Practice Spanish with native speakers
Classes teach you to conjugate; conversations teach you to keep up. On Speakblend you swap languages with Spanish speakers who are learning English: they help with your Spanish, you help with their English. It is free on iPhone and Android.
Where Spanish is spoken, and what you will hear
Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, from Spain and Mexico to Argentina and Equatorial Guinea, plus Puerto Rico, and an everyday language across much of the United States.
Profiles show each person's native language and what they are learning. Filter the Match tab by nationality to focus on one variety, or mix them.
| Where | What you will notice | Time zone |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | vosotros for "you all"; z and soft c sound like "th" in most regions; vale for "OK" | UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer |
| Mexico | ¿qué onda? for "what's up?"; ustedes for every "you all" | Mexico City UTC-6 |
| Colombia | usted even between friends in parts of the country; a steady, clear pace | UTC-5 |
| Argentina and Uruguay | vos instead of tú (vos tenés); ll and y sound close to "sh" | UTC-3 |
| Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico | a fast rhythm; a final s is often softened or dropped | UTC-5 to UTC-4 |
10 conversation starters in Spanish
Test yourself
With the translation off, work out each bubble first, then tap Translate. Tap a hidden reading to show it.
¿Qué tal tu día?
How's your day going?
¿De qué parte de México eres?
Which part of Mexico are you from?
¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre?
What do you do in your free time?
¿Por qué estás aprendiendo inglés?
Why are you learning English?
¿Qué tengo que probar si visito tu ciudad?
What should I try if I visit your city?
¿Cómo se dice "car" allí?
How do you say "car" there?
¿Te mando un audio?
Shall I send you a voice message?
Perdona, ¿puedes hablar más despacio?
Sorry, can you speak more slowly?
¿Qué música estás escuchando últimamente?
What music have you been listening to lately?
¡Hablamos pronto!
Talk soon!
Common mistakes English speakers make in Spanish
"Estoy embarazada."
It means "I'm pregnant", not "embarrassed". Say qué vergüenza or me da vergüenza.
Ser and estar.
Soy aburrido means "I'm boring"; estoy aburrido means "I'm bored". Estar covers moods and states, ser what something is.
"Soy 25."
Age is something you have: tengo 25 años.
"Yo gusto la música."
Gustar works backwards: me gusta la música, and with plurals, me gustan los perros.
Yo, yo, yo.
The verb ending already says who: trabajo en Chicago. Repeating yo sounds emphatic.
Tú or usted.
With people your age, tú is normal (vos in Argentina). Use usted with older people until they switch, and do not be surprised if a Colombian friend uses usted with you.
How translation and voice messages help
Turn on Auto Translate in a new chat and every incoming text message shows its translation under the Spanish; switch it off once you can follow without it. For one tricky line, translate just that message from its menu. Translation covers 130+ languages.
Write your reply in Spanish first; if unsure, translate the draft before sending to check it says what you meant, then tap translate again to restore your words.
Spanish voice messages can be fast, especially from the Caribbean or southern Spain. Play them at 0.5x, drag back over a phrase and replay it until it lands. Voice calls (audio only) come next, and three minutes on a call earns your friendship's Silver Passport stamp. For a push, play Truth or Dare: some dares ask for a voice note in the language you are learning, such as counting from 1 to 10.
A sample exchange in Spanish and English (illustrative)
Written for this page as an example; not a real member conversation. Sam lives in Chicago and is learning Spanish. Daniela, from Guadalajara, is learning English.
Sam
¡Hola, Daniela! ¿Qué tal tu día?
Hi Daniela! How's your day going?
Daniela
¡Bien! Aquí hace mucho calor. Is it cold in Chicago?
Good! It's very hot here.
Sam
Sí, mucho frío. Soy aburrido en casa.
Yes, very cold. I'm boring at home.
Daniela
Jaja, you're not boring! You mean estoy aburrido, "I'm bored".
Sam
Oops. Estoy aburrido. ¿Te mando un audio?
Shall I send you a voice message?
Daniela
¡Sí! And I'll answer in English. Deal?
Spanish practice: questions and answers
Should I practice Spain or Latin American Spanish?
Either. The grammar is shared, and people from Madrid, Bogotá and Buenos Aires understand each other. Pick the variety you will use most and filter by nationality on the Match tab.
How do I find Spanish speakers who want to learn English?
Filter suggestions by language, then check profiles for a native language of Spanish and English among the languages they are learning. Send a like; when they accept it, your chat opens.
Can I talk to Spanish speakers by voice?
Yes, with voice messages (played at 0.5x to 2x) and voice calls. There are no video calls on Speakblend; calls are audio only.
Is Speakblend free for Spanish practice?
Yes, on iPhone and Android. MAX is an optional weekly, monthly or yearly subscription with extras such as unlimited swiping and more new chats a day without a match.
Download Speakblend free on the App Store or Google Play.
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