In Spanish, soy muy lista. I can be funny, sarcastic, I can explain complicated things.
In English, for a long time, I sounded like an 8-year-old.
Because I wanted to say in English the same clever sentences I had in my head in Spanish. So I built the sentence in Spanish, translated it word by word, checked the grammar… and by the time it was ready, the conversation had moved on.
If that’s you in Spanish, this article is for you.
- I understand Spanish but can’t speak it: the 5 blocks
- Block 1 — How to practice speaking Spanish by yourself
- Block 2 — How to stop translating in your head (you are here)
- Block 3 — Studied for years and still can’t speak
- Block 4 — How to stop freezing when speaking Spanish
- Block 5 — Where to practice speaking Spanish
Why your brain translates
Translating isn’t a mistake. It’s what an adult brain does: it already has a perfect language for ideas, so it uses it as a bridge. The problem is speed. A real conversation gives you about a second to answer. The bridge English → Spanish takes three or four. So you freeze, or you choose between sounding “stupid” and saying nothing.
6 ways to stop translating
1. Accept the 8-year-old
Say the simple version. “Me gusta. Es bonito. No sé.” An 8-year-old talks all day long, and nobody thinks they are stupid. Simple sentences that come out beat perfect sentences that stay inside.
| What you want to say | The simple version that comes out |
|---|---|
| “I’ve been considering changing careers for a while.” | “Quiero cambiar de trabajo. Lo pienso mucho.” |
| “It wasn’t as good as I expected.” | “Esperaba más. Regular.” |
| “I’d rather not go out tonight, I’m exhausted.” | “Hoy no salgo. Estoy muerta.” |
2. Learn chunks, not words
Natives don’t build sentences from zero. They use ready-made blocks. If you learn the block, there is nothing to translate.
“A ver…”, “Pues…”, “O sea…”, “Lo que pasa es que…”, “Me da igual”, “No me apetece”, “¿Cómo se dice…?”, “Tiene buena pinta”.
Bonus: these chunks buy you time and sound native.
3. Go around the missing word
Don’t search for the translation of “corkscrew”. Say “la cosa para abrir botellas de vino”. Describing is what natives do when they forget a word too. Nobody cares, and the conversation keeps moving.
4. Describe, don’t translate
Practise with images: look at a photo and describe it in Spanish without passing through English. “Hay una mujer. Está en un bar. Parece cansada.” You are connecting Spanish directly to the world, not to English.
5. Think short thoughts in Spanish
During the day, think tiny things in Spanish: “Qué frío.” “Tengo hambre.” “Llego tarde.” Not long monologues, just labels. They build the habit. (I wrote about thinking differently in the Deloitte intern story.)
6. Speak more than you prepare
The translating habit gets weaker every time you speak without preparing. That’s why classes that only correct grammar make it worse: you learn to check every sentence before it leaves your mouth. That internal editor is exactly what kills fluency (more in how to speak Spanish as an adult).
Translating vs thinking in Spanish
| Translating | Thinking in Spanish |
|---|---|
| English sentence → Spanish words | Idea → Spanish chunk |
| Searches for the exact word | Goes around the missing word |
| Checks grammar before speaking | Speaks, then corrects |
| 3–4 seconds per sentence | Under a second |
Want your own set of chunks?
In a 30-minute Roadmap call ($54) I give you the chunks you need for the situations you actually live in: work, travel, family, your Spanish partner’s friends.
Book my Roadmap ($54) →FAQ
How do I stop translating in my head when speaking Spanish?
Stop building sentences word by word. Learn chunks (whole blocks like “lo que pasa es que…”), say the simple version of what you want to say, and go around missing words instead of searching for the exact translation.
How long does it take to think in Spanish?
It happens gradually. Most learners start thinking in Spanish in short bursts after a few weeks of daily speaking practice; it grows with every conversation.
Is it bad to translate when learning Spanish?
Translating is useful when you study (to understand a text or a rule). It becomes a problem in conversation, because it’s too slow.
Why do I sound so simple when I speak Spanish?
Because your adult brain wants to say adult things your Spanish can’t say yet. Accept the simple version: an 8-year-old talks all day. Complexity comes later.
Does my accent matter?
Much less than you think. An accent tells people you speak more than one language. Clarity and confidence matter more.
Keep reading: the 5 reasons you understand Spanish but can’t speak and how to speak Spanish in 7 steps.
— Monica Bernabe Perez
Live in Australia? Practise real Spanish with me, a native teacher from Madrid and DELE examiner: Spanish classes in Sydney, Spanish lessons in Adelaide or Spanish classes in Perth.
$54 · 30 minutes · with Mónica
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