Spanish - Fillers (Social Glue)

Lesson 84 of 159

Learner practicing Spanish filler phrases to sound more natural in conversations.

Goal: Quick phrases to pause, clarify, and keep conversation flowing

Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Nice work reaching lesson 84 — you're building the small phrases that make conversations feel natural. This short lesson focuses on everyday Spanish fillers you can use while you think, clarify, or gently correct yourself.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll learn 13 common Spanish filler phrases (social glue) like "Déjame pensar," "O sea," and "Buena pregunta." These help you buy time, recover your thought, or introduce a clarification in casual and neutral conversations. Practice hearing them, seeing them in a short dialogue, then repeat them aloud to make them yours.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use 13 common Spanish fillers to pause, clarify, or continue an idea.
  • Practice short replies to buy time (e.g., "Un momento.") and ways to recover a thought (e.g., "¿Qué estaba diciendo?").
  • Build A2-level naturalness: small phrases that keep conversations smooth (CEFR-aligned).

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Déjame pensar.

Let me think.

Meaning: Let me think.

When to use: Use to ask for a brief moment to consider an answer or idea.

Tip: Some learners forget the formal option; use “Déjeme pensar” in polite/formal settings.

Déjame pensar, ¿prefieres cenar temprano o tarde?
Let me think — do you prefer an early or late dinner?
Hmm... déjame pensar, creo que puedo ayudarte el sábado.
Let me think — I think I can help on Saturday.

Un momento.

Just a moment.

Meaning: Just a moment.

When to use: Use when you need someone to wait briefly (service or casual).

Un momento, voy a buscar la información.
Just a moment — I'll go find the information.
¿Puedes esperar un momento mientras termino esto?
Can you wait a moment while I finish this?

Un segundo.

One second.

Meaning: One second.

When to use: Use informally to ask for a very short pause.

Un segundo, tengo que escribir esto rápido.
One second — I need to write this quickly.
Un segundo, cierro la ventana y vuelvo.
One second — I'll close the window and come back.

¿Cómo lo digo?

How can I say this?

Meaning: How can I say this?

When to use: Use aloud when searching for the right word or phrase.

¿Cómo lo digo? Es cuando todos colaboran en un proyecto.
How can I say this? It's when everyone collaborates on a project.
¿Cómo lo digo? No es exactamente igual a antes.
How can I say this? It's not exactly the same as before.

O sea, ___.

I mean, ___.

Meaning: I mean, ___.

When to use: Use to clarify or restate an idea you just said.

O sea, necesito más tiempo para preparar el informe.
I mean, I need more time to prepare the report.
O sea, no es que no quiera — es que estoy ocupado.
I mean, it's not that I don't want to — I'm just busy.

Pues, ___.

Well, ___.

Meaning: Well, ___.

When to use: Start an answer while you organize your thoughts.

Pues, creo que podemos cambiar la fecha.
Well, I think we can change the date.
Pues, depende de lo que tú prefieras.
Well, it depends on what you prefer.

De hecho, ___.

Actually, ___.

Meaning: Actually, ___.

When to use: Introduce a small correction, contrast, or surprising fact.

De hecho, el museo abre a las diez, no a las nueve.
Actually, the museum opens at ten, not nine.
De hecho, ya terminé el proyecto ayer.
Actually, I already finished the project yesterday.

Entonces, ___.

So, ___.

Meaning: So, ___.

When to use: Use to continue, organize, or move to the next point.

Entonces, primero revisamos el presupuesto y después hablamos con el equipo.
So, first we'll review the budget and then talk with the team.
Entonces, ¿quedamos el lunes o el martes?
So, shall we meet Monday or Tuesday?

Lo que pasa es que ___.

The thing is, ___.

Meaning: The thing is, ___.

When to use: Softly introduce the main point or reason for something.

Lo que pasa es que tengo otra cita esa tarde.
The thing is, I have another appointment that afternoon.
Lo que pasa es que no me llegó el correo aún.
The thing is, I haven't received the email yet.

No estoy seguro, pero ___.

I'm not sure, but ___.

Meaning: I'm not sure, but ___.

When to use: Offer an answer while signaling uncertainty; keep the conversation moving.

Tip: Adjust gender if needed: speakers identifying as female may say “No estoy segura, pero...”

No estoy seguro, pero creo que la reunión es a las tres.
I'm not sure, but I think the meeting is at three.
No estoy seguro, pero puede ser que haya retrasos en el envío.
I'm not sure, but there may be delays in the shipment.

Buena pregunta.

That's a good question.

Meaning: That's a good question.

When to use: Use to buy time after being asked something you want to think about.

Buena pregunta. Déjame pensar un momento antes de responder.
That's a good question. Let me think a moment before answering.
Buena pregunta; voy a revisar los datos y te digo.
That's a good question; I'll check the data and tell you.

¿Qué estaba diciendo?

What was I saying?

Meaning: What was I saying?

When to use: Use to recover your train of thought after an interruption.

¿Qué estaba diciendo? Ah, sí, que necesitamos más voluntarios.
What was I saying? Ah yes, that we need more volunteers.
¿Qué estaba diciendo? Perdón, me interrumpieron.
What was I saying? Sorry, I was interrupted.

¿En qué me quedé?

Where was I?

Meaning: Where was I?

When to use: Return to a previous point after a pause or interruption.

¿En qué me quedé? Ah, justo estaba hablando del presupuesto.
Where was I? Ah, I was just talking about the budget.
¿En qué me quedé? Creo que iba a mencionar la fecha final.
Where was I? I think I was going to mention the deadline.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna and David are planning a small event and use fillers while thinking.

Anna and David using fillers like 'Un momento' and 'Déjame pensar' in a short Spanish dialogue.

Who asks for a moment to think?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Buena pregunta. ¿Un momento?

That's a good question. One moment?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Un momento. ¿Cómo lo digo? Quería explicar la idea con calma.

One moment. How can I say this? I wanted to explain the idea calmly.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Déjame pensar... pues, podríamos empezar por las seis.

Let me think... well, we could start at six.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

O sea, seis estaría perfecto. Entonces, confirmo con el local.

I mean, six would be perfect. So, I'll confirm with the venue.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase would you say to ask someone to wait briefly while you find information?

Which phrase is a casual, very short pause like 'one second'?

Which filler would you use to correct or contrast something you just said?

If you lose your train of thought and want to recover it, what do you say?

—Do you have plans for tomorrow? —Let me think.

—¿Tienes planes para mañana? —______

Sorry, I was interrupted; what was I saying to continue my idea?

Perdón, me interrumpieron; ______ para continuar con mi idea.

—Why can't you come? —The thing is, I don't have transportation.

—¿Por qué no puedes venir? —______ no tengo transporte.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Déjame pensar.

Let me think.

Say this phrase out loud:

Un momento.

Just a moment.

Say this phrase out loud:

Un segundo.

One second.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Cómo lo digo?

How can I say this?

Say this phrase out loud:

O sea, ___.

I mean, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Pues, ___.

Well, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

De hecho, ___.

Actually, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Entonces, ___.

So, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Lo que pasa es que ___.

The thing is, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

No estoy seguro, pero ___.

I'm not sure, but ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Buena pregunta.

That's a good question.

Say this phrase out loud:

¿Qué estaba diciendo?

What was I saying?

Say this phrase out loud:

¿En qué me quedé?

Where was I?