Module 1 · Level 1The 9 Parts of Speech in Spanish
The 9 Parts of SpeechComing Soon
Spanish Grammar — The 9 Parts of Speech in Spanish
sustantivo · pronombre · verbo · adjetivo · adverbio · preposición · conjunción · interjección · artículo · what each one does · how they work together in real sentences
📖 Introduction — The 9 Parts of Speech in Spanish
Every word in Spanish belongs to one of nine categories called “parts of speech.” Understanding these categories is the foundation of good grammar. They tell us what job each word performs in a sentence: naming things, replacing names, showing action, describing, connecting ideas, expressing emotion, and more. This lesson presents each of the nine parts clearly, with simple definitions, everyday examples, and English translations so you can see exactly how they function.
Names people, places, things, or ideas. Has gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
libro (book), niña (girl), amor (love)
2
Pronombre (Pronoun)
Replaces a noun to avoid repetition. Shows person and can be subject or object.
él (he), nosotros (we), lo (him/it)
3
Verbo (Verb)
Expresses action, state, or occurrence. Conjugated for tense, person, and mood.
comer (to eat), ser (to be), hablar (to speak)
4
Adjetivo (Adjective)
Describes or modifies a noun. Must agree in gender and number with the noun.
rojo (red), inteligente (intelligent), grande (big)
5
Adverbio (Adverb)
Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Answers how, when, where, how much.
rápidamente (quickly), muy (very), aquí (here)
6
Preposición (Preposition)
Links nouns/pronouns to other words, showing relationship (location, time, direction).
en (in), sobre (on), con (with)
7
Conjunción (Conjunction)
Connects words, phrases, or clauses. Can be coordinating or subordinating.
y (and), pero (but), porque (because)
8
Interjección (Interjection)
Expresses strong emotion or reaction. Often stands alone.
¡Ay! (Ouch!), ¡Bravo! (Bravo!)
9
Artículo (Article)
Specifies whether a noun is definite or indefinite. Agrees in gender and number.
el (the masc.), una (a fem.), los (the masc. pl.)
Key idea: Every Spanish word belongs to exactly one of these nine categories. Knowing which category a word belongs to helps you understand why it changes form (gender, number, conjugation) and where it belongs in a sentence.
↔ How the Parts Work Together in Real Sentences
Core sentence elements
El libro es interesante. (sustantivo + verbo + adjetivo)
Ella lo ve. (pronombre + pronombre + verbo)
Nosotros hablamos español. (pronombre + verbo + sustantivo)
Modifiers and connectors
La casa blanca es muy grande. (adjetivo + adverbio + adjetivo)
El libro está en la mesa. (preposición)
Me gusta el café y el té. (conjunción)
In every Spanish sentence you will find some combination of these 9 parts. The more you recognize them, the easier it becomes to build correct and natural sentences.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
✓ Correct
El libro rojo es mío. (adjetivo agrees with sustantivo)
Ella corre rápidamente. (adverbio modifies verbo)
¡Ay! Me duele. (interjección stands alone)
✗ Incorrect
La libro rojo es mío. (wrong gender agreement)
Ella corre rápido. (adverbio should be rápidamente)
Ay me duele. (missing exclamation marks for interjección)
Remember: Adjectives and articles must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Adverbs usually end in -mente. Interjections need exclamation marks.
📊 The 9 Parts of Speech — Quick Reference (with English)
Part of Speech
Spanish Name
What it does
Example (Spanish + English)
1. Noun
Sustantivo
Names people, places, things, ideas
libro (book), niña (girl)
2. Pronoun
Pronombre
Replaces nouns
él (he), nosotros (we)
3. Verb
Verbo
Shows action or state
comer (to eat), ser (to be)
4. Adjective
Adjetivo
Describes nouns
rojo (red), inteligente (intelligent)
5. Adverb
Adverbio
Describes how, when, where
rápidamente (quickly), muy (very)
6. Preposition
Preposición
Shows relationship
en (in), sobre (on)
7. Conjunction
Conjunción
Connects words or clauses
y (and), pero (but)
8. Interjection
Interjección
Expresses emotion
¡Ay! (Ouch!), ¡Bravo! (Bravo!)
9. Article
Artículo
Specifies the noun
el (the), una (a)
1. The Core Parts — Noun, Pronoun, Verb
sustantivo · pronombre · verbo
These three parts form the basic skeleton of almost every Spanish sentence.
✏️ Examples (with English translation):
El gato duerme. (The cat sleeps.) — sustantivo + verbo
Ella lo ve. (She sees him.) — pronombre + pronombre + verbo
These parts connect ideas, express feelings, and make nouns specific or general.
✏️ Examples (with English translation):
El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.) — preposición
Me gusta el café y el té. (I like coffee and tea.) — conjunción
¡Ay! Me duele la cabeza. (Ouch! My head hurts.) — interjección
El perro ladra. Un perro ladra. (The dog barks. A dog barks.) — artículo
📌 Key Rules — The 9 Parts of Speech at a Glance
Sustantivo & Artículo: Nouns have gender and number. Articles (el/la/un/una) must match.
Pronombre: Replaces nouns. Must match person, number, and gender when needed.
Verbo: Changes (conjugates) according to who does the action and when.
Adjetivo: Must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
Adverbio: Usually ends in -mente when formed from adjectives.
Preposición & Conjunción: Do not change form. They simply connect.
Interjección: Stands alone and usually has exclamation marks.
Shadow & Speak — The 9 Parts of Speech
Listen to each sentence in Spanish, then repeat aloud during the countdown pause. Pay attention to which part of speech is highlighted in each sentence.
Sentences 1–5 focus on nouns, pronouns, and verbs. Sentences 6–10 focus on adjectives and adverbs. Sentences 11–15 focus on prepositions, conjunctions, interjections, and articles.
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Quiz — The 9 Parts of Speech
Identify the main part of speech in each sentence. 15 questions drawn randomly.