Vocabulary: 50 key verbs

High-frequency verbs that appear in every paper. Learn their meanings and watch for the stem-changing ones (marked in other lessons).

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Everyday verbs

Preguntar = to ask (a question). Pedir = to ask for, to order (something).
SpanishEnglish
preguntarto ask (a question)
pedirto ask for, to order
contestarto answer
comprarto buy
buscarto look for
encontrarto find
mostrarto show
decirto say, to tell
leerto read
escribirto write
abrirto open
cerrarto close
pagarto pay
esperarto wait, to hope
olvidarto forget
intentarto try
enviarto send

Doing things

Coger = to take, to catch (in Spain): coger el autobús.
SpanishEnglish
pararto stop
continuarto continue
empezarto start
terminarto finish
decidirto decide
elegirto choose
mejorarto improve
tirarto throw (away)
cortarto cut
ponerto put
sacarto take out, to get (marks)
cogerto take, to catch
traerto bring
llevarto carry, to wear
romperto break
usarto use

People and feelings

Conocer = to know (a person, a place) or to meet for the first time. Saber = to know (a fact).
SpanishEnglish
ayudarto help
conocerto know (a person, a place)
saberto know (a fact)
quedar conto meet up with
respetarto respect
sentirto feel, to be sorry
merecerto deserve
sonreírto smile
soñarto dream
creerto believe
entenderto understand
reconocerto recognise
charlarto chat
odiarto hate
quererto want, to love
Worked example

Translate: I am looking for my keys but I can't find them.

  1. I am looking for = busco (no word for 'for')
  2. my keys = mis llaves
  3. I can't find them = no las encuentro (encontrar: o to ue; las = them, feminine)

Answer: Busco mis llaves pero no las encuentro.

Key idea

Preguntar / pedir, contestar, buscar, encontrar, mostrar, decir, leer, escribir, abrir, cerrar, esperar, olvidar, intentar, enviar. Parar, empezar, terminar, elegir, mejorar, tirar, poner, sacar, coger, traer, llevar, romper. Ayudar, conocer / saber, quedar con, sentir, merecer, sonreír, soñar, creer, entender, odiar.

Key words
esperar
to hope; to wait
ayudar
to help
el autobús
bus

All GCSE and International GCSE Spanish key terms and definitions →

Common mistakes
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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does buscar mean?

    1. to ask for, to order
    2. to look for
    3. to say, to tell
    4. to open
    Show the answer

    Answer: to look for

    Buscar = to look for.

  2. Which is the Spanish for "to look for"?

    1. intentar
    2. buscar
    3. pedir
    4. decir
    Show the answer

    Answer: buscar

    To look for = buscar.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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