Learn how to use Spanish transition words with this helpful guide! These words can make your writing smoother and more coherent.
Just like in English, Spanish transition words and phrases can connect ideas, sentences, and paragraphs smoothly. Whether you’re writing a story, an essay, or a report, using transition words and phrases can help your readers understand the connections between your ideas.
What Are Transition Words and How Can They Help Me?
Transition words and phrases help your readers understand the relationship between ideas in your writing. They’re sometimes called linking words or signposts.
For example, imagine you’re writing about different methods of transportation. You might want to use transition words and phrases to show the reader the connections between each method. Check out this list of Spanish transition words:
- Primero, vamos a hablar de los coches.
- Los coches son un medio de transporte muy común en los Estados Unidos.
- Por ejemplo, casi todos los días vemos coches en la calle.
- También, muchas personas tienen coches.
- En general, los coches son un buen medio de transporte.
- First, let’s talk about cars.
- Cars are a very common form of transportation in the United States.
- For example, we see cars on the street almost every day.
- Also, many people have cars.
- Overall, cars are a good form of transportation.
As you can see in the examples above, transition words and phrases can be used to:
- Introduce new topics
- Provide examples
- Show contrast
- Make connections
Using transition words and phrases can help your writing be clearer and more concise. However, overusing them can make your writing sound choppy or mechanical. Be sure to use transition words and phrases sparingly so that your writing sounds natural.
When Should I Use Transition Words and Phrases?
Transition words and phrases can be used in different ways:
- At the beginning of a sentence to introduce a new topic
- In the middle of a sentence to show a change in direction or contrast
- At the end of a sentence, summarize what’s been said or connect to the next idea
Let’s look at some examples of each:
- Nuevo team: Los estudiantes de los Estados Unidos.
- Este año, hay un nuevo equipo de estudiantes.
- Viene de México, Colombia, Perú, y otros países.
- New team: The students from the United States.
- This year, there is a new team of students.
- They come from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and other countries.
As you can see in the examples above, transition words and phrases can be used to introduce new topics (“New team”), show contrast (“However”), or connect ideas (“Therefore”).
Now that you know when to use transition words and phrases let’s look at some of the most common ones.
Common Spanish Transition Words and Phrases
Below is a list of some common transition words and phrases in Spanish. Note that some of these words have multiple meanings and can be used differently. Be sure to read the context carefully to determine which meaning is intended.
- ahora - now
- al principio - at first
- ante todo - above all
- así que - so
- aunque - although
- bueno - well
- claro - of course
- como consecuencia - as a result
- como resultado - as a result como seguimiento - as a follow-up
- con todo - despite this
- debido a - due to
- delante de - in front of
- después (de) - after (of)
- durante - during
- en cambio - on the other hand
- en resumen - in conclusion
- entonces - then, therefore
Spanish transition words and phrases can be divided into several categories. First, let’s look at some transitional words and phrases that can help you move from one sentence to another.
Transition Words for Moving from One Sentence to Another
Here are some common Spanish transitional expressions that can be used to move from one sentence to another:
- Además (In addition)
- Asimismo (Likewise)
- Aunque (Even though)
- No obstante (Nonetheless)
- Oh, sí (Oh, yes)
- Por supuesto (Of course)
- Sin embargo (However)
These Spanish transitional words and phrases are common in many types of writing. You might see them in an email from your Spanish-speaking friend, in a news article written by a Spanish-speaking journalist, or even in a novel or story written by a Spanish-speaking author.
Now let’s look at some transitional words and phrases that can help you move from one paragraph to another.
Transition Words for Moving from One Paragraph to Another
Here are some common Spanish transitional expressions that can be used to move from one paragraph to another:
- Al contrario (On the contrary)
- Por eso (That’s why)
- Por un lado (On one hand)
- Por otro lado (On the other hand)
Transition Words that Refer to Time and Place
Here are some common Spanish transitional expressions that can be used to talk about time and place:
- A continuación (Next)
- Antes (Before)
- En primer lugar (First of all)
- Finalmente (Finally)
- Luego (Then)
- Mientras tanto (Meanwhile)
- Primero (First)
- Segundo (Second)
- Tercero (Third)
Transition Words that Refer to an Additional Idea
Here are some common Spanish transitional expressions that can be used to talk about an additional idea:
- Además (Moreover)
- Asimismo (Likewise)
- También (Also)
- En resume (In conclusion)
- Por ejemplo (For example)
- Por esta razón (For this reason)
- Por lo tanto (Therefore)
- En otras palabras (In other words)
When writing in Spanish, it’s important to use transitional words and phrases to help your readers follow your train of thought. Using these good Spanish transition words and phrases, you can make your writing more fluent and improve the connections between your ideas.
Now that you know some common Spanish transition words and phrases let’s look at how you can use them in your writing.
How to Use Spanish Transition Words and Phrases
When writing in Spanish, it’s important to use transitional words and phrases to help connect your ideas. Otherwise, your writing will sound choppy and disconnected.
Here are a few tips to help you use transition words and phrases effectively:
- Use transitional words and phrases at the beginning of sentences to show relationships between ideas. It helps to think of them as signposts that help your readers follow your train of thought.
- Use transitional words and phrases throughout your writing to maintain a flow. If you find yourself getting stuck, go back and see if there’s a transitional word or phrase that you can use to help you move forward.
- Be sure to use the correct form of the transitional word or phrase. For example, if you’re using the transitional phrase por supuesto (of course), be sure to use the correct conjugation for the verb that follows it.
- When in doubt, consult a dictionary or grammar guide to ensure you’re correctly using transitional words and phrases.
With these tips in mind, you’re on your way to becoming a master of Spanish transitional words and phrases!
Final Notes
In case you are stranded and would like to learn more about transition words, contact YourTopTutors. We will be glad to help you out!
