How Long It’ll Take YOU to Learn Spanish (Try Our Calculator)

If you’re wondering how long it will take you to learn Spanish, you’ve come to the right place. There are a million different answers you can find on the web for this question, but there’s one huge problem with all of them: They’re generic. And that’s a problem we’ve solved here at Langoly.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the different levels of Spanish fluency, how many study hours per day it takes to reach each one of them, and how long you need to study to reach your goals. You can even use our Fluency Calculator to see exactly how long it’ll take you to learn Spanish based on a few questions. We’ll also take a look at factors that can influence how long it will take you to learn Spanish. 

Ready? ¡Vamos! (Let’s go!)

What are the Levels of Spanish Fluency?

There are different levels of Spanish fluency, and you can figure out where you are by evaluating your skills. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a standardized framework that makes it easy to measure your skills. According to the CEFR scale, there are six levels of fluency that go from the absolute beginner level  (A1) to complete fluency (C2). Here’s what you should be able to accomplish according to each level of Spanish:

Beginner (A1) – Hola, me llamo…

As a beginner, you’re able to recognize very basic vocabulary and participate in simple interactions like asking for time and introducing yourself. However, you might need help formulating more complex sentences.

Pre-Intermediate (A2) – Yo vivo en la ciudad y me gusta ir a la playa

You can understand and communicate with the most frequently used vocabulary. At a pre-intermediate level, you can talk about common topics such as family, living conditions, and education. You can also understand and write short and simple messages related to these topics.

Intermediate (B1) – El año pasado, nosotros viajamos a Argentina

Once you’ve reached the B1 level, you can understand the main point of everyday conversation topics as well as the news, TV and radio programs, and current events. You can create sentences to describe emotions, interests, experiences, and events. Thanks to this, you can also participate in casual conversations without having to prepare yourself beforehand.

Upper-Intermediate (B2) – Creo que hay formas de ayudar al planeta

At an upper-intermediate level, you understand complex or abstract topics and can express yourself with ease. You feel comfortable participating in a conversation with a native speaker and can discuss your viewpoints on familiar subjects. You can also write clear and well-structured texts about more advanced topics like book reviews or short essays about the environment.

Advanced (C1) – Es mejor aprender poco a poco que estudiar por estudiar

As an advanced-level language learner, you can express yourself fluently without struggle. You can understand extended speech even when the pronunciation isn’t too clear or the native Spanish speaker uses idiomatic phrases or slang. At this level, you can also write complex texts with specific writing styles and readers in mind.

Proficient (C2) – En resumen, el exámen demostró su nivel de fluidez

Now that you’ve reached proficiency, you have no issues understanding any kind of accent, dialect, idiomatic expressions, or colloquialisms. You can communicate clear arguments and points of view about different advanced topics like culture, politics, or current events. At this level, you can easily read all forms of the written language such as complex literary works, manuals, professional reviews, and more. 

Now that you know the levels of Spanish, let’s take a look at how long it takes to reach each one of them.

How Many Hours Does it Take to Learn Spanish?

According to the Foreign Service Institute, it takes around 750 hours for English learners to reach fluency in Spanish. However, depending on why you want to learn Spanish, it could take you a lot less. For example, reaching the B1 level can take you around half the time! 

Here’s a table you can use to see the estimated time needed to reach each level of Spanish: