5 hacks to INSTANTLY improve your Spanish

¡Hola! ¿Qué tal? Today, I'm sharing 5 hacks that you can use right away to improve your spoken Spanish.
No detailed study required here, just a few minutes of practice. Start implementing some of these tips and you will see a quick improvement in your Spanish skills.
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[@realfastspanish]

Do you know any other hacks to quickly improve your Spanish? If so, please share them!

[@lowercase_limell]

I also like “o sea” and “es decir”.

[@BlackHoleSpain]

There's another tip for *your* pronunciation to improve: your d's sound completely alien in Spanish. English speakers tend to put the tongue in the gums of upper teeth, since "d" sound is mostly alveolar in English. Even some speakers perform a glottal stop there. However in Spanish, "d" sound is interdental. You have to *lower* and *relax* a bit your tongue, just to touch between upper and lower jaws and let some air slip between them when you remove the tongue. Also I just noticed that your ending "s" in "pues" is too voiced and long. Try to make it shorter and voiceless: no air at all through the throat.

[@henboker3]

I taught in university for 40 years. I know teaching and you are an extraordinary teacher. I love your short crisp presentations.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the kind words Larry, I appreciate it!! 🙏

[@truestory923]

Why not just compliment him rather than putting yourself up too. I mean, who cares where you worked? It's irrelevant. Everyone has the ability to judge a good teacher.

[@JohnOnChans]

@@truestory923 One point is to show that you are expereinced. The more the experience, you are a better judge

[@debramoore2585]

Loved the "No, So, Go, Do ... Okay, maybe not that last one". Perfecto!

[@GreenGiant2007]

I love this! The art of Spanish procrastination! 😀

[@TorTheWeirdo]

Finally a video with some truly no repetitive helpful tips 😩

[@emanuelameh5722]

Soy de Nigeria pero me gusta mucho el espanol y me has ayudado mucho con mi espanol. Eres un buen maestro. Muchas gracias

[@theanimefanatic3728]

Soy de Nigeria también

[@emanuelameh5722]

@@theanimefanatic3728 Muy bien. Dónde te quedas?

[@theanimefanatic3728]

@@emanuelameh5722 benin, y tú?

[@dancersbythesea5656]

The tip about the /o/ sound is very important (and interesting). As a speech/language pathologist, I have noticed that the British /o/ (as in "no") is produced very differently than the /o/ in the United States. But, you are right, many people struggle with that sound. My teacher (from Mexico) made a BIG note of that in our last class as he was trying to emphasize it to another student who was struggling with it. He also stated that it's a very "short" sound as well. Keep it short, too! Thanks for your videos. They are GREAT!

[@tylersmith5167]

do you happen to know how it is that we in the U.S. came to pronounce /o/ this way? i would like to imagine it has to do with english-spanish interaction in North America but I don’t know anything about the topic

[@dancersbythesea5656]

@@tylersmith5167 Perhaps a linguist would know? Interesting question.

[@cronkitepercussion]

The parallels with teaching drums to my students are incredible!

[@simonedens3723]

Muchas gracias por este vídeo, ¡es fantástico! Estudio español intermedio en la universidad a distancia del Reino Unido (the Open University) y voy a practicar utilizando el Número 5 de sus consejos para mejorar mis habilidades de conversación. 😃👏

[@andrealeon280]

Are you sure you have an intermediate level? soy hablante nativa y al leer tu comentario se sintió tan natural que parece que tenés un nivel más avanzado.

[@simonedens3723]

@@andrealeon280 ¡gracias! Esa respuesta me puse muy contento. 😊🙏

[@angelinabesecker1388]

Thank you for your clear explanations! Another suggestion for a phrase to buy a learner time to answer a question is, “ay ¿cómo le diré? The native speakers I talk to use this often.

[@jamesfreese4700]

Gracias-otro videp muy útil!!!!

[@light.spanish]

I loved your tricks! They really make a difference. Never feel you are doubting too much using a long "pueeeees" or "bueeeeeno" hahaha we do it all the time as native speakers!

[@jansonleung3393]

El "O" es un consejo muy util, muchas gracias maestro.

[@realfastspanish]

¡¡Gracias Janson!! :)

[@momo90416]

🤩 ¡Muchísimas gracias por sus consejos! Numero 5 es fantástico 👍👍👍

[@falynn3879]

exactly what we need as learners thanks

[@Burnincyclon3]

Wow these were actually very underrated tips ! Thank you so much for sharing

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the feedback!! 😊

[@gometsgo69]

This is so usefull! Thank you so much!

[@nwetyinwin3788]

Thanks a million for your valuable tips!

[@ScottLive1]

So great advice, like Spanish outside the box

[@traveldiarieswithchinita1273]

Really learning a lot from you. Ever since I came to colombia and I have to study spanish, your spanish tutorial videos really helps me a lot. Thank you. 🙌

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the feedback Chinita! :)

[@edgardoaguilar8136]

Fortunately, my native tongue only has 5 vowel sounds, that are exactly like the 5 vowel sounds of Spanish. So it's not difficult for us to adapt to Spanish speech. Our problem could be in the sylabication and stresses, but only at the start, when we haven't mastered the vocabulary.

[@cbarnettcti123]

Best one of your videos I've seen in a while. These are instantly useable tips. I like them all.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the feedback Colin!! 😊

[@Simple_Simon_UK]

What a great Video!!!

[@sandracarlisle6949]

So very useful 👍. Thanks, Andrew.

[@realfastspanish]

Glad it was helpful, Sandra! :)

[@pamelahaskin9738]

Such great tips! The pronunciation of the o sound is something I did not realize. I’ll do better now.

[@Islandlifefornow]

Bueno, a ver….ok I will use them. Muchas gracias!

[@InnerBouquet]

Thanks! THese are great tips!

[@babubhaiparekh]

Very nice teaching.thank you sir

[@cesareduardo268]

Im a native spanish speaker and hes very good! He has good tips! Speak louder!

[@terrimac380]

Great video

[@petermurphymurphy5477]

great vid. well done.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks Peter! 🙏

[@alliearrigo9246]

The tip about "o" is more prevalent to british-english accents that sound like "oerrree" American-english accents are closer to the short "o" sound

[@alisonjackson5814]

I’m an absolute beginner but your videos are so so helpful- particularly these quick ones. I won’t forget the ‘O’ rule - ever! (The others il have to write down and practise but they are SO helpful!) Thanks - from a very novice language student.🥰

[@readplsqwerwqerqwer7869]

gracias por ayudarme a practicar mi espanol , jajajaja , me suscribire y te dare like , soy de latinoamerica

[@marcjames3487]

Great stuff ~ the last non answer is pure politician lmao

[@allandonovan4620]

How about adding vosotros for people living in Spain?

[@defyingallodds44]

most helpful for beginner from this video... the hard vs soft Oh was good... the pues and a ver is good... otherwise the harder stuff I dont remember just watching once

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the feedback Joe! 👍

[@ceydaboluk7419]

LOVE IUUUUUUUU

[@thebelizeaneh]

I started Duolingo and right off the bet it doesn't recognize my el. I pronounce it like the English letter L. Very hard for.me to say. I am pretending the e in Spanish is an English a. It's accepting it now. Él es alto. Ale ace alto

[@Spanishacks]

Yeah, that's me. What happened, Andrew?

[@realfastspanish]

😂

[@tech4991]

One question, when you are pronouncing the pause word "pues" it sounds like you are making the "s" into a "z" sound. Doesn't this act as another tell-tale to native speakers that I don't have the language down yet?

[@realfastspanish]

Hola Rich, "s" and "z" are allophones in Spanish which means the "s" is often pronounced like a "z". If we take the words "isla", "mismo", "riesgo", natives will regularly pronounce the "s" in these words like a "z". When it comes to pronunciation, it's almost always the vowels that are a problem, not the consonants. This is because we have more flexibility with the consonants and this is a good example.

[@BlackHoleSpain]

@@realfastspanish Beware! Not in two thirds of Spain!!!! Original language uses /θ/ for Z sound, not /s/ which should be completely *voiceless*

[@marcorojasmamani6099]

Honestly, it is Spanish, it is very good, but some things need to be improved My first language is Spanish by the way LOL

[@joelpearce1350]

I'm certain your Spanish is much more fluent than the other Andrew Barr... The Chief Minister of the ACT!

[@jarbincks6715]

Me who can understand written spanish:😌 Me when it comes to speaking it: 🫡

[@BlackHoleSpain]

We only use pronouns when... a) the context is *ambiguous* and we need to define the subject of the action. b) to emphasize the subject (English language adds "do" : I *do* read this book)

[@MechFarmer]

Would it be too much to ask, when you are giving lectures on conjunction of verbs to include the "vosotros" form? I would like to believe there are many like myself, who want to learn the proper Spanish, not some lower grade Latino American dialect. And nothing personal please, I do enjoy your videos. Keep them coming...

[@pedrodiezcansecomunoz9676]

Hola, Ladislav Toman. Ni siquiera los mismos españoles consideran que usar «ustedes» en lugar de «vosotros» es incorrecto. Pero celebro que quieras aprender las conjugaciones de la forma «vosotros». Por cierto, en su plenitud, este uso gramatical incluye el pronombre de la segunda persona en singular «vos» en lugar de «tú», pero no corresponde al voseo de Argentina y otros países, aunque este haya derivado de formas como «vos sabéis» -> «vos sabés», o sea «tú sabes». ¡Saludos desde América del Sur!

[@MechFarmer]

@@pedrodiezcansecomunoz9676 Hi Pedro, gracias por su respuesta. I never said, nor implied that using "ustedes" instead of "vosotros" was incorrect. As an European myself, I simply like to learn the full conjugation as used in Castilian Spanish. All the European languages I am familiar with (incl. English) use 3 singular and 3 plural forms in conjugation, hence my preference. And for the record, I have nothing against Latin America. On the contrary. I do, for instance, adore Mexican culture like the Mariachi, their music and beautiful dresses and my dream is to visit ancient sites in Peru, or Christmas Island of Chile. Así que, gracias nuevamente por tu respuesta y disfruta de la hermosa América Latina.

[@being__azim]

1. Drop the pronouns 2. Fix your body language and clear your speech 3. Nail the Spanish 'O' 4. Use Spanish pause words 5. Use set phrase

[@tennisratchet5251]

Big tip if your learning Spanish- live in spanish

[@JustRexly]

as a native Spanish speaker I can say, Spanish it's difficult to learn, but English is harder to pronounce XD, not to learn

[@GM-xh6gj]

how are these “hacks”?

[@qu1nt0n607]

no te voy a mentir, tu español de seguro será un A2 o B1. ya sé que que todos que aprenden otro idioma tendrá acento, no obstante, hablas con la lengua bien floja. supongo q tu lengua no puede hacer esos sonidos pero no pasa nada. sigue practicando

[@alejandrojoselizano]

you use spanish pronouns to emphasize who is doing it

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, absolutely Alejando! :)

[@alejandrojoselizano]

@@realfastspanish you missed an "r". It is Alejandro. But thanks. ;)

[@57ot]

I’d rather have the native speaker change to English than kill me whilst I’m saying all the cliché phrases which don’t provide an actual answer

[@nwetyinwin3788]

Thanks a million for your valuable tips!

[@sharisayed3659]

1. Drop your pronouns 2 Fix your body language and clear your speech 3. Nail the Spanish 'O' 4. Use Spanish pausewords 5. Use set phrases