Spanish transition words let you connect ideas and express yourself more effectively. Discover how to utilize them with our vocabulary lists and example sentences.
Have you ever felt like your Spanish sentences are choppy? Perhaps you talk in short bursts instead of flowing like a native speaker? If so, you are not alone! As a Spanish teacher, one of the things my students struggle with the most is using Spanish transition words correctly. They either forget them, pronounce them incorrectly, or use them in the wrong order. This is completely normal!
One of the most effective ways to make your Spanish sound more natural is to use transition words, which are small connectors that allow thoughts to flow smoothly. Think of transition words as the glue that ties your sentences together. Spanish, like English, contains a large number of these terms that make your speech and writing more fluid, clear, and engaging.
In today’s blog post, I will explain what Spanish transition words are, how to use them, and provide you with a convenient list of 50 to start using in your conversations.
Are you ready? ¡Vamos! (Let’s go!)
What Are Spanish Transition Words?
Transition words, or palabras de transición, are words or phrases that connect ideas. They help with the identification of sentence connections such as cause and effect, contrast, and emphasis. Without them, speech might sound disconnected, and writing can appear abrupt or robotic.
For example, compare these two sentences:
- No tengo dinero. No puedo viajar. (I don’t have money. I can’t travel.)
- No tengo dinero, por lo tanto, no puedo viajar. (I don’t have money; therefore, I can’t travel.)
See the difference? The second sentence flows better thanks to “por lo tanto” (therefore).
How to Use Spanish Transition Words
To use transition words properly, you must understand their role. Are you adding information? Contrasting ideas? Explaining the cause and effect?
Here are some often-used transition terms and how they work:
1. To Add Information (Adding on to an Idea)
Use these words when you want to expand on what you’ve already said.
- Además – Besides / In addition
- También – Also
- Es más – Moreover
- Igualmente – Likewise
2. To Show Cause and Effect
These words help you explain why something happened.
- Por lo tanto – Therefore
- Así que – So
- Como resultado – As a result
- Debido a – Due to
3. To Contrast Ideas (Showing Differences)
When you need to highlight differences, use these transition words.
- Sin embargo – However
- No obstante – Nevertheless
- Por otro lado – On the other hand
- En cambio – Instead
4. To Show Order or Sequence
Use these words when listing steps or telling a story.
- Primero – First
- Luego – Then
- Después – After
- Finalmente – Finally
5. To Emphasize a Point
When you want to stress something, these words come in handy.
- De hecho – In fact
- Sobre todo – Above all
- Sin duda – Without a doubt
- Es decir – That is to say
6. To Compare Ideas (Showing Similarities)
If you’re comparing two things, these words will help.
- Así como – Just like
- De la misma manera – In the same way
- Igual que – Just as
- Tal como – Such as
7. To Summarize or Conclude
When wrapping up an idea, these transition words are useful.
- En resumen – In summary
- Para concluir – To conclude
- En otras palabras – In other words
- En definitiva – Ultimately
50 Essential Spanish Transition Words Masterlist with Example Sentences
| # | Spanish | English | Example Sentence |
| 1 | Además | Besides / In addition |
Me gusta el chocolate. Además, me encanta la vainilla.
(I like chocolate. Besides, I love vanilla.) |
| 2 | También | Also |
Voy al cine. También quiero cenar fuera.
(I’m going to the movies. I also want to eat out.) |
| 3 | Es más | Moreover |
Es un buen estudiante. Es más, siempre ayuda a sus compañeros.
(He is a good student. Moreover, he always helps his classmates.) |
| 4 | Igualmente | Likewise |
Disfruté la película. Igualmente, me gustó el libro. (I enjoyed the movie. Likewise, I liked the book.) |
| 5 | Así mismo | Likewise |
El profesor nos dio la tarea. Así mismo, nos explicó cómo hacerla.
(The teacher gave us homework. Likewise, he explained how to do it.) |
| 6 | Por lo tanto | Therefore |
No estudié, por lo tanto, suspendí el examen.
(I didn’t study; therefore, I failed the exam.) |
| 7 | Así que | So |
Hace frío, así que lleva un abrigo.
(It’s cold, so wear a coat.) |
| 8 | Como resultado | As a result |
Llegué tarde, como resultado, perdí el tren.
(I arrived late; as a result, I missed the train.) |
| 9 | Debido a | Due to |
El vuelo se canceló debido al mal tiempo.
(The flight was canceled due to bad weather.) |
| 10 | Por esa razón | For that reason |
Estaba enfermo, por esa razón no fui a trabajar.
(I was sick; for that reason, I didn’t go to work.) |
| 11 | Sin embargo | However |
Quería ayudar, sin embargo, no sabía cómo.
(I wanted to help; however, I didn’t know how.) |
| 12 | No obstante | Nevertheless |
Es caro, no obstante, vale la pena.
(It’s expensive; nevertheless, it’s worth it.) |
| 13 | Por otro lado | On the other hand |
El verano es divertido. Por otro lado, hace mucho calor.
(Summer is fun. On the other hand, it’s very hot.) |
| 14 | En cambio | Instead |
No bebí café. En cambio, tomé té.
(I didn’t drink coffee. Instead, I had tea.) |
| 15 | A pesar de que | Despite the fact that |
A pesar de que llovía, salimos a caminar.
(Despite the fact that it was raining, we went for a walk.) |
| 16 | De hecho | In fact |
Es muy talentoso. De hecho, ganó un premio.
(He is very talented. In fact, he won an award.) |
| 17 | Sobre todo | Above all |
Me gusta la comida mexicana, sobre todo los tacos.
(I like Mexican food, above all, tacos.) |
| 18 | Lo importante es que | The important thing is that |
Lo importante es que terminaste a tiempo.
(The important thing is that you finished on time.) |
| 19 | En realidad | Actually |
Pensé que era fácil, pero en realidad es complicado.
(I thought it was easy, but actually, it’s complicated.) |
| 20 | Cabe destacar que | It is worth noting that |
Cabe destacar que todos llegaron temprano.
(It is worth noting that everyone arrived early.) |
| 21 | Primero | First |
Primero, debemos revisar el plan.
(First, we must review the plan.) |
| 22 | Luego | Then |
Fui al gimnasio. Luego, fui a casa.
(I went to the gym. Then, I went home.) |
| 23 | Después | After |
Comimos y después fuimos al cine.
(We ate and after that, we went to the movies.) |
| 24 | Mientras tanto | Meanwhile |
Ella cocinaba, mientras tanto, yo ponía la mesa.
(She was cooking; meanwhile, I set the table.) |
| 25 | Finalmente | Finally |
Estudié mucho y finalmente pasé el examen.
(I studied a lot, and finally, I passed the exam.) |
| 26 | Es decir | That is to say |
Es muy generoso, es decir, siempre ayuda a los demás.
(He is very generous, that is to say, he always helps others.) |
| 27 | O sea | In other words |
Estoy ocupado, o sea, no puedo ir.
(I’m busy, in other words, I can’t go.) |
| 28 | Por ejemplo | For example |
Me gustan los deportes, por ejemplo, el fútbol.
(I like sports, for example, soccer.) |
| 29 | En otras palabras | In other words |
No tengo dinero, en otras palabras, no puedo ir.
(I have no money, in other words, I can’t go.) |
| 30 | Dicho de otro modo | Said another way |
Dicho de otro modo, no me interesa.
(Said another way, I’m not interested.) |
| 31 | De la misma manera | In the same way |
Juan estudia mucho. De la misma manera, su hermana es muy dedicada.
(Juan studies a lot. In the same way, his sister is very dedicated.) |
| 32 | Del mismo modo | Similarly |
Carlos es amable. Del mismo modo, su hermano siempre ayuda a los demás.
(Carlos is kind. Similarly, his brother always helps others.) |
| 33 | Igual que | Just like |
Ella canta bien, igual que su madre.
(She sings well, just like her mother.) |
| 34 | Así como | Just as |
Así como necesitas descansar, también necesitas comer bien.
(Just as you need to rest, you also need to eat well.) |
| 35 | Tanto como | As much as |
Me gusta viajar tanto como a ti.
(I like traveling as much as you do.) |
| 36 | En resumen | In summary |
En resumen, el proyecto fue un éxito.
(In summary, the project was a success.) |
| 37 | En conclusión | In conclusion |
En conclusión, necesitamos mejorar la comunicación.
(In conclusion, we need to improve communication.) |
| 38 | Para resumir | To sum up |
Para resumir, el evento fue increíble.
(To sum up, the event was amazing.) |
| 39 | En pocas palabras | In a few words |
En pocas palabras, debemos ser más organizados.
(In a few words, we need to be more organized.) |
| 40 | Resumiendo | Summing up |
Resumiendo, todos estamos de acuerdo con la decisión.
(Summing up, we all agree with the decision.) |
| 41 | Para que | So that |
Hice una lista para que no olvides nada.
(I made a list so that you don’t forget anything.) |
| 42 | Con el fin de | In order to |
Estudia con el fin de mejorar sus habilidades.
(He studies in order to improve his skills.) |
| 43 | A fin de que | So that |
Llegamos temprano a fin de que todo esté listo.
(We arrived early so that everything is ready.) |
| 44 | Con el propósito de | With the purpose of |
Hizo el curso con el propósito de aprender más.
(He took the course with the purpose of learning more.) |
| 45 | Para | For / In order to |
Trabajo para pagar mis estudios.
(I work in order to pay for my studies.) |
| 46 | Si | If |
Si llueve, llevaremos paraguas.
(If it rains, we will bring an umbrella.) |
| 47 | A menos que | Unless |
No saldré, a menos que me llames.
(I won’t go out unless you call me.) |
| 48 | Siempre que | As long as |
Puedes ir siempre que termines tu tarea.
(You can go as long as you finish your homework.) |
| 49 | En caso de que | In case |
Lleva un abrigo en caso de que haga frío.
(Bring a coat in case it’s cold.) |
| 50 | Con tal de que | Provided that |
Te ayudaré con tal de que me escuches.
(I’ll help you provided that you listen to me.) |
Wrapping It Up: Master Spanish Transitions Like a Pro
And there you have it—50 essential Spanish transition words to help your conversations and writing flow naturally! Whether you’re adding information, showing contrast, emphasizing a point, or wrapping up a thought, these little connectors make a huge difference in how smooth and professional you sound in Spanish.
The best way to master them? Practice, practice, practice! Try incorporating a few of these transition words into your next conversation or writing exercise. Pay attention to how native speakers use them, and don’t be afraid to experiment. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel.
If you’re ready to take your Spanish to the next level, why not book a lesson with one of our amazing tutors at Strommen? We’d love to help you master the Spanish transition words (and so much more) with fun, personalized lessons.
