The

TRICKY
Spanish Words
Cheat Sheets
 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
LLEVAR TRAER

'Llevar' means 'to carry' or 'to take'. 'Traer' means 'to bring' or 'to take'.
The speaker takes an object from his Someone brings an object to the
location to another. place where the speaker is.

Llévale esta caja a tu hermano. Sebastián me trajo una caja.

Take this box to your brother. Sebastian brought me a box.

PEDIR PREGUNTAR

Means 'to ask' or 'to order'. Means 'to ask' or 'to inquire'.
It refers to asking someone to do It's used to ask for information or
something for you. pose a question.

Le pedí ayuda con mi tarea. Le pregunté a Julia si iba a venir.

I asked him to help with my homework. I asked Julia if she wants to come.

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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
LE / LES SE

Mean 'him/her' or 'them'. Means 'him/her' or 'them'.

They're the indirect object pronouns It replaces 'le' or 'les' if the sentence
for the 3rd singular and plural person. is also using a direct object pronoun.

Les compré estos chocolates. Se los compré.

I bought you these chocolates. I bought them for them.

CALIENTE CALOR

Means 'warm' or 'hot'. Means 'hot', 'heat' or 'warm'.

It refers to a person or object's It refers to the weather or the
temperature. sensations caused by it.

El café está muy caliente. Tengo mucho calor.

The coffee is very hot. I'm very hot.

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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
HABER TENER

Means 'to have' or 'to be'. Means 'to have' or 'to be'.
It forms compound tenses and It describes possession, obligation
expresses existence. and a person's age.

Hay tres perros en la calle Mónica tiene un perro.

There are three dogs in the street. Monica has a dog.

IR IRSE

Means 'to go'. Means 'to leave', 'to take/be off'.

It conveys that someone is going It expresses that someone is
from one place to another. departing or leaving a place.

Jon fue a la biblioteca. Louis se fue a las ocho.

Jon went to the library. Louis left at eight.

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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
SABER CONOCER

Means 'to know' or 'to know by heart'. Means 'to meet' or 'to be acquainted'.
It describes the ability to do It refers to people, places and being
something or a person's knowledge. familiar with a topic.

Joe sabe mucho de español. Mayra conoce a mis primos.

Joe knows a. lot about Spanish. Mayra knows my cousins.

TRATAR PROBAR

Means 'to try' or 'to attempt to'. Means 'to try on', 'to test', 'to taste'.
It refers to attempting to do It refers to clothing, food, and things.
something.

¡Trata de dormir! Me probé varios zapatos.

Try to sleep! I tried several shoes.

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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
QUÉ CUÁL

Means 'what' or 'which'. Means 'which' or 'what'.

It asks for definitions or preferences. Identifies an object from a larger group.

¿Qué es una blusa? ¿Cuál blusa te gusta?

What is a blouse? Which blouse do you like?

YO TAMBIÉN A MÍ TAMBIÉN

Means 'too' or 'also'. It's not used Means 'too'. It's only used with verbs
with verbs like 'gustar'. like 'gustar'.

Yo también quiero pastel. A a mí también me gusta el pastel.

I want cake too. I like cake too.

MUY MUCHO
Means 'very'. It intensifies actions Means 'a lot' 'many' or 'much'. It
and characteristics. expresses quantities or amounts.

Ariel habla muy rápido. Tengo mucho tiempo libre.

Ariel speaks very fast. I have a lot of free time.
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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
TIEMPO VEZ

Means 'time', 'weather' or 'long'. It Means 'time'. It describes the number

refers to the amount of time past or of times an action was done.
the weather.

¡Ha pasado tanto tiempo! Hoy tomé el autobús tres veces.

It's been so long. Today I took the bus three times.

RECORDAR ACORDARSE

Means 'to remember', 'to recall', or Means 'to remember' or 'to agree to'.
'to remind'. It only works with in It works with reflexive and indirect
direct object pronouns. pronouns. It's more casual.

Ayer recordé mi primer trabajo. Ayer me acordé de mi primer trabajo.

Yesterday I recalled my first job. Yesterday I remembered my first job.

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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
UN ALGÚN

Means 'a' or 'one'. Means 'some' or 'any'.

It introduces an object and implies It refers to an unspecified object in a
amount. generic way.

Tengo un día libre. ¿Tienes algún día libre?

I have a free day. Do you have some day off?

SER ESTAR

Means 'to be'. Means 'to be'.

It details lasting characteristics. It It refers to location and feelings. It
expresses time and occupation. forms the progressive tenses.

Sonia es muy divertida. Julio está aburrido.

Sonia is very funny. Julio is bored.

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 Spanish Tricky Words Cheat Sheet
POR PARA

Means 'for', 'because of', 'by', 'through',
'out of' or 'in'.
Describes means of transportation or
communication.
Te llamé por teléfono.
I called you.
Explains the reasons for something.
Llegué tarde por el tráfico.
I'm late because of the traffic.
Refers to purchases or exchanges.
No pagué mucho por el boleto.
I didn't pay much for the ticket.
Describes time or parts of the day.
Solo trabajo por las mañanas.
I only work in the mornings.
Means 'for', 'to' or 'in order to.
Describes the purpose of an action
or object.
Este libro es para estudiar español.
This book is to study Spanish.
Refers to a deadline.
Este libro es para estudiar español.
This book is to study Spanish.
Explains who receives something.
Este chocolate es para ti.
This chocolate is for you.
Describes a person's or object's
destination.
¿Para dónde vas?
Where are you going to?

Describes reference points. Provides an opinion or point of view.

Cole
La vive está
tienda por elpor
parque.
el centro. Esto no es importante para ella.
Cole lives by
The store is the park.
downtown. This is not important for her.

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