Spanish Greetings: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 3

Spanish Greetings is a free printable worksheet for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Match Spanish words to what they mean. It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, a growing library of free printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795.

It is two A4 pages. Page 1 is the activity for children. Page 2 is for the grown-up: it has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea, and the answers. Print it at home or in the classroom. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

This worksheet includes multiple choice questions with three answers each.

A look at what children will meet:

• What does hola mean?
• What does adiós mean?
• What does buenos días mean?
• What does buenas noches mean?
• What does gracias mean?
• What does por favor mean?

Who this is for

Year 3 (ages 7 to 8) in Key Stage 2.

Key Stage 2 covers Years 3 to 6, ages 7 to 11. Children are widening what they know and getting better at explaining their thinking, so activities that ask them to reason, not only recall, are especially useful. Use it at home, in class, on a rainy afternoon or at a family gathering.

What children practise

• Greetings
• Vocabulary
• Reading

Recognise common Spanish greetings.

Learning focus and curriculum link

Subject: Spanish. Key stage: Key Stage 2. It supports the subject at this level through short, focused practice.

This sheet is a practice and play activity. It supports classroom learning and is not a replacement for it.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
2. Read each question and pick the correct answer.
3. Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice.
4. Check against the notes on page 2 and the answers.
5. Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

If it feels too hard

Say the words out loud.

To stretch confident children

Greet a friend in Spanish.

Make it a game

Learn how to say 'how are you'.

Tips for parents and teachers

• Print on plain A4 paper. Black and white printing works too.
• Work through it together the first time, then let children try alone.
• Praise effort and thinking, not only correct answers.

A screen-free spanish activity for Year 3

Children spend a lot of time on screens. This is a screen-free spanish activity that needs only paper and a pencil. It works as quiet time after school, a rainy day activity, a holiday boredom buster or a calm moment before bed. Screen-free learning gives eyes a rest and gets children talking, thinking and writing by hand.

Free spanish resources for teachers

Teachers can use this worksheet as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, a supply teacher resource, a homework task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. The learning focus and skills are listed above so you can match it to your planning, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.

Spanish ideas for parents at home

You do not need to be a teacher to use this. Read the sheet through, sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work better than long sessions. If you are looking for free spanish worksheets for Year 3, or simple home learning for the weekend or school holidays, this is a good place to start.

Home education and tutoring

Home educators and tutors can print this as part of a wider spanish plan. It pairs well with books, outdoor play and everyday talk. Because the sheet is free and printable, you can use it again for brothers and sisters or for revision a few weeks later.

Why it helps children learn

Hands-on, paper based activities slow learning down in a good way. Children read carefully, think before they answer and see their own progress on the page. Games and challenges add a reason to keep going. That mix of play and practice is why printable activities like this are popular with parents, teachers and home educators.

What children will be able to do

• I can recognise some Spanish greetings.
• I can say hello and goodbye in Spanish.
• I can use a greeting with a friend.

Check it worked

Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.

1. How do you say hello in Spanish?
2. Which greeting would you use in the morning?
3. Which Spanish greetings could you use if we had a short chat?

More like this

• Spanish Days of the Week
• Spanish Regular -ar Verbs

Why Spanish greetings matter

Our own view: "Hola" and "gracias" are short words a child can use straight away. This worksheet has six multiple choice questions: hola, adiós, buenos días, buenas noches, gracias and por favor. Each asks what the word means, with three answers to pick from.

Note on language: the word meanings and pronunciation notes on this page are general guidance from us. They are not from the sources listed. Please check them with a Spanish speaker, such as a teacher, a friend or a neighbour. We have not used any commercial pronunciation sites.

What the research says children find hard

We did not find a study of Year 3 children learning Spanish greetings that we could open and quote. So we have not made up any figures. What we can say comes from the Ofsted research review of languages, published on gov.uk in 2021, which covers languages teaching in general.

• Sounds and spelling. The review says clear and reliable pronunciation and the links between sounds and spelling are integral parts of second language learning. It also says there is evidence that knowledge of the first-language sound and spelling system can be a very strong influence on learning a second one. Our reading of this: a child who knows English spelling may be tempted to read Spanish words as if they were English.
• Vocabulary. The review says vocabulary is crucial for learners to become proficient in languages. It says studies show that a wider vocabulary correlates with other aspects of language ability, such as reading ability and grammatical awareness. Correlation is not proof that one causes the other.
• Using words, not only seeing them. The review says that when vocabulary is introduced, learners should have the chance to use words in both comprehension and production, in speech and in writing.
• Primary provision varies. The review reports that a primary languages research network referred to wide variation in the amount of time spent learning languages in primary schools. Our reading of this: children may arrive in Year 3 with different experiences.

The review does not say that a worksheet works or does not work. Our own view: a sheet that only asks children to read words is a start, not the whole job.

What Year 3 children are expected to learn

Languages is a key stage 2 subject in the national curriculum for England. The programme of study says teaching "may be of any modern or ancient foreign language", so Spanish is one option among many. It says the focus of study in modern languages "will be on practical communication". Pupils should be taught to:

• "listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding"
• "explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words"
• "engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help"
• "speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures"
• "develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases"

The curriculum is set for the whole of key stage 2, Years 3 to 6. The sheet practises one small part: recognising and understanding common words.

Why a worksheet can help

We want to be straight about this. We did not find a study of a greetings worksheet. What we can offer is practical reasoning, based on the sources above.

The curriculum asks pupils to "link the spelling, sound and meaning of words". A matching question joins a written word to its meaning. The sheet's help tip asks the child to say the words out loud, which adds the sound. The Ofsted review says learners should use words in both comprehension and production, so the stretch idea of greeting a friend in Spanish adds the speaking side.

The sheet is practice. It is not a lesson, and it does not replace one.

How to get the most out of Spanish Greetings

Our suggestions, based on the sheet and the sources above:

1. Say the six words first. Say each one aloud, and have your child say it back. Use a Spanish speaker if you can.
2. Try the questions. Let your child pick each answer, and say the word again as they do.
3. Check with page 2. It has the answers. Talk about any that were missed.
4. Ask the three questions. How do you say hello in Spanish? Which greeting would you use in the morning? Which greetings could you use in a short chat?
5. Use the words for real. Greet each other in Spanish at breakfast, or say "gracias" at the table.
6. Add one new phrase. The sheet suggests learning how to say "how are you".
7. Come back another day. Our suggestion: a few minutes more often is easier than one long go.

Common mistakes, and what to say

Our own advice, not from a study. Check pronunciation with a Spanish speaker.

• Reading Spanish as if it were English. The Ofsted review says first-language spelling habits can strongly influence second-language learning. Say: "Let's listen again. How does a Spanish speaker say it?"
• Mixing up the two greetings that start with buen. Our general understanding is that "buenos días" is for the morning and "buenas noches" is for the night. Say: "Which one fits the morning?"
• Dropping the accent when writing. Words like "adiós" and "días" have an accent mark. Say: "Where does the little mark go?"
• Guessing from the English look of a word. A guess can be right or wrong. Say: "Say the word first. Then pick."
• Making it a test. Praise any attempt to say a word. Say: "Good try. Let's say it together."

Why teachers matter to us

We are a games company, and we have been making games for families since 1795. A printable does not replace a teacher. A 2011 interim report for the Sutton Trust looked at how much teachers affect pupil achievement. It found that in one year with a very effective maths teacher, pupils gain 40% more learning than with a poorly performing maths teacher. That finding is about maths teachers, not languages.

The report also found that for poor pupils the difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher is a whole year's learning. It found that gender, race, teaching experience, undergraduate university attended, advanced degrees, teacher certification and tenure explain less than 8% of teacher quality. A University of Bristol working paper (2009) linked over 7,000 pupils in England to their teachers and found considerable variability in teacher effectiveness. In languages, the Ofsted review says a Research in Primary Languages Network pinpointed teachers' subject knowledge as an area needing greater focus. We are grateful to every teacher who helps children say their first words in a new language.

A caution on the Sutton Trust figures: the report draws on US studies as well as English ones. The 40% compares a very effective teacher (at the 84th percentile) with a poorly performing one (at the 16th percentile). The figure that paper credentials explain less than 8% of teacher quality comes from US research. We use them as pointers, not as a promise about any one child.

Why education matters to us

Learning even a few words of another language is a way of saying to someone: I would like to talk to you. Jaques of London has made games for families to share for generations. The Mini Minds Hub carries that on with free sheets that need only paper and a pencil, simple enough for a parent at a kitchen table to use alongside what a teacher does in class.

Spanish Greetings: 20 questions and answers

1. What do the six words mean?

In general use: hola is hello, adiós is goodbye, buenos días is good morning, buenas noches is good night, gracias is thank you and por favor is please. Check with a Spanish speaker. The answers are on page 2.

2. How do I say "hola"?

Our general guide: the letter h is silent in Spanish, so it sounds a little like "OH-la". Check with a Spanish speaker.

3. What are the little marks in adiós and días?

They are accent marks. They are part of the spelling, so copy them when writing. A Spanish speaker can tell you how they change the sound.

4. Why "buenos" in one and "buenas" in the other?

Our general understanding is that Spanish words change to match the noun: días is a masculine word and noches is a feminine one. The national curriculum lists masculine and feminine forms as part of basic grammar. Do not worry about it yet.

5. Does the curriculum say we must learn Spanish?

No. It says teaching may be of any modern or ancient foreign language. Your school chooses.

6. My child learns French at school. Is Spanish a problem?

The curriculum says teaching should focus on enabling pupils to make substantial progress in one language. Our suggestion: use school's language first, and treat Spanish as a fun extra.

7. I do not speak Spanish. Can I still help?

Yes. Our advice: ask a Spanish speaker to say the six words and record them, or ask your child's teacher. The Ofsted review says a Research in Primary Languages Network pinpointed teachers' subject knowledge as an area needing greater focus.

8. Why say the words out loud?

The curriculum asks pupils to develop accurate pronunciation and intonation. The Ofsted review says clear pronunciation and the links between sounds and spelling are integral to second language learning.

9. Why do Spanish words sometimes sound different from how they look?

Our general understanding is that Spanish spelling follows its own patterns. The Ofsted review says our English spelling habits can strongly influence how we learn a second system. That is why listening to a Spanish speaker helps.

10. What does the greeting-a-friend stretch look like?

Say "hola" to a friend or family member and wait for a reply. Our suggestion: try it at breakfast, or when someone comes into the room.

11. How do I say "how are you"?

Our general understanding: "¿Cómo estás?" is the friendly form. Check with a Spanish speaker, and ask them to say it for you.

12. Do I teach "gracias" and "por favor" together?

It is up to you. Our suggestion: use them for real, at the table, so they come with a reason to say them.

13. How many new words is too many?

We have no study that gives a number. Our suggestion: start with two or three and add more when those feel easy.

14. Does the sheet test speaking?

No. It is a reading and recognition sheet, matching a Spanish word to a meaning. Speaking comes from the tips on page 2.

15. Does knowing more words help?

The Ofsted review says studies show wider vocabulary correlates with other aspects of language ability. That does not show that it causes them, and it is about language learning in general.

16. Should we write the words as well?

Yes, a little. The Ofsted review says vocabulary practice across different modalities is likely to better embed vocabulary in memory. Copy one word a day, with the accent marks.

17. What if the answer on page 2 does not match mine?

Say the word and its meaning together, and look at it again. Our advice: if you are still unsure, ask a Spanish speaker or your child's teacher.

18. Is this a game?

It is a worksheet. To make it playful, our suggestion: take turns reading a word aloud and the other person says what it means.

19. What comes after Year 3?

Key stage 2 continues to Year 6. The curriculum also lists writing phrases from memory, and describing people, places, things and actions.

20. Where can we find more Spanish sheets?

See the More like this section below, or browse all Spanish printables in the Mini Minds Hub.

Sources

1. Department for Education, National curriculum in England: languages programmes of study: www.gov.uk.
2. Ofsted, Curriculum research review series: languages (2021): www.gov.uk.
3. Sutton Trust, Improving the impact of teachers on pupil achievement in the UK, interim findings (2011): dera.ioe.ac.uk.
4. Slater, Davies and Burgess, University of Bristol CMPO Working Paper 09/212 (2009): bristol.ac.uk.

Frequently asked questions

What age is Spanish Greetings for?

It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2.

What will children practise?

Recognise common Spanish greetings.

How do I use it?

Read each question and pick the correct answer.

What if it feels too hard?

Say the words out loud.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use.

Is Spanish Greetings suitable for teachers to use in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing.

Is this a screen-free activity?

Yes. It is a screen-free printable that needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays.

Can I use it for home education?

Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider plan. It is free to print again for brothers, sisters or revision.

How long does it take?

Most children finish page 1 in 10 to 20 minutes. The notes on page 2 suggest ways to make it shorter or longer.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper.

More free printables

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