You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

FluentU Logo

75 Common Spanish Transition Words to Connect Your Thoughts

Transition words are the knots that hold sentences together. They help things blend together and smooth out our sentences:

Fui al parque, luego al gimnasio y finalmente a la tienda. ( I went to the park, then the gym and finally the store.)

Without them, our speech would sound choppy and oversimplified.

What Are Transition Words?

Types of spanish transition words, 1. transition words for time, 2. transition words for location, 3. transition words for explaining, 4. transition words for add-ons, 5. transition words for results, 6. transition words for emphasis, 7. transition words for comparison and contrast, 8. transition words for summarizing, quiz on spanish transition words, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Transition words in Spanish are words and phrases that help us connect ideas between sentences .

When we connect sentences with transition words, we add only a couple of words, but we make the meaning of what we are saying much clearer. Have a look:

No tengo mucho tiempo. Voy a ir a la fiesta. (I don’t have much time. I will go to the party.)

The sentences may be correct, but what is the relation between them? By adding transition words to the mix, everything starts to make sense:

No tengo mucho tiempo pero voy a ir a la fiesta. (I don’t have much time but I’ll go to the party.)

Aunque no tengo mucho tiempo, voy a ir a la fiesta. ( Although I don’t have much time, I’ll go to the party.)

No tengo mucho tiempo. Además , voy a ir a la fiesta. (I don’t have much time. Besides , I’m going to the party.)

Depending on the meaning of your sentence, you’ll want to use a different set of transition words to help you with it.

They’re classified into different groups depending on the resource, but here are the eight types of transition words often referred to:

• Time • Location • Explanation • Add-ons • Result • Emphasis • Comparison and c ontrast • Summary

If you pay attention to how native speakers converse, you’ll notice how these transition words can come into play and help a sentence flow.

The first type of transition words have to do with time, whether we’re talking about something that already happened, will happen or maybe just constructing a timeline:

Note that luego, después and más tarde can be used interchangeably when describing a succession of events or giving instructions.

If we’re looking at where one thing is relative to another, we can use these transitional phrases:

If we need some help in explaining something smoothly, we can use these words to provide context:

If you’ve made one statement, but have additional details to add, you can tack them on with these words:

Just remember that y can only connect two words, phrases or sentences of the same category. This is called coordination, and y is a coordinating conjunction.

When referring to cause and effects, you can use these phrases to transition from one to the other:

Using these transition words correctly will really strengthen whichever part of your phrase that you emphasize it with:

Comparing and contrasting requires lots of transition words in order to flow and make sense:

Sometimes we need some help transitioning into a concluding statement, which is why these terms can come in handy:

Now that you’ve learned some Spanish transition words, it’s time to test your knowledge! Choose the best option to complete each sentence in the quiz below. To retake the quiz, just refresh the page. 

These small but powerful words help us to convey exact meaning we want and sound more fluent, so be sure to practice them!

The best way to learn how to use these Spanish transition words properly is by seeing and hearing them used in context.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)

FluentU Ad

Try FluentU for FREE!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

Other sites use scripted content. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people.

FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

learn-spanish-with-videos

FluentU brings native videos within reach with interactive transcripts. You can tap on any word to look it up instantly. Every definition has examples that have been written to help you understand how the word is used. If you see an interesting word you don’t know, you can add it to a vocab list.

learn-spanish-with-interactive-subtitled-videos

Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

learn-spanish-with-songs

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU’s robust learning engine. Swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you’re on.

learn-spanish-with-music-videos

The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

transition words for spanish essays

Using Transition Words in Spanish

To sound natural when writing in Spanish, it is important to use conectores ( transition words ). Transition words link your ideas together, allowing them to flow smoothly from one sentence to the next.

There are many types of transition words you can use when you are writing in Spanish. Let’s take a closer look!

Sequence and Order

The following transition words help us arrange ideas, events, and reasons according to their order of importance or to the order in which they happened chronologically .

Let’s put some of these into context!

Cause and Effect

Use these transition words to make a connection between cause and effect .

Let’s take a look at some examples!

Addition and Agreement

The following transition words add information , express agreement , and reinforce relationships and ideas that came before .

Check out these examples!

Examples, Emphasis, and Clarification

The following transitions are used to introduce examples as support , emphasize a particular fact , or explain a point .

Use these transition words to connect two things by focusing on their differences .

Here are some examples!

Summarizing and Concluding

These transition words can be used to conclude an argument or to summarize ideas .

Want more tips on writing in Spanish? Check out these articles!

  • Spanish Punctuation
  • Advanced Spanish Punctuation
  • Spanish Words to Use in an Essay
  • How to Write a Letter in Spanish
  • Ace the AP Spanish Exam

Making educational experiences better for everyone.

Immersive learning for 25 languages

Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources

Fast, easy, reliable language certification

Fun educational games for kids

Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning

Trusted tutors for 300+ subjects

35,000+ worksheets, games, and lesson plans

Adaptive learning for English vocabulary

Tell Me In Spanish Logo

Spanish Transition Words: Simple Guide to Connecting Words

transition words for spanish essays

Have you ever had the impression that, when speaking or writing Spanish, your sentences are independent thoughts that don’t seem to flow? Don’t worry. This happens to many learners! To improve your coherence and fluency, you must learn transition words in Spanish. 

Whether it’s for an essay or a conversation, linking your ideas together is fundamental to sounding cohesive and coherent. Since they help you achieve this, in this guide, you’ll learn how to use connecting words and transitional phrases in Spanish. 

Here is an overview of the topics we’ll cover:

  • What Are Transition Words & How Do They Work
  • To add information
  • To explain cause and effect
  • To describe opposition or contrast
  • To explain or provide examples
  • To emphasize an idea
  • To express purpose
  • To describe sequence and time
  • To express similarity

What Are Spanish Transition Words?

Spanish transition words, also called transitional, connecting, or linking words, have a primary function: to connect ideas and describe the relation between them.

Confused? Let’s see an example.

Charlotte está enojada. Rompí su teléfono. Charlotte is mad. I broke her phone.

The example above expresses two ideas. #1 Charlotte is mad, and #2 I broke her phone. Is there a connection between these facts? Yes! But since it’s unclear, I’m forcing you to make that assumption.

Things will sound more fluid and make more sense if you use a Spanish transition word to express causation (cause and effect). 

Charlotte está enojada porque rompí su teléfono . Charlotte is mad because I broke her phone .

With this rewritten example, ‘porque’ (because) is the connecting word, linking the two ideas together. Now the reason why Charlotte is mad is perfectly clear.

So, Spanish transition words link your ideas together while describing how those ideas relate to each other. Since connecting words in Spanish can be used to link ideas, sentences, or paragraphs together, they help others understand what you’re saying.

Take Note: Connectors in Spanish can be made by one word, such as porque. However, transitional phrases are built with two or more words . For example, ‘ya que’, ‘debido a’ or ‘a cause de’, are all more complex ways of saying ‘because’.

List of Connecting Words in Spanish

Connecting words in Spanish are classified based on the type of relationship they express. 

  • Cause and effect

Explanation or examples

Sequence and time, similarity .

In the sections below, you’ll find lists with common transition words and phrases in Spanish and examples of how to use them. 

Tip: Transition words in Spanish are often associated with writing essays. But you’d also use these connectors in daily conversations.  

As its name suggests, Spanish transitional words of addition allow you to introduce new information .

Lucas dobló la ropa, también preparó la cena . Lucas folded the clothes; he also prepared dinner .

No pude venir porque estaba ocupada. Además , me sentía mal . I couldn’t come because I was busy. Also , I was feeling sick .

Cause and effect or Reason

As shown at the beginning of this article, this type of Spanish transitional word helps you describe the cause and effect of an action or behavior. 

Llegué tarde debido al tráfico . I’m late due to the traffic .

Carlos está enfermo, así que no vendrá esta noche . Carlos is sick, so he won’t be coming tonight .

Mañana es día feriado. Por lo tanto , no se trabaja . Tomorrow is a public holiday. Therefore, people don’t have to work .

Take Note: Just as in English, some transitional words in Spanish may be more formal than others. 

Contrast or opposition 

Spanish transition words of contrast express an opposite relationship between ideas. When writing essays, these words are helpful to contrast ideas, theories or someone’s position about a certain issue.  

Me gustaría ir, pero tengo trabajo . I would like to go, but I have work to do .

Aunque te cueste trabajo , debes practicar tu español. Although it may be difficult , you should practice your Spanish.

Samantha se distrae fácilmente. Sin embargo , sus calificaciones son buenas . Samantha gets easily distracted. However, her grades are good .

Tip: In Spanish, these transition words can be placed at the beginning or the middle of a sentence. Notice that, if they start the sentence, they are always followed by commas. 

Whether you’re writing or having a conversation, sometimes you need to explain or clarify what you’re saying. To do this, you can use the following transition words and phrases in Spanish:

Cocinar es muy difícil. Mejor dicho , a mí me cuesta mucho trabajo . Cooking is very difficult. Or rather , it’s very difficult for me .

El libro relata hechos fantásticos, es decir , hechos que no son reales . The book tells fantastic stories, meaning , unreal facts .

Creo que todos podemos ayudar. Por ejemplo , yo puedo limpiar la casa . I think we all can help. For example, I can clean the house .

Take Note: In Mexican Spanish , o sea is a popular filler word. 

As their name suggests, these Spanish connecting words are used to emphasize important ideas that people should pay attention to. 

Sin duda, este año fue muy difícil para todos . Without a doubt , this year was difficult for all of us .

Me gustan mucho las películas, especialmente, las de terror . I like movies very much, especially horror movies .

When it comes to transition words for essays and formal writing in Spanish, terms and phrases that express purposes are very important because they help you describe the goal of the text itself or a section within it.  

Some examples of these transitional words include:

Incluí ejemplos con el fin de que este artículo sea más fácil de entender . I included examples in order to make this article easier to understand .

El objetivo de este artículo es enseñarte a usar conectores en español . The purpose of this article is to teach how to use connectors in Spanish .

Spanish transition words and phrases also allow you to describe the order or sequence of your ideas or the time when specific actions occur. These connections are helpful when you need to establish chronological order or the steps of a process.

Here are some examples of these words: 

Primero encuentra tus llaves y, después , nos podemos ir. First , find your keys and , then , we can leave. 

Finalmente, los resultados encontrados no prueban… Finally , the results found do not prove…

Por último, me gustaría mencionar… Lastly, I would like to mention…

If you need to point out similarities between two ideas or paragraphs, you can use the following Spanish connectors:

Estos celulares son igualmente buenos. These phones are equally good.

De igual manera , todos tienen que entregar su proyecto. Likewise, every one must deliver their project.

Take Note: In Spanish, igualmente is also used as a response to ‘ nice to meet you ’ or ‘ have a nice day ’. 

Transition words in Spanish are necessary to have a more fluid and natural conversation. 

Entonces, don’t be afraid to use them! (See what I did there?). Here are some key points you should keep in mind:

  • Transition words connect ideas and explain how those ideas relate to each other. 
  • Add new information
  • Describe cause and effect
  • Contrast two ideas
  • Provide explanations and introduce examples
  • Emphasize ideas
  • Express the purpose of a text or section
  • Describe the sequence your ideas follow
  • Point out the similarities between two or more ideas
  • These words and phrases are mostly placed at the beginning or middle of a sentence.
  • Unless they’re followed by a preposition, transition words that start a new sentence or paragraph must be accompanied by a comma . 

Now that you know this new vocabulary, it’s time for you to go and apply it! ¡ Buena suerte!

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

Recent Posts

Contractions in Spanish: When to Use Del & Al

Del and al are contractions in Spanish that must be used with singular masculine nouns. Al is the contraction of the preposition a + el, whereas del is the contraction of the preposition de +...

Mexican Slang Words 101: Chido Meaning + Examples

In Mexican slang Spanish, chido is an adjective that describes that something or someone is cool, nice, pretty or good. In Mexico, chido is also used as an informal way to thank. Nuestro vecino es...

Pin It on Pinterest

My Daily Spanish Logo

  • Books / Audiobooks
  • Learning Method
  • Spanish Culture
  • Spanish Grammar
  • Spanish Travel
  • Spanish Vocabulary and Expressions
  • Study Guide

Spanish Essay Phrases: 40 Useful Phrases for an Impressive Writeup

7  Comments

May 30, 2019

Follow Us Now

Do you need to write a lot of essays in Spanish? If you do, don’t worry. It's about to get a little bit easier for you because here in this article, we’ve listed many useful Spanish essay phrases that you can readily use in your essays.

Essay Phrases

Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

Get the PDF ( + MP3!)

No time to read now? Then you might opt to get the list in PDF instead. If you sign up to the newsletter, you'll get the list of Spanish essay phrases in PDF format plus free audio files. 

Spanish Essay Phrases

Spanish essay phrases pinterest

Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

Try to use the essay phrases in Spanish that you learned in this lesson and write a few example sentences in the comments section!

Single blog with both side sidebars

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

VERY VERY useful !! Gracias

Amazing! This will definitely help me in tomorrow’s spanish test 🙂

Sounds good

Thanks for the assistance, in learning Spanish.

Amazing article! Very helpful! Also, this website is great for Spanish Beginners.

It’s easy when you put it that way

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

transition words for spanish essays

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Mexican Spanish

List of Spanish Transition Words

Are you struggling to connect your ideas in Spanish? Look no further! This article has got you covered with a comprehensive list of Spanish transition words.

Whether you want to add information, contrast ideas, or express cause and effect, we’ve got the perfect transition words for you.

With our organized and fluent style, you’ll be able to sequence and organize your ideas like a pro.

Get ready to elevate your Spanish writing to the next level!

Key Takeaways

  • Transition words are important in Spanish writing as they improve the flow and coherence of ideas.
  • They create a logical structure and make the writing more organized and understandable.
  • Transition words help connect thoughts smoothly and guide the reader through the text.
  • Spanish transition words can be used to add information, contrast ideas, express cause and effect, and sequence and organize ideas.

Commonly Used Spanish Transition Words

You should use ‘por otro lado’ to transition to a different point in the current discussion. Transition words are essential in Spanish writing to improve the flow and coherence of your ideas. They allow you to connect your thoughts smoothly and guide your reader through your text. Using transition words helps to create a logical structure and make your writing more organized and understandable.

In Spanish communication, transition words also play a crucial role. They enable you to express contrasting ideas, add information, provide examples, and summarize your thoughts effectively. By using these words, you can enhance the clarity and coherence of your speech, facilitating comprehension for your audience.

Transition Words for Adding Information in Spanish

Using the transition word ‘además’ will help you seamlessly add more information to your Spanish writing or speech. Transition words play a crucial role in connecting ideas and making your writing or speech more coherent. When it comes to adding information or giving examples, there are several other useful transition words in Spanish. These words not only help you provide more details but also emphasize your points effectively. Take a look at the table below for some examples:

Spanish Transition Words for Contrasting Ideas

Don’t forget to utilize the transition word ‘a pesar de’ when contrasting ideas in your Spanish writing or speech. This transition word is commonly used to express a contradiction or disagreement between two ideas.

Here are some other Spanish transition words that you can use to compare and contrast ideas:

  • En cambio (On the other hand)
  • Sin embargo (However)
  • Por otro lado (On the other hand)
  • Aunque (Although)

These transition words are essential when expressing different viewpoints or presenting contrasting ideas in Spanish. They help to create a clear and organized flow in your writing or speech.

By using these words effectively, you can convey your thoughts and arguments more effectively and engage your audience in a meaningful discussion.

Expressing Cause and Effect With Spanish Transition Words

Make sure to incorporate the transition word ‘porque’ when expressing cause and effect in your Spanish writing or speech. When exploring the different types of cause and effect relationships in Spanish writing, it’s important to understand how to effectively use Spanish transition words to convey cause and effect.

‘Porque’ is a commonly used transition word that means ‘because’ and is used to introduce the cause of an action or event. For example, ‘No pude salir con mis amigos porque tenía que estudiar’ (I couldn’t go out with my friends because I had to study).

Additionally, other transition words such as ‘ya que’ (since), ‘debido a’ (due to), and ‘por lo tanto’ (therefore) can be used to express cause and effect relationships in Spanish writing.

Mastering these transition words will greatly enhance your ability to convey cause and effect in Spanish.

Spanish Transition Words for Sequencing and Organizing Ideas

Have you learned how to effectively use Spanish transition words to sequence and organize your ideas? Transition words are essential in providing coherence and structure to your writing or speaking. They allow you to smoothly guide your audience from one idea to the next, making your message clear and easy to follow.

When it comes to giving examples and illustrating ideas in Spanish, you can use transition words such as ‘por ejemplo’ (for example), ‘como’ (like), ‘es decir’ (that is to say), and ‘en otras palabras’ (in other words). These words help you provide concrete examples and clarify your point.

Additionally, when summarizing and concluding your thoughts, you can rely on transition words like ‘en resumen’ (in summary), ‘finalmente’ (finally), ‘en conclusión’ (in conclusion), and ‘para concluir’ (to conclude). By using these transition words, you can effectively wrap up your ideas and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any transition words in spanish that can be used to express emphasis or intensify an idea.

To express emphasis or intensify an idea in Spanish, there are several transition words you can use. These words can help you effectively connect your thoughts and make your writing more coherent. Here are some tips for improving your Spanish writing with transition words.

Are There Specific Transition Words in Spanish That Can Be Used to Introduce Examples or Provide Further Support to an Idea?

When it comes to introducing examples or providing further support in Spanish, there are specific transition words for that. They help emphasize and intensify your ideas, making your point even stronger.

Can You Provide Some Transition Words in Spanish That Are Commonly Used to Summarize or Conclude an Argument or Discussion?

To summarize or conclude an argument or discussion in Spanish, commonly used transition words include "en resumen" (in summary), "en conclusión" (in conclusion), and "finalmente" (finally). ¿Cuáles son los conectores de cambio de tema en español? ¿Existen palabras de transición en español que puedan usarse para resumir o concluir un argumento o discusión?

Are There Any Transition Words in Spanish That Can Be Used to Express a Result or Consequence?

To express a result or consequence in Spanish, you can use transition words like "por lo tanto" (therefore) or "así que" (so). Knowing how to use these effectively is key. Avoid common mistakes by practicing and seeking feedback.

Can You Recommend Some Transition Words in Spanish That Can Be Used to Indicate a Change in Topic or Shift in Focus?

To effectively use transition words in Spanish and improve your writing flow, it is important to know how to indicate a change in topic or shift in focus. Avoid common mistakes and ensure a knowledgeable, fluent, and organized style for better understanding.

In conclusion, mastering Spanish transition words is crucial for effective communication. These words not only help to connect ideas smoothly but also add depth and coherence to your writing.

Just like a well-orchestrated symphony, transition words serve as the conductor, guiding the flow of thoughts and providing a seamless transition between different sections.

So, whether you’re adding information, contrasting ideas, or expressing cause and effect, incorporating these words into your writing will elevate it to a whole new level.

It’s like adding the final brushstroke to a masterpiece, creating a harmonious and captivating composition.

You May Also Like

Accents on spanish words.

An image that showcases a group of diverse Spanish-speaking individuals engaged in various activities, each representing a different adjectival clause

Adjectival Clauses Spanish

An image showcasing a vibrant mosaic of 5000 colorful tiles, each representing one of the most common Spanish words

5000 Most Common Spanish Words

An image showcasing the vibrant essence of action words in Spanish

Action Words in Spanish

An image showcasing a vibrant collection of Spanish nouns that begin with the letter

Adjectives That Start With N in Spanish

An image capturing the essence of Advanced Spanish Lessons: a diverse group of students engaging in lively conversations, immersed in vibrant cultural settings while effortlessly expressing themselves with fluency and precision

Advanced Spanish Lessons

BaseLang

Not sure which program to pick? Compare programs

icon

Transition Words In Spanish: How To Sound Like a Native Speaker

Adrian

Get our free email course, Shortcut to Conversational.

Have conversations faster, understand people when they speak fast, and other tested tips to learn faster.

Learning the most common transition words in Spanish is a great way to go from speaking in broken, clunky Spanish to sounding more fluid, almost instantly.

Transition words (in any language) help us add more coherence to what we say or write, by linking and connecting our ideas.

In case you still aren’t sure what we mean, below is a list of the most common transition words in Spanish that you will hear in a regular conversation:

  • También (also)
  • Además (beside)
  • De hecho (in fact)
  • Sin embargo (nonetheless)
  • Antes que nada (first of all)
  • Por ejemplo (for example)
  • Entonces (so)
  • En conclusión (in conclusion)
  • Por suerte (luckily)

Here are a couple of examples of these words in action:

  • Carlos told me he managed to organize everything. He also  told me that he helped his teammates – Carlos me dijo que logró organizar todo. También  me dijo que ayudó a sus compañeros.
  • This month we had good sales,  however , complaints about late deliveries increased. – Este mes tuvimos buenas ventas, sin embargo , aumentaron las quejas por tardanzas en entregas.
  • We have to book the ticket before anything else  – Tenemos que reservar el boleto antes que nada
  • I wanted to go to the beach,  but  I got sick – Quería ir a la playa,  pero me enfermé
  • I was promoted at work,  in fact now I have an assistant – Me ascendieron en el trabajo,  de hecho  ahora tengo una asistente
  • My grandfather fell out of bed, but luckily  he’s not hurt – Mi abuelo se cayó de la cama, pero por suerte no está herido

In this post, we will cover a bunch of different transition words in Spanish which will help you reinforce information, give information about time or sequence, contrast ideas and much more.

transition words for spanish essays

To talk about a sequence, order or time

  • We have to finish the sales report as soon as possible – Hay que terminar el reporte de ventas  tan pronto como  sea posible
  • I will  briefly explain what we will do at the festival – Les voy a explicar  brevemente  lo que haremos en el festival
  • First of al l, I want to thank you for coming to the meeting – Primeramente  quiero agradecer que hayan venido a la reunión
  • Now we will talk about students behavior, then  we’ll talk about their grades – Ahora hablaremos del comportamiento de los alumnos, luego  hablaremos de sus calificaciones
  • At the moment  the band was playing, they launched fireworks – Cuando la banda estaba tocando, en ese momento , lanzaron fuegos artificiales

To talk about change or contrast of ideas

  • I love traveling on vacation,  although  sometimes I rest more staying at home – Me encanta viajar en vacaciones, aunque  a veces descanso más quedándome en casa
  • Despite  having studied, I didn’t do well on the exam – A pesar de  haber estudiado, no me fue bien en el examen
  • On the contrary,  I think this advertising campaign is very good – Al contrario , creo que esta campaña publicitaria es muy buena
  • They found the restaurant very good, but  not me – A ellos les pareció muy bueno el restaurante, en cambio  a mí no
  • I want to go to the movies, but  I don’t have money – Quiero ir al cine, pero  no tengo dinero

To emphasize or add information

  • It is not common for children to eat vegetables, they usually  prefer candies – No es común que los niños coman vegetales,  por lo general prefieren los dulces
  • This morning I went to the gym and also  to the park to walk  –  Esta mañana fui al Gimnasio y  también  al parque a caminar
  • We won first place as a result  of teamwork – Ganamos el primer lugar como resultado del trabajo en equipo
  • Without a doubt , a sedentary life is dangerous – Sin duda alguna , una vida sedentaria es peligrosa
  • In addition  to having meals included in the hotel, they also  included drinks – En el hotel además  de tener las comidas incluidas, también  incluían las bebidas

To make a comparison

  • Indeed, Our product is better than the competition – En efecto , nuestro producto es mejor que el de la competencia
  • I don’t like those shoes either , they are just as ugly as the previous ones – Tampoco  me gustan esos zapatos, son igual  de feos que los anteriores
  • Like  my brother, we are vegetarians – Al igual que  mi hermano, somos vegetarianos
  • We will also  go to the concert – Nosotros  también  iremos al concierto
  • She has  another way to cook the roast – Ella tiene otra forma  de cocinar el asado

To give examples

  • For example , if you buy the plane ticket now, it will be cheaper – Por ejemplo , si compras el pasaje de avión ahora, será más económico
  • Suppose you are shipwrecked on a desert island – Supongamos  que naufragas en una isla desierta
  • Let’s look at this example  of how we can reduce the consumption of plastic – Veamos este ejemplo  de cómo podemos reducir el consumo de plástico
  • Let’s say  that tomorrow he surprises you with a gift. What would you do? – Digamos que mañana él te sorprende con un regalo. ¿Qué harías?

To talk about causes and effects

  • Luckily  we all sign up on time – Por suerte  todos nos inscribimos a tiempo
  • Due to  the hurricanes, many homes have disappeared – A causa de  los huracanes, muchas casas han desaparecido
  • As a result  of poor diet, I was diagnosed with gastritis – Como resultado de una mala alimentación, me diagnosticaron gastritis
  • I am allergic to dairy, therefore  I cannot eat cheese – Soy alérgica a los lácteos,  por lo tanto  no puedo comer queso
  • Considering  your great effort, we decided to give you a chance –  En vista de  tu gran esfuerzo, decidimos darte una oportunidad

To conclude an idea

  • Finally , we will announce the winner –  Finalmente , anunciaremos al ganador
  • Last but not least , I want to thank you for coming – Por último pero no menos importante , quiero dar las gracias por haber venido
  • I couldn’t travel the weekend, after all,  I didn’t want to do it either – No pude viajar el fin de semana, al fin y al cabo , tampoco quería hacerlo
  • To conclude  the meeting, I would like to hear your opinions – Para concluir  la reunión, me gustaría oír sus opiniones
  • To sum up , What can you tell us about your experience in the Amazonia? – Para resumir , ¿Qué podrías decirnos sobre tu experiencia en El Amazonas?

Get our FREE 7-day email course, Shortcut to Conversational

The exact strategies you need to become conversational in Spanish this year. Join the course now, before we come to our senses and charge for it!

How to ask for directions in Spanish

How to ask for directions in Spanish: Essential words and phrases

Colombian idioms and slang

Colombian Slang: 38 Colombian idioms to speak like a local

How long in Spanish: tomar vs durar vs tardar vs llevar

Tomar, Durar, Tardar, Llevar: Spanish verbs to talk about lengths of time

This blog is presented by BaseLang: Unlimited Spanish Tutoring for $179 a Month. Learn more here.

Your First Week Is Just $1.

After that, it’s just $179/mo for unlimited one-on-one tutoring.

Remember, the worst case scenario is you get a few free classes, don’t like it, and end up with an extra $20 in the bank.

Subscribe to BaseLang Bites

Supercharge your Spanish with our short weekly email, with bite-sized lessons and tips 🚀

BIENVIENDOS A BASELANG BITES!

Keep an eye out for the first lesson coming to your inbox shortly 🙌

transition words for spanish essays

Download BaseLang's Ultimate Guide to Spanish!

Get Access Now!

Sign up today so you can get instant access to this product bundle!

transition words for spanish essays

855-997-4652 Login Try a Free Class

The Essential Guide to Spanish Linking Words

What are Spanish linking words? 

Well, they simply make you sound better, both in speech and in writing. 

Your sentences flow naturally, and your ideas logically build on each other. 

Sparkle your essay with a couple of good linking words in Spanish and you’ll surely get an A.

Let’s take a closer look at Spanish linking words, different types that exist, and how to use them in a sentence. 

Spanish Linking Words

Spanish linking words, also called connective words, are words and phrases you use to connect ideas in a piece of writing. We connect phrases and clauses within a sentence and sentences and paragraphs when writing, for example, an essay.

Two types of linking words exist:

Conjunctions

  • Transition words

Conjunctions connect ideas within clauses and sentences, meanwhile transition words connect sentences and paragraphs. 

Keep reading as we cover the following details about Spanish connecting words:

  • how and when to use them
  • rules of linking in Spanish
  • list of useful linking words in Spanish, organized by function

Conjunctions connect words, clauses, phrases, and sentences. These Spanish linking words can be single words or two or more words that form conjunctive expressions. In Spanish, there are two main conjunction groups: 

  • Coordinating conjunctions
  • Subordinating conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, clauses, and sentences of equal value. You can separate them, and they can exist individually.

Coordinating conjunctions have one of the following functions:

  • express addition: y (and)
  • give an alternative: o (or)
  • express contrast: pero (but)

You can find a full list of coordinating conjunctions at the end of this post (with translation!), but let’s have a look at some sample sentences with coordinating conjunctions.

Me encanta tu personalidad y tu sonrisa. I love your personality and your smile.

Puedes leer el libro o ver la tele. You can read a book or watch TV.

La busqué pero no la encontré. I looked for it but could not find it.

To learn more about coordinating conjunctions, check out the following articles. You can also complete a quiz and try some Spanish connectors exercises!

  • 9 Coordinating Conjunctions in Spanish Essential to Know
  • The Ultimate Guide to Using ‘And’ in Spanish  
  • What’s the Difference Between Pero and Sino?

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions are a type of Spanish linking words that introduce subordinate clauses. These clauses cannot exist by themselves, and they depend on the main clause. The tricky part about subordinating clauses is whether to use the indicative or subjunctive mood, which is determined by the linking word you use.

There are 9 types of subordinating conjunctions. As I mentioned before, there’s a full list of them at the end of this post with information about what mood should be used, but let’s have a quick look at some of the Spanish linking words in each of these groups.

1. Causal Conjunctions

These connective words introduce a clause with a reason or cause of the action in the main clause. They translate to “because,” “since,” or “as.” For example, como :

Como a Pedro no le gusta caminar, siempre viaja en carro. Since Pedro doesn’t like walking, he always travels by car.

2. Conjunctions of Comparison

These Spanish linking words compare information in two clauses. For example, como si (as if):

Hace flexiones como si fuera un gran atleta. He does push-ups as if he was a great athlete.

3. Relative Conjunctions

Relative conjunctions, such as si or que translate to “if” or “that” in English.

No sé si lo puedo terminar a tiempo. I don’t know if I can finish it on time.

4. Conjunctions of Concession

These Spanish linking words introduce information that contradicts the main clause. For example, aun cuando (although, even though).

Él trabaja mucho aun cuando está de vacaciones. He works a lot, even when he’s on vacation.

5. Conjunctions of Result

Do you want to introduce the effect or consequences of the action in the main clause? Conjunctions of result are for these. For example, de modo que (that):

Hay que hacerlo de modo que sea seguro para todos. It must be done in a way that is safe for everyone.

6. Conjunctions of Condition

Si (if), siempre y cuando (as long as) are examples of linking words used in conditional sentences.

Lo haré, siempre y cuando me devuelva el dinero. I will, as long as I get my money back.

7. Conjunctions of Purpose

If you want to talk about intentions or goals of the verbs from the main clause, use linking words such as para que (so that)

Te lo dije para que lo hicieras tú sola. I told you so that you do it yourself.

8. Illative Conjunctions

Illative conjunctions introduce something that can be inferred from the main clause. In English, it’s “therefore” for example, and in Spanish luego.

Pienso, luego existo. I think, therefore I exist.

9. Conjunctions of Time

These conjunctions determine the time period of the action in the main clause. For example mientras (while):

Mientras corres, puedes escuchar música. While you’re running, you can listen to music.

To learn more about subordinating conjunctions, check out:

  • 9 Types of Subordinating Conjunctions in Spanish That Will Supercharge Your Fluency
  • The Ultimate Guide to ‘Even Though’ in Spanish

Transition Words

Transition words connect ideas between sentences and they give a natural flow to your speech or writing. These are so-called “Spanish essay linking words” because they help to transition your ideas in a smooth way in any text.

Transition words are sometimes the same conjunctions you use to link ideas within a sentence but you have a sea of other possibilities. Depending on your purpose, you can use transition words from one of the eight groups: 

  • Explanation

See the full list of transition words from each of the above categories at the end of this post, but first, let’s see how they look in a text.

Primero, quiero contarte una historia. Allá voy, espera. Además, te quiero contar una historia que nadie antes haya oído. Es decir, vas a ser el único en saberlo. Así que, presta atención, sobre todo cuando mencione algunas fechas. Aunque, si quieres, la puedes contar después a tus propios hijos. Al fin y al cabo, esta historia ya será tuya.

First, I want to tell you a story. Here I go, wait. Also, I want to tell you a story that no one has heard before. I mean, you’ll be the only one to know it. So pay attention, especially when I mention some dates. Although if you want, you can tell it later to your own children. After all, this story will already be yours.

Learn more: 50 Useful Transition Words in Spanish for Everyday Speech and Writing

A List of Spanish Linking Words

Here’s a handy list of Spanish linking words in one single place! 

Download the PDF and take it with you while writing essays—you’ll amaze your Spanish teacher!

Download the Spanish Linking Words Cheat Sheet!

Type in your name and email below! We’ll immediately send the Spanish Linking Words cheat sheet to your inbox!

Spanish Linking Words Chart

Después de todo.

Now that you know all types of Spanish linking words it’s time to check how they feel in a speech. Sign up today for a free class to practice your conversational skills with one of our friendly, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala. They can give you more tips on how to improve your oral and writing skills supercharged now by Spanish connective words.

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

  • 23 Common Spanish Prepositions You Can Use Today
  • 25 Common Subjunctive Phrases in Spanish Conversation
  • What Is an Infinitive in Spanish?
  • A Complete Guide to Imperfect Conjugation for Beginners
  • How to Talk About the Temperature in Spanish: Fahrenheit, Celcius, and Descriptions
  • A Complete Guide to Preterite Conjugation for Beginners
  • Spanish Words with Multiple Meanings in Latin America
  • How Many Words Are in the Spanish Language? Really?
  • Recent Posts
  • 10 Homeschooling Styles You Need to Explore in 2023 - March 14, 2024
  • Home Sweet Classroom: Creating Engaging Spanish Lessons at Home - October 13, 2023
  • Expressing Appreciation in Spanish on World Teachers’ Day - October 5, 2023

Related Posts

Spanish for dummies [greetings, questions, small talk, and more], 3 types of spanish pronouns to perfect your fluency, how to say ‘you’ in formal and informal spanish, the ultimate guide to filler words in spanish for more natural conversations, leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

transition words for spanish essays

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content

SpanishVIP

  • Student Success
  • Private Tutoring 1:1 classes with a dedicated teacher
  • Group Classes True immersion in a peer-led environment
  • Spanish for Kids Fun and interactive lessons for ages 5+
  • Accredited Earn US high school Spanish credits
  • Private Tutoring
  • Group Classes
  • SpanishVIP Blog Learn Spanish on the go
  • Easy Spanish Shortcuts (Free E-Book) Quicky learn your first 1,000 words

Step-By-Step Guide to Using Transition Words in Spanish

transition words for spanish essays

Spanish transition words are necessary to connect sentences and, therefore, ideas. Use them to organize your speech and sound more natural.

Written or spoken, a sentence must sound clean. Whether you desire to contrast information or add a new perspective to nourish the speech, transition words need to be used.

Spanish transition words help the language user provide a different style to the sentences and this is unique to every person.

In this article, you are going to find a list of the Spanish transition words you will most likely listen to in conversations or read, maybe the case be.

Why are Spanish transition words important?

It’s completely natural to start building quick sentences when we are learning a new language . Those sentences usually go with a subject, a verb, and a short complement.

However, after properly learning some grammar rules, and acquiring more and more vocabulary , you should be able to start building complex phrases. You can’t talk about your routine separate by dots like this:

“I woke up and took a shower. I ate breakfast. I went to the park to exercise.”

As was said before, this is entirely natural at the beginning of the learning trip . The thing here is, as English is your mother tongue, you won’t express the sentence that way.

The goal would be to use similar expressions to link those ideas not to sound like a robot in Spanish. Hence:

“After waking up, I took a quick shower. Then, I ate breakfast, I was hungry! After that, I went to the park for some exercise. Finally, I came back home to start working.”

That paragraph is not the summit of the amusement but people reading it or listening to it will be a lot more interested than with the first one thanks to the transition words.

spanish transition words

How many Types of Spanish transition words are there

In Spanish, we have 8 types of transition words: 

  • Spanish transition words for time.
  • Spanish transition words for place.
  • Spanish transition words to add an idea.
  • Spanish transition words to explain an idea.
  • Spanish transition words to compare and contrast ideas.
  • Spanish transition words to show a result.
  • Spanish transition words to emphasize an idea.
  • Spanish transition words to summarize.

Let’s take a look at each one with the translation and some examples. That way, you will be able to place them in similar real-life situations.

Also, information is added by means of a description so you can understand its usage.

Spanish transition words for time

Ya / todavía: now / already / still.

Spanish native speakers would always use these two even when it’s not necessary. Actually, ya has become a very common filler in this language.

  • ¿ Todavía estás usando la computadora? – Are you still using the computer?
  • Te lo voy a decir ahora si no te lo había dicho ya . – I’m going to tell you now if I hadn’t already told you

Todavía no: not yet

Following the previous transitions but in a negative way…

  • ¡No, todavía no abras la puerta! – No, do not open the door yet!

Ya no: not anymore

Sentences containing these first types of transitional words are quite popular in Spanish.

  • Ya no quiero hablar contigo. – I no longer want to talk to you.
  • Tu opinión ya no es relevante. – Your opinion is not relevant anymore.

Primero / en primer lugar: first / first of all / firstly

The ideas to be expressed will be enumerated by using ordinal numbers .

  • Primero , yo no dije eso. Segundo , no deberías estar aquí. Y tercero , ¿por qué le dirías a la gente sobre esto? – First, I didn’t say that. Second, you shouldn’t be here. And third, why would you tell people about this?

Luego / más tarde / después: later / then

You might be wondering how to use a word with three different meanings, but let’s not take things that far, yet. Luego and después are basically the same, they both talk about something occurring after another event.

Más tarde , on the other hand, refers to an action occurring after another without the sense of continuity the previous ones have. Instead, this one says the next action is taking place further in the future .

For example:

  • Esperaremos a los niños para luego salir. – We’ll wait for the kids to then go out.
  • Voy a pensarlo y te diré más tarde . – I’m going to think about it and I’ll tell you later. 

Learning Spanish you will find that building a phrase with these words is actually pretty simple. 

If you want to go further, there are synonyms available:

  • Para empezar: to start / for starters / to begin with.
  • En primer lugar: in the first place / firstly.
  • En segundo lugar: in second place / secondly.
  • Inicialmente: initially.
  • Próximo: next.
  • Antes de: before.
  • Después de: after.
  • Para concluir / para finalizar / finalmente: finally / to conclude.
  • Por último: lastly.

Spanish transition words for time is the longest category as the employed words possess many synonyms.

Memorizing the ones you like better will help you focus and not be looking for another word. Aside from the types that we have already covered, there are some other transitions that express time differently.

Mientras / mientras tanto: while / as long as / in the meantime / meanwhile

  • Quédate junto a mí mientras esperamos. – Stay next to me while we wait. 
  • Mientras seas la siguiente, no seré el último. – As long as you’re next, I won’t be the last one. 
  • Mientras tanto , yo escribía la última palabra. – Meanwhile, I was writing the last word.

Cuando: when

  • Entreguen sus trabajos cuando estén listos para corregirlos aquí. – Hand over the papers when you’re ready to grade them here.

Durante: during / over

  • Hubo muchas protestas durante la transición política. – There were a lot of protests during the political transition.

En cuanto / tan pronto como: once / as soon as

  • En cuanto aprenda español, hablaré bien con mis amigos. – Once I learn Spanish, I’ll talk well with my friends.

Spanish transition words for place

Not many can be found under the label of transition words when talking about the place.

Sobre / por encima: on / above

The first one refers to the position in which you are stepping on something and, with the second one, you express you are over with something or you don’t care.

  • Ellos necesitan empezar a hablar sobre el calentamiento global. – They need to start talking about global warming.
  • Ellas hablaron del calentamiento global por encima . – They barely talked about global warming during the conference.

Enfrente de / delante: facing / in front of

These two are different when the physical position is relevant and we must be specific. When we use these two as transitional words, it makes no difference if you choose one or the other.

  • Vamos a caminar al parque que está enfrente . – Let’s walk to the park across the street.
  • Ella no dirá que no si está delante del problema. – She won’t say no if she’s in front of the problem.

Spanish transition words to add an idea

It’s well-known that y in Spanish translates to and in English.

It’s any Spanish-language starter’s favorite conjunction. But, did you know it’s considered a coordinating conjunction because it connects two sentences within the same category? For example:

  • Encendí la luz y me puse a trabajar. – I turned the light on and started to work.

Por un lado / por otro lado: on one hand / on the other hand

Por una parte… por otra parte can be used in Spanish with the same meaning.

  • Por un lado , nuestros niños pueden correr libremente en el parque. Por otro lado , se pueden lastimar. – On one hand, our kids can run freely in the park. On the other hand, they can get hurt.

Asimismo / igualmente / del mismo modo / de la misma manera: also / likewise / furthermore

Use these to add new information to something we already knew which was expressed in the previous sentence.

  • Este será nuestro último examen. Asimismo , es requerido que cada uno de ustedes pase para que el resto sea aprobado. – This will be our last test of the term. Also, it’s required that each of you passes so the rest is approved.

Asimismo must not be confused with a sí mismo (to oneself) or así mismo (in the same way).

Además / además de: in addition / in addition to / furthermore / moreover / besides

  • Además de Google, ¿Qué otros motores de búsqueda usas? – Besides Google, what other search engines do you use? 
  • Katherine es linda; además , ella es muy inteligente. – Katherine is cute; moreover, she’s very smart.

También: as well / also / too

  • Yo también quiero salir a jugar. – I want to go out and play as well.
  • No me gusta esta camisa. También , mis pantalones son demasiado cortos. – I don’t like this shirt. Also, my pants are too short.

Spanish transition words to explain an idea

Es decir / esto es / quiere decir: that is / i.e. / that is to say.

These expressions will help you use other words to express something you said.

  • Lo despidieron, quiere decir que no podrá venir con nosotros. – He got fired, that is, he won’t be able to come with us.

Como: like / as / since

Three different meanings in English again. Depending on the position como occupies in the sentence, the meaning will differ.

  • Ámame como yo te amo. – Love me as I love you.

“Like” would be the same there if we replaced it.

  • Como llegaron temprano, agarraron los mejores puestos. – Since you got there early, you got the best places.

Entre ellos / entre otros: among them / among others / among other things

  • Tengo muchos amigos, entre ellos , los de mi infancia. – I have a lot of friends, among them, my childhood ones. 
  • Entre otras cosas , el deporte es lo que amo. – Among other things, sports is what I love.

Por ejemplo: for example / for instance

The favorite transitional phrase for beginners in this category since its purpose is pretty straightforward. Use it to add an explanation by means of a more illustrative phrase.

  • Para comer sanamente debes ser responsable. Por ejemplo , el alcohol no está permitido. – To eat healthily you have to be responsible. For instance, alcohol is not allowed.

Así: thus / thereby

  • Duerman temprano, así , descansarán más. – Sleep early, thus, you’ll rest more.

Spanish transition words to compare and contrast ideas

easy spanish transition words

Every category has a favorite word or phrase. This time, “but”.

  • Voy a las 7, pero de la mañana no de la tarde. – I’m coming at 7 but in the morning not in the evening.

A pesar de: despite / in spite of

It adds a contrasting idea in a more polite way. Use it with a noun or an infinitive.

  • A pesar del calor, ellos siguieron trabajando. – In spite of the heat, they kept on working. 
  • A pesar de correr tan rápido, perdió. – Despite running so fast, he lost.

Al contrario / contrariamente / por el contrario: on the contrary / as opposed to / contrary to

  • No me dijiste la verdad, al contrario , seguiste mintiendo todo el tiempo. – You didn’t tell me the truth, on the contrary, you kept lying the whole time. 
  • Contrariamente a lo que se creía, esas teorías resultaron acertadas. – Contrary to what it was believed, those theories were right.

You can add some nuance to your regular pero transition with sino .

Be careful, you can also find si no in Spanish which has a totally different meaning. Si no is used for conditionals in Spanish . In English, its equivalent would be “if”.

  • No eran pocos, sino muchos amigos. – They were not a few but a lot of friends.

Sin embargo: however / nevertheless

A fine transition phrase to start improving your Spanish.

  • Yo quería responder, sin embargo , no encontré las palabras adecuadas . – I wanted to respond, however, I couldn’t find the right words.

No obstante: However / nevertheless

This Spanish transition is not distinct from the latter in meaning, only in terms of politeness. No obstante is a formal expression.

  • Ellas hicieron promesas. No obstante , ellas nunca las cumplieron. – They made promises. Nevertheless, they never fulfilled them.

Aunque: although / while / even though / even if

Common transition word in Spanish with a lot of equivalent words in English. We know these are the words and phrases that give you headaches but no worries, it’s simpler than it looks.

  • Aunque haga frío, no necesito usar un abrigo así como tú. – Although it’s cold, I don’t need to wear a sweater just like you

Spanish transition words to show a result

common transition words in spanish

In this kind of transition, we’ll find more words together to provide a specific meaning.

Por esta razón: for this reason

  • El conductor del programa fue muy ofensivo con los invitados, por esta razón ellos se retiraron antes de tiempo. – The host of the program was very offensive to the guests, which is why they left early.  

Por consiguiente / por lo tanto: therefore / thus

More formal than the first one, this Spanish transition phrase is also used to convey the outcome.

  • Estudié todos los tipos posibles de verbos reflexivos en Español. Por lo tanto , estoy listo para el examen. – I studied all possible types of reflexive verbs in Spanish. Therefore, I am ready for the exam.

Por lo tanto is in the middle between formality and informality. People like using it a lot.

Como resultado: as a result

  • Tuve un accidente, y como resultado , perdí mi carro. – I had an accident. As a result, I lost my car.

En consecuencia / a consecuencia de: as a consequence / as a result of / because of

  • En consecuencia , por no seguir las reglas, fueron expulsados. – As a consequence of not following the rules, they got expelled. 
  • Las calles se inundaron a consecuencia del aguacero. – The streets flooded as a result of the heavy rain.

Por eso / Por esto: Therefore / for this reason / that’s why

In Spanish, these two are informal. Use this transition often to add naturality to your sentences.

  • Son las mismas camas, por eso tienen el mismo precio. – They are the same beds, that’s why they have the same price.

Así que / de modo que: so

A phrase with these words is simple, and beginners widely use it. 

  • Me faltó una palabra de la lección de inglés, de modo que no completé la frase. – I missed a word from the English lesson so I didn’t complete the phrase.

Spanish transition words to emphasize an idea

Add these Spanish transition words and phrases every time you can. There is almost no difference in the formality level for the following phrases.

Sobre todo / especialmente: particularly / especially / above all / mainly

  • Esas palabras de transición en español no son difíciles, sobre todo las de énfasis. – Those Spanish transition words are not difficult, particularly the emphasis ones. 
  • No quiero estudiar la misma lección sobre todo . – I don’t want to study the same lesson above all. 
  • El tiempo vuela especialmente cuando juego. – Time flies especially when I play.

Principalmente: especially / particularly / mainly

The idea for this Spanish transition is to demonstrate we have other options yet we are choosing one in specific.

Even when sobre todo and principalmente use the same words in English, they have that small difference in Spanish. These types of differences are quite common and practicing will help you tell them apart.

  • He usado todas mis faldas muchas veces, principalmente las negras. – I’ve used all my skirts many times, mainly the black ones.

Efectivamente / realmente: effectively / actually / really / truly

Used at the beginning or at the end of the phrase. For example:

  • Esa oración es efectivamente correcta. – That sentence is effectively correct. 
  • No estoy seguro de si ellos me van a ayudar realmente . – I’m not sure if they are really going to help me.

De hecho: in fact / indeed / as a matter of fact

  • Para aprender no es necesario ser un genio. De hecho , para aprender solo se necesita dedicación. – It isn’t necessary to be a genius to learn. In fact, the only thing you need to learn is dedication.

Spanish transition words to summarize

formal tranasition words in spanish

En otras palabras: in other words

This transition can help you both summarize and give a better explanation.

  • En otras palabras , para finalmente encontrar la cura, debemos comprar muchos tipos de químicos. – In other words, to finally find the cure, we must buy many types of chemicals.

Después de todo: after all

  • Después de todo , casi terminamos con este artículo sobre transiciones en español. – After all, we’re almost finished with this article about the transitions in Spanish.

En general: in general

  • En general , para terminar una idea, usamos este tipo de palabra de transición. – In general, to finish an idea, we use this kind of transition word.

En resumen / para resumir / en síntesis: to sum up / in summary / in short / in a nutshell

  • Para resumir , estos tipos de transiciones son muy útiles. – To sum up, these types of transitions are very helpful. 
  • En síntesis , para dar la oración final perfecta en una conversación, usa estos tipos de transiciones. – In summary, to provide the perfect ending sentence in a conversation, use these types of transitions

Final Thoughts

In the end, it doesn’t matter which Spanish transition words you choose to use, as long as you do use them, your speech will have a sense of organization.

Needless to say, there is a time for informal and a time for formal transitions. Spanish could be a relaxed, rich language but the formality is something we can’t overlook.

You’re probably itching to start putting some transition words on to use. So go ahead and sign up for a free private class or a 7-day free trial of our group classes so you can practice what you learned!

Want to learn Spanish, fast?

Download our e-book, Easy Spanish Shortcuts, and learn your first 1,000 Spanish words in under a day!

Related Articles

transition words for spanish essays

Beginner’s Guide to Spanish Preterite Conjugation

transition words for spanish essays

How To Spell in Spanish Like a Native Speaker

transition words for spanish essays

16 Useful Tips To Learn How To Write In Spanish

transition words for spanish essays

  • Free Resources
  • Shop Lesson Plans
  • Private Tutoring
  • French Lesson Plans
  • Spanish Lesson Plans
  • Culture and Holidays
  • Games and Activities
  • Teaching Tips
  • Vocab and Grammar

Spanish Transition Words to Improve Writing

Using Spanish Transition Words to Improve Student Writing

In my last post about how to teach writing in Spanish, I shared tips about the importance of providing templates and examples for your lower-level language students.  This next post will teach you how to use lists of 101 Spanish transition words , to drastically improve student writing.

I don’t know about you, but those short, choppy sentences drive me nuts when I’m correcting essays or presentations.  If only they knew how to use transition words . . . .

When I was a language student writing my own compositions and essays, I was always searching for good transition words to help me write more fluently.  This is something that we were very rarely taught but would have been so helpful.

As a language teacher, I spent so much time teaching my students how to write longer sentences to make their compositions better.  After I got their compositions back, I would write sample sentences on the board and show them how to combine the sentences using a few key transition words.

But why did I wait until after they had failed to show them how to succeed?  That just doesn’t make sense and led to frustration on my part and on their parts!!

To alleviate this writing problem, I created lists of 101   Spanish transition words .

Using Spanish Transition Words to Improve Student Writing

100 Spanish Transition Words

As the years passed, these lists evolved into leveled lists for beginners, intermediate learners, and advanced learners with sample sentences for each one so they could see how each would be used in a sentence.  They look like this.

Levels 1 + 2  get List #1, which includes basic transition words .

I divide my transition words into the following categories:

  • Time (first, next, later, 2 days ago, afterward, sometimes, in the morning, at night)
  • Adding Additional Information (for example, in addition, normally)
  • Combining Short Sentences into Longer Sentences (but, so, also, too, still, however)
  • Concluding (finally, in conclusion, lastly, in the end)

Level 3 gets  List #2, more advanced transition words :

  • Time (at the beginning, suddenly, at that moment, a little while later)
  • Expressing Opinions (in my opinion, according to, in fact, for the most part, therefore)
  • Additional Helpful Expressions (at least, instead of, thanks to, without)

Levels 4 + 5  get List #3, college-level transition words :

  • Time (back then, nowadays, since, already)
  • Expressing Opinions (it’s important that, to a large extent, given that, despite, on one hand)
  • Conditions (in order to, so that, provided that, even if)
  • Comparing and Contrasting (in contrast to, similar to, different from, the same as)
  • Consequences (upon seeing, as a result of, consequently, due to)

These leveled lists are a great way to differentiate within your classroom.  If your more advanced students and high achievers are looking for more, give them a more advanced list.

You’ll be amazed by the progress in their writing, just by incorporating these handy transition words.

You can make these lists in a variety of ways:

  • Make your own lists with key transition words.
  • Have students keep 2 pages in their notebooks for transition words.  When you come across one in your teaching, have them write down the word, the meaning, and a sample sentence.
  • Get ready-made  Spanish   transition word lists to print and hand out for student reference.

Get a free copy of the Level 1 Transition Words in my Free Resource Library.

JOIN THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY!

Hope these Spanish transition words tips were helpful.

Be sure to check out the next article in this writing series about the editing process and using rubrics to improve student writing.

Happy Teaching! ~Sherry

World Language Cafe - French and Spanish Lesson Plans, Games, Activities

World Language Cafe – French and Spanish Lesson Plans

You Might Also Like

French Writing Projects

How to Use French Writing Templates

Tips to Improve French Writing Skills

9 Ways to Improve Your Students’ French Writing Skills

World Language Class Is the Best!

10 Reasons Why World Language Class Is the Best!

No comments, leave a reply cancel reply.

Spanish to Go

Spanish to Go

Spanish Transitional Words and Phrases

Spanish Transitional Words and Phrases

What are some spanish transitional words and phrases.

This lesson covers some Spanish transitional words and phrases. There are enough here that you might want to bookmark the page to refer back yo it several times until you remember most of these. Now, since we have had a few lessons, we continue the page introduction in Spanish…

Finalmente y ahora que ya puedes formular ideas en español, entonces estás listo para algunas Frases de Transición (Transition Phrases). Frases de Transición son aquellas frases que te ayudan a enlazar una idea con otra. A continuación te presento algunas :

Frases de Transición para agregar:

(Transitional Phrases to add an idea)

aparte de = besides

además = moreover; additionally

asimismo = also

de todas formas = in any case; anyhow

de todas maneras = in any case; anyhow

de todos modos = in any case; anyhow

de cualquier manera = in any case; anyhow

sobre todo = above all

también = also

Frases de Transición para comparar:

(Transitional Phrases to compare an idea with another)

así como = similarly

con relación a = in relation to

de la misma forma/manera = in the same way

del mismo modo = in the same way

en cuanto a = as for

sin duda = without a doubt

en relación con/a = in relation to

tal como = just like

Frases de Transición para contrastar:

(Transitional Phrases to contrast an idea)

a diferencia de = in contrast to

a pesar de (que) = in spite of; despite( the fact that)

al contrario = on the contrary

aunque = although; even though

con todo = nevertheless; still

en cambio = on the other hand

en contraste con = in contrast to

en lugar de = instead of

en vez de = instead of

no obstante = nevertheless; however

por el contrario = on the contrary

por un lado… por otro lado = on the one hand . . . on the other hand

por una/otra parte = on the one/other hand

sin embargo = nevertheless; however

Frases de Transición para ejemplificar:

(Transitional Phrases to make examples)

claro que = of course

en efecto = indeed; in fact

en realidad = indeed; in fact

en resumen = in short

es decir = that is to say

por ejemplo = for example

por lo general = in general

por supuesto = of course

por último = lastly

Frases de Transición para expresar resultado:

(Transitional Phrases to express conclusions)

en consecuencia = consequently

por consiguiente = consequently

por eso = therefore

por lo tanto = therefore

por lo visto = apparently

resulta que . . . = it turns out that . . .

ya que = since; because of

Frases de Transición relacionadas con el tiempo:

(Transitional Phrases related to time)

ahora = now

al mismo tiempo = at the same time

al principio = in the beginning

desde entonces = since then

después = afterwards; later

durante = during

entonces = then

finalmente = finally

luego = later; then

mientras = while

That covers the Spanish transitional words and phrases that you’re most likely to need.

Spanish grammar rules

Practice your Spanish skills with basic quizzes. Test yourself and improve your knowledge with free questions. Enjoy basic quizzes with illustrations and more.

Basic Quizzes

Start learning basic Spanish vocabulary with words and phrases, with pictures, videos, and audio. Study basic terms in Spanish like a professional.

Basic Spanish

What are the most popular conjugated verbs in Spanish? Learn the conjugation of Spanish verbs. Study Spanish verb tenses with online lessons and examples. Find out which are the most popular verbs.

Conjugated Verbs in Spanish

Do you think you know about conjugations in Spanish? Practice your Spanish skills with conjugation quizzes. Improve your knowledge with free lessons and quizzes.

Conjugation Quizzes

Learn the Spanish words and phrases with flipbooks. Flip to learn the basic Spanish vocabulary online for free. Study the Spanish language by using a flipbook, choose your favorite ebooks, and flip.

Learn basic Spanish with flashcards. Study Spanish online with helpful lessons and articles including pictures, audio, and more.

Spanish Flashcards

Learn basic Spanish verbs with flip cards. Touch and flip. Study Spanish online with helpful lessons and articles including pictures, audio, and more.

Spanish Flip Cards

Learn Spanish for advanced level. Start learning Spanish words and phrases with free online lessons, and helpful articles. Study some Spanish terms and their rules. Learn the second language like a pro.

Spanish for Advanced

Spanish words that start with . Start learning Spanish words and phrases with online lessons, and helpful articles. Study some Spanish terms and their rules. Learn the second language like a pro.

Spanish Words that Start with

Learn Spanish for intermediate level. Study the Spanish grammar rulers. Enjoy helpful tips about how to use the Spanish grammar.

Spanish for Intermediate

Leave a reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

transition words for spanish essays

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Real Fast Spanish

Learn Real Spanish Fast and Stay Motivated

transition words for spanish essays

7 Types of Spanish Transition Phrases to Win Any Argument

“He who knows only his own side of the argument knows little of that.” —  John Stuart Mill.

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy a good healthy debate every once in a while.

Provided the discussion doesn’t get personal and participants don’t get offended, it can be a great way to learn.

Moreover, if you are learning a second language, having a debate in your target language is a great way to practice and refine your skills.

So, if you want to win an argument in Spanish, what should you do?

Over my years of arguing with friends and colleagues, I have come to one important conclusion. The key to winning an argument is not how strongly you can assert your ideas. The secret is to simply have better logic.

The more logical your points, the more likely you are to win.

If you want to start logically defining your arguments in Spanish, you will need some key vocabulary called Spanish transition phrases.

What transition phrases allow you to do is to set up an argument in a logical sequence.

Some examples of transition phrases in English would be ‘on the one hand’, ‘therefore’, ‘thus’, and ‘in conclusion’.

For this article, instead of giving you a list of random examples of these types of phrases in Spanish, I thought I would provide a flowing argument the whole way through.

And the point that I’m going to argue is:

‘Why every English native should learn Spanish.’

So there is my challenge. Let’s see if I can pull it off.

And feel free to debate me in the comments—even if you agree 😉

1. How to open your argument

The first place you need to start building your argument is with a solid opening.

A strong opening will help you transition your listener into your main points in a logical way.

There are two Spanish transition phrases you can use to open your argument:

English: In the first place… Español: En primer lugar…

English: To begin with… Español: Para empezar…

For the point I’m going to argue in the article, I will start with why you should learn a language in general because this is the first place where someone could argue against me.

English: To begin with , I have to talk about the importance of language learning. Español: Para empezar , tengo que hablar de la importancia del aprendizaje de idiomas.

English: In the first place , the goal of learning another language is very important… Español: En primer lugar , el objetivo de aprender otro idioma es muy importante…

Here I have taken a good position—language learning is super important. But, I’ll need to explain why.

Note, I’ve also written an article detailing many more reasons to learn Spanish , you can also use any one of these ideas if you also wanted to take on this debate amongst your friends.

2. Two Spanish transition phrases to back up your point

If you want to be convincing, it is always a good idea to back up your point with logic or evidence.

To do this in English you can use phrases such as ‘because’ and ‘since’. In Spanish, these are:

English: Because… Español: Porque…

English: Since… Español: Ya que…

So to back up, and complete, my opening statement I’ll say:

English: In the first place, the goal of learning another language is very important since it improves your brain, it helps you with opportunities to find work, and it increases your knowledge of other cultures. Español: En primer lugar, el objetivo de aprender otro idioma es muy importante  ya que mejora el cerebro, te ayuda con las oportunidades para encontrar trabajo, y aumenta tu conocimiento de otras culturas.

Now that I have set up the importance of language learning, I’ll next need to transition to more specific arguments for Spanish.

3. How to add to your case

Once you have successfully opened your argument, you’ll need to further build your case.

I have already said that language learning is important. Now I need to start building towards Spanish being the number one language to choose.

In order to strengthen your argument you can use these two transitional phrases:

English: Second(ly), third(ly)… Español: En segundo lugar, tercer lugar…

English: Further / also / additionally… Español: Además…

Here is why I think Spanish is the best:

English:  Secondly , you should learn Spanish because it is the second most spoken language in the world by the number of native speakers, and is spoken in the fourth-largest number of countries by language. Español: En segundo lugar , deberías aprender español porque es la segunda lengua más hablada en el mundo por el número de los hablantes nativos, y se habla en el cuarto mayor número de países por idioma.

English: Further , Spanish is one of the easiest languages to learn. Español: Además , el español es uno de los idiomas más fáciles de aprender.

English: Also , Spanish is a good language to learn because the food is amazing, the culture is fascinating and people are very friendly. Español: Además , el español es un buen idioma para aprender porque la comida es increíble, la cultura es fascinante y la gente es muy amable.

If you are curious as to where I got my facts above, here are the sources I used from Wikipedia: List of languages by the number of countries and  List of languages by the number of native speakers .

4. How to introduce the other side of the argument

One of the best techniques to win an argument is to not only present your side but to rebut the opposing views before the opposition has a chance.

I mentioned in the previous section that Spanish is the second most spoken language by the number of native speakers. The obvious thought may be: why not learn the first language?

To introduce opposing sides of an argument, use these phrases:

English: About / regarding… Español: Respecto a…

English: As to / with regards to… Español: En cuanto a…

English: On the other hand… Español: Por otra parte…

Here is how I’ll introduce the opposing side:

English:  With regards to  the most spoken language by the number of natives, mandarin, yes it is true that it is spoken by a lot of people… Español: En cuanto a la lengua más hablada por el número de nativos, mandarina, sí es cierto que se habla por muchas personas…

This is how you can introduce the opposing idea, but you’ll need a few more Spanish transition phrases to rebut it.

5. How to argue against the opposing idea

To refute the opposing sides of your argument, you’ll need these phrases:

English: But… Español: Pero…

English: However / nevertheless / nonetheless… Español: Sin embargo…

Now I can complete the idea from the last section:

English: With regards to the most spoken language by the number of natives, mandarin, yes it is true that it is spoken by a lot of people, nonetheless it is difficult to learn and is only spoken in three countries. Español: En cuanto a la lengua más hablada por el número de nativos, mandarina, sí es cierto que se habla por muchas personas,  sin embargo es difícil aprender y sólo se habla en tres países.

6. How to deduce or infer

What can you deduce or infer from a rock-solid argument?

In English, you would transition to make a deduction with phrases like ‘so’ or ‘therefore’. There are five phrases you can use to do this in Spanish:

English: Therefore… Español: Por (lo) tanto…

English: So… Español: Así que…

English: Hence / therefore… Español: Por eso…

English: Then… Español: Entonces…

English: Accordingly / in consequence… Español: En consecuencia…

Before I wrap up with the final conclusion, here is the obvious deduction from the points made thus far:

English: Language learning is important and Spanish is the best language to learn, therefore , if you haven’t already started, you have to start right away. Español: El aprendizaje de idiomas es importante y español es el mejor idioma para aprender, por lo tanto , si todavía no lo has empezado, tienes que empezar ahora mismo.

7. How to conclude or finish

Of course, the last thing to do is finish your argument well.

When you want to transition to your final statements, try to use the following Spanish phrases:

English: Ultimately… Español: Por último…

English: To end… Español: Para terminar…

English: In conclusion… Español: En conclusión…

Note, you’ll need to be careful with prepositions here, especially for por and para .

Here are my final thoughts on a debate that is very close to my heart:

English: In conclusion , Spanish is not only one of the most widely spoken languages in the world but it is easy to learn and you will have incredible experiences if you travel to Spanish-speaking countries. I have enjoyed learning Spanish a lot and I think you will too. Español: En conclusión , el español no sólo es uno de los idiomas más hablados en el mundo, sino es fácil de aprender y tendrás experiencias increíbles si viajas a los países hispanohablantes. He disfrutado mucho de aprender español y creo que tú también lo disfrutarás.  

In the end, the most important thing to do is remind the audience of all of your strongest arguments.

Are you convinced? Did I win you over?

If you want to build a solid argument, use the above Spanish transition phrases to logically move from your first point to the next, to the next.

If you make the right transitions logically, you’ll hopefully win the hearts and minds of your listeners.

How else can you use Spanish transition phrases to win an argument?

Reader Interactions

transition words for spanish essays

November 27, 2016 at 5:57 pm

I’m loving your articles. They are very well-written and researched and presented, and they should be an asset to any language instructor’s material bank! I just have a couple of minor suggestions regarding a couple of your Spanish translations of your English arguments above. The first thing I noticed was in your 3rd point at the bottom: “El español es un buen lenguaje aprender porque……” You need a preposition in between “lenguaje” (por cierto, yo pondría idioma o lengua en vez de lenguaje) and “aprender”, such as “Es un buen idioma para aprender….” or “es un buen idioma de aprender..” Also, the last paragraph of your post, you need a “de” after “fácil” (fácil de aprender) and “he disfrutado mucho DEL aprendizaje….” Hope that helps 🙂

transition words for spanish essays

January 22, 2017 at 1:12 am

Hola Laura, thanks for your kind words and for the suggestions. You’re right, “es un buen idioma para aprender” is better, and so is “fácil de aprender”, I have updated both of these suggestions. For “del aprendizaje”, I have updated this to “aprendiendo” because it sounds more natural. ¡Gracias de nuevo!

transition words for spanish essays

November 23, 2017 at 12:34 pm

Can you address the cultural issue that Latinos tend to want to create division when in a debate, even or perhaps especially with family?

transition words for spanish essays

November 23, 2017 at 1:02 pm

Haha, thanks for the comment Brad. I think debates around the family dinner table are in fact universal everywhere!! (At least they are at my family gatherings)

transition words for spanish essays

April 29, 2021 at 5:35 pm

I’d say that rather than “create division”, it’s more of a healthy debate (or maybe just “create a diversion”) rather than the overly careful some of us may have been raised (never discuss politics, religion…) I love this about my Hispano-American friends! Much more fun than discussing what color to paint the living room.

April 29, 2021 at 6:06 pm

Thanks for sharing Ela! 🙂

transition words for spanish essays

April 29, 2021 at 11:41 pm

I really liked this article, lots of good connector words included. One thing though surely it was ‘una broma’ when you said Spanish is easy to learn 😄

April 30, 2021 at 10:36 am

Hahaha, yes Sorcha, that’s a great point!! 🙂 I should have said ‘easier’ than other languages but definitely not easy!!!

transition words for spanish essays

May 1, 2021 at 2:13 pm

Tiene raison, en su primero argument (sera buen tener la plabra en espnanol) que es importante aprender un otro idioma. Pero por un hablador (?speaker) de ingles, sera mejor aprender su propio idioma primero. Por lo tanto, Aprenderia los idiomas del cual viene ingles — el frances y el germano. Lo siento, no puedo anadir los accentos espanol.)

May 1, 2021 at 2:34 pm

Gracias Goyo 🙂

transition words for spanish essays

June 15, 2023 at 8:13 pm

An excellent presentation . . .

June 17, 2023 at 12:05 pm

Thanks Garry! 🙂

transition words for spanish essays

March 14, 2024 at 9:18 pm

Thank you for this exposition and for the phrases which I must add to my spreadsheet. I really enjoyed reading the article. It would be nice to remember it!!

March 15, 2024 at 6:08 am

Thanks Dianne, I’m glad you enjoyed the article! 🙂

transition words for spanish essays

March 15, 2024 at 6:28 pm

Thank you, Andrew. This was an excellent lesson. Not only did I learn important transition phrases, but your manner of teaching reinforced each phrase in a way that enabled me to integrate the lesson more easily.

March 20, 2024 at 1:44 pm

Thanks Jay, I appreciate the feedback! 🙂

transition words for spanish essays

March 29, 2024 at 4:30 pm

I’m always looking for easier / more natural (for me) ways to say things.. and ChatGPT just helped me realize that “por último” is only to be used while presenting a list of things.

I was trying to say ultimately as in “at the end of the day”. I will just stick with “a fin de cuentas” jajaja but now I know! Thanks Andrew! 😊

Is there an article for the Spanish versions of our most common English expressions?

March 31, 2024 at 5:57 pm

Hola Simone, we have to be really careful with ChatGPT as it is a probabilistic algorithm and it is not fact checked. I have seen it get several things wrong in my own testing of Spanish sentences. It’s a fun tool but it must be checked by a human. I’ve done a Youtube video on the top 50 Spanish expressions. In the video I talk about the best translations of common English expressions where they fit with the Spanish expressions.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The Definitive Guide to Conversation Hacking in Spanish

transition words for spanish essays

If you want to develop a conversational level of Spanish, then this guide will help you get there in the most effective way.

transition words for spanish essays

  • Spanish Courses

FOR STUDENTS

  • El Cuentacuentos
  • El Conversador

FOR TEACHERS

  • Work with Us

CONNECT WITH US

  • © Real Fast Spanish. All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Live classes
  • Self-study courses

25 Common Spanish Verbs and Their Corresponding Prepositions PDF

We will only send you  cosas muy útiles !

How to Use The Spanish Past Perfect Tense

transition words for spanish essays

THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO CONVERSATION HACKING IN SPANISH

We will only send you cosas muy útiles !

33 Transition Words and Phrases

Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one.

Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that “this follows logically from the preceding” include accordingly, therefore, and consequently . Words that mean “in addition to” include moreover, besides, and further . Words that mean “contrary to what was just stated” include however, nevertheless , and nonetheless .

as a result : THEREFORE : CONSEQUENTLY

The executive’s flight was delayed and they accordingly arrived late.

in or by way of addition : FURTHERMORE

The mountain has many marked hiking trails; additionally, there are several unmarked trails that lead to the summit.

at a later or succeeding time : SUBSEQUENTLY, THEREAFTER

Afterward, she got a promotion.

even though : ALTHOUGH

She appeared as a guest star on the show, albeit briefly.

in spite of the fact that : even though —used when making a statement that differs from or contrasts with a statement you have just made

They are good friends, although they don't see each other very often.

in addition to what has been said : MOREOVER, FURTHERMORE

I can't go, and besides, I wouldn't go if I could.

as a result : in view of the foregoing : ACCORDINGLY

The words are often confused and are consequently misused.

in a contrasting or opposite way —used to introduce a statement that contrasts with a previous statement or presents a differing interpretation or possibility

Large objects appear to be closer. Conversely, small objects seem farther away.

used to introduce a statement that is somehow different from what has just been said

These problems are not as bad as they were. Even so, there is much more work to be done.

used as a stronger way to say "though" or "although"

I'm planning to go even though it may rain.

in addition : MOREOVER

I had some money to invest, and, further, I realized that the risk was small.

in addition to what precedes : BESIDES —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

These findings seem plausible. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed them.

because of a preceding fact or premise : for this reason : THEREFORE

He was a newcomer and hence had no close friends here.

from this point on : starting now

She announced that henceforth she would be running the company.

in spite of that : on the other hand —used when you are saying something that is different from or contrasts with a previous statement

I'd like to go; however, I'd better not.

as something more : BESIDES —used for adding information to a statement

The city has the largest population in the country and in addition is a major shipping port.

all things considered : as a matter of fact —used when making a statement that adds to or strengthens a previous statement

He likes to have things his own way; indeed, he can be very stubborn.

for fear that —often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension

He was concerned lest anyone think that he was guilty.

in addition : ALSO —often used to introduce a statement that adds to and is related to a previous statement

She is an acclaimed painter who is likewise a sculptor.

at or during the same time : in the meantime

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.

BESIDES, FURTHER : in addition to what has been said —used to introduce a statement that supports or adds to a previous statement

It probably wouldn't work. Moreover, it would be very expensive to try it.

in spite of that : HOWEVER

It was a predictable, but nevertheless funny, story.

in spite of what has just been said : NEVERTHELESS

The hike was difficult, but fun nonetheless.

without being prevented by (something) : despite—used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

Notwithstanding their youth and inexperience, the team won the championship.

if not : or else

Finish your dinner. Otherwise, you won't get any dessert.

more correctly speaking —used to introduce a statement that corrects what you have just said

We can take the car, or rather, the van.

in spite of that —used to say that something happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening or being true

I tried again and still I failed.

by that : by that means

He signed the contract, thereby forfeiting his right to the property.

for that reason : because of that

This tablet is thin and light and therefore very convenient to carry around.

immediately after that

The committee reviewed the documents and thereupon decided to accept the proposal.

because of this or that : HENCE, CONSEQUENTLY

This detergent is highly concentrated and thus you will need to dilute it.

while on the contrary —used to make a statement that describes how two people, groups, etc., are different

Some of these species have flourished, whereas others have struggled.

NEVERTHELESS, HOWEVER —used to introduce a statement that adds something to a previous statement and usually contrasts with it in some way

It was pouring rain out, yet his clothes didn’t seem very wet.

Word of the Day

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Games & Quizzes

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries.  Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Usage Notes

Prepositions, ending a sentence with, is 'irregardless' a real word, 8 more grammar terms you used to know: special verb edition, point of view: it's personal, 31 useful rhetorical devices, grammar & usage, more words you always have to look up, 'fewer' and 'less', 7 pairs of commonly confused words, more commonly misspelled words, your vs. you're: how to use them correctly, great big list of beautiful and useless words, vol. 4, 9 other words for beautiful, why jaywalking is called jaywalking, flower etymologies for your spring garden, the words of the week - may 17.

6 Best Spanish Paraphrasing Tools

6 Best Spanish Paraphrasing Tools

  • Smodin Editorial Team
  • Published: May 21, 2024

If you are a non-Spanish speaker, you probably struggle to find the perfect way to convey your message in Español. Or, you’re taking a Spanish class in school and battling clumsy sentence structure.

Because if you are, a paraphrasing tool can be really handy! Fear no more amigos !

Paraphrasing tools can be your secret weapon for crafting clear, understandable, original Spanish text that even the locals would find legit!

This guide will shed light on the best Spanish paraphrasing tools you can use, exploring six of the best options to elevate your writing in Spanish and improve your grades. We’ll discuss what they do and how much they cost so you can perfect your Spanish skills!

1. Smodin AI Rewriter & Spinner

smodin ai rewriter

It can also improve your writing to make it more concise and readable without losing the original meaning. Smodin is ideal for rewriting high-quality research papers, essays, articles, blogs, and SEO-focused content.

  • Over 100+ languages, including Spanish, Yiddish, Italian, German, Arabic, and Chinese
  • AI detector
  • AI author/writer
  • Check plagiarism
  • Optimized reading
  • Streamlined workflow
  • Flawless wording
  • Rephrase existing text
  • Humanize your content
  • Extremely versatile

Bypass AI detection mechanisms and double-check your Spanish translations with Smodin’s AI Rewriter tool!

2. Academic Help

academic help

The user-friendly interface and paraphrasing tool help writers phrase their sentence structure into understandable Spanish – readers wouldn’t know the difference!

Let’s take a closer look at what Academic Help has to offer.

  • Choose from seven writing modes that are tailored to fit your needs
  • Built-in plagiarism checker ensures your content is unique
  • Smart rewording algorithms
  • Grammar checker
  • Summarizing tool
  • Proofreading service (a.k.a editing)
  • Source citation generator
  • Loads of useful guides

Transform rough drafts into your own (Spanish) words in no time while keeping the original meaning of your content.

Academic Help’s free paraphrasing tool has a 200-word limit where you can convert and paraphrase any language into Español. Incorporating such a tool into the writing process can help you craft essays, assignments, and research papers perfectly, especially when learning a new language.

3. Quillbot

quillbot

When you upgrade Quillbot to the premium version for $4.17 per month, you unlock a plethora of additional add-ons. While the standard version of Quillbot is good, Quillbot Premium is great! Use the ‘statistics’ feature on the right-hand side toolbar to get a breakdown of your sentences; including the number of syllables and readability score.

  • Unlimited paraphrasing words
  • Eight language modes
  • Translate your writing into 45+ languages
  • Check your grammar, punctuation, and spelling
  • Built-in plagiarism checker
  • Unlimited prompts
  • AI detection
  • 6,000-word summarization
  • Citation generator
  • Multiple integration extensions

Whether you’re a student or content creator (or both!), communicate in Spanish with Quillbot Premium confidently!

4. Neural Writer

neural writer

Use Neural Writer to simplify the translation process and get peace of mind knowing that the very same text you have written retains its meaning. No need to flip through multilingual dictionaries when needing to rewrite English (or any other languages) into Español – just insert your content and es fácil !

Let’s look at what this AI paraphrasing tool has to offer.

  • Rephrase up to 10,000 characters
  • 3 specific AI paraphrasing modes
  • Access 27+ languages
  • Built-in humanizer (to make your text sound human-written)
  • Chat GPT prompt generator
  • Summarization tools
  • Word counter
  • Headline generator
  • Advanced paraphrasing and rewriting technology

5. Paraphrase Tool

paraphrase tool

Whether you need to rephrase a few words or an entire document, you can do it all with the Paraphrase Tool program!

Access 10,000 character credits when creating an account with the free version.

While the free version of the Paraphrase Tool is great as a quick word changer, its limitations may not be suitable when you need to convert and paraphrase multiple documents or lengthy text into Spanish.

This is where the premium version comes in – taking your Spanish paraphrasing to a whole new level! The premium edition costs $12.99 per month and packs a serious punch!

  • Unlimited paraphrasing in 20 styles
  • Access to 100+ languages
  • Up to 500 paragraphs per month
  • Up to 100 plagiarism checks per month
  • More powerful paraphrasing for all modes and languages

6. Reescribir textos

reescribir textos

But don’t fret, it also offers paraphrasing for eight European languages, including English, Dutch, French, Italian, and Romanian. The concept of Rewrite Texts is simple: input your copy into the lefthand side text box, hit “paraphrase text” and wait for the program to regenerate your original text into different words!

The premium package ($7.50 per month) boasts a comprehensive suite of tools and supports multiple languages.

  • “ Remove plagiarism ” scans your text for copied content and rewrites it to be original, all while keeping the core meaning intact. It’s used to avoid plagiarism, hence the name.
  • “ Essential ” and “ half ” modes allow slight variations to your original text by keeping the same meaning but suggest readability improvements.
  • “ Rewrite mode ” is a premium feature and will completely rephrase/reword your content in a new and unique way while keeping the gist of the original meaning.
  • “ Creative mode ” helps writers restructure their content to be more imaginative and engaging.
  • “ Academic mode ” focuses on enhancing academic writing, particularly helpful for school and university-goers.

What Is A Paraphrasing Tool?

A paraphrasing or rewording tool is essentially a fancy rephraser. It uses AI technology to help you rewrite text into your own words while retaining its original meaning.

Various paraphrasing tools have multiple language translators, so you can easily convert English text to Spanish. The different paraphrasing modes, such as tone of voice options, can be adapted to suit your writing context.

For instance, if you’re writing an academic research paper, you’ll need to use a more informative tone of voice to match the style of your topic and its intended audience.

Why would you want to use a paraphrasing tool?

There are many reasons as to why you would want to use a paraphrasing tool:

  • Avoid plagiarism – you cannot copy someone else’s work and claim it as your own. This is where a paraphrasing tool becomes invaluable in rewriting and restructuring the main points of a specific topic into words that are unique to you.
  • Improve readability and clarity— sometimes, AI-written text can be overly complex or wordy, and a paraphrasing tool can make it easier to understand.
  • Translating into other languages – each language has its own set of grammatical rules and phrases and when we directly translate from one language to another, we often miss the mark. Paraphrasing tools help keep the original text meaning even when translating.

How does a paraphrasing tool work?

  • You feed the tool a piece of text, such as sentences, paragraphs, or even whole articles.
  • The tool analyzes the text – using natural language processing (NLP) and AI technology – to understand its meaning, structure, and context. This may involve breaking the text into individual sentences or phrases and identifying key points and concepts.
  • The paraphrasing tool uses its knowledge of synonyms and different sentence structures to rewrite/rephrase the text.

So there we have it; a complete rundown of Spanish paraphrasing tools, ranging from basic to premium versions. Armed with this knowledge, you can craft clear, understandable, and grammatically correct articles in Español with ease.

Opt for Smodin’s Paraphrasing Tool to create polished, plagiarism-free Spanish content, whether you’re writing an essay, biology thesis, or recreational learning.

¡Buena suerte escribiendo!

The Fall of the Aztec Empire: how a Civilization Collapsed

This essay is about the fall of the Aztec Empire to the Spanish in 1521. It highlights the arrival of Hernán Cortés in 1519 and his strategic alliances with local groups opposed to Aztec rule. Cortés exploited internal divisions and took Emperor Moctezuma II hostage, but a rebellion drove the Spanish out temporarily. When the Spanish returned in 1521, they laid siege to Tenochtitlan with the aid of their native allies, cutting off supplies and devastating the population weakened by smallpox. After 80 days, the city fell, and the last Aztec emperor, Cuauhtémoc, was captured. The fall of Tenochtitlan marked the end of the Aztec Empire and the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in the region.

How it works

The majestic Aztec Empire, once an unparalleled hegemon in the realm of Mesoamerica, succumbed with astonishing rapidity to a diminutive contingent of Spanish conquistadors in the nascent years of the 16th century. The demise of this intricate and exquisitely developed civilization, centered in the venerable city of Tenochtitlan (now known as Mexico City), constitutes a mesmerizing chronicle imbued with the specter of warfare, pestilence, and the dissolution of allegiances. Ultimately, the downfall of the empire in 1521 to the Spanish under the leadership of Hernán Cortés stemmed from a nexus of interwoven factors that left the Aztecs vulnerable to subjugation.

In 1519, Hernán Cortés made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula accompanied by a retinue of approximately 600 soldiers. While Cortés was not the initial European interloper to establish contact with the Aztecs, his arrival heralded a seismic juncture in their annals. Upon ascertaining the opulence of the Aztec Empire, particularly the splendor of Tenochtitlan, Cortés conceived ambitions of dominion over the region. However, the conquest of an empire that sprawled across much of contemporary Mexico necessitated a stratagem beyond mere brute force.

Cortés astutely discerned that the Aztec Empire’s dominion was in part upheld through coercion and martial prowess, as the Aztecs exacted tribute from neighboring polities, engendering profound resentment among myriad subject city-states. Exploiting this schism, Cortés forged alliances with these indigenous factions, most notably the Tlaxcalans, who perceived the Spanish as prospective liberators from Aztec hegemony.

In November 1519, Cortés traversed the threshold of Tenochtitlan and was initially received with reverence by Emperor Moctezuma II. The emperor, harboring hopes of assuaging potential conflict, extended hospitality to the newcomers, yet Cortés promptly detained Moctezuma, intending to exert control over the empire through him. This stratagem proved untenable as tensions between the Spanish and the Aztecs burgeoned, culminating in a sanguinary insurrection that compelled the Spanish to retreat from Tenochtitlan. This episode, christened “La Noche Triste” (The Night of Sorrows), constituted a transient setback for Cortés and his cohorts, albeit they regrouped and marshaled their forces for a formidable resurgence.

In 1521, the Spanish launched a renewed assault on Tenochtitlan, bolstered by reinforcements and indigenous allies. Imposing a protracted siege upon the city, they severed its supply lines, subjecting the Aztecs to a harrowing ordeal. Enfeebled by a calamitous outbreak of smallpox, which exacted a heavy toll in lives, the Aztecs found themselves ill-equipped to withstand the onslaught. The scourge, introduced by the Spanish and their African conscripts, ravaged the densely populated metropolis, claiming lives indiscriminately and sapping the morale of the populace.

After 80 days of relentless siege warfare, Tenochtitlan capitulated to the Spanish on August 13, 1521. The erstwhile resplendent city lay in ruins, its remaining defenders either enslaved or vanquished. Emperor Cuauhtémoc, who ascended to the throne following Moctezuma’s demise, was apprehended, signifying the formal denouement of the Aztec Empire. Cortés wasted no time in consolidating his dominion over the region, establishing Mexico City upon the vestiges of Tenochtitlan and extending Spanish suzerainty across the erstwhile empire.

The collapse of the Aztec Empire was not solely attributable to Spanish military preponderance. While the conquistadors wielded superior armaments, their triumph was precipitated by a confluence of factors. The alliances forged with indigenous adversaries of the Aztecs furnished indispensable support. Moreover, the introduction of maladies such as smallpox and other European pathogens decimated the Aztec populace, devoid of immunity against these foreign contagions. Lastly, internal discord and the Aztec predilection for tribute and human sacrifices estranged many of their subjects, engendering a climate of instability that Cortés adeptly exploited.

The demise of the Aztec Empire heralded a new epoch in the annals of the Americas. Spanish colonial hegemony wrought profound transformations upon the region’s sociopolitical, economic, and religious fabric, albeit at the cost of indigenous lives and cultures. The saga of the empire’s collapse stands as a poignant testament to the vicissitudes of power and the unforeseen vicissitudes wrought by maladies, diplomatic maneuvers, and strategic alliances upon even the most robust of civilizations.

It is imperative to note that this discourse serves as a locus for reflection and further inquiry. For bespoke guidance and assurance of compliance with academic canons, one may consider availing oneself of the expertise of seasoned professionals at EduBirdie.

owl

Cite this page

The Fall of the Aztec Empire: How a Civilization Collapsed. (2024, May 21). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/the-fall-of-the-aztec-empire-how-a-civilization-collapsed/

"The Fall of the Aztec Empire: How a Civilization Collapsed." PapersOwl.com , 21 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/the-fall-of-the-aztec-empire-how-a-civilization-collapsed/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Fall of the Aztec Empire: How a Civilization Collapsed . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-fall-of-the-aztec-empire-how-a-civilization-collapsed/ [Accessed: 22 May. 2024]

"The Fall of the Aztec Empire: How a Civilization Collapsed." PapersOwl.com, May 21, 2024. Accessed May 22, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/the-fall-of-the-aztec-empire-how-a-civilization-collapsed/

"The Fall of the Aztec Empire: How a Civilization Collapsed," PapersOwl.com , 21-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-fall-of-the-aztec-empire-how-a-civilization-collapsed/. [Accessed: 22-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). The Fall of the Aztec Empire: How a Civilization Collapsed . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/the-fall-of-the-aztec-empire-how-a-civilization-collapsed/ [Accessed: 22-May-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

owl

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

IMAGES

  1. Spanish Transition Words 101: Boost Your Spanish Vocabulary

    transition words for spanish essays

  2. Transition Words/Phrases- Spanish Diagram

    transition words for spanish essays

  3. Spanish Transition Words to Improve Writing

    transition words for spanish essays

  4. Transition words in Spanish by Dual Language Sources

    transition words for spanish essays

  5. 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing

    transition words for spanish essays

  6. English & Spanish Transition words by DL Store

    transition words for spanish essays

VIDEO

  1. when the english to spanish transition too clean #shorts #micahpalace

  2. the english to spanish transition was TOO clean #shorts #micahpalace

  3. How Can I Effectively Use Transition Words in My Essays?

  4. 15 Useful Spanish phrases & expressions for intermediate & advanced students Gcse/A level SPANISH

  5. 50 Spanish Words for Everyday Life

  6. How to Improve your Writing

COMMENTS

  1. 75 Spanish Transition Words to Connect Your Thoughts Seamlessly

    75 Spanish Transition Words to Connect Your Thoughts Seamlessly. Transition words are the knots that hold sentences together. They help things blend together and smooth out our sentences: Fui al parque, luego al gimnasio y finalmente a la tienda. ( I went to the park, then the gym and finally the store.)

  2. Using Transition Words in Spanish

    The following transition words help us arrange ideas, events, and reasons according to their order of importance or to the order in which they happened chronologically. al final. in the end. al principio. at/in the beginning or to begin with. antes. before. ante todo. first of all / first and foremost.

  3. 100+ Spanish Transition Words to Sound Like a Native Speaker

    4. en cuanto - as soon as, when, once. The phrase "en cuanto" can mean when or "as soon as". It can also mean "while". En cuanto ellos vuelvan, te llamo. (As soon as they return, I will call you.) La reconocí en cuanto la vi. (I recognized her as soon as I saw her.) En cuanto haga la tarea, voy a leer.

  4. 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing

    Other Useful Transition Words for Place: Over there. Beyond, further. Of, from. From, since. To Add an Idea. Use the following transition words when you want to add a new idea to what you were just saying. - moreover, additionally. Learning Spanish is very interesting and, additionally, it opens a lot of doors.

  5. Spanish Transition Words: Simple Guide to Connecting Words

    Take Note: Just as in English, some transitional words in Spanish may be more formal than others. Contrast or opposition . Spanish transition words of contrast express an opposite relationship between ideas. When writing essays, these words are helpful to contrast ideas, theories or someone's position about a certain issue.

  6. 40 Useful Spanish Essay Phrases

    25. en realidad. in reality; really. 26. hay que tomar en cuenta. you have to take into account. 27. lo importante es. the important thing is.

  7. List Of Spanish Transition Words

    Using the transition word 'además' will help you seamlessly add more information to your Spanish writing or speech. Transition words play a crucial role in connecting ideas and making your writing or speech more coherent. When it comes to adding information or giving examples, there are several other useful transition words in Spanish. ...

  8. Effective Transition Words in Spanish

    Mastering the use of transition words in Spanish is essential for anyone looking to improve their writing and speaking skills in the language. Transition words, ... For students and scholars, mastering transition words is essential for writing essays and papers. They help organize arguments and support coherent thought flow.

  9. Spanish Transition Words: Nailing The Art Of Seamlessness In Speech and

    Imagine you're piecing together a jigsaw puzzle; the image is clear, but without that one piece connecting everything, the masterpiece feels incomplete. That's what Spanish transition words (or palabras de transición) do; they're the unsung heroes that transform your broken, choppy Spanish into a Picasso of language artistry. Dive

  10. Transition Words In Spanish: How To Sound Like a Native Speaker

    Learning the most common transition words in Spanish is a great way to go from speaking in broken, clunky Spanish to sounding more fluid, almost instantly. Transition words (in any language) help us add more coherence to what we say or write, by linking and connecting our ideas.

  11. The Essential Guide to Spanish Linking Words

    The Ultimate Guide to 'Even Though' in Spanish; Transition Words. Transition words connect ideas between sentences and they give a natural flow to your speech or writing. These are so-called "Spanish essay linking words" because they help to transition your ideas in a smooth way in any text. ... Learn more: 50 Useful Transition Words in ...

  12. Step-By-Step Guide to Using Transition Words in Spanish

    Spanish transition words are necessary to connect sentences and, therefore, ideas. Use them to organize your speech and sound more natural. ... - Meanwhile, I was writing the last word. Cuando: when. Entreguen sus trabajos cuando estén listos para corregirlos aquí. - Hand over the papers when you're ready to grade them here.

  13. PDF THE WRITING CENTER

    TRANSITIONAL WORDS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH . Transitions Transiciones Transitions are words or phrases that help your sentences flow smoothly and enable your readers to follow your ideas easily. In addition to signaling order to your reader, transitional words can also link the sentences within a paragraph. By linking one

  14. Spanish Transition Words to Improve Writing

    In my last post about how to teach writing in Spanish, I shared tips about the importance of providing templates and examples for your lower-level language students. This next post will teach you how to use lists of 101 Spanish transition words, to drastically improve student writing.. I don't know about you, but those short, choppy sentences drive me nuts when I'm correcting essays or ...

  15. What Are Spanish Transition Words?

    Transition words 'bridge', or connect, ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. Spanish transition words help both the writer and the reader by acting as a bridge between ideas making them better understood.

  16. Spanish Transitional Words and Phrases

    al principio = in the beginning. desde entonces = since then. después = afterwards; later. durante = during. entonces = then. finalmente = finally. luego = later; then. mientras = while. That covers the Spanish transitional words and phrases that you're most likely to need.

  17. Spanish Transition Words

    You can use transition words to refer to: time and/or place. an additional idea. a comparison or a contrast between two ideas. an example. a consequence or final idea. For each case, you'll find a ...

  18. 7 Types of Spanish Transition Phrases to Win Any Argument

    A strong opening will help you transition your listener into your main points in a logical way. There are two Spanish transition phrases you can use to open your argument: English: In the first place…. Español: En primer lugar…. English: To begin with…. Español: Para empezar….

  19. Transitional words to aid in composition : (English/Spanish)

    Transitional words to aid in composition: Transitional words to aid in composition : (English/Spanish) 1. TIME. after, afterward = después (de) already = ya. always = siempre. as soon as = en cuanto, tan pronto como. at first = al principio.

  20. spanish essay transition words Flashcards

    during the (1990s) en resumen. to sum up (adj.) en conclusión/para concluir. in conclusion. por ejemplo, en particular, en el caso de... words to present details (3): for example, in particular, in the case of... exam is may 18 yeehaw Learn with flashcards, games, and more — for free.

  21. Spanish Transition Words to Boost Your Spanish Vocabulary

    With these Spanish transition words that help your sentences flow smoother you'll go from beginner to advanced in no time. Improve your vocabulary now!

  22. 33 Transition Words for Essays

    33 Transition Words and Phrases. 'Besides,' 'furthermore,' 'although,' and other words to help you jump from one idea to the next. Transitional terms give writers the opportunity to prepare readers for a new idea, connecting the previous sentence to the next one. Many transitional words are nearly synonymous: words that broadly indicate that ...

  23. 6 Best Spanish Paraphrasing Tools

    More powerful paraphrasing for all modes and languages. 6. Reescribir textos. Rewrite Texts (or Reescribir textos in Spanish) is the best Spanish paraphrasing tool you'll get, as it exclusively rewrites for Spanish content writers! (This also means you'll need to change it to "English" in the URL translator tab!)

  24. The Fall of the Aztec Empire: how a Civilization Collapsed

    This essay is about the fall of the Aztec Empire to the Spanish in 1521. It highlights the arrival of Hernán Cortés in 1519 and his strategic alliances with local groups opposed to Aztec rule. Cortés exploited internal divisions and took Emperor Moctezuma II hostage, but a rebellion drove the Spanish out temporarily.