If you’d like to say “to think” in Spanish, you’d generally want to use a conjugation of “pensar.” However, just as in English, other verbs may be more contextually relevant to what you’re trying to express. Using “imaginar” (to imagine / to think) or “creer” (to believe / to think) may be a better choice in some cases.
As complicated as Spanish verbs might seem to some new learners, always remember that you don’t have to tackle them all at once. Even with something like “to think,” getting comfortable with the basic “pensar” will likely work well in most circumstances. After you feel acclimated to that verb, you can slowly incorporate others with more nuanced meanings.
For all of the intricacies of Spanish verbs, learning Spanish may come more naturally than you think—especially if you already speak another major European language. Because English, just as Italian and French, has deep roots in Latin, these languages all share thousands of words with contemporary Spanish. These shared words are known as cognates, words that have significant similarities in spelling and/or pronunciation. That’s why you’ll find English words like “situation” that look and sound nearly the same in French (situation), Italian (situazione), and Spanish (situación).
Aside from the striking similarities in spelling, you’ll find that Spanish also has a truly simple system of pronunciation. Unlike English, with all of its special rules and silent letters, there are only a few irregularities. The standard Spanish alphabet is also a near-exact match to English. It just has 29 letters instead of the 26 you’re used to. The extra three are: ch (chay), ll (elle), and ñ (eñe).
Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion® methodology teaches you the language, not just the words. What makes this approach effective is that we prepare you to use your new language in your everyday life. So, it’s not just about the features, but what you’re able to do because of them. It helps you get ready to handle situations with confidence.
Learn Spanish Words and Phrases
People often embark on learning Spanish after encountering the language in their everyday life. After all, Spanish is spoken throughout the U.S. It is featured prominently on TV, in movies, and in music. Other people make the decision to learn Spanish because they have plans to vacation, volunteer, or work in one of the 20 countries around the world for which Spanish is the official language. Whatever your reason, you can get off to a great start by first familiarizing yourself with the pronunciation of some basic Spanish words and phrases. This will help you understand how the language is actually used in everyday situations by the estimated 437 million Spanish speakers around the world.
All too often, new language learners get caught up in efforts to memorize long lists of Spanish words and phrases. And then they find themselves unable to understand or be understood in everyday Spanish conversations. That’s why it’s important to learn to pronounce and understand commonly used Spanish words and phrases, so you can feel comfortable and confident engaging in conversation with locals.
Of note, Spanish does have some pronunciation distinctions that can make it a bit of a challenge for new learners. As one example, the letter r is pronounced differently and takes some practice for most new learners. This distinct sound is formed by tapping the tip of the tongue on the roof of the mouth, about a third of the way back in the mouth. Some Spanish language experts counsel new learners to practice making the “tt” sound, as it sounds in the English word butter.
Developing accurate pronunciation depends on getting immediate feedback. Rosetta Stone helps you get the pronunciation right with our TruAccent™ speech engine. TruAccent compares your voice to native and non-native speakers—in real-time—so you get the feedback you need for the most accurate pronunciation. It’s also adjustable, which allows you to tweak your accent as needed. TruAccent is a powerful tool for helping you learn and speak the Spanish language.
After you have acquired basic words, short phrases, and their proper pronunciation, it’s a natural transition to learn the longer phrases that make up so much of everyday conversation. Rosetta Stone’s brief, 10-minute lessons are built in exactly this way—teaching the basics first, then moving onto longer phrases. This approach helps you acquire the skills to understand and be understood in Spanish with confidence.
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Download a unit and knock it out on the train or a flight. Select a 5-10 minute lesson and sneak it in while you wait in line or for your ride to show up. And explore dynamic features, like Seek and Speak, where you can point at an object in the real world and get a translation .
The best part? You don’t have to choose between app or desktop. Both come with your subscription and sync, so you can switch between devices seamlessly.
