If you want to speak Spanish just like a native Spanish speaker, you’ll need to express yourself with emotion. A part of the Hispanic lifestyle I really enjoy is seeing how native speakers express themselves with passion and emotion when they’re busily engaged in conversation! Today, you’re going to discover how to bring emotion into your vocabulary with a few really easy, common Spanish phrases all about expressing that you’re really keen to do something.

To state your urges and desires, the Spanish word ganas, which means “desire”, is commonly used. Ganas is a really practical, must-know phrase for your vocab that’ll come in handy for a variety of situations, just combine it with the verb Tener, to have. Time for a selection of brilliant, easy Spanish phrases containing ganas you’ll be able to play around with and modify to reflect your own personal tastes.

Tener Ganas + Infinitive - To really want to do/To strongly feel like doing something

For example:

Tengo ganas de ir a la playa – I really want to go to the beach

¡Tengo ganas de ver la película nueva de Bond! – I can’t wait to see the new Bond film!

So simple aren’t they? Also, if you’re not up for something, ganas can also do the job:

No tengo ganas de salir esta noche – I really don’t feel like going out tonight

You can even increase the emotion by including two short words along with ganas, and it couldn’t be any simpler:

Tengo unas ganas locas de besar a María – I’m aching to kiss María

Tenemos unas ganas locas de ver Barcelona – We really want to see Barcelona

It’s not difficult at all is it? You effortlessly introduce emotion and color to your Spanish just by adding two little words. Really smart, practical phrases to introduce into your spoken Spanish.

Vale, another very cool streetwise verb to add to your Spanish when expressing your emotions is ilusionar. False cognate warning! It does not mean illusion!  

Normally, ilusionar translates as “to build up”. Ilusionar also has an additional meaning for those moments when you want to express delight, joy, happiness and excitement and all you do to state these feelings is to use ilusionar in the past perfect tense, so:

¡Estoy ilusionado con mi coche nuevo! – I’m delighted with my new car!

¡Estás ilusionado con tu nuevo trabajo! – You’re thrilled with your new job!

¡Los niños están ilusionados con sus nuevos juguetes! – The children are thrilled with their new toys!

So easy to do.

Do please have a play with these vibrant Spanish phrases and inject your own unique personality into them because ganas and ilusionar will each help you to express your emotions and I’m sure you’ll master them with ease. Forming your own phrases really is a great way to learn to speak Spanish as well as having a heap of fun as you go!

Hasta luego.