List of simple Spanish language verbs

What follows is a list of basic verbs in the Spanish language. Cognates are listed in [brackets]. Reflexive verbs with meanings different from their non-reflexive counterparts are listed separately.

A

abrir -- to open
aburrir -- [to bore]
apagar -- to turn off
aparecer -- [to appear] (in the sense of coming into view)
apoyar -- to support
apoyarse -- to lean on/against
aprender -- to learn; [to apprehend]
arreglar -- to clean up
ayudar -- to help

B

bailar -- to dance
bajar -- to lower; to put down; to get off (a bus, for example)
beber -- to drink
bucear -- to skin-dive
buscar -- to look for

C

cantar -- to sing
cerrar -- to close
cocinar -- to cook
comer -- to eat
comprar -- to buy
conocer -- to know
conseguir -- to get; to achieve; to acquire
conservar -- [to conserve]; to save
cortar -- to cut; to mow
costar -- [to cost]; to be difficult
creer -- to think; to believe

D

dar -- to give
deber -- to ought; should; to owe
decir -- to say; to tell
decorar -- [to decorate]
dejar -- to allow; to leave (something behind)
depositar -- [to deposit]
descansar -- to rest
desear -- to desire
destacar -- to stick out
devolver -- to return (something)
dibujar -- to draw
dificultar -- [to be difficult]
distinguir -- [to distinguish]
doler -- to hurt; to ache
dormir -- to sleep
durar -- to last

E

educar -- to bring up; to rear
empezar -- to begin; to start
empujar -- to push
encantar -- to love; [to enchant]
encontrar -- to find; [to encounter]
enseñar -- to teach; to show (something)
enviar -- to send; to mail
escoger -- to choose
esconder -- to hide; [to ensconce]
escribir -- to write; [to inscribe]
escuchar -- to listen to
esquiar -- [to ski]
estar -- to be (in the sense of having a [status])
estudiar -- [to study]
explorar -- [to explore]

F

faltar -- to be lacking; to be missing
fascinar -- [to fascinate]
fijarse -- to pay attention

G

ganar -- to win; [to gain]; to earn
girar -- to turn
gustar -- to be pleasing

H

hablar -- to talk
hacer -- to do; to make

I

importar -- to matter; [to be important]
interesar -- [to interest]
invitar -- [to invite]
ir -- to go
irse -- to leave

J

jugar -- to play

L

lastimar -- to hurt
lavar -- to wash
leer -- to read
limpiar -- to clean
llamar -- to call
llegar -- to arrive
llenar -- to fill
llevar -- to wear
llevarse -- to get along (with someone)
lograr -- to get, to attain, to achieve

N

nadar -- to swim
necesitar -- to need; [to necessitate]

P

pagar -- to pay for
parar -- to stop
pararse -- to stand up (some dialects)
parecer -- to appear; to seem
parecerse -- to resemble
pasar -- [to pass]; to happen
patinar -- to skate
pedir -- to order; to ask for
pensar -- to think
poder -- can; to be able to
poner -- to put; to place; to set
practicar -- [to practice]
preferir -- [to prefer]
preparar -- [to prepare]
presentar -- to introduce; [to present]
prestar -- to lend
probar -- to try; to taste; [to probe]
proteger -- [to protect]

Q

quedar -- to have remaining; to hang out (colloquial, Spain)
quedarse -- to be located; to be left; to remain
querer -- to want; to love (a person)

R

recibir -- [to receive]
reciclar -- [to recycle]
recoger -- to pick up
reducir -- [to reduce]
regalar -- to give (a gift)
regresar -- to come back; to return
reír -- to laugh
robar -- [to rob]; to steal
rogar -- to beg

S

saber -- to know
sacar -- to take out
sacudir -- to dust
salir -- to go out
saltar -- to jump; to skip over
salvar -- [to save]
separar -- [to separate]
ser -- to be (in an intrinsic or [essential] sense)
servir -- [to serve]
soler -- to be in the habit of
sostener -- to hold; [to sustain]
subir -- to climb; to raise
sujetar -- to hold up
soportar -- to tolerate

T

tener -- to have
terminar -- to end; [to terminate]
tirar -- to pull; to throw out
tocar -- to play; [to touch]
tomar -- to have (a drink, for example), to take (the bus, for example)
trabajar -- to work
traer -- to bring

U

usar -- [to use]

V

vaciar -- to empty
vender -- to sell; [to vend]
vestir -- to dress (someone)
vestirse -- to get dressed; to dress (habitually)
ver -- to see
verse -- to be
visitar -- [to visit]
vivir -- to live
volar -- to fly

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