In addition, they help those who are listening process and understand your message at the right pace, provided that they are not overused. Their use can help you sound more natural, especially if you are speaking Spanish in casual conversations. It is important to remember that filler words are a normal part of speech, no matter how advanced you are at speaking Spanish. When To Use Filler Words (And When Not To) Spanish Filler Words That Technically Aren’t Words Ehhh… y emmm… (“Ah… and um mm…”)Īlthough these filler words cannot easily be looked up in the dictionary, they are sounds that are used quite freely - almost anywhere in a sentence - in order to linger while thinking about what you are going to say next. In addition to these words having the same meaning, they are all placed at the end of a sentence in order to demonstrate that there are many more examples that could be included. Etcétera, y demás, y tal (“et cetera,” “and so on,” “and so forth”) When you need to emphasize or convey the essence of something you wish to say, adding this filler word at the beginning or just before you express your main idea is useful. O sea is used whenever you need to elaborate or be more specific about something you initially said. O sea (“that is”)Įven though it has the same meaning as digo, o sea is used in a different context. If you ever had a moment in which you realized that you said something wrong and needed time to think and correct what you said, digo would have been your life-saving filler word. Therefore, adding it at the end of a statement allows you to find out if others understand and even agree with what you are saying. This is probably the most simple question you can ask. Pues and bueno (“well” and “good”)īoth words are added to the beginning of the sentence to let others know that you are not sure about something or that you are thinking about what to say next. If you move them to the beginning of a sentence, they become filler words, rendering the sentence more casual. These make the sentence sound more formal. In general, both of these are conjunctions that join clauses if placed in the middle of a sentence. The only difference between both words is that en plan is common in Spain, whereas es como is used in Latin America. These Spanish filler words commonly precede statements about what you were doing or how you were doing something. The Most Common Spanish Filler Words En plan and es como (“about” and “it’s like”) Now, let’s review the most common Spanish filler words and how to use them like a native speaker. It’s also the best way to avoid awkward silences and weird looks from those on the receiving end while you are thinking of what to say next. Resorting to filler words is also a good way to slow down and avoid errors, such as using the wrong words in a sentence or conveying the wrong message. They indicate that the speaker is thinking or remembering what to say next - a useful strategy for conveying your points and ideas. Whether you speak Spanish or any other language, filler words are unavoidable and frequently used instinctively. Filler words, which can be words, very short sentences, or even sounds, are meant to fill the pauses or gaps in your conversations. Whether it is your New Year’s resolution to learn Spanish or to improve your speaking skills, Spanish filler words make up one of the essential building blocks of how native Spanish speakers communicate.
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