“Vamos”, “Entonces” and “A ver”: Uses and Meanings Every Spanish Learner Should Know

Here I’ve explained several meanings of words that come up all the time in everyday Spanish and are used constantly by native speakers. If you don’t know these different uses, they can be really confusing, so try to remember them and boost both your understanding and your speaking skills in the language.

1. VAMOS

First of all, vamos is the nosotros form of the verb ir (to go). That’s why its most basic meaning   is “we go”. But in everyday Spanish, this word is also used in many other ways depending on the context.

VAMOS = let’s go

It is used to suggest going somewhere or doing something together.

• Vamos al cine esta noche. → Let’s go to the cinema tonight.

VAMOS = come on

Used to encourage someone, hurry them up, or push them to do something.

• ¡Vamos, habla conmigo! → Come on, talk to me!

VAMOS = well / I mean

Very common in conversation when the speaker wants to clarify, soften, or reformulate something.

• No es perfecto, pero vamos, está bastante bien. → It’s not perfect, but well, it’s pretty good.

VAMOS = come on / seriously?

Depending on tone, it can show disbelief, annoyance, or emotional reaction.

• ¿Te cobró eso por un café? ¡Vamos! → He charged you that for a coffee? Come on!

2 . ENTONCES

ENTONCES = then

Used to talk about what happens next or to place something in time.

• Primero cenamos y entonces vemos la película. → First we have dinner and then we watch the film.

ENTONCES = so

Used to introduce a result or consequence.

• No tienes tiempo, entonces lo dejamos para mañana. → You don’t have time, so we’ll leave it for tomorrow.

ENTONCES = in that case

Used to react to a condition or new information.

• Si no viene nadie más, entonces nos vamos. → If no one else is coming, then in that case we’ll leave.

ENTONCES = back then

Used when referring to a moment in the past.

• Yo no vivía aquí entonces. → I didn’t live here back then.

ENTONCES = so? / well then?

Very common in questions when asking for a conclusion, reaction, or update.

• ¿Entonces? ¿Qué decidiste al final? → So? What did you decide in the end?

3 . A VER

A VER = let’s see

Used when you are about to check something, think about something, or react.

• A ver, enséñame lo que has hecho. → Let’s see, show me what you’ve done.

A VER = well / okay / right

Very common in conversation to organize what you are about to say.

• A ver, no digo que sea mala idea, pero hay que pensarlo bien. → Well, I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, but we need to think it through carefully.

A VER = come on / let’s see if...

Often used to encourage action or introduce a hope or expectation.

• A ver si este año sí podemos viajar. → Let’s see if this year we really can travel.

A VER = used to think out loud

Very common when someone is trying to remember, calculate, or decide something.

• A ver... creo que fue en 2019. → Let me think... I think it was in 2019.

What other meanings and ways of using these words in Spanish do you know?