Master Linking Words and Discourse Markers
Connectors (also called linking words or discourse markers) are words or phrases that help us link ideas, sentences, and paragraphs together. They make our speech and writing flow more naturally and help our listener or reader follow our train of thought.
In Spanish, connectors are called conectores or marcadores del discurso. They're essential for expressing complex ideas and relationships between thoughts.
Need a foundational list before focusing on discourse? .
Since connectors link sentences together, they allow you to use multiple conjugated verbs in a single thought. This means you can build more sophisticated, nuanced sentences that express complex relationships between ideas.
Estudié mucho. Suspendí el examen.
I studied a lot. I failed the exam.
Estudié mucho; sin embargo, suspendí el examen.
I studied a lot; however, I failed the exam.
Before diving into the different types, let's start with the connectors you'll use most frequently in everyday Spanish. These are essential building blocks for connecting ideas.
Me gusta el café y el té.
I like coffee and tea.
¿Prefieres café o té?
Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Quiero ir, pero no tengo tiempo.
I want to go, but I don't have time.
No tienes tiempo; entonces, no vengas.
You don't have time; then, don't come.
Está lloviendo; así que me quedo en casa.
It's raining; so I'm staying home.
No estudié; por eso suspendí.
I didn't study; that's why I failed.
No fui porque estaba enfermo.
I didn't go because I was sick.
Aunque llovía, salimos.
Although it was raining, we went out.
Es caro; sin embargo, vale la pena.
It's expensive; however, it's worth it.
Me gustan los deportes; por ejemplo, el fútbol.
I like sports; for example, soccer.
Me gusta el café. También me gusta el té.
I like coffee. I also like tea.
Es inteligente. Además, es muy trabajador.
He's smart. Moreover, he's very hardworking.
Spanish connectors can be organized by their function in discourse. Below are the main types you'll encounter, ordered from most common to more specialized uses.
These connectors indicate that one idea naturally follows from another. They show outcomes, consequences, or logical results.
Comí demasiado; por eso me dolió el estómago.
I ate too much; that's why my stomach hurt.
No tenía batería; así que no pude responder.
I didn't have battery; so I couldn't respond.
These expressions help introduce specific cases that clarify a general idea.
Muchos países tienen comidas deliciosas; por ejemplo, México y Perú.
Many countries have delicious food; for example, Mexico and Peru.
Varias redes sociales, como TikTok y YouTube, son muy populares.
Several social networks, such as TikTok and YouTube, are very popular.
These connectors show that something happens even when there is a difficulty, obstacle, or contradiction.
Hacía frío; aun así, salimos a correr.
It was cold; even so, we went out for a run.
Aunque estaba cansado, terminó el proyecto.
Although he was tired, he finished the project.
These connectors allow you to expand an idea by adding extra information or reinforcing what was already said.
Voy a estudiar alemán. Además, quiero practicar francés.
I'm going to study German. Moreover, I want to practice French.
No solo llegó temprano; incluso preparó el café.
Not only did he arrive early; he even prepared the coffee.
These expressions help you organize information chronologically or in steps.
Primero preparamos la masa; después la horneamos.
First we prepare the dough; afterwards we bake it.
Salí de casa. A continuación, tomé el autobús.
I left home. Next, I took the bus.
These connectors highlight differences, opposing ideas, or unexpected contrasts.
Él quería descansar; sin embargo, tenía una reunión.
He wanted to rest; however, he had a meeting.
A mí me gusta madrugar; en cambio, mi hermano prefiere trasnocharse.
I like to wake up early; on the other hand, my brother prefers to stay up late.
These connectors help clarify, explain, or restate a previous idea in different words.
Mi hermana es nutricionista; es decir, trabaja con alimentación y salud.
My sister is a nutritionist; that is to say, she works with nutrition and health.
Vivo lejos del centro; o sea, tardo mucho en llegar.
I live far from downtown; I mean, it takes me a long time to get there.
These expressions introduce the reason, motive, or cause behind a situation.
No pude ir porque tenía fiebre.
I couldn't go because I had a fever.
Ya que conoces el proceso, te encargarás del proyecto.
Since you know the process, you'll be in charge of the project.
These connectors help reinforce an argument or prepare the listener for additional important information.
No quedaba café. Dicho esto, tendremos que comprar más.
There was no coffee left. Having said that, we'll have to buy more.
El proyecto es grande; en vista de ello, necesitaremos ayuda extra.
The project is big; in view of this, we'll need extra help.
These expressions allow the speaker to momentarily move away from the main topic to add a side comment.
La presentación salió bien. A propósito, ¿ya enviaste el informe?
The presentation went well. By the way, did you already send the report?
Fui al centro comercial. Por cierto, vi una oferta que te podría interesar.
I went to the mall. By the way, I saw an offer that might interest you.
These connectors are used to wrap up ideas and present final thoughts or conclusions.
En resumen, todo salió mejor de lo esperado.
In summary, everything turned out better than expected.
En definitiva, tomamos la mejor decisión.
Ultimately, we made the best decision.
Begin with the most common connectors (pero, porque, entonces, por ejemplo) before moving to more sophisticated ones.
Some connectors go at the beginning of a sentence, others in the middle. Pay attention to punctuation — many require a semicolon or comma.
Try rewriting simple sentences by combining them with connectors. This will make your Spanish sound more natural and fluent.
When watching Spanish content or talking with native speakers, pay attention to how they use connectors naturally in conversation.
Understanding connectors is one thing, but using them naturally in conversation requires practice with a native speaker. Our tutors can help you master these connectors and speak with confidence.