Linking Words and Connectors (Conectores) in Spanish — Beginner-Friendly Guide

Linking words are the glue of Spanish. Without them, your sentences are just little islands. With them, you can tell stories, explain ideas, give reasons, and sound much more fluent—even with basic vocabulary.

In this guide you’ll learn the most useful Spanish connectors, how to use them in real sentences, what mistakes to avoid, and how they show up in everyday speech. By the end, you’ll be able to build longer, smoother sentences instead of short, choppy ones.

Quick Primer

In Spanish, conectores /ko.nekˈto.ɾes/ — linking words and connectors — help you:

Add information
Contrast ideas
Give reasons and results
Organize your story
Show time, condition, and conclusion

You don’t need dozens. Even 15–20 well-used connectors can transform your Spanish.

Basic Addition Connectors

The simplest way to join ideas is with y /i/ — and.

Examples:

Tengo un perro y un gato.
/ˈteŋ.go un ˈpe.ro i un ˈɡa.to/
I have a dog and a cat.

Estudio español y además trabajo.
/esˈtu.ðjo es.paˈɲol i a.ðeˈmas tɾaˈβa.xo/
I study Spanish and I also work.

Usage notes:

In Spanish, the connector y comes between words or clauses just like “and.”
When the next word starts with an “i” sound, y often changes to e /e/, for example: padres e hijos (parents and children).
Además sounds slightly more formal or “organized,” good for writing or structured speaking.

Contrast Connectors: But, However, Although

These help you show differences or surprises.

Examples:

Quiero salir, pero estoy cansado.
/ˈkje.ɾo saˈliɾ ˈpe.ɾo esˈtoj kanˈsa.ðo/
I want to go out, but I’m tired.

Estudio mucho, sin embargo cometo errores.
/esˈtu.ðjo ˈmu.tʃo sin emˈbaɾ.ɣo koˈme.to eˈro.ɾes/
I study a lot; however, I make mistakes.

Aunque hace frío, vamos a la playa.
/ˈaun.ke ˈa.se ˈfɾi.o ˈba.mos a la ˈpla.ʝa/
Although it’s cold, we’re going to the beach.

Usage notes:

Pero is the everyday “but” and works almost everywhere.
Sin embargo is more formal and is common in writing or when you want to sound careful and clear.
Aunque usually starts a clause and is often followed by a verb.

Cause and Reason: Because, Since

These explain why something happens.

Examples:

No salgo porque tengo que estudiar.
/no ˈsal.ɣo poɾˈke ˈteŋ.go ke es.tuˈðjaɾ/
I’m not going out because I have to study.

No fui, ya que estaba enfermo.
/no fwi ʝa ke esˈta.βa enˈfeɾ.mo/
I didn’t go, since I was sick.

Usage notes:

Don’t confuse porque /poɾˈke/ (because) with por qué /poɾ ˈke/ (why).
Ya que and puesto que sound a bit more formal and tend to appear at the beginning of a sentence.

Result and Consequence: So, Therefore

These show the result of what you just said.

Examples:

Estoy cansado, entonces voy a dormir.
/esˈtoj kanˈsa.ðo enˈton.ses boj a ðoɾˈmiɾ/
I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep.

No tengo dinero, por eso no salgo.
/no ˈteŋ.go ðiˈne.ɾo poɾ ˈe.so no ˈsal.ɣo/
I don’t have money, that’s why I’m not going out.

Hace buen tiempo, así que vamos al parque.
/ˈa.se bwjen ˈtjem.po aˈsi ke ˈba.mos al ˈpaɾ.ke/
The weather is nice, so we’re going to the park.

Usage notes:

Entonces can also mean “then” in a sequence.
Por eso is very common in speech and feels natural in explanations.
Así que joins two clauses in a casual, spoken way.

Sequencing: First, Then, Finally

Great for telling stories, giving instructions, or describing your day.

Examples:

Primero me ducho, luego desayuno.
/pɾiˈme.ɾo me ˈðu.tʃo ˈlwe.ɣo desaˈʝu.no/
First I shower, then I have breakfast.

Estudié todo el día y al final aprobé el examen.
/es.tuˈdje ˈto.ðo el ˈdi.a i al fiˈnal a.pɾoˈβe el ekˈsa.men/
I studied all day and in the end I passed the exam.

Usage notes:

Después and luego are often interchangeable when you mean “then.”
Native speakers love stacking these: primero, después, luego, al final to structure a story.

Time Connectors: When, Before, After

These show when things happen in relation to each other.

Examples:

Cuando llego a casa, ceno.
/ˈkwan.do ˈʝe.ɣo a ˈka.sa ˈse.no/
When I get home, I have dinner.

Antes de dormir, leo un poco.
/ˈan.tes ðe ðoɾˈmiɾ ˈle.o un ˈpo.ko/
Before sleeping, I read a little.

Mientras cocino, escucho música.
/ˈmjɛn.tɾas koˈθi.no esˈku.tʃo ˈmu.si.ka/
While I cook, I listen to music.

Usage notes:

Use antes de and después de before nouns or infinitives: antes de comer, después de trabajar.
Use cuando and mientras before a full clause with a verb: cuando llego, mientras estudio.

Condition: If…

The king of conditional connectors is simple and powerful:

Spanish | IPA | English
si | /si/ | if

Examples:

Si tengo tiempo, te llamo.
/si ˈteŋ.go ˈtjem.po te ˈʝa.mo/
If I have time, I’ll call you.

Si quieres, estudiamos juntos.
/si ˈkje.ɾes es.tuˈðja.mos ˈxun.tos/
If you want, we’ll study together.

Usage notes:

Si never takes an accent here. Sí /si/ with an accent means “yes.”
Common pattern: Si + present, present/future.

Adding Examples and Explanations

These connectors help you explain and clarify your ideas.

Examples:

Me gustan los idiomas, por ejemplo el español y el francés.
/me ˈɣus.tan los iˈðjo.mas poɾ eˈxem.plo el es.paˈɲol i el fɾanˈses/
I like languages, for example Spanish and French.

No voy a salir, es decir, me quedo en casa.
/no boj a saˈliɾ es ðeˈsiɾ me ˈke.ðo en ˈka.sa/
I’m not going out; that is, I’m staying at home.

Usage notes:

Por ejemplo is safe and neutral for any context.
O sea is very common in speech, especially among younger speakers, and can act like “I mean” or “like” in English.

Conclusion and Summary Connectors

Use these to wrap up your idea or summarize.

Examples:

En resumen, necesito practicar más.
/en reˈsu.men ne.seˈsi.to pɾak.tiˈkaɾ mas/
In summary, I need to practice more.

En general, el curso es muy bueno.
/en xeneˈɾal el ˈkuɾ.so es muj ˈbwe.no/
In general, the course is very good.

Usage Notes and Common Mistakes

Learners often:

Repeat the same connector too much: y, y, y. Try to mix in además, también, por eso.
Confuse porque (because) with por qué (why).
Forget commas. In writing, you normally put a comma before many connectors: Estoy cansado, pero feliz.
Translate directly from English. Spanish prefers simpler connectors and fewer “fancy” ones at beginner level.

Focus on a small core set and use them often. Fluency comes from repeating simple patterns, not memorizing rare words.

Region Notes

Spain:

You’ll hear pues /pwes/ a lot as a filler and soft connector, similar to “well.”
Entonces is very common in conversation to move the story along.

Latin America:

Entonces is also common, along with así que and por eso in speech.
Filler connectors like o sea /o ˈse.a/ and este /ˈes.te/ can appear when speakers think.

Overall, the main connectors in this guide work in both Spain and Latin America.

Mini Dialogues

Dialogue 1: Explaining a Schedule

Primero trabajo y después estudio.
/pɾiˈme.ɾo tɾaˈβa.xo i desˈpwes esˈtu.ðjo/
First I work and then I study.

Por eso estoy cansado por la noche.
/poɾ ˈe.so esˈtoj kanˈsa.ðo poɾ la ˈno.tʃe/
That’s why I’m tired at night.

Dialogue 2: Giving a Reason and Result

No salgo porque mañana tengo examen.
/no ˈsal.ɣo poɾˈke maˈɲa.na ˈteŋ.go ekˈsa.men/
I’m not going out because I have an exam tomorrow.

Entonces voy a estudiar en casa.
/enˈton.ses boj a es.tuˈðjaɾ en ˈka.sa/
So I’m going to study at home.

Dialogue 3: Contrast and Condition

Quiero viajar, pero no tengo mucho dinero.
/ˈkje.ɾo bjaˈxaɾ ˈpe.ɾo no ˈteŋ.go ˈmu.tʃo ðiˈne.ɾo/
I want to travel, but I don’t have much money.

Si ahorro este año, quizá puedo ir el próximo.
/si aˈo.ro es.te ˈa.ɲo kiˈθa, kiˈsa ˈpwe.ðo iɾ el ˈpɾok.si.mo/
If I save this year, maybe I can go next year.

Quick Reference

Five-Minute Practice Plan

Take three simple sentences you already know in Spanish and join them using y, pero, porque.
Write a mini-story about your morning using at least four sequencing connectors: primero, después, luego, al final.
Say five sentences out loud with por eso to show cause and result.
Practice two versions of the same idea: one with porque and one with por eso, for example: No salgo porque… / No tengo dinero, por eso….
Record yourself telling a short story with connectors, then listen and notice where you still use English rhythm.
Choose three connectors from this guide and try to use them at least once in your next Spanish conversation, message, or writing exercise.

Yak-Style Closing Spark

Connectors are small words with big power. Once you start using them, your Spanish stops sounding like separate blocks and starts flowing like real conversation. Keep adding a few at a time, and soon you’ll be linking ideas as smoothly as a native speaker links coffee with conversation.