10 Common mistakes Spanish speakers make in English

If you’re a Spanish speaker learning English, chances are you’ve bumped into a few of the usual suspects: pronunciation puzzles, tricky word order, or those sneaky “false friends” that look familiar but mean something completely different.

The good news? You’re not alone. These mistakes are normal, and honestly, they’re part of the fun (and sometimes frustration) of learning a new language. As teachers, we’ve heard them all, and the key is not to be afraid of making them.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common errors Spanish speakers make when learning English, and why they’re nothing to stress about.

1. The V and B blur

Let’s start with a classic: v and b. In Spanish, these sounds are almost identical. But in English, van and ban don’t mean the same thing (unless your van is banned, but that’s another story).
Tip: Lightly touch your bottom lip to your top teeth for v, and press your lips together for b. Practice with words like vote and boat.

2. Adding an “eh” before s-words

Ever said esnake or eschool? You’re not alone. Spanish doesn’t allow many words to start with just “s” + consonant, so the instinct is to add a vowel.
Tip: Slow down and listen to how native speakers say words like street or Spain. Repeating short phrases can help break the habit.

3. Mixing Up “I” and “E” sounds

Words like bit and beat, or live and leave, can cause confusion. Spanish has different vowel sounds, so it’s totally normal to struggle with the English i (as in kind, find, crime) vs. e (as in pen, men).
Tip: Minimal pairs are your friends. Try practising word sets like ship/sheep, bin/bean, fit/feet.

4. False friends

Ah, the trap of actual, sensible, and assist. They look just like their Spanish cousins but have grown up in completely different households.

• Actual in English means real, not current.
• Sensible means reasonable, not sensitive.
• Assist is to help, not to attend.

Tip: Keep a running list of false friends and check meanings in context. You’ll get the hang of them in no time.

5. Adjective-Noun word order

In English, we say a red car, not a car red. In Spanish, adjectives often come after the noun, so it’s natural to get this mixed up.
Tip: Try building noun phrases out loud: a delicious cake, a noisy neighbour, a boring film. Make it fun and descriptive!

6. Questions and auxiliary verbs

“You like pizza?” might work in a casual setting, but it’s not quite standard English.
In English, we need that helping verb: Do you like pizza?
And in the negative: I don’t want to go (not I no want).
Tip: Get familiar with do, does, did, and don’t/didn’t. They’re small words that make a big difference.

7. Present Simple vs. Continuous Confusion

“I’m having a car.” Whoops! English only uses the continuous form (-ing) for actions in progress or temporary situations, not for things you have.
Tip: Use the present simple for facts and routines: I have a car; She lives in Valencia; We like sushi.

8. Tense confusion (especially Present Perfect)

This one’s a beast (not Mr. Beast!). Spanish uses the present perfect differently, which leads to sentences like:
I have seen her yesterday.
In English, we’d say: I saw her yesterday. The present perfect is for unspecified time, like I’ve seen that film before.
Tip: Ask yourself: When did it happen? If there’s a clear time, use the past simple.

9. Prepositions: the sneaky little words

Married with someone? Nope, it’s married to.
Excited about or excited to? They mean different things, so making sure you have the correction preposition makes a difference to your sentence.

In this case, excited about = a feeling of excitement about something specific – an idea, or event. Example: I’m excited about my trip to Cambridge.

Excited to = excitement linked to anticipation of doing something. Example: They’re excited to start at university.

Prepositions are one of the trickiest parts of English because they don’t always follow logic or match the Spanish equivalent.
Tip: Learn prepositions in chunks: interested in, good at, depend on. Don’t try to translate them literally.

10. Overusing or dropping subjects

In Spanish, the verb tells you who the subject is, so you can often drop it: Voy al cine.
In English, though, we need that little I, you, he, it, etc., otherwise the sentence feels incomplete: Is raining should be It is raining.
Tip: Always include a subject, even if it feels unnecessary.

Mistakes are a sign you’re learning

Making mistakes is how you get better. If you never mess up, you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough. Every mispronounced beach (we’ve all been there), every confusing sentence, every “Oops!” moment is a step forward.

And if you ever feel stuck, remember: English speakers love it when someone makes the effort to speak their language. Fluency takes time, but communication starts the moment you try.

If you’re Spanish speakers wanting to improve your English, then give us a call. We’d love to help you on your journey to fluency!