Mistakes in Spanish You’re Probably Making

Common Mistakes in Spanish You’re Probably Making (and How to Fix Them)

Spanish looks easy—until you start speaking. Whether you’ve just begun learning or feel pretty confident, chances are you're making more than a few classic mistakes in Spanish. The good news? Most of these errors are easy to fix once you know what to look for.

This guide breaks down the most frequent Spanish slip-ups, from grammar traps to false friends, so you can avoid sounding like a beginner forever.

1. Mixing Up “Ser” and “Estar”

This is the textbook mistake in Spanish, and even intermediate learners get it wrong.

Both “ser” and “estar” mean “to be,” but they’re used in totally different contexts:

• Use ser for permanent characteristics:
  Ella es alta – She is tall.
  Es ingeniero – He is an engineer.

• Use estar for temporary states or locations:
  Estoy cansado – I’m tired.
  La tienda está cerrada – The store is closed.

💡 Pro tip: If it’s about a long-term identity or characteristic, use ser. If it’s about mood, health, or location—go with estar.

2. Literal Translations That Don’t Work

You might think translating directly from English to Spanish is efficient, but it often leads to awkward or completely wrong phrases.

Common mistake in Spanish learners make:
“Estoy caliente” – sounds like “I’m hot,” right?

Wrong. It actually implies you're feeling sexually aroused. The correct phrase is:
“Tengo calor” – literally “I have heat.”

Other examples:

• ❌ “Estoy embarazada” ≠ I’m embarrassed
  ✅ It means “I’m pregnant.” Use “Estoy avergonzado” instead.

• ❌ “Soy aburrido” = I’m boring
  ✅ Say “Estoy aburrido” to mean I’m bored.

These false friends and literal traps are some of the most embarrassing mistakes in Spanish—but also the funniest.

3. Gender Confusion (El vs. La)

Nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine. It sounds simple until you're trying to remember if it’s el problema or la problema (hint: it's el).

Some common rules:

• Nouns ending in -o are usually masculine: el perro (the dog)

• Nouns ending in -a are usually feminine: la casa (the house)

But then you get wildcards like:

• el mapa

• el día

• la mano

One of the most persistent mistakes in Spanish learners make is guessing gender based on word endings alone. Instead, learn the gender with the noun from day one.

4. Dropping the Subject Pronoun

In English, we say “I eat,” “You run,” “They sleep.” In Spanish, you don’t need to use the subject pronoun every time:

• ✅ Como = I eat (not Yo como)

• ✅ Corres = You run (not Tú corres)

Overusing subject pronouns makes you sound robotic and unnatural. Native speakers drop them unless they need to emphasize or clarify.

One of the easier mistakes in Spanish to fix—but only if you start listening to how real conversations work.

5. Incorrect Verb Conjugations

Conjugating verbs is a nightmare for many learners. You need to match tense, person, and sometimes even mood (indicative vs. subjunctive).

Common verb-related mistakes in Spanish:

• Using infinitive instead of conjugated form:
  ❌ Yo comer pizza ahora
  ✅ Yo como pizza ahora

• Messing up irregular verbs:
  ❌ Yo tieno un perro
  ✅ Yo tengo un perro

You can survive broken grammar in casual conversation, but frequent verb mistakes make it harder to reach fluency.

6. Ignoring Accent Marks

Accent marks are not optional. They often change the meaning entirely:

• Sí = Yes / Si = If

• Tú = You / Tu = Your

• Está = Is / Esta = This

Skipping accents is one of those silent mistakes in Spanish that may not affect your speaking, but will wreck your writing—and confuse your readers.

7. Wrong Word Order

Spanish has a different rhythm than English. You can’t just translate word for word.

English: “I want a big red car.”
Spanish: “Quiero un coche grande rojo.” ❌
Correct: “Quiero un coche rojo grande.” ✅

Adjectives often come after the noun, and the order changes meaning in some cases. For example:

• Un gran hombre = a great man

• Un hombre grande = a big man

If your sentences sound off, word order might be the problem.

8. Overusing “Muy” or “Mucho”

They both mean “a lot” or “very,” but they’re not interchangeable.

• Use muy before adjectives or adverbs:
  ✅ Muy interesante (very interesting)

• Use mucho with nouns or verbs:
  ✅ Mucho dinero (a lot of money)
  ✅ Corre mucho (runs a lot)

Mixing them up is one of those subtle mistakes in Spanish that reveals your level instantly.

9. Overthinking “Por” vs. “Para”

Another classic. Both translate to “for,” but mean different things.

• Para = purpose, destination, deadline
  Esto es para ti. – This is for you.
  Trabajo para ganar dinero. – I work to earn money.

• Por = cause, duration, exchange, route
  Gracias por todo. – Thanks for everything.
  Caminé por el parque. – I walked through the park.

If you're not sure, try to rephrase—don't guess.

Final Thoughts – Don’t Let These Mistakes Hold You Back

Mistakes in Spanish are part of the learning curve. But the longer they stick, the harder they are to unlearn. Whether it’s confusing verb tenses or misusing “ser” and “estar,” every small error adds friction to your fluency.

So—what’s the fastest way to fix them?

Practice with a professional who can catch and correct them in real time.

Book a Spanish Lesson Today with a Real Teacher

If you’re serious about leveling up your Spanish, stop learning alone. At Langu, you can connect with expert Spanish teachers who’ll tailor lessons to your needs, goals, and learning style.

✅ Get real-time feedback
✅ Fix stubborn grammar mistakes
✅ Speak with confidence

No apps. No guesswork. Just results.

👉 Book your Spanish lesson now on Langu