fuente muestra la importancia de la diversidad. (The source shows the importance of diversity.)

Remember, mostrar is an o-ue stem-changing verb—pay attention to conjugation!

Demostrar   —   To demonstrate

La tabla demuestra que muchos jóvenes en España juegan al fútbol. (The table demonstrates that many youths in Spain play football.)

Demostrar is also an o-ue stem changing verb. Luckily for you, it follows the exact same conjugation rules as mostrar !

Indicar   —   To indicate

La tabla indica que hay muchas familias pobres en ese barrio. (The table indicates that there are many poor families in that neighborhood.)

Apoyar   —   To support

Estos datos apoyan la idea de que el clima está cambiando. (This data supports the idea that the climate is changing)

Sin duda   — Without a doubt

Sin duda, el cambio climático es el problema más grave que enfrenta nuestra planeta. (Without a doubt, climate change is the most serious problem that our planet faces.)

Por otra parte   — On the other hand

Es importante que la economía crezca, pero por otra parte, tenemos que cuidar el medio ambiente. (It’s important that the economy grows, but on the other hand, we have to care for the environment.)

Aunque   — Even though/Although

Aunque is followed by an indicative verb when the outcome is known, but a subjunctive verb when the outcome is speculative.

Aunque cuesta mucho dinero, tenemos que buscar una solución. (Even though it costs a lot of money, we have to search for a solution.)

Aunque cueste mucho dinero, tenemos que buscar una solución . (Even though it may cost a lot of money, we have to search for a solution.)

Al igual que  —   Just like

Al igual que en los años 40, hoy en día hay mucha gente que no quiere ayudar a los refugiados de guerra . (Just like in the 40s, today there are many people who don’t want to help war refugees.)

Tanto… como… — … as well as…

Fill in this phrase with two nouns to emphasize that you’re talking equally about two different things.

Tanto chicos como chicas deberían aprender a cocinar, limpiar, coser y cuidar a los bebés. (Boys as well as girls ought to learn how to cook, clean, sew and care for babies.)  

Sino   —   But rather

Remember that Spanish has two translations for the English word “but.” The word sino is like the English phrase “but rather,” used to introduce an alternative.

En comparación  —   In comparison

En comparación, la fuente número 2 indica que hay más obesidad en Estados Unidos que en España . (In comparison, source number 2 indicates that there is more obesity in the United States than in Spain.)

Leer no es una pérdida de tiempo, sino una manera de aprender y de conocer otras culturas . (Reading isn’t a waste of time, but rather a way to learn and understand other cultures.)

Además  — Additionally

This word is usually seen at the beginning of a sentence, and it’s useful for transitioning from one idea or argument to another.

Además, es evidente que la tecnología nos ayuda mucho. (Additionally, it’s evident that technology helps us a lot.)

Sin embargo   —   However

This is another good transition word. In your essay, you may want to present an alternate argument and then explain why you disagree with it. Sin embargo is very helpful for this.

Obviamente, estudiar es muy importante. Sin embargo, es necesario que los adolescentes tengan tiempo para jugar con sus amigos . (Obviously, studying is very important. However, it’s necessary that teenagers have time to play with their friends.)

Por lo cual   —   For this reason/That’s why/Which is why

This phrase is used in the middle of a sentence to connect ideas.

La Amazonía tiene un alto nivel de biodiversidad, por lo cual la conservación de esta región debe ser una prioridad.  (The Amazon has a high level of biodiversity, which is why the conservation of this region must be a priority.)

Sobre un tema relacionado — On a related topic

Sobre un tema relacionado con la inteligencia artificial, se están llevando a cabo investigaciones para mejorar la capacidad de aprendizaje de los algoritmos de machine learning.  (Regarding a topic related to artificial intelligence, research is being conducted to enhance the learning capacity of machine learning algorithms.)

Cuando se trata de –  When it comes to

Relacionado con esta idea — Related to this idea

Una idea similar es — A similar idea is

Una idea similar es utilizar la realidad virtual como herramienta educativa para mejorar la experiencia de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. (A similar idea is to use virtual reality as an educational tool to enhance the learning experience of students.)

Ahora estoy pasando a  — Now moving onto

In your final paragraph, you’ll want to provide a summary of your main argument and your main supporting points. You can use the following helpful phrases:

En conclusión   —   In conclusion

En resumen   —   In summary

En fin   —   Finally

En conclusión,/En resumen,/En fin, las tres fuentes muestran que la contaminación del aire es un problema muy grave para todo el mundo . (In summary, the three sources show that air pollution is a very serious problem for the whole world.)

After summarizing your essay, you’ll want to restate your main argument in a succinct, strongly-worded sentence. Start with these phrases:

Por estas razones   —   For these reasons

Por eso  — That is why

Así que   —   Therefore

Entonces  — So

Por estas razones,/Por eso,/Así que/Entonces, afirmo que los adolescentes no deberían usar las redes sociales. (For these reasons, I affirm that teenagers should not use social media.)

In many ways, preparing for the free-response section is the same as preparing for the rest of the AP exam.

It involves studying grammar and vocabulary, and it also means immersing yourself in the Spanish language as much as possible.

There are also some targeted ways to practice for the free-response section.

• Do practice exams and read sample essays. The College Board  has posted the full AP exams from the last several years. Try to read the sources and write the essay in the allotted 55 minutes. When you’re done, go back and slowly revise your essay for errors in grammar, spelling and logic. After that, you can also check out the grading rubric provided by the College Board and several sample persuasive essays . Try to compare your essay against the rubric and the samples to see how you can improve your writing.
• Practice summarizing and analyzing Spanish-language sources. Remember all those great resources listed above? Well, it’s not enough to just read or listen to them. The whole point of the presentational essay is to measure your ability to summarize, synthesize and argue. So, after you read or listen to a Spanish-language source, take five minutes to summarize it—on paper. Identify the main argument, and then make a bulleted list of important points. Finally, write a few sentences summarizing your personal opinion.
• Learn targeted vocabulary for talking about opinions and arguments. Is there anything more frustrating than knowing exactly what you want to say, but not having the vocabulary to say it? This article lists many crucial vocabulary words for expressing and supporting opinions in persuasive essays. Using these words and phrases will help make your writing flow more smoothly, and allow you to argue with more credibility.

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You can also find some great info on great news outlets , podcasts , YouTube channels  and blogs —all in Spanish. Even following some Spanish Twitter feeds or listening to Spanish music can be a great way to work a little language practice into your day.

The free-response section of the exam is meant to test your ability to communicate with others in spoken and written Spanish.

There are two essays in the free-response section. The interpersonal essay asks you to respond to an email. The presentational essay  tests how well you can draw information from Spanish-language sources, form an argument and write formally. This second essay is a little less straightforward, so we’ll walk you through it here.

So, how does it work?

The presentational essay is based on three sources . Two of them are written sources and one is an audio source.

These sources can be just about anything: Advertisements, articles, infographics, letters, maps, interviews, radio programs, podcasts and conversations are just some examples of the types of sources you may encounter.

You’ll have about 55 minutes to complete this particular essay. First, you’ll have six minutes to read the prompt and the two written sources, and then you’ll hear the audio source twice. Finally, you’ll have 40 minutes to plan and write your essay.

The essay is graded on the basis of Spanish language skills like reading, listening, writing and grammar—but it’s also based on your general ability to analyze the sources and make a strong, coherent argument.

Of course, learning vocabulary and essay phrases is just one way to prepare for the free-response section.

Remember to expose yourself to as many Spanish-language sources as you can before test day, and don’t forget to think critically about those sources as you read them!

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Essays in Spanish

In our site we have over 150 essays in Spanish (full and free) that you can check to inspire yourself for your homework or assignments and use them as example essays.

Our essays are simple and short, so they are really good for Spanish classes for students that speak English as a native language. They can be good for middle school, high school, college, or any language learning classes.

Each essay is written around a topic that it’s included in the title. You can check our homepage to find our latest essays published, or use our search form in the right sidebar (you should use keywords or topics in Spanish).

For an easy start, here we include some of the essays in Spanish but with the title (topic) translated to English so you can find a match for your interest.

List of essays in Spanish

• Example essay about  family in Spanish
• Example essay about  discrimination in Spanish
• Example essay about  violence in Spanish
• Example essay about  what is life in Spanish
• Example essay about  peace in Spanish
• Example essay about  global warming in Spanish
• Example essay about  myself and my life in Spanish
• Example essay about  Mexico in Spanish
• Example essay about  Donald Trump in Spanish
• Example essay about  corruption in Spanish
• Example essay about  innovation  in Spanish
• Example essay about  Aristotle  in Spanish
• Example essay about  homosexuality  in Spanish
• Example essay about  smoking  in Spanish
• Example essay about  sports  in Spanish
• Example essay about  life projects  in Spanish
• Example essay about  technology  in Spanish
• Example essay about  love  in Spanish
• Example essay about  racism  in Spanish
• Example essay about  bullying  in Spanish

Please use the comments area below in this post if you can’t find the essay you were looking for! – you can write in English if your Spanish isn’t the best 🙂

2 comentarios en «Essays in Spanish»

Odio la escuela

Aquí hay un ensayo escrito en español sobre el ataque del 11 de septiembre La mañana del 11 de septiembre de 2001 fue la mañana en que el mundo entero hizo una pausa y contuvo la respiración. Cada 11 de septiembre desde entonces, la gente de todas partes se detendrá para recordar. Esa fue la mañana en que terroristas de Arabia Saudita secuestraron cuatro aviones estadounidenses diferentes, pensando solo en la misión suicida que tenían por delante y en lo que tenían que hacer para llevarla a cabo. De alguna manera subieron a los aviones sin ser detectados y en algún momento del vuelo se revelaron.Se hicieron con el control del avión, amenazando a los pasajeros con una bomba. Sin embargo, lo que los pasajeros no sabían es que no había ninguna bomba. Los terroristas tenían planes diferentes para los aviones ese día. Su estrategia era estrellar los cuatro aviones contra diferentes edificios, matando a tantas personas como pudieran. El primer avión, el Vuelo 11 de American Airlines, se estrelló contra la torre norte del World Trade Center. Otro avión, el Vuelo 175, voló hacia la torre sur del World Trade Center y también estalló en llamas. El tercer avión secuestrado, el vuelo 77 de American Airlines, se estrelló contra el edificio del Pentágono.Mientras tanto, personas de todo el mundo miraban las noticias. Miles de personas sabían de este ataque, pero solo algunos podían ayudar. Otros solo podían ver las noticias y contener la respiración, esperando lo mejor. La mayoría de las personas intentaron llamar a sus familias y algunas de esas personas se pusieron en contacto con ellos. Algunas de esas personas estaban en el Vuelo 93. Juntos estaban tratando de averiguar qué estaba pasando. Alguien debe haber juntado las piezas y sabía que tenía que hacer algo. Varios pasajeros intentaron retomar el control del avión, pero solo provocaron que el secuestrador hiciera volar el último avión contra el suelo en Pensilvania. El resultado fue devastador. Las torres norte y sur del World Trade Center se derrumbaron y muchos bomberos arriesgaron sus propias vidas para intentar salvar a otras. Según el sitio web de la CNN, más de dos mil personas fueron gravementeheridos y casi tres mil personas perdieron la vida. La razón principal del ataque fue el intento de Al Qaeda de desestabilizar las economías occidentales. Tal vez también estaban tratando de enviar un mensaje sobre algo. Nueve años después del ataque, mi papá recuerda ver las noticias y ver los aviones golpeando los diferentes edificios y destruyendo tanto. También recuerda que muchas personas murieron en todos los accidentes. Cuando mi mamá piensa en el 11 de septiembre, recuerda que venía a recogernos a mi hermano y a mí de la escuela. Ella vino alrededor de las 11:30 a buscarnos porque solo nos quedamos la mitad del día en ese entonces. Mi mamá estaba haciendo mandados antes de eso y no había oído hablar del ataque. Luego se enteró de que también tenía que buscar a mi hermana, porque los dejaron salir temprano. Cuando llegamos a casa, mi mamá dice que encendió la televisión para tratar de averiguar qué había sucedido. Lo descubrió con bastante facilidad porque el ataque estaba en todas las noticias. Mi hermana, Emily, estaba en segundo grado cuando ocurrió el ataque. Ella recuerda que su clase estaba almorzando cuando los padres de todos llegaron y los llevaron a casa. También recuerda que todos los padresestaban asustados por algo, pero ella no sabía lo que había sucedido. Estaba en el jardín de infantes el 11 de septiembre y no recuerdo nada de ese día, aparte de lo que he escuchado desde entonces. Después de ver el video en clase, me di cuenta de la destrucción que realmente fue el ataque. Causó el colapso total de dos torres en el World Trade Center. Tantas personas estaban atrapado dentro de ambos edificios y casi ninguno logró salir. Los que lo hicieron definitivamente son extremadamente afortunados de estar vivos. Sin embargo, solo unas pocas personas en el primer piso lograron salir. No había esperanza para las personas en los pisos superiores, lo que empeoró este día. Desde el ataque de 2001, la economía nunca se ha recuperado por completo. El principal efecto económico a largo plazo del ataque fue la guerra en Irak. Nuestros soldados han estado allí durante nueve años y no se está volviendo más fácil para nadie. Enviamos más y más tropas para ayudar a luchar en la guerra, y la economía sigue siendo mala. Definitivamente también ha sido una lucha financiera para el gobierno. En mi opinión, nada bueno salió del 11 de septiembre. Comenzó otra guerra más para que nuestros soldados pelearan, y muchas personas ya han perdido la vida. Todos los años a partir de ahora todos se detendrán por un momento para pensar y lamentarse por el ataque del 11 de septiembre de 2001.

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How to Write an Amazing Essay in Spanish

Has your teacher asked you to write an essay in Spanish? Essays are probably the most common type of homework around the world. Teachers want you to write essays because they’re a way to improve your abilities when you’re learning a new language. 

Writing essays may not seem like fun, but it actually improves your cognitive abilities! The act of researching, organizing, and writing pushes you to increase your knowledge on different topics, strengthens your critical thinking skills, and advances your ability to communicate and express your thoughts.

With all these benefits in mind, it’s no wonder you want to write a great essay in Spanish. But there are times when your ideas vanish and your mind goes blank—you wonder, where do I begin and what steps do I follow? 

Even if you’re a pro when it comes to writing in English, writing an essay in Spanish can be a challenge. In this blog post, I’ll help you overcome this small hurdle to help you make your Spanish essay cohesive, persuasive, and as professional as possible.

Are you ready to write an amazing essay in Spanish?

Basics and Benefits of Writing Essays

Strong writing skills are important for school, college, and a professional career. It’s likely that Spanish is not your first language, but if you’re learning the language then writing a research-fueled Spanish essay gives you all sorts of advantages. It enables you to practice grammar, spelling, vocabulary, as well as synthesize your ideas and thoughts surrounding the topic you’re writing about.

Writing a terrific essay in Spanish requires planning, organization, and structure. Having a process saves you time and once you’ve established a system that works for you, the writing comes easy! 

How to Structure an Essay in Spanish

Similar to when you’re telling a story, your essay should follow a traditional story arc. This means that you start with an appealing introduction, after which you develop your idea within the body of the essay, and finally, you close your thoughts or argument with a summary and conclusion. 

Let’s take a deeper look at these 3 parts of an essay in Spanish:

1. Introduction

Start your essay with a summary of the topic you’ll cover throughout your piece. The introduction reflects the argumentative line that your whole essay follows. It should be brief but not too short. I recommend making the intro 10% of your whole essay. 

A good introduction gives enough information by stating a problem or the reason why you’re writing the essay and why the reader should be compelled to read it. 

Some writers choose to write the introduction after they’ve written the body and conclusion. I think it’s a good strategy that allows you to summarize and evaluate the body of your whole essay before you aim to highlight important points in your introduction. 

My biggest advice is to make it clear what the reason for your essay’s existence is, so that your reader can feel excited to know more, and invited to learn from you. 

This is the main part of your essay. I recommend that you dedicate 80% of your whole essay to the body. This critical section develops the core ideas of your essay in Spanish as it’s where you present the main ideas and their arguments in relation to the topic you’re writing about. 

This part requires you to do research from reputable sources, fact checking, and tying all your ideas together in a cohesive way. 

3. Conclusion

The remaining 10% of your essay in Spanish should focus on bringing the essay to a close. You want to summarize all the main ideas of your topic and establish your final posture on it. 

Preferably, leave no loose ends and make sure the ending of your essay has the ability to create a discussion or invite the reader to find out more about the topic. 

Steps to Follow to Write an Essay in Spanish

Every writer has a unique system that works for them. What works for me might not work for you, and vice versa. 

The steps and path you follow for writing an essay in Spanish depend on the knowledge and fluency you have of the language as well as your familiarity with writing. 

Nevertheless, I recommend some basic steps that will help you if you’re a beginner when it comes to writing an essay in Spanish. 

1. Define a Topic

Choose a topic of interest to you. If the topic is not assigned by your teacher, go for a current issue or interesting topic that will inspire you to research as much as possible. Check the local media, or go online and find out what topics are available for you to discuss.

2. Do Your Research

This aspect is critical—you must find reliable sources of information for your essay. Go to a library if possible, find academic papers online, and gather as much documentation as possible that helps you understand the central themes and patterns of your chosen topic.

As a plus, if you do your research in Spanish, you’ll see other essays in Spanish that will help you develop your own Spanish writing style, tone, and personality.  

3. Determine Your Position

After you’ve gathered enough research, you’ll begin to see an angle or position you can take in relation to the information. The angle or position you take is essentially your “point.” Ask yourself, “What’s my point in writing this?” When you’ve answered that, you’ve discovered your position. 

To support your position, your research should include quotes, statistics, and any relevant information you can find from credible sources. 

4. Draft an Outline

This step is vital for organizing your arguments and ideas. Since Spanish is not your first language, an outline will allow you to translate words or phrases. In addition to listing Spanish notes in your outline, keep this basic process in mind:

• Know your audience
• Gather all notes, research, and supporting materials
• Organize them into a cohesive flow 
• Be sure to organize by how each subtopic relates to the main topic and to each other

5. List Spanish Words and Terms

Since you’re writing an essay in Spanish, it’s only befitting that you have a list of specific words and terms you want to include in it. 

Draft a list of terms that are relevant to your essay in Spanish, whether they’re reminders in your outline or they’re unfamiliar terms that beg to be further researched. 

The terms you choose allow you to set a tone and define whether you’re using standard Spanish, informal Spanish, or literary and formal language. 

The tone you choose to follow in your essay guides your word choice. 

Here’s a list of words and phrases in Spanish that can help with your writing:

6. Write the Body of Your Essay

Focus on fully developing your argument with relevant examples and evidence to support your position. Each paragraph should focus on only one argument along with supporting evidence, and the flow from one paragraph to the next should sound natural and rational. 

Spanish is a richer language, so don’t be afraid of writing longer sentences than usual, but make sure you combine them with short dynamic phrases. It’s essential to keep your reader interested! 

7. Write an Engaging Introduction

Once you’re done with the body of your essay, start writing the introduction. The purpose of your intro is to set a tone and prepare the reader for what follows. 

Putting together your introduction at the end allows you to absorb what you’ve written and define how to present the topic and express your point. 

8. Summarize and Conclude

The conclusion is your essay is an opportunity to tie all your points together and restate the main argument. Since some essays are meant to be objective, I recommend you include a paragraph or sentence that stimulates reflection and enriches the reader’s perspective on the topic. 

9. Final Edits and Proofreading

This final step is the second most critical when it comes to writing an essay in Spanish! Edit for correcting typos, punctuation, grammatical errors, and spelling. 

I recommend you share your Spanish essay with a native speaker who can proofread it before you turn it in. Another person’s perspective can help you spot an error or a section that lacks cohesion. 

A Few Final Tips

Read your essay as many times as possible.

I find myself making changes to essays after reading them at least 4 or 5 times. You need to check your essay for: 

• readability
• consistency
• transitions between paragraphs, 
• unnecessary fillers, and 
• adequate adverbs and adjectives.

Think and write in Spanish, if possible

By drafting an outline, doing your research, and organizing your ideas in Spanish from the beginning, you fully immerse yourself and make writing an essay in Spanish more efficient. 

On the contrary, by writing and researching in English with the goal of translating, you’ll end up in a tough spot with way much more work than intended. 

Ready to Write Your First Essay in Spanish?

I hope by sharing my essay-writing experience in this blog post that you feel more confident about writing your essay in Spanish. I know it can be frustrating and challenging at times, but don’t be afraid to make mistakes and correct them later. 

The truth is, the more comfortable you feel speaking Spanish, the more your writing skills in Spanish will improve. 

If you’re ready to take the next step and work on your speaking skills, join us at Homeschool Spanish Academy! You can sign up for a free trial class with one of our native, Spanish-speaking teachers. Before you know it, you’ll be speaking Spanish and writing essays like a pro!

Ready to learn more Spanish vocabulary? Check these out!

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• Earth Day Projects for Kids + Spanish Earth Day Vocabulary
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Spanish Essay Phrases: 40 Useful Phrases for an Impressive Writeup

7  Comments

May 30, 2019

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Do you need to write a lot of essays in Spanish? If you do, don’t worry. It's about to get a little bit easier for you because here in this article, we’ve listed many useful Spanish essay phrases that you can readily use in your essays.

Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

Get the PDF ( + MP3!)

No time to read now? Then you might opt to get the list in PDF instead. If you sign up to the newsletter, you'll get the list of Spanish essay phrases in PDF format plus free audio files. 

Spanish Essay Phrases

Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

Try to use the essay phrases in Spanish that you learned in this lesson and write a few example sentences in the comments section!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

VERY VERY useful !! Gracias

Amazing! This will definitely help me in tomorrow’s spanish test 🙂

Sounds good

Thanks for the assistance, in learning Spanish.

Amazing article! Very helpful! Also, this website is great for Spanish Beginners.

It’s easy when you put it that way

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Writing an Essay in Spanish: Tips for a Great Essay

When learning Spanish, many students put all their energy into practicing speaking. They chat with classmates, engage in conversations with native speakers, and tune into Spanish TV shows or podcasts. But amidst this flurry of spoken practice, writing often gets pushed aside like yesterday's homework.

Yet, without honing those writing chops, achieving true fluency in Spanish—or any language for that matter—can be tough. That's why, in this article, we're jumping into writing an essay in Spanish, showing why it's not just a dreaded task but a great chance to boost your language skills. ¡Vamos!

Quick Tips on Writing in Spanish

Now that you're ready to tackle Spanish essay writing, let's make sure you're armed with some handy tips from our Spanish essay writer :

• Mind Your Spelling : Pay close attention to how words are spelled. Good spelling can make your writing look professional and help you avoid embarrassing mistakes.
• Use Transition Words : Incorporate transition words like 'sin embargo' (however), 'por lo tanto' (therefore), and 'además' (moreover) to connect your ideas and make your essay flow smoothly.
• Stick to Simple Sentences : Keep your sentences straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid using overly complicated phrases that might confuse your reader.
• Practice Grammar Regularly : Brush up on grammar rules to avoid common mistakes. Pay attention to verb conjugations, noun-adjective agreement, and sentence structure.
• Expand Your Vocabulary : Learn new Spanish words and phrases regularly to enrich your writing. Try using a Spanish-English dictionary or language-learning app to discover new vocabulary.
• Read Spanish Texts : Read books, articles, and essays written in this language to familiarize yourself with the language's structure and style. Pay attention to how sentences are constructed and how ideas are expressed.

With these quick tips in mind, let’s now check out a step-by-step guide to crafting an essay in Spanish.

Choose a Compelling Subject

When you start your essay, picking a compelling subject is your first step. Choose a topic that you care about. It will show in your writing, making it more engaging and lively.

Think about what excites you or what you want to know more about. Maybe there's a part of Spanish culture that fascinates you, like flamenco dancing or the traditional food of a specific region. Or perhaps you're intrigued by a historical figure or a current issue in Spanish-speaking countries.

Once you settle on a topic, dig into it. Look up articles, watch videos, and gather as much information as you can. This background work will not only beef up your knowledge but also give you plenty of material to draw from when you sit down to write your essay.

Generate Ideas

Brainstorming can really kick things into gear by helping you develop a deep and varied pool of thoughts related to your topic. Start by jotting down everything that comes to mind about your subject. Don't worry about organizing these ideas yet; the goal is to get all your thoughts out on paper. You might be surprised by what you come up with!

Use mind maps to help visualize the connections between different ideas. Draw a circle in the center of a page, write your main topic in it, and then branch out with related ideas, connecting them with lines to show how they relate to each other and to the central theme.

Asking questions can also spark more ideas. What? Who? Where? When? Why? How? These questions can lead you to consider different angles of your topic that you might not have thought about before.

Once you have a good list of ideas, look for patterns or themes that could form the backbone of your essay. Choose the ones that are most interesting to you, or that have plenty of information available, and you'll find your essay starts to take shape naturally from there.

Craft an Opening

The opening, or introduction, should not only introduce your topic but also pique the reader's curiosity. Here's how you can create an engaging introduction:

• Start with a hook : Begin with an intriguing statement, a surprising fact, or a provocative question related to your topic. For example, if you're writing about the influence of Spanish cinema, you might start with statistics about the international awards Spanish films have won.
• Provide some background : After grabbing the reader's attention, give a bit of background to place your topic in context. This doesn't have to be detailed but should provide enough information to understand the importance of the topic and why it's relevant.
• State your thesis : End your introduction with a clear thesis statement that will guide the rest of your essay, making sure it's specific and directly related to your topic.

Structure the Essay

A well-organized essay makes it easier for your readers to follow your arguments and understand the points you're making. As previously mentioned, your introduction should start with a hook to capture interest, provide some background information to set the scene and conclude with a strong thesis statement that outlines your main argument or perspective.

As for the body section, start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence should link back to your thesis statement and indicate how this paragraph will support your overall argument. Then, follow the topic sentence with evidence, examples, and explanations to flesh out your argument.

Lastly, begin your conclusion by briefly summarizing the key points you have discussed. Then, reinforce your thesis statement with a fresh rephrasing, showing how the body of your essay has supported it throughout.

Recap the Content

Now that you've laid out your arguments in the body of your essay, it's time to recap. Briefly go over the main points from each section of your essay. This reminds the reader of what you've discussed and how it all connects. Then, tie each point back to your thesis statement. Also, mention any particularly strong evidence or insightful observations again, reinforcing their importance.

Ensure Coherence and Relevance

Once you've recapped the content of your writing, it's essential to ensure coherence and relevance throughout. You can do this by reviewing the transitions between paragraphs and sections, ensuring they flow smoothly and logically from one idea to the next.

Also, look for any redundant or repetitive information. Remove anything that doesn't add value to your argument or that repeats points you've already made. It's also important to avoid going off on tangents or introducing unrelated information.

Lastly, before finalizing your essay, ask yourself if every part of it is relevant to your main argument. If not, consider revising or removing those sections to maintain focus.

Review for Clarity and Style

Once you've ensured coherence and relevance in your writing, it's time to review for clarity and style. Break down long or convoluted sentences into shorter, more straightforward ones. This helps prevent confusion and keeps your writing clear. You can also read your essay aloud to yourself or have someone else read it to you. This can help you identify awkward phrasing or unclear passages that may need revision.

Edit for Errors

Finally, it's time to edit your essay for errors. This step is crucial for ensuring that your writing is polished and professional. Using a spellchecker or asking a native speaker to proofread your essay for you is usually a good idea. Then, double-check your formatting, including margins, font size, and spacing. Make sure your essay follows any specific formatting guidelines provided by your instructor.

By thoroughly editing your essay for Spanish language errors, you ensure that your final product is polished and ready to impress your readers. Take your time with this step to catch any mistakes and make the necessary revisions for a flawless finish.

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Home — Essay Samples — Science — Language and Linguistics — Spanish Language

Essays on Spanish Language

The Spanish language is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, with over 460 million people speaking it as their first language. It is the official language of 21 countries, making it an essential language for global communication and understanding. As a result, writing essays in Spanish can be an effective way to practice and improve language skills, as well as explore important cultural and social topics. In this article, we will provide a long list of Spanish language essay topics, along with advice on choosing a topic and the importance of each topic.

The Importance of the Topic

Spanish language essay topics can cover a wide range of subjects, including literature, history, culture, politics, and more. By writing essays in Spanish, students can improve their language skills, expand their vocabulary, and gain a deeper understanding of the Spanish-speaking world. Additionally, writing about important social and cultural topics can help students develop empathy and understanding for different perspectives and experiences. This is especially important in today's globalized world, where cultural awareness and understanding are essential for effective communication and collaboration.

Advice on Choosing a Topic

When choosing a Spanish language essay topic, it is important to consider your interests, as well as the current social and cultural issues facing the Spanish-speaking world. You may want to choose a topic related to a specific country or region, such as the history of Mexico or the politics of Spain. Alternatively, you may want to explore broader themes, such as immigration, gender equality, or environmental sustainability. By choosing a topic that interests you and is relevant to current events, you can ensure that your essay is engaging and impactful.

Spanish language essay topics are a valuable way to practice and improve language skills, as well as explore important cultural and social issues. By choosing a topic that interests you and is relevant to current events, you can ensure that your essay is engaging and impactful. Whether you choose to write about literature, history, culture, or politics, the key is to approach the topic with an open mind and a willingness to learn. By doing so, you can develop a deeper understanding of the Spanish-speaking world and improve your language skills in the process.

List of Spanish Language Essay Topics

• The Influence of Gabriel Garcia Marquez on Latin American Literature
• The History of the Mayans and Aztecs
• The Role of Women in Spanish Civil War
• The Impact of Immigration on Spanish Culture
• The Politics of Catalonia: Independence and Identity
• Environmental Issues in Latin America
• The Evolution of Salsa Music in Latin America
• The Legacy of Frida Kahlo in Mexican Art
• The Influence of Spanish Colonialism in the Philippines
• The Culture of Flamenco Dance in Spain
• The Current State of Indigenous Languages in Latin America
• The Effects of Tourism on the Caribbean
• The Role of Machismo in Latin American Society
• The History of Telenovelas in Latin America
• The Impact of Soccer on Latin American Culture
• The Evolution of Reggaeton Music in Puerto Rico
• The Political Crisis in Venezuela
• The Role of Catholicism in Spanish Culture
• The History of the Conquistadors in the Americas
• The Current State of LGBTQ Rights in Latin America

These are just a few examples of Spanish language essay topics that can help students explore important cultural, historical, and social issues. By choosing a topic that interests you and is relevant to current events, you can ensure that your essay is engaging and impactful. Whether you choose to write about literature, history, culture, or politics, the key is to approach the topic with an open mind and a willingness to learn. By doing so, you can develop a deeper understanding of the Spanish-speaking world and improve your language skills in the process.

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51 Spanish Phrases for Essays to Impress with Words

• January 7, 2021

Joanna Lupa

Communicating in a foreign language is hard enough, even in everyday situations, when no sophisticated or academic vocabulary is needed. 

Being able to write an actual essay in Spanish requires you not only to have a solid grammar base but also be knowledgeable about specific phrases and words typically used in school and university writing. 

For those of you who study in one of the Spanish speaking countries or are toying with the idea of signing up for an exchange program, I have prepared a summary of useful Spanish phrases for essays. They are divided into the following categories:

• Connectors (sequence, contrast, cause and effect, additional information, and conclusion)
• Expressions to give your opinion, agree and disagree with a thesis
• fancy academic expressions

Spanish Connectors to Use in Essays

Written language tends to be more formal than the spoken one. Ideas get explained in complex sentences showing how they relate to each other. A fantastic tool to achieve that is connectors.

What are some useful Spanish connectors for essays? Let’s have a look at the ten examples below:

• 🇪🇸 primero – 🇬🇧 first
• 🇪🇸 segundo – 🇬🇧 second
• 🇪🇸 el siguiente argumento – 🇬🇧 the next argument
• 🇪🇸 finalmente – 🇬🇧 finally, last but not least 
• 🇪🇸 sin embargo – 🇬🇧 however, nevertheless, nonetheless
• 🇪🇸 por lo tanto – 🇬🇧 therefore, thus
• 🇪🇸 además – 🇬🇧 besides
• 🇪🇸 por un lado….por el otro lado – 🇬🇧 on the one hand….on the other hand
• 🇪🇸 a menos que – 🇬🇧 unless
• 🇪🇸 a pesar de (algo) – 🇬🇧 despite / in spite of (something)
• 🇪🇸 aunque / a pesar de que – 🇬🇧 although / even though
• 🇪🇸 debido a – 🇬🇧 due to
• 🇪🇸 puesto que / dado que – 🇬🇧 given that
• 🇪🇸 ya que –  🇬🇧 since
• 🇪🇸 mientras que – 🇬🇧 whereas
• 🇪🇸 en conclusión – 🇬🇧 in conclusion
• 🇪🇸 para concluir – 🇬🇧 to conclude

Do you think you would know how to use these connectors in an essay? Let’s suppose you are writing about ecology:

🇪🇸 Los paises han estado cambiando sus politicas. Sin embargo, aún queda mucho por hacer.  🇬🇧 Countries have been changing their policies. However, there is still a lot to do. 

🇪🇸 Una de las amenazas climáticas es el efecto invernadero. Además está la contaminación del agua que presenta un serio riesgo para la salud.  🇬🇧 One of the climate threats is the greenhouse effect. Besides, there is water pollution that presents a severe health hazard. 

🇪🇸 A pesar de los acuerdos internacionales, varios países no han mejorado sus normas ambientales.  🇬🇧 Despite international agreements, many countries haven’t yet improved their environmental standards. 

🇪🇸 Debido a la restricción en el uso de bolsas de plástico desechables, Chile ha podido reducir su huella de carbono.  🇬🇧 Due to the restrictions in the use of disposable plastic bags, Chile has been able to reduce its carbon print. 

Spanish Phrases to Express Your Opinion in Essays

Essay topics commonly require you to write what you think about something. Or whether you agree or disagree with an idea, a project, or someone’s views. 

The words below will allow you to express your opinion effortlessly and go beyond the typical “creo que ” – “ I think ”:

• 🇪🇸 (yo) opino que – 🇬🇧 in my opinion
• 🇪🇸 me parece que – 🇬🇧 it seems to me
• 🇪🇸 desde mi punto de vista – 🇬🇧 from my point of view
• 🇪🇸 (no) estoy convencido que  – 🇬🇧 I am (not) convinced that
• 🇪🇸 no me cabe la menor duda – 🇬🇧 I have no doubt 
• 🇪🇸 estoy seguro que – 🇬🇧 I’m sure
• 🇪🇸 dudo que – 🇬🇧 I doubt
• 🇪🇸 sospecho que – 🇬🇧 I suspect
• 🇪🇸 asumo que – 🇬🇧 I assume
• 🇪🇸 estoy (totalmente, parcialmente) de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I (totally, partially) agree
• 🇪🇸 no estoy de acuerdo en absoluto – 🇬🇧 I absolutely disagree
• 🇪🇸 opino diferente – 🇬🇧 I have a different opinion
• 🇪🇸 me niego a aceptar – 🇬🇧 I refuse to accept
• 🇪🇸 estoy en contra / a favor de – 🇬🇧 I am against / in favor of
• 🇪🇸 no podría estar más de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I couldn’t agree more
• 🇪🇸 encuentro absolutamente cierto / falso  – 🇬🇧 I find it absolutely correct / false

Phrases like these can really give shape to your essay and increase its formality level. This time, let’s verify it with views on education: 

🇪🇸 Opino que estudiando remotamente los jóvenes están perdiendo las habilidades sociales.  🇬🇧 In my opinion, remote schooling makes youngsters lose their social skills. 

🇪🇸 Dudo que esta decisión traiga verdaderos cambios para el sistema educacional en mi país.  🇬🇧 I doubt this change will bring any real changes to the educational system in my country. 

🇪🇸 Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con que todos deberían tener acceso a educación de calidad. 🇬🇧 I totally agree that everyone should have access to good quality education. 

🇪🇸 Estoy en contra de escuelas solo para niñas o solo para niños.  🇬🇧 I am against girls-only or boys-only schools. 

Pay attention to certain language differences between English and Spanish versions. The most common mistake that my students make is to say “ I am agree ” ❌ (direct translation from “ Estoy de acuerdo ”) instead of “ I agree ”✔️. 

Fancy Academic Verbs and Expressions for Essays in Spanish

Would you like to impress your professor with sophisticated academic vocabulary or get extra points on your DELE? Grab a pen and take notes:

• 🇪🇸 afirmar  – 🇬🇧 to state
• 🇪🇸 refutar – 🇬🇧 to refute, to reject
• 🇪🇸 argumentar – 🇬🇧 to argue that
• 🇪🇸 poner en duda  – 🇬🇧 to cast doubt
• 🇪🇸 poner en evidencia – 🇬🇧 to shed light 
• 🇪🇸 demostrar – 🇬🇧 to demonstrate
• 🇪🇸 concentrarse en – 🇬🇧 to focus on
• 🇪🇸 sostener – 🇬🇧 to sustain
• 🇪🇸 reflejar – 🇬🇧 to reflect
• 🇪🇸 considerando (que) – 🇬🇧 considering (that)
• 🇪🇸 siendo realista – 🇬🇧 realistically speaking
• 🇪🇸 de cierto modo – 🇬🇧 in a way
• 🇪🇸 en lo que se refiere a – 🇬🇧 with regards to
• 🇪🇸 en vista de – 🇬🇧 in view of
• 🇪🇸 de acuerdo a – 🇬🇧 according to
• 🇪🇸 no obstante – 🇬🇧 nevertheless

So many great words to work with! And some of them sound really similar to English, right? This is exactly why Spanish is such a good option when you want to learn a second language.

Let’s see how to make all these verbs and phrases work:

🇪🇸 Los resultados de los nuevos estudios ponen en duda la relación entre el consumo de huevos y altos niveles de colesterol.  🇬🇧 The recent study findings cast doubt on the relation between egg consumption and high cholesterol levels. 

🇪🇸 Los autores del estudio argumentan que los azucares y los carbohidratos juegan un rol importante en este asunto.  🇬🇧 The authors of the study argue that sugars and carbs play an important role in this topic. 

🇪🇸 En lo que se refiere al consumo de carne, este influye directamente los niveles de colesterol malo, sobre todo si es carne con mucha grasa. 🇬🇧 Regarding meat consumption, it directly influences the levels of “bad” cholesterol, especially in the case of greasy meat. 

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Why all u.s. students should study spanish essay sample, example.

For the United States, Spanish is not a foreign language anymore. With a regular flow of new immigrants from South America, as well as with the extensive growth of a Spanish-speaking population, which is large already, Spanish is rapidly becoming the second-most-used language in the United States in terms of the amount of speakers. According to a Pew Research Center report, an estimated 37.6 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish as their first language; in 2060, analysts predict the United States will have 128.8 million people for whom Spanish is their native language, thus turning the country into the world’s largest Spanish-speaking country ( Businessinsider.com ). Considering all this, Caucasian, African American, and Asian students (and people of all ages) might want to be able to improve communications with such an enormous group of people; soon enough, it will be a regular situation when in some public places, there will be nine Hispanic people for one-two persons of another skin color.

Being bilingual in a global world is another preference that one might consider when studying Spanish ( Huffingtonpost.com ). If you have ever traveled to another country, you might have experienced problems with communicating with local population. Since Spanish-speaking countries are among the most popular touristic destinations for U.S citizens, would it not be great to be able to freely explore, say, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, or Spain without running into a language barrier? Besides, consider the possibility of access to one of the world’s richest cultural paradigms, books, movies, and traditions; also, consider career opportunities—for a bilingual person, doors of many prestigious companies are often wide open.

In addition, Spanish is not that difficult of a language to learn. Although many Americans are secretly afraid to try learning a foreign language, it is not that difficult—and Spanish is rather simple, especially in terms of pronunciation and spelling (although grammar might sometimes be a little tricky). But people successfully learn and speak Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and even Georgian (which is, in fact, one of the world’s most difficult languages). Of all them, Spanish is almost the easiest to learn—in about a year, you can speak it competently ( EduSpain.com ).

Studying Spanish nowadays is a good choice, especially for U.S. students. The number of Spanish-speaking people in the U.S. is growing, and it is important to maintain communication with the Spanish-speaking community. The Spanish language is widely spoken in many countries of the western world, so it is a solid choice if you want to travel, or to learn other cultures. Also, Spanish is not that difficult of a language to learn—in a year, you will be able to communicate almost fluently if you study each day. Based on all this, it is clear that studying Spanish language for a U.S. student is a perfect choice.

Lubin, Gus and Macias, Amanda. “6 Reasons Why Everyone Should Learn Spanish.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 13 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 May 2015.

Planas, Roque. “17 Reasons Every American Should Learn Spanish.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

“20 Reasons Why Every American Should Learn Spanish.” EduSpain.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015.

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La familia – Describing your family in Spanish

¡Hola! We have already covered a list of family members  in a previous lesson and discussed a little about how to describe them using SER plus adjectives. There, we introduced most of the vocabulary needed to talk about LA FAMILIA. In this lesson, we will go a little deeper on this topic so that you learn the basics to describe your family in Spanish by using the verb SER and some common adjectives through some nice family descriptions and interactive quizzes. Let’s start…

Introductory video: The family in Spanish – La familia

Let’s start by watching a short video to review the vocabulary for family members in Spanish. Pay attention to the vocabulary presented in the video, as well as some of the grammar rules that will be applied in the descriptions later. Remember that you can activate the subtitles if you need them.

Gender and plural of family members in Spanish

The gender and plural of nouns in spanish.

In order to describe your family in Spanish, first it’s necessary to understand that family members are common nouns, that is, they undergo changes of gender and number. As for grammatical gender, words that end in the letter -A such as “ Mamá, Nieta, Hija ” and “ Abuela ” are considered feminine nouns, whereas those that end in -O such as “ Abuelo, Nieto, Hijo ” and “Tío ” are masculine nouns. Basically, if we make a simple change at the end of the word, we will have two words with different meanings. Interestingly, the word “papá” is an exception, and it is considered a masculine noun even though it ends in -A. The word “Papá” has the same meaning as “Padre”, but is a bit more informal than its counterpart.

As for their plural or singular forms, family members are common nouns, so they will  change from singular to plural and vice versa. Generally, their plural form is created by adding -S or -ES to the nouns. You simply have to add -S when the noun ends in a vowel, such as NIETA → NIETAS, and -ES when it ends in a consonant.

Creating family relations in Spanish

Lastly, we will always use possessive adjectives like MI, TU, SUS, NUESTROS and others along with the vocabulary for family members. These words indicate possession, just like we would use MY, YOURS and so on from the English language, but in this case they show a relationship with another person. To put it differently, to say something like “My family in big”, we would use “ Mi familia es grande ” with the possessive adjective MI.

Describing your family in Spanish using SER and adjectives

Describing your family in Spanish is really easy as most of the time we will need only three things: a family member, the verb SER and an adjective in Spanish , that is words to describe personality or physical appearance . The subject goes first and then the verb  SER, which will change to ES if the word is in singular form like MAMÁ and HERMANO as in “Mi mamá es…” and to SON if the word represents several people like PADRES and ABUELOS as in “Mis padres son..”. Similarly , the adjective will also take a singular form when describing a single person as in: “ Mi mamá es amable ” and a plural form when describing many people: “ Mis abuelos son amables ”. Before moving on, solve the exercises on the next grammar quiz.

Examples of family descriptions in Spanish

Example no. 1.

Mi familia es pequeña. Mi mamá se llama Ana. Ella es enfermera. Mi mamá es muy amable e inteligente. Tengo dos hermanos . Mi hermano se llama Alan. Él es muy alegre. Es alto. Yo soy bajo. Mi hermana es bonita. Mi papá es muy trabajador. Mis abuelos son divertidos y nos quieren mucho. Somos una familia feliz.

My family is small. My mother’s name is Ana. She is a nurse. My mother is very kind and intelligent. I have two brothers. My brother’s name is Alan. He is very cheerful. He is tall. I’m short. My sister is pretty and my dad is hard-working. My grandparents are fun and they love us very much. We are a happy family.

Example No. 2

Mi familia es grande. Vivo con mis padres . Mi mamá es empresaria y mi papá trabaja en un banco. Tengo dos hermanas , Alicia y Mercedes. También tengo dos hermanos, Javier y Hernán. Todos nos llevamos muy bien. Alicia es la mayor de todos. Ella es inteligente y le gusta leer libros. Mercedes es la menor y le gusta ver televisión. Javier es necio y a veces es travieso. Javier es un buen niño. A Hernán le gustan los deportes y él es muy chistoso. Yo soy alto y creativo. Nosotros visitamos a nuestros tíos y a nuestros primos a veces. En vacaciones vemos a los abuelos . Ellos son estrictos y muy amables.

My family is big. I live with my parents. My mother is a businesswoman and my father works in a bank. I have two sisters, Alicia and Mercedes. I also have two brothers, Javier and Hernán. We all get along very well. Alicia is the eldest. She is intelligent and likes to read books. Mercedes is the youngest and likes to watch TV. Javier is stubborn and sometimes naughty. Javier is a good boy. Hernán likes sports and he is very funny. I am tall and creative. We visit our uncles and our cousins at times. On vacations we see the grandparents. They are strict but very friendly.

Example No. 3

Querida Sharon,

Permíteme contarte acerca de mi familia . Vivo con mi mamá , mi papá y mi hermana mayor . Vivimos en Veracruz, México. Mi mamá se llama Carmen. Es mexicana y habla inglés y español. Ella es profesora de español. Es bajita y delgada, tiene cabello castaño largo y ojos marrones. Mi papá se llama David. Él es estadounidense ¡Es alto y delgado! Tiene cabello castaño corto y ojos azules. Él trabaja en un banco. Mi hermana, Tatiana, tiene 14 años y le encanta escuchar música. Mis tíos viven cerca, así que ellos nos visitan a menudo. Me encanta jugar con mis primos en mi tiempo libre. En vacaciones, siempre visitamos a mi abuela y a mi abuelo en su finca. Escríbeme pronto y cuéntame sobre tu familia.

Listening Activity No. 1: Talking about my family in Spanish

Key expressions in the conversation:.

• “ ¿Puedes ayudarme con…? ” means “Can you help me with…?”
• “ ¿De qué se trata la tarea? ” means “What is the homework about?”
• Carlos: ¡Mamá! ¿Puedes ayudarme con la tarea?
• María: Claro Carlos. ¿De qué se trata la tarea?
• Carlos: Bueno, debo describir a nuestra familia.
• María: Suena divertido. Bien ¿Cómo es tu papá?
• Carlos: Mi papá es muy trabajador, amable y bueno porque siempre ayuda a otros.
• María: ¡Muy bien! Escribe eso… ahora ¿Cómo son tus hermanos?
• Carlos: Mi hermana es una bebe muy bonita y juguetona, y mi hermano es inteligente y creativo.
• María: aja… y ¿Cómo son tus abuelos?
• Carlos: Mi abuelita es muy linda y mi abuelito es energético y estricto, y los quiero mucho a los dos.
• María: ¿y qué me puedes decir de tus tíos?
• Carlos: Mi tía es muy buena cocinando y mi tío es un Doctor muy bueno… me gusta jugar con sus hijos…
• María: Es cierto… no nos olvidemos de tus primos.
• Carlos: Si, ellos son algo traviesos pero también son muy divertidos… ¿y tú mamá? Tú eres muy amable y cuidadosa con todos nosotros…

Listening Activity No. 2 : Describing my family in Spanish

Key expressions in the recordings:.

• “Ellos me quieren mucho” means “They love me so much!”
• “Llevarnos muy bien” means “Get along well with each other”
• “Estar emocionado por conocer a…” means “I’m excited to meet…”

No. 1: La Familia de Thiago

Mi nombre es Thiago. Tengo seis años y estoy en primer grado. Vivo con mi tío, mi mamá y mi abuelita. Tengo muchos primos y me gusta mucho jugar con ellos. Mis tías me quieren mucho. El fin de semana veo a mi hermana, Emely. También tengo una mascota, es un perro llamado Zeus. Es muy peludo y salta como un conejo.

No. 2: La Familia de Marcos

Me llamo Marcos. Vengo de una familia muy grande. Tengo 8 hermanos, dos de ellos están casados. Mi hermano mayor tiene 38 años y su esposa se llama Alicia. Ella es mi cuñada favorita porque es muy amable e inteligente. Ellos tienen tres hijos, dos niños y una niña. Mi hermana, Carmen, tiene 35 años y ella también está casada. Es ama de casa y mi cuñado, su esposo, es ingeniero civil. Ellos se llevan bien, aunque ella a veces tiene problemas con sus suegros, pero bueno, así es el matrimonio. Algunos de mis otros hermanos tienen hijos y nosotros siempre tratamos de juntarnos en navidad. La casa se llena porque tengo unos doce sobrinos, más o menos. Ya te podrás imaginar lo alegre que pasamos en casa.

No. 3: La Familia de Alejandra

Soy Alejandra. Mi familia me llama Ale. Vivo con mi mamá y mi padrastro. Tengo dos medios hermanos y los quiero mucho. Soy la mayor, así que ellos me respetan y me hacen caso. Mi mamá tiene dos hermanos, Carlos y Anahí. Mi tío Carlos es joven y aún está en la universidad. Mi tía, Anahí, tiene una pequeña empresa familiar con su esposo. Les va muy bien. Ellos viven lejos de nosotros, en otro estado. De hecho, no los hemos visto en mucho tiempo, así que planeamos visitarlos porque tendrán un bebé pronto. Estoy muy emocionada por conocer a mi primer primito.

Time to Practice: Writing about my family in Spanish

Write a 100-word paragraph “describing your family in Spanish.” You can use the examples in this lesson or parts of the listening activity to get some ideas. Then, read your paragraph to a native speaker to get feedback on your writing, pronunciation, and mastery of the topic. ¡Hasta la próxima!

Related Spanish Worksheets:

• Family Tree in Spanish: PDF Worksheet (Vocabulary)
• Questions about the Family in Spanish: PDF Worksheet (Speaking)
• Making Questions in Spanish – PDF Worksheet (Speaking)
• Family Relationships in Spanish – PDF Worksheet (Reading)
• Writing Physical Descriptions in Spanish – PDF Worksheet (Writing)
• Dialogues about the family in Spanish – PDF Worksheet

12 thoughts on “La familia – Describing your family in Spanish”

wonderfully presented. Easy to understand. Do you sell all the videos presented?

Thanks! They are all free 🙂

This was fantastic! Thank you1

¡De nada! 🙂

¡Muchas gracias! Estoy estudiando para un examen y esto me ha ayudado mucho. Gracias.

¡De nada! Nos alegra mucho que la lección te ayude. Buena suerte en tu examen 😉

muchas gracias

Listening quiz question no.4, the answer is questionable, pls check, thx!

¡Muchas gracias! We fixed the mistake 🙂

I learned that the people in our families are used in day today conversations and are essential to knowing and using the Spanish language.

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The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies

This essay about the encomienda system discusses its implementation during the Spanish colonization of the Americas and its severe impacts on indigenous populations. Originally intended to protect and Christianize Native Americans, the system quickly devolved into a brutal labor exploitation mechanism. The essay highlights how the encomenderos, or Spanish guardians, utilized forced indigenous labor for economic gain, severely affecting local populations through disease, overwork, and societal disruption. It also examines the resulting social and racial hierarchies that reinforced the Spanish colonial dominance. By connecting these historical events to current issues of labor rights and social justice, the essay underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing the lingering effects of such colonial practices in today’s society.

How it works

The encomienda system is one of those historical topics that doesn’t just belong to the dusty shelves of academia but continues to resonate with today’s discussions about labor practices and human rights. Let’s dive into what made this system unique in the Spanish colonies, uncovering the gritty realities behind its formal intentions.

Initially set up by the Spanish Crown in the 16th century, the encomienda was supposed to be a kind of guardianship system. Native Americans were entrusted to Spanish encomenderos, who, in return, were tasked with their protection, evangelization, and education.

Sounds relatively benign, right? Unfortunately, the reality was much less noble. What this system actually did was legalize the forced labor of indigenous populations under the guise of caregiving and spiritual guidance.

The encomenderos were more interested in exploiting the labor for their agricultural and mining operations than in any protective role. They pushed the indigenous people to extreme limits, leading to widespread suffering and dramatic declines in their populations due to disease, malnutrition, and harsh working conditions. This severe exploitation was not an unfortunate side effect but rather a central feature of the system, revealing a dark chapter in the history of colonialism.

Despite its brutal implementation, the encomienda system was a critical driver of the colonial economy. It enabled the Spanish settlers to amass wealth quickly and build prosperous colonies. However, this economic “success” came at a devastating cost to the cultural and social structures of the indigenous communities. It stripped away traditional forms of governance and eroded local customs and economies, replacing them with a rigid colonial structure that placed Spanish settlers firmly at the top.

The encomienda also laid the foundations for a racial hierarchy that persisted throughout the colonial period and beyond. This system didn’t just exploit labor; it entrenched social inequalities that categorized people based on their ethnicity and supposed civility. The Spanish crown occasionally attempted to reform the abuses of the encomienda through laws like those decreed in 1542, which were meant to improve the conditions of the indigenous people. However, resistance from powerful colonial interests often diluted these reforms.

Reflecting on the encomienda system gives us more than just historical insight; it offers a lens through which we can examine modern issues of exploitation and inequality. It’s a stark reminder of how economic systems can perpetuate injustice under the cover of legality and protection.

Understanding the nuances of the encomienda helps to appreciate the deep-rooted challenges that many societies face today, especially in regions still grappling with the legacy of colonialism. It’s a history that invites us to be vigilant about how we frame and implement systems of labor and governance today, ensuring they serve the people they’re meant to help, not harm.

So, as we explore this chapter of the past, we can draw connections to the present, learning from the missteps and acknowledging the complexities of human rights and labor that continue to challenge us globally. This isn’t just about a historical system but about understanding the patterns that can recur if not vigilantly recognized and addressed.

Cite this page

The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies. (2024, May 21). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-encomienda-system-legacy-of-labor-and-exploitation-in-spanish-colonies/

"The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies." PapersOwl.com , 21 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-encomienda-system-legacy-of-labor-and-exploitation-in-spanish-colonies/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-encomienda-system-legacy-of-labor-and-exploitation-in-spanish-colonies/ [Accessed: 27 May. 2024]

"The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies." PapersOwl.com, May 21, 2024. Accessed May 27, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-encomienda-system-legacy-of-labor-and-exploitation-in-spanish-colonies/

"The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies," PapersOwl.com , 21-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-encomienda-system-legacy-of-labor-and-exploitation-in-spanish-colonies/. [Accessed: 27-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Encomienda System: Legacy of Labor and Exploitation in Spanish Colonies . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-encomienda-system-legacy-of-labor-and-exploitation-in-spanish-colonies/ [Accessed: 27-May-2024]

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