First words in English and Spanish: a 100-word list for bilingual toddlers

Looking for a list of first words in English and Spanish for your toddler? Here it is: 100 everyday words, each with its English and Spanish name side by side, grouped by the moments of a normal day. You can print this page, stick it on the fridge and use it as a simple checklist.

Word pairs work beautifully for bilingual toddlers. Your child may already know “agua,” “gato” and “mamá.” Now “water,” “cat” and “mommy” become a second name for something they already love. Nothing new to understand, just a new way to say it.

Below you’ll find the full list, the words that sound almost the same in both languages, first phrases, easy games and a few tips for using the list without turning it into homework.

Why word pairs work for bilingual toddlers

Toddlers learn words they can see, touch and use. When your child already knows a word in Spanish, the English word has something to hold on to. “Perro” is the furry friend next door. “Dog” is simply another name for him.

That’s why it makes sense to start English with the words your child already uses at home. Your child isn’t learning a new world, just a second set of labels for the world they know. It’s a gentle, confident way to begin.

Word pairs also help you, the parent. If English isn’t your first language, the list shows you exactly which words to use, so you can bring English into your day without guessing. And if you speak English and want to keep Spanish alive with grandparents, it works just as well in the other direction.

How to use this list

• Don’t teach it in order. Pick the words that fit your child’s day right now. Love trucks? Start with “car.” Always hungry? Start with food.
• Use three to five words a week. Say them during real moments, many times, with the real thing in front of you.
• Keep your home language too. Say the word in your usual language, then add the English name once: “Agua… water!” Then carry on in your usual way.
• Mark the list as you go. Next to each word, write N (new), R (repeat more), U (understands) or S (can say). It’s a simple way to see progress over weeks.

Spanish words change a little from country to country: “plátano” or “banana,” “carro” or “coche,” “jugo” or “zumo.” Use the word your family uses. The list below uses common Latin American words.

The list: 100 first words in English and Spanish

Ten groups, ten words each. English first, Spanish second.

People

• mommy · mamá
• daddy · papá
• baby · bebé
• grandma · abuela
• grandpa · abuelo
• brother · hermano
• sister · hermana
• friend · amigo, amiga
• teacher · maestra, maestro
• family · familia

Hello and goodbye

• hello · hola
• bye-bye · adiós
• please · por favor
• thank you · gracias
• yes · sí
• no · no
• sorry · perdón
• good morning · buenos días
• good night · buenas noches
• I love you · te quiero

Food and drink

• water · agua
• milk · leche
• juice · jugo
• banana · plátano
• apple · manzana
• bread · pan
• cookie · galleta
• egg · huevo
• rice · arroz
• cheese · queso

Animals

• dog · perro
• cat · gato
• bird · pájaro
• fish · pez
• duck · pato
• cow · vaca
• horse · caballo
• pig · cerdo
• sheep · oveja
• bear · oso

Body

• eyes · ojos
• nose · nariz
• mouth · boca
• ears · orejas
• hands · manos
• feet · pies
• head · cabeza
• tummy · panza
• teeth · dientes
• hair · pelo

Clothes

• shoes · zapatos
• socks · calcetines
• shirt · camisa
• pants · pantalones
• hat · gorro
• jacket · chaqueta
• dress · vestido
• boots · botas
• pajamas · pijama
• diaper · pañal

Things at home

• ball · pelota
• book · libro
• bed · cama
• cup · vaso
• spoon · cuchara
• chair · silla
• door · puerta
• bath · baño
• toy · juguete
• car · carro

Colors

• red · rojo
• blue · azul
• yellow · amarillo
• green · verde
• orange · naranja
• purple · morado
• pink · rosa
• black · negro
• white · blanco
• brown · café

Doing words

• eat · comer
• drink · tomar
• sleep · dormir
• play · jugar
• wash · lavar
• jump · saltar
• run · correr
• sit · sentarse
• open · abrir
• look · mirar

Little helper words

• more · más
• all done · se acabó
• up · arriba
• down · abajo
• help · ayuda
• mine · mío
• hot · caliente
• cold · frío
• big · grande
• little · chiquito

Words that sound almost the same

Some English and Spanish words are close cousins. They’re a wonderful place to start, because your child hears something familiar right away and feels clever for knowing it.

First phrases: what comes after single words

Once your child has a handful of words, two-word phrases start to appear. Here are the ones toddlers use most, with their Spanish partners.

Notice that Spanish and English put some words in a different order: “big dog” but “perro grande.” Toddlers sort this out on their own over time. You don’t need to explain it. Just use each phrase naturally.

Five easy games with word pairs

1. Two names. Hold up something your child knows. “Qué es? Es un gato! And in English… cat!” Make it a little drumroll moment.

2. Where is it? Hide a toy under a blanket. Ask “Where is the ball?” Then, another time, “Dónde está la pelota?” Same game, two languages.

3. Shopping helper. At the store, ask your child to find things on the list: “Can you see a banana?” Let them point, then put it in the cart.

4. Bath time body parts. Wash each part and name it: “Nose! Nariz! Toes!” Bath time is warm, slow and repeats every day, which makes it perfect for new words.

5. Color hunt. Choose one color for the day. Everything red you see, say “red” and “rojo.” By evening, your child may be pointing them out for you.

Counting words in two languages

Bilingual toddlers have two sets of words, and each set may be smaller than a single-language child’s list. That’s normal. To see the full picture, count both languages together. If your child says “agua” and “water,” that’s two words they know.

Also notice what your child understands, not just what they say. Many toddlers understand far more than they can say yet, and in both languages. The U and S marks on your list help you see this difference.

For more on this, read our guide on whether toddlers can learn two languages at once and our post on raising a bilingual toddler without the worry.

Common mistakes (and what to do instead)

• Drilling the list. Toddlers learn from real moments, not from going down a list. Use the list for you, not as a test for your child.
• Too many new words at once. Three to five a week is plenty. Repeat them often.
• Translating everything. You don’t need to say every sentence twice. One English word inside your normal talk is enough.
• Skipping the real object. Say “spoon” while holding the spoon, not while looking at a picture of a spoon across the room.
• Only teaching nouns. Little words like “more,” “up” and “all done” are some of the most useful words a toddler can have. Don’t skip them.

If you have a worry

Every child grows at their own pace, and bilingual children often have their own path too. If you’re ever worried about how your child is talking or understanding, in any language, talk to your child’s pediatrician. Bring this list with your marks on it. It shows the words your child knows in both languages.

Where Tatako fits

Tatako teaches 280 first English words and phrases in short five-minute lessons, with nothing to read. Many of the words on this list are there: “mommy,” “water,” “ball,” “dog,” “red,” “more,” “all done,” along with the phrases teachers use at preschool. Your child hears each word three times with a pause to say it, touches the picture they hear, and then names the picture first.

Shaky words come back first. After each lesson, you spend about two minutes marking every word as New, Repeat more, Understands or Can say, just like the marks on this list. A Spanish guide voice explains what to do, so you can help even if English is new for you too. For more English words to add later, see our first English words for toddlers and English words for preschool.

Questions parents ask

What are common first words for babies in Spanish?

Many babies and toddlers start with words for people and everyday things: “mamá,” “papá,” “agua,” “leche,” “pan,” “perro,” “gato,” “hola,” “adiós” and “más.” They’re short, easy to say and come up many times a day.

Should I teach first words in English and Spanish at the same time?

Yes, that works well. Use your usual language most of the time, and add the English name for a few words each week. Your child learns both names for the same thing.

Can I print this first words list?

Yes. Print this page from your browser, or copy the words you need onto paper. Many parents keep the list on the fridge and add marks as their child learns.

What if my child knows a word only in Spanish?

That’s a great start. The idea is already there, so the English word has something to connect to. Say “Gato… cat!” during real moments and give it time.

Which words should a bilingual toddler learn first?

Words your child can see and use every day: family names, food, favorite toys, animals and little helper words like “more,” “up” and “all done.” Pick the ones that match your child’s life right now.

A hundred words, two names each, one day at a time. Start with three, keep the list on the fridge, and enjoy the moment your child says a word you didn’t know they knew. If you’d like a calm five-minute English moment to help, try a Tatako lesson together, or read our guide to teaching English when you speak Spanish at home.