{"id":144985,"date":"2023-09-27T21:09:19","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T01:09:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/spanish-filler-words\/"},"modified":"2025-06-09T06:53:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T10:53:32","slug":"spanish-filler-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/spanish-filler-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Spanish Filler Words to Sound More Natural"},"content":{"rendered":"

Um, uh, like, I guess, I mean…\u00a0<\/em>Whether we like it or not, these words are a part of our natural speech patterns, and they can be extremely difficult to get rid of.<\/p>\n

But did you know Spanish also has a variety of filler words? They’re called muletillas<\/em> (literally: little crutches). Here are 19 of the most common ones, plus how to employ them in your everyday life.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Pues<\/em>… (Well…)<\/h2>\n

Throw pues<\/em>\u00a0at the beginning of a sentence to show uncertainty or indecisiveness.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can also use it to stall while you think of the best way to respond to someone (or how to conjugate a tricky verb<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It sits really well when followed by no<\/em> (no) or s\u00ed<\/em>\u00a0(yes).<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u00bfQuieres salir esta noche?<\/em>
\n<\/em>(Do you want to go out tonight?)<\/p>\n

Pues…<\/strong>\u00a0no s\u00e9, tengo mucho sue\u00f1o…<\/em>
\n<\/em>(Well…<\/strong>\u00a0I don\u2019t know, I\u2019m really tired…)<\/p>\n

Here’s an example with\u00a0pues s\u00ed<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\u00bfTe apetece un caf\u00e9?<\/em><\/em>
\n(Do you fancy a coffee?)<\/p>\n

Pues<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/em>s\u00ed<\/em>.<\/em><\/em>\u00a0
\n(Well<\/strong> [now that you mention it] yes.)<\/p>\n

2. Pues nada<\/em> (Well, nothing)<\/h2>\n

On top of being a filler word, pues nada <\/em>is also used as an easy response to \u00bfqu\u00e9 est\u00e1s haciendo?<\/em>\u00a0(what are you doing?).<\/p>\n

Y el hombre que me entrevist\u00f3 me dijo “gracias por venir, te llamamos” y\u2026 pues nada,<\/strong>\u00a0no me han llamado\u2026 as\u00ed que\u2026 no creo que me den el puesto. <\/em><\/p>\n

(And the guy who was interviewing me said “thanks for coming, we’ll call you” and\u2026 well,<\/strong>\u00a0they haven’t called me\u2026 so\u2026 I don’t think they’ll give me the position.)<\/p>\n

3. (Vamos)<\/em> a ver<\/em>… (Let’s see… \/ Look…)<\/h2>\n

A ver<\/em> directly translates as \u201cto see.\u201d As a filler word, use it like the English phrase \u201clet\u2019s see…\u201d or “look…”<\/p>\n

A ver…<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bfqu\u00e9 podemos hacer esta noche?<\/em><\/em>
\n<\/em>(Let\u2019s see… <\/strong>what can we do tonight?)<\/p>\n

You can also use vamos a ver:<\/em><\/p>\n

Vamos a ver<\/em><\/strong> qu\u00e9 hay para hacer esta noche.<\/em><\/em>
\n<\/em>(Let\u2019s see<\/strong> what there is to do tonight.)<\/p>\n

Vamos a ver<\/strong> lo que pasa.<\/em>
\n(Let’s see<\/strong> what happens.)<\/p>\n

A ver <\/em>and vamos a ver <\/em>can also be used when you want to explain yourself:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A ver…<\/strong>\u00a0no quiero decir que no sea un buen actor.<\/em>
\n(Look…<\/strong>\u00a0I’m not saying he’s not a good actor.)<\/p>\n

Both a ver <\/em>and vamos a ver<\/em> can also be used to sum up the situation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vamos a ver…<\/strong>\u00a0ella ha dicho que s\u00ed, pero \u00e9l dice que no. \u00bfVerdad?<\/em>
\n(Let’s see…<\/strong>\u00a0so she has said yes, but he says no. Is that right?)<\/p>\n

4. En plan…<\/em> (Like…)<\/h2>\n

The filler word of choice for teenagers all over Spain, this versatile phrase is similar to the English \u201clike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spanish adolescents use it all the time in any part of a sentence.<\/p>\n

You can use it before describing the way you were doing something.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

Est\u00e1bamos all\u00ed en plan<\/strong> descansando cuando lleg\u00f3 Miguel.<\/em>
\n<\/em>(We were there, like,<\/strong>\u00a0relaxing, when Miguel arrived.)<\/p>\n

No te enfades, lo hice en plan<\/b> broma.<\/em>
\n<\/em>(Don’t get angry, I meant it\u00a0like, as<\/strong> a joke.)<\/p>\n

5. Digo…<\/em> (I mean…)<\/h2>\n

This word comes from the verb decir<\/em> (to say\/tell) and directly translates to \u201cI say.”<\/p>\n

It’s used to correct yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Me dijo que la fiesta empieza a las nueve\u2014digo,<\/strong>\u00a0a las diez.<\/em>
\n(She told me the party starts at nine\u2014I mean,<\/strong>\u00a0at ten.)<\/p>\n

6. O sea<\/em>… (I mean…)<\/h2>\n

Use\u00a0o sea<\/em> to clarify, explain or nuance something you\u2019ve just said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s similar to the English phrases \u201cI mean…\u201d or \u201cin other words…\u201d<\/p>\n

Another similar Spanish phrase is es decir<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u00bfVas a salir otra vez con \u00e9l? O sea,<\/strong> \u00bflo pasasteis bien?<\/em>
\n(You’re going to go out with him again? I mean,<\/strong>\u00a0you had a good time?)<\/p>\n

You can also use it when you realize that what you just said isn’t entirely correct and you want to add extra information:<\/p>\n

Me he dado cuenta de que nunca he viajado en tren, o sea,<\/strong>\u00a0s\u00ed que he viajado en tren pero solo en cercan\u00edas, no en uno de largo recorrido.<\/em><\/p>\n

(I’ve realized that I’ve never traveled on a train, I mean,<\/strong> yes, I’ve traveled on a train, but only on regional trains, not on a long-distance one.)<\/p>\n

7. Entonces<\/em>… (So…)<\/h2>\n

Entonces<\/em> is a formal word appropriate for written Spanish.<\/p>\n

But in spoken Spanish, it also serves as a handy filler word to throw at the beginning of a sentence:<\/p>\n

Entonces,<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bfqu\u00e9 vas a hacer?<\/em>
\n(So,<\/strong>\u00a0what are you going to do?)<\/p>\n

Entonces<\/em> also can be used to signal to the listener that you’re going to continue speaking:<\/p>\n

Me dijiste que no vas a trabajar ma\u00f1ana,<\/em> entonces…<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bfcrees que podr\u00e1s venir a la fiesta?<\/em><\/p>\n

(You told me that you’re not going to work tomorrow, so…<\/strong>\u00a0do you think you’ll be able to come to the party?)<\/p>\n

8. As\u00ed que<\/em>… (So…)<\/h2>\n

Like\u00a0entonces, as\u00ed que<\/em> is a\u00a0transition word<\/a> that means \u201cso\u201d or \u201ctherefore.\u201d<\/p>\n

But you can also use it as a filler word, particularly at the beginning of a sentence.<\/p>\n

\u00bf<\/em>As\u00ed que<\/em><\/strong> al final fuiste al restaurante?<\/em>
\n(So<\/strong> you ended up going to the restaurant?)<\/p>\n

You can also use as\u00ed que bueno<\/em><\/strong> or as\u00ed que nada<\/em><\/strong> as filler phrases.<\/p>\n

They both mean roughly \u201cso yeah…\u201d or \u201cso anyways…\u201d:<\/p>\n

As\u00ed que bueno,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0esa es toda la historia.<\/em>
\n(So yeah,<\/strong>\u00a0that\u2019s the whole story.)<\/p>\n

9. Bueno…<\/em> (Well…)<\/h2>\n

You can use bueno<\/em> like pues:<\/em>\u00a0at the beginning of the sentence when you\u2019re trying to think of how to respond:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bueno…<\/em><\/b>\u00a0lo tengo que pensar un poco m\u00e1s<\/em>.
\n(Well…<\/strong> I have to think about it a little more.)<\/p>\n

You can use it to express agreement,<\/strong> or when someone proposes an idea that sounds good to you:<\/p>\n

Bueno…<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0s\u00ed, eso me parece una muy buena idea.<\/em><\/em>
\n<\/em>(Well…<\/strong> yeah, that seems like a really good idea to me.)<\/p>\n

It also expresses uncertainty when you draw out the e:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00bfTe ha gustado la peli?<\/em>
\n(Did you like the movie?)<\/p>\n

Bueeno…<\/strong>\u00a0la verdad es que no mucho.<\/em>
\n(Well…<\/strong>\u00a0to tell you the truth, not much.)<\/p>\n

A loud or drawn-out bueno<\/em> can express exasperation, annoyance or disbelief.<\/p>\n

For extra emphasis, add the word pero<\/em> before:<\/p>\n

\u00bfTodav\u00eda no hab\u00e9is fregado los platos? \u00a1Pero bueno!<\/strong><\/em>
\n<\/em>(You still haven\u2019t washed the dishes? Well then!<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

10. Es que<\/em>… (It’s just that…)<\/h2>\n

Es que<\/em> is a great filler word to use when you need to explain yourself or rationalize a decision.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve found it\u2019s especially useful when you need to politely decline, deny or disagree with somebody.<\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

\u00bfNo has terminado la tarea?<\/em>
\n(You haven\u2019t finished the homework?)<\/p>\n

\u00a1Es que<\/strong> es muy dif\u00edcil!<\/em>
\n(It\u2019s just that<\/strong> it\u2019s really difficult!)<\/p>\n

\u00bfPor qu\u00e9 no quieres ir al cine?<\/em>
\n(Why don\u2019t you want to go to the movies?)<\/p>\n

Es que<\/strong> no me gustan las pel\u00edculas de terror.<\/em>
\n(It\u2019s just that<\/strong> I don\u2019t really like horror movies.)<\/p>\n

11. Este<\/em>… (Um…)<\/h2>\n

This muletilla <\/em>is commonly used in Mexico<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Like many of the other fillers on this list, the final vowel e\u00a0<\/em>is often elongated in this context.<\/p>\n

\u00bfC\u00f3mo se llama el hermano de tu vecino? Lo acabo de ver en el parque.<\/em>
\n(What’s your neighbor’s brother called? I’ve just seen him at the park.)<\/p>\n

Este…<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a1ah Luis! Se llama Luis. Es el hermano menor de mi vecino Pablo.<\/em>
\n(Um…<\/strong>\u00a0ah Luis! He’s called Luis. He’s my neighbor Pablo’s younger brother.)<\/p>\n

12. \u00bfSabes<\/em>? (You know?)<\/h2>\n

Es muy importante para m\u00ed, \u00bfsabes?<\/strong><\/em>
\n(It\u2019s really important to me, you know?<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

You can also use \u00bfSabes qu\u00e9?<\/em><\/strong> (You know what?) as an introduction to a sentence:<\/p>\n

\u00bfSabes qu\u00e9<\/em><\/strong> voy a hacer? Voy a dejar mi trabajo y mudarme a Haw\u00e1i.<\/em><\/em>
\n(You know what<\/strong> I\u2019m going to do? I\u2019m going to quit my job and move to Hawaii.)<\/p>\n

13. Eso…<\/em> (Like I said)<\/h2>\n

On its own, you can use eso<\/em> as a lead-in to a summary or conclusion of a conversation.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good way to reiterate something that you\u2019ve already said but want to repeat or emphasize.<\/p>\n

Pues, eso,<\/strong>\u00a0que lo siento mucho pero vas a tener que volver ma\u00f1ana.<\/em>
\n(Well, like I said,<\/strong>\u00a0I\u2019m sorry, but you\u2019re going to have to come back tomorrow.)<\/p>\n

14. En fin<\/em> (So, that’s it \/ All in all)<\/h2>\n

You can use\u00a0en fin<\/em> to end a conversation.<\/p>\n

Or use it like eso<\/em> as a lead-in to a summary or final thought on the conversation.<\/p>\n

En fin…<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0pues, me tengo que ir. \u00a1Hasta luego!<\/em><\/em>
\n<\/em>(So, that\u2019s it…<\/strong>\u00a0well, I have to go. See you later!)<\/p>\n

En fin…<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0lo pasamos muy bien hoy, gracias por todo.<\/em><\/em>
\n<\/em>(All in all…<\/strong>\u00a0we had a great time today, thanks for everything<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

15. \u00bfVale?<\/em>\u00a0\/<\/em> \u00bfMe entiendes?<\/em> (Okay? \/ You get me? \/ You understand me?)<\/h2>\n

One example of when you can use these\u00a0muletillas <\/em>is when\u00a0giving directions:<\/p>\n

Primero, sigues por esta calle, \u00bfvale?<\/strong><\/em>
\n(First, you follow this road, okay?)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s an example with\u00a0me entiendes<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Mira, all\u00ed hay un cartel que dice que no puedes entrar, pero s\u00ed que puedes entrar en esa calle, \u00bfme entiendes?<\/strong> De all\u00ed…<\/em><\/p>\n

(Look, there’s a sign there that says you can’t go in but, yes, you can go into that street, you understand me?<\/strong> From there\u2026)<\/p>\n

16. Vale, vale, vale<\/em> (Okay, okay, okay)<\/h2>\n

Repetition is used a lot by many Spanish speakers.<\/p>\n

No more is this evident than when you’re using vale<\/em>\u00a0(okay) to mean “okay, I totally understand what you’re saying.”<\/p>\n

Just lightly repeat the word in a quick stream while nodding your head.<\/p>\n

For example, you could use this when listening to someone who is giving you directions to a place:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Vale\u2026 vale, vale, vale, vale\u2026<\/strong> s\u00ed\u2026 s\u00ed, te entiendo.<\/em>\u00a0
\n(Okay\u2026 yep, yep, yep, yep…<\/strong>\u00a0right\u2026 yes, I understand you.)<\/p>\n

17. La cosa es (que)\u2026<\/em> (The thing is…)<\/h2>\n

You can take a moment to think after saying la cosa es…<\/em> because it’s clear you’re going to continue.<\/p>\n

You can also repeat it to attract attention in a group conversation.<\/p>\n

For example, you could use this muletilla <\/em>when attracting attention in a heated discussion:<\/p>\n

La cosa es que…<\/strong> la gente que tiene el poder no quiere cambiar la situaci\u00f3n<\/em>.
\n(The thing is that…<\/strong>\u00a0the people who have the power don’t want to change the situation.)<\/p>\n

18. Quiero decir (que)<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>\/ Es decir<\/em> (I want to say \/ Which is to say)<\/h2>\n

These are\u00a0great ones to use when you’ve totally messed up what you were saying in Spanish and you want to start the whole point again.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quiero decir (que)<\/em>\u00a0means “I want to say (that)” and es decir<\/em>\u00a0is a bit like “which is to say.”<\/p>\n

For example, they’re\u00a0often used when you want to correct yourself after an unsuccessful explanation:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

No me est\u00e1s entendiendo, \u00bfverdad? Q<\/strong>uiero decir<\/strong>\u00a0que el hombre, es decir,<\/strong>\u00a0el fontanero, no pudo hacer el trabajo porque\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

(You’re not understanding me, right? I want to say<\/strong>\u00a0that the man, which is to say,<\/strong>\u00a0the plumber, couldn’t do the job because\u2026)<\/p>\n

19. A lo que me refiero es\u2026<\/em> (What I mean is)<\/h2>\n

This means “what I mean is” or more literally “what I’m referring to\u00a0is.”<\/p>\n

Mira. A lo que me refiero<\/strong> es que la gente de aqu\u00ed no entiende lo que dice la gente de all\u00ed. \u00bfMe entiendes?<\/em><\/p>\n

(Look. What I mean<\/strong> is<\/strong> that the people from here don’t understand what the people from there are talking about. You understand me?)<\/p>\n

How to Learn Spanish Filler Words<\/h2>\n