Spanish Filler Words to Use in Conversation

Quick Answer

A muletilla(filler word) is a type of word used to fill a pause in speech. One common filler word in Spanish is pues(well).

Filler words normally convey a speaker’s particular state, attitude, or intention; for example: este(er) can indicate hesitation and sabes(you know) can be used for emphasis or to seek understanding

Spanish Filler Words

Muletillas are often used because a speaker needs a little more time to think about what they’re going to say next. By using a filler word, a speaker can convey how they feel, what their behavior or intentions are, or if they’re hesitant or unsure.

Keep reading to learn more about when we use filler words in Spanish!

Fillers Used to Show Hesitation or Gain Time

Showing hesitation or gaining time are the main reasons why people use filler words. More often than not, speakers don’t have a clearly laid-out plan for what they’re going to say. Using a muletilla gives them some extra time to think!

For example, este(er), esto(er), hum(hmm), and pues(well) can all be used to show hesitation.

In writing, these filler words are very often followed by an ellipsis, a punctuation mark that is used to show there’s a pause. For example:

examples
¿Vendrás? - Este…No sé. Are you coming? - Um…I don’t know.
¿Cuántos años tiene? - Esto…déjame pensar. How old is he? - Hmm…let me think.

Este vs. Esto

The Spanish demonstrative pronouns esteand estoare used as filler words to express hesitation or simply to fill a pause in speech.

Although both are used in Latin America and Spain, este is the standard in the Americas, whereas esto is more common among Spaniards.

Fillers Used to Soften

Sometimes, fillers help the user soften a statement or question, perhaps because they may think what they're going to say sounds too blunt without any introduction. Here are some examples:

examples
Bien, ¿por dónde íbamos? OK, where were we?
Okey, vamos a empezar. OK, let’s start.
¿Te gustó la obra? - Bueno, las he visto mejores. Did you like the play? - Well, I’ve seen better.

Fillers Used to Express Conclusion

Some fillers may help the user wrap up a conversation or conclude a part of it. Beginning a sentence with the fillers below usually implies the speaker is about to finish the conversation.

examples
Bueno, ¿vamos a pedir pizza o no? So, are we going to order pizza or not?
En fin, llámame si me necesitas. Anyway, call me if you need me.
Pues nada, ¡diviértanse, chicos! Well, have fun, guys!
Órale pues, te veo al rato. Ok then, see you in a bit.

Fillers Used to Address Other Speakers

Speakers may use certain filler words because they need to draw another speaker's attention or keep them interested in the conversation. For example:

examples
Mira, necesitas ver a un médico. Look, you need to see a doctor.
Escucha, esa no es manera de tratar a un amigo. Listen, that’s no way to treat a friend.
Fíjate, nunca se me hubiera ocurrido algo así. You see, I would have never thought of such a thing.

Fillers Used for Emphasis

At times, speakers use fillers just to emphasize what they're saying or feeling. For example:

examples
Estaba, como, muy cansado. I was, like, really tired.
Voy a dejar el instituto; en plan, lo que quiero es ponerme a currar. I'm dropping out; I mean, I just wanna get a job.
Tipo, vamos a ver Netflix todo el día. Like, let's watch Netflix all day.
O sea, ¿tenemos que acabar este proyecto para mañana y tenemos examen? El profe está loco. I mean, we have to finish this project tomorrow and we have a test? Our teacher's crazy.

Fillers Used for Confirmation

Fillers can also be added at the end of a statement as a means of confirming something the speaker thinks is true. These question tags are called coletillas interrogativasor apéndices confirmativosin Spanish.

examples
Lo pasaste mal, ¿eh? You had a hard time, didn’t you?
Es tarde, ¿no? It’s late, isn’t it?
¿Te gusta, verdad? You like her, don’t you?
Hoy hace mucho más frío que ayer, ¿no es cierto? Today it's much colder than yesterday, don't you think?

Confirmation Fillers by Region

Some filler words are specific to certain areas. Let's take a look at some examples!

Filler	Region	Example
cierto	Latin America	Tú vienes, ¿cierto?(You’re coming, right?)
va	Mexico	Nos vemos al rato, ¿va?(See you in a bit, OK?)
vale	Spain	Sé puntual, ¿vale?(Be on time, okay?)
viste	River Plate countries	Te lo dije, ¿viste?(I told you, didn’t I?)
ya	Central America	Perdóname, ¿ya?(I’m sorry, OK?)
ya tú sabes	Caribbean	Estoy bromeando, ya tú sabes.(I’m joking, you know.)