Spanish - Social Transitions

Lesson 89 of 159

Learner practicing Spanish transitional phrases for smoother conversation.

Goal: Useful phrases to steer and return in conversations

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

Ready to smooth your conversational moves? This lesson is all about little phrases that keep talk flowing—switching topics, correcting, or circling back. Have fun practicing them out loud!

Level B1: In this lesson you'll learn four natural Spanish transition phrases—how to add emphasis, gently correct, change the subject, and return to an earlier point. We'll listen, practice with quizzes and matching, then say the phrases aloud so they feel ready to use in real conversation. (CEFR-aligned guidance.)

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use four B1-level conversational transitions in spoken Spanish.
  • Practice changing topics politely and returning smoothly to an earlier point.
  • Build confidence saying these phrases aloud in short interactions.
Two friends chatting while practicing change-of-topic and correction phrases in Spanish.

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.

De hecho, ...

In fact, ...

Meaning: In fact, ...

When to use: Add emphasis or precise information after a point, or to reinforce what you just said.

Tip: Don't always use it for gentle corrections; sometimes En realidad fits better for soft contradictions.

De hecho, ya terminé el informe esta mañana.
In fact, I finished the report this morning.
Pensé que era difícil; de hecho, fue más sencillo de lo esperado.
I thought it was hard; in fact, it was easier than expected.

En realidad, ...

Actually, ...

Meaning: Actually, ...

When to use: Gently correct or clarify a misunderstanding; shift a previous assumption.

Tip: Learners sometimes use De hecho instead; use En realidad when correcting a mistaken assumption.

¿Vienes mañana? En realidad, voy el sábado.
Are you coming tomorrow? Actually, I'm going on Saturday.
Creías que era imposible. En realidad, sí hay una solución.
You thought it was impossible. Actually, there is a solution.

Cambiando de tema, ...

To change the subject, ...

Meaning: To change the subject, ...

When to use: Use this phrase to clearly signal you want to move the conversation to a different topic.

Cambiando de tema, ¿ya reservaste el restaurante para viernes?
Changing the subject, did you book the restaurant for Friday?
Cambiando de tema, te quería preguntar sobre tus planes de viaje.
Changing the subject, I wanted to ask you about your travel plans.

Volviendo a ___, ...

Going back to ___, ...

Meaning: Going back to ___, ...

When to use: Bring the conversation back to a previous point or to something you left unfinished.

Volviendo a la reunión, necesitamos confirmar la hora final.
Going back to the meeting, we need to confirm the final time.
Volviendo a eso, ¿qué decidimos sobre el presupuesto?
Going back to that, what did we decide about the budget?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two colleagues wrap up meeting talk and change topics.

Anna and David use transition phrases in a friendly Spanish mini-conversation about meetings and events.

Who changes the subject?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Hola David, ¿qué tal la reunión?

Hi David, how was the meeting?

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Fue bien. De hecho, conseguimos tres nuevos clientes.

It went well. In fact, we got three new clients.

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

¡Qué buena noticia! En realidad, pensaba que sería más lenta.

Great news! Actually, I thought it would be slower.

Portrait of David in a Spanish lesson dialogue

David

Cambiando de tema, ¿vas al evento del viernes?

Changing the subject, are you going to Friday's event?

Portrait of Anna in a Spanish lesson dialogue

Anna

Creo que sí. Volviendo a la reunión, necesitamos confirmar la hora del martes.

I think so. Going back to the meeting, we need to confirm Tuesday's time.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase clearly signals you want to change the subject?

Which phrase is best for a gentle correction (meaning: 'Actually, that's not the case')?

Which phrase would you use to emphasize or add factual detail?

Which phrase helps you return to a previous point in the conversation?

We were talking about the project. Changing the subject, what do you think about the trip?

Estábamos hablando del proyecto. ____, ¿qué opinas del viaje?

Didn't you move last month? Actually, I'm moving next week.

¿No te mudaste el mes pasado? ____, me mudo la semana que viene.

We talked about the agenda yesterday. Going back to that, had we decided the date?

Hablamos de la agenda ayer. ____, ¿habíamos decidido la fecha?

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:

De hecho, ...

In fact, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

En realidad, ...

Actually, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Cambiando de tema, ...

To change the subject, ...

Say this phrase out loud:

Volviendo a ___, ...

Going back to ___, ...