Filler words that make you sound natural in Spanish

Have you ever noticed how perfect textbook Spanish sounds, and how unlike real people it is? In a textbook, every sentence starts cleanly and ends neatly. In real life, Spaniards say pueswellThe most common filler in Spanish., buenowell, okayA filler for starting, changing topic or wrapping up., a verlet's seeUsed while you think or get organised. and o seaI meanUsed to explain or rephrase. all the time. These little words are called fillers, and they're one of the fastest ways to sound natural.

Think about how you speak Hindi or English. "Matlab…", "अच्छा, तो…", "Like…", "Well, I mean…". We all fill gaps while our brain catches up. Spanish speakers do exactly the same. The difference is that most learners never get taught the Spanish ones, so they either go silent or fill the gap with an English "umm".

In this post I'll go through the Spanish filler words you'll hear most, what each one really does, and how to start slipping them into your own Spanish. There are pronunciation tips along the way and flashcards at the end.

What are filler words in Spanish?

In Spanish they're called muletillasfiller wordsLiterally little crutches. Words you lean on while you speak., which literally means "little crutches". I love that word, because that's exactly what they are: something to lean on while you find your next sentence.

Fillers do three useful jobs:

• They buy you time. A pueswellThe classic thinking word. gives you a second to find the verb you need.
• They show how you feel. BuenowellCan sound patient, unsure or ready to move on. can sound patient, hesitant or ready to wrap up, depending on your tone.
• They keep the conversation flowing. A little ¿no?right?A tag at the end of a sentence to check the listener agrees. or ¿sabes?you know?A tag that pulls the listener in. keeps the other person involved.

At A2, you already have enough grammar for simple conversations. Fillers are what make those conversations feel relaxed instead of rehearsed.

Pueswell, soThe most common Spanish filler, used to start answers.: the king of Spanish fillers

If you learn only one filler, learn pueswell, soThe king of fillers.. Its textbook meaning is "since" or "then", but in conversation it's mostly "well…" or "so…". Spaniards start answers with it constantly.

• ¿Qué vas a hacer este fin de semana? Pues… no sé.What are you doing this weekend? Well… I don't know.Pues while you think.
• Pues yo prefiero el té.Well, I prefer tea.Pues to introduce your own opinion.
• ¡Pues claro!Well, of course!Pues adds emphasis.

For Hindi speakers, pueswell, soA thinking word. works a lot like "तो…" at the start of an answer. "तो… मुझे नहीं पता" and Pues… no sé.Well… I don't know.A very natural answer. feel almost the same.

Buenowell, okayLiterally good. As a filler, used to start, switch topics or wrap up.: starting, switching and wrapping up

BuenogoodThe adjective meaning good. means "good", but as a filler it's closer to "well" or "okay". It's very flexible:

• To start speaking: Bueno, te cuento.Okay, let me tell you.Bueno to begin a story.
• To accept something, a little reluctantly: Bueno, vale.Well, okay.Agreeing without much excitement.
• To correct yourself: Son las ocho, bueno, las ocho y diez.It's eight, well, ten past eight.Bueno to fix what you just said.
• To wrap up: Bueno, me voy.Right, I'm off.Bueno to signal you're leaving.

That last one is very Spanish. When someone says buenoright thenA sign the conversation is ending. and puts their hands on their knees, the goodbye is coming. It's like saying "अच्छा, चलो…" when you're about to leave a friend's house. I mention this in my post on how Spaniards say hello, because their goodbyes are long and full of buenowellA wrapping-up word.s!

A verlet's seeUsed while thinking, or to get someone's attention.: let's see

A verlet's seeLiterally to see. literally means "to see", and you use it just like "let's see" in English. It's perfect when you need a moment to think or organise yourself.

• A ver… ¿dónde están mis llaves?Let's see… where are my keys?A ver while you think.
• A ver, explícamelo otra vez.Okay, explain it to me again.A ver to get organised.
• ¿A ver?Let me see!Said when you want to look at something.: when a friend has a photo on their phone and you want to see it.

Teachers in Spain use it all the time: A ver, chicos…Right, everyone…How a teacher gets the class's attention. is how many lessons begin. It's a bit like "देखो…" or "चलो, देखते हैं".

O seaI meanUsed to explain, rephrase or sum up.: I mean

O seathat is, I meanLiterally or be. is the Spanish "I mean" or "in other words". You use it to explain something again in a different way.

• No me gusta el frío, o sea, prefiero el verano.I don't like the cold, I mean, I prefer summer.O sea to rephrase.
• ¿O sea que no vienes?So you're not coming?O sea que to check you understood.

Hindi speakers already have a perfect match: "मतलब". Whenever you'd say "matlab" in Hindi, that's a moment for o seaI meanThe Spanish matlab..

Be careful not to overdo this one. Some people say o seaI meanA filler that can be overused. in every sentence, and in Spain it can sound a bit like a stereotype of posh, young speakers.

Es queit's just thatUsed to explain or give an excuse.: the polite excuse

This is one of the most useful fillers for learners. Es queit's just thatLiterally it is that. introduces a reason or an excuse, and it makes any "no" sound softer.

• ¿Vienes a cenar? Es que tengo mucho trabajo.Are you coming to dinner? It's just that I've got a lot of work.A soft way to say no.
• Perdona, es que no te he oído.Sorry, it's just that I didn't hear you.Es que to explain.

In Hindi, this is like "वो क्या है कि…", that little lead-in before you explain why you're late!

ValeokaySpain's everyday word for okay.: the most Spain word of all

In Spain, valeokayUsed for agreeing, confirming and checking. is everywhere. It means "okay", and Spaniards use it to agree, to confirm, and at the end of a sentence to check you've understood.

• ¿Nos vemos a las seis? Vale.See you at six? Okay.Vale to agree.
• Vale, vale, ya lo entiendo.Okay, okay, I get it now.Vale to show you've understood.
• Llámame mañana, ¿vale?Call me tomorrow, okay?¿Vale? to check.

It's very much a Spain word. In Latin America you'll hear other words for this, so if you want to know more, see my post on Spain Spanish vs Latin American Spanish.

Little tags: ¿no?right?Turns a statement into a question., ¿sabes?you know?Pulls the listener in. and ¿verdad?right?Literally truth. Checks agreement.

Spanish speakers love ending sentences with a tiny question. It invites the other person to agree, and it keeps them part of the conversation.

• Hace calor, ¿no?It's hot, isn't it?The most common tag.: this is exactly "है ना?" in Hindi. Hindi speakers, you have a head start here.
• Es muy bonito, ¿verdad?It's really pretty, isn't it?Slightly more careful than ¿no?
• Estoy cansada, ¿sabes?I'm tired, you know?¿Sabes? to share a feeling.

Use ¿no?right?The everyday tag. for most things, ¿verdad?right?A little more neutral. when you want to sound a bit more careful, and ¿sabes?you know?Casual and friendly. only in casual chats.

En planlikeA very casual filler, used like the English like.: the Spanish "like"

En planlikeLiterally in plan. is the Spain version of the English "like", and it's very popular with younger people.

• Era, en plan, enorme.It was, like, huge.En plan before a description.
• Me dijo, en plan, que no venía.She told me, like, that she wasn't coming.En plan before reported speech.

It's very informal, so keep it for chats with friends. If you hear Spanish teenagers talking, you'll probably hear en planlikeCasual filler. in every second sentence!

More fillers you'll hear: la verdadhonestlyUsed before an honest opinion., nadaanywayAs a filler, used to drop a topic., hombrewell, come onUsed for emphasis, not only with men.

A few more you'll pick up quickly:

• La verdadhonestlyLiterally the truth.: "honestly", before an opinion. La verdad, no me gustó mucho.Honestly, I didn't like it much.A soft, honest opinion.
• Nadaanyway, never mindLiterally nothing.: to drop a topic or get to the point. Nada, que al final no fuimos.Anyway, in the end we didn't go.Nada to skip to the end of a story.
• Hombrewell, of courseLiterally man. A filler for emphasis.: for emphasis or gentle disagreement. ¡Hombre, claro!Well, of course!Strong agreement. Spaniards say it to women too, though you'll also hear mujerwell, come onLiterally woman. Used the same way. when talking to a woman.
• No séI don't knowA very common hedge.: just like in English, it softens an opinion. No sé, es un poco caro, ¿no?I don't know, it's a bit expensive, isn't it?Two fillers together.
• Digamoslet's sayUsed to give a rough idea.: "let's say". Llego a las seis, digamos.I'll get there at six, let's say.A rough time.

And in Latin America?

Fillers change by country. In Mexico and much of Latin America you'll hear esteumThe Latin American umm. as a thinking sound, the way English speakers say "umm". In Argentina you'll hear tipolikeUsed like en plan. for "like", and ¿viste?you know?A tag used in Argentina and Uruguay. as a tag. Recognise them, but if you're learning the Spain style, stick with pueswellSpain's favourite filler. and buenowellUsed everywhere..

Filler words in a real conversation

Here's a short, very normal chat between two friends. Count the fillers.

Marta: Oye, ¿vienes al cine esta noche?Hey, are you coming to the cinema tonight?Oye, literally hear, is another way to get attention.

Carlos: Pues… no sé. Es que estoy un poco cansado, ¿sabes?Well… I don't know. It's just that I'm a bit tired, you know?Four fillers in two sentences.

Marta: Hombre, pero es una peli muy buena.Come on, it's a really good film.Hombre for gentle pushing.

Carlos: A ver… ¿a qué hora es?Let's see… what time is it on?A ver while thinking.

Marta: A las nueve, o sea, después de cenar.At nine, I mean, after dinner.O sea to explain.

Carlos: Bueno, vale. Voy.Well, okay. I'll come.Agreeing at last.

Without the fillers, this conversation is just facts. With them, you can hear Carlos thinking, hesitating and finally giving in. That's what fillers add: personality.

Quick review: Spanish filler words flashcards

Try to remember what each filler does before you flip the card.

How to start using Spanish fillers (without overdoing it)

Here's a simple plan that works:

1. Pick two. Start with pueswellTo start answers. and a verlet's seeTo think.. They're safe, common and useful everywhere.
2. Replace your "umm". Every time you'd say "umm" or "matlab" while speaking Spanish, try one of them instead.
3. Add es queit's just thatA soft lead-in to a reason. for excuses. It instantly makes you sound more polite.
4. Listen for them. In series, podcasts or videos, notice when people say buenowellA very flexible filler. or o seaI meanTo rephrase.. My post on learning Spanish with Netflix, songs and podcasts has ideas for this.
5. Don't overdo it. One filler per sentence, at most. Too many and you'll sound unsure, just like in English.

Fillers are also a big help if you're trying to think in Spanish. They keep you inside Spanish while you search for a word, instead of slipping back into English.

Keep going

Fillers are tiny, but they change how your Spanish feels, to you and to the people listening. Start with pueswellThe king of fillers. this week, add a verlet's seeThe thinking filler. next week, and soon you'll notice your Spanish has a rhythm it didn't have before. Poco a pocoLittle by littleProgress comes step by step..

If you'd like to practise this in real conversations, my A2 batches are where we move from textbook sentences to natural chats. Classes are live on Google Meet with up to 5 students, so you'll get to speak in every class. And if you're ready for the next step, have a look at the Spanish slang you'll hear in Spain. ¡Venga!Come on!A friendly push to get going.