Spanish Transition Words

Different Types of Transition Words

As you learn to speak and write more Spanish, you’re going to want to be able to better connect different parts of a sentence. In other words, you’re going to need the right transition. 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 list with the most common and useful transitions and an ending example. In some cases, the list includes a first and second alternative that cover common synonyms for some transitions. Using these alternatives can add flavor to your language and keep your writing from seeming repetitive.

Let’s begin:

Transition Words that Refer to Time and/or Place

al principio (at the beginning, pronounced: al preen-see-pee-oh)

en primer lugar (in the first place, pronounced: ehn pree-mer loo-gar)

para comenzar (to begin, pronounced: pah-rah koh-men-sar)

antes (before, pronounced: ahn-tehs)

después (after, pronounced: dehs-poo-ehs)

a continuación (next, pronounced: ah kohn-tee-noo-ah-see-on)

mientras tanto (in the meantime, pronounced: myen-trahs tahn-toh)

al final (at the end, pronounced: al fee-nahl)

Example: Mientras tanto, debo practicar español. (In the meantime, I must practice Spanish)

Transition Words that Refer to an Additional Idea

además (in addition, pronounced: ah-deh-mas)

más aún (moreover, pronounced: mas ah-oon)

aparte (besides, pronounced: ah par-teh)

asimismo (likewise, pronounced: ah-see-mees-moh)

también (also, pronounced: tam-bee-ehn)

de igual manera (in the same way, pronounced: deh ee-goo-al mah-neh-rah)

Example: También, debo repasar el vocabulario. (Also, I must review the vocabulary)

Transition Words that Refer to a Comparison or a Contrast Between Two Ideas

pero (but, pronounced: peh-roh)

sin embargo (however -first alternative-, pronounced: sin ehm-bar-goh)

no obstante (however -second alternative-, pronounced: noh obs-taan-teh)

por otro lado (on the other hand -first alternative-, pronounced: pohr otroh lah-do)

por otra parte (on the other hand -second alternative-, pronounced: pohr otrah par-teh)

aunque (although, pronounced: ah-oon-keh)

a pesar de (in spite of, pronounced: ah peh-sar deh)

Example: Sin embargo, aprendo mucho. (However, I learn a lot)

Transition Words that Refer to an Example

por ejemplo (for example, pronounced: por eh-hem-ploh)

para ilustrar (to illustrate, pronounced: pah-rah ee-loos-trar)

tales como (such as, pronounced: tah-lehs koh-moh)

Example: Por ejemplo, escucho canciones y veo televisión en español. (For example, I listen to songs and watch TV in Spanish)

Transition Words that Refer to a Consequence or Final Idea

porque (because, pronounced: pohr-keh)

debido a esto (due to this, pronounced: deh-bee-doh ah ehs-toh)