What are the most popular words in Spanish to learn

Question

I try to read as much spanish as possible from the internet and books. My favorite sites to read are http://www.cnn.mx and http://hoy.com.ec because the number of words I need to look up is minimal.

And whenever I need to look up a word I look it up in a Spanish dictionary and whatever word I don't understand in the definition I look-up as well.

Having said that, it just came to me, what if I were to determine which words were the most popular in spanish and try to learn those specifically, would it work.

What are some off the wall things people have tried to learn spanish, or any language, that may or may not have worked?

Answer 1

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Frequency_lists#Spanish

I like this. I seem to know a lot of the first 1000 words and as the list goes on I know less of them. Thanks. - salsero69, Jun 7, 2010

I'm surprised que is number one; I would have expected to see la, el, de or no there! - 003487d6, Jun 8, 2010

And p*ta is 452? :( - 003487d6, Jun 8, 2010

Dandi, the website says "This list has been generated from subtitles of movies and television series with a total of about 27.4 million words." - Lrtward, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 2

Look around you...your environment...your life...your job. Those are the vocabulary words that you need first. What are your interests? Flowers or cars? Find all the vocabulary you can about those topics, too.

Make a pack of vocabulary index cards and keep them by your bed. Change them every week or so and in no time at all you'll increase your vocabulary by the hundreds.

Index cards! Good idea. One idea I had been given was to use post-it notes with the spanish translation and post it on the appropriate objects. Haven't gotten around to that yet. - salsero69, Jun 8, 2010

I'm doing the index cards now. I wrote a theme on one card and tried to come up with as many words that I could remember for that theme. It's fun. - salsero69, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 3

you may want to check out:

http://www.vistawide.com/spanish/top_100_spanish_words.htm

this has a list of the most popular Spanish words based on a scientific research by Mark Davies. =)

Thanks. And just as I expected when I read the question: all of the words covered in every basic Spanish language course! - LateToDinner, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 4

Regarding Flash Cards, there is a program (free) for Windows called CueCard. I like it pretty well.

It lets you add pictures to the card, which I really like for nouns, because I like to see the image and think the Spanish word, not have to translate in my head.

It also lets you group your cards into files so you can have some pertaining to a hobby or a profession. I have mine grouped by where I got the word from (i.e. Aesop´s Fables, or a short story, or a movie). My hope is that I will master the flash cards and then re-read or re-watch the source and have better understanding.

It is pretty smart, too. The easy words (the ones you answer correctly) will be presented less frequently. The ones you miss a lot will be presented more often so you get a chance to practice them more.

I really like it!

This isn't the first excellent tip that you have passed us, but I think it may be the best! You deserve a lot more than just my vote and thanks, I hope there are more to follow! - LateToDinner, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 5

Goyo's thread about the "Point of no return" also has some great answers along this theme.

In case someone new is interested in finding it you click on answers at the top and then search on any subject you want, in this case: "point of no return."

Answer 6

I'm always changing gears. Right now I'm trying to read as much as I can, making an effort to read one news article from any Spanish news site daily and trying to figure out the meaning of words simply by context.

Before that I listened to a lot of LoMasTV podcasts and may end up getting an account later.

Before that was a lot of Notes In Spanish which is really good.

As for trying to increase my vocabulary, I listen to a lot of latin music and try to comprehend the words sungs. But often it's blah blah blah blah, word-I-know word-I-know word-I-know blah blah blah.

Which brings me to why I wanted a list of top words to see where I could have a vocabulary gap.

Now I just need to find people in Montreal to speak Spanish with.

Blah blah yo tambien blah blah. Ha Ha - ian-hill, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 7

But often it's blah blah blah blah, word-I-know word-I-know word-I-know blah blah blah.

That is SO me!!!

I find myself pausing (in my brain) and thinking "Hang on, I know that word... that means, um, hang on... oh, yeah!" and by that time I've missed tons of dialog and I'm totally lost. I'd be better off, I think, if I could just learn to let the words slide on by me.

Great links - thanks cdowis and deesmith. Also thanks to Late for not only mentioning the other thread but also how to find it. I love this community.

Answer 8

Thanx for the websites guys, very cool reading

Ok, come clean: what do you have against the word 'cool' - LateToDinner, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 9

how has that been working for you, for me I have started off like a baby learning my ABC, numbers and body parts, etc...I am anxious to do sentences but I have been slacking a lot but now I am starting up again, so for you have you advance faster or about the same if you were to study the word alone.

Whoops, my response is in this thread somewhere; "I'm always changing gears. Right now I'm trying..." - salsero69, Jun 8, 2010

Answer 10

Well I never looked at the frequency lists; definitely one up to odowis. You may need to supplement this though if you have specific activities, professional or whatever. Please odo can you make another brilliant suggestion about this aspect of vocabulary.