Español III

It is generally accepted that the following verbs are the most used in the language.  Therefore, it is important to have these few verbs included in your vocabulary.

acabar -- to finish, to end (acabar + an infinitive -- to have just done something)

alcanzar -- to reach, to catch up, to succeed, to manage

andar -- to walk (andar a gatas -- to crawl)

buscar -- to look for, to search (note that "for" is included in the verb.  Busco un libro -- I am looking for a book)

caer -- to fall (caerse -- to fall down)

comer -- to eat, to eat away

conocer -- to know, to be acquainted with, to be familiar with (conocer in the preterite means to meet.  ¿Conocisite a mi prima? -- Did you meet my cousin?)

decir -- to say, to tell

dormir -- to sleep (dormirse -- to fall asleep  This includes parts of the body.  El pie se me durmió. -- My foot went to sleep.

echar -- to throw, to throw out, to give off  (La zorrilla echa un olor malo -- The skunk gives off a bad odor.)

esperar -- to wait, to wait for, to hope, to expect

estar -- to be (used primarily for location and feelings  (estar a -- to be at   El pollo está a $1.12 la libra. -- Chicken is at $1.12 per pound.)

faltar -- to miss, to not go, to fail, to be missing/lacking, to be needed, not to be enough,(¿Quién falta? -- Who is missing?,  AND a gustar-like verb: A mí me falta dinero. -- I am lacking money.)

hablar -- to talk, to speak

hacer -- to make, to do (hacerse -- to become:  Paco se hizo rico -- Paco became rich.)

ir -- to go (ir + gerund forms the present progressive:  Voy andando por el parque -- I am walking through the park) (ir + infinitive denotes future intention: Voy a comer.-- I am going to eat.)

Jugar -- to play (as in a game) (hacer juego -- to match)

llegar -- to arrive

llevar -- to carry, to take, to wear, to have with oneself, to lead 

meter -- to put, to put in

mirar -- to look at

oír -- to hear, to listen

pasar -- to pass, to happen, to spend time

pensar -- to think

perder - to lose, to waste, to miss (to miss as in to miss a plane or a train)

poder -- to be able, can

poner - to put, to place, to set

quedarse - to stay, to remain

querer -- to want, to love, to wish

romper -- to break, to tear (romperse -- is when something just breaks, no one was responsible)

saber -- to know, to know how, to taste  (saber a -- to taste like)

sacar -- to take out, to remove, to get (to get as in to get a good grade)

salir -- to go out, to leave

seguir -- to follow, to continue, to pursue

sentirse -- to feel

ser -- to be (everything that estar isn't)

servir -- to serve

tener -- to have, to hold, to take, to be (tener + noun -- to be +  adjective, tener que + infinitive -- to have to)

tocar -- to touch, to knock (like on a door), to be one's turn (te toca -- it is your turn), to play (an instrument),

tomar -- to take, to take in (like the sun), to drink

trabajar -- to work

traer -- to bring

tratar -- to deal with, (tratar de -- to try to, to be about)

valer -- to be worth, to cost

venir -- to come, to arrive

volver -- to return, to go/come back

ver -- to see, to watch, to look at

I cannot believe that pescar isn't on this list!