GCSE verb list

The Most Important
Spanish Verbs for GCSE

All 121 verbs from our library that appear on the AQA (8692), Edexcel (1SP1) and Eduqas GCSE vocabulary lists, ranked by how many boards list them. If a verb is on all three lists, it is the safest possible revision target.

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How this list was built

Each of the 128 verbs in our library was checked against the Foundation and Higher vocabulary lists of the three 2024 GCSE specifications: AQA 8692, Pearson Edexcel 1SP1 and WJEC Eduqas. The score below is the number of boards whose published list includes the verb (its infinitive or a conjugated form). Every verb on at least one list is here.

On all three lists — 95 verbs

These are the safest verbs in the language for GCSE: they appear on every 2024 spec. Learn them first.

VerbMeaning
abrirto open
aceptarto accept
acompañarto accompany
aprenderto learn
arreglarto fix
asistirto attend
aumentarto increase
ayudarto help
bailarto dance
beberto drink
cambiarto change
caminarto walk
cantarto sing
celebrarto celebrate
cocinarto cook
comerto eat
compartirto share
comprarto buy
comprenderto understand
consistirto consist
contestarto answer
correrto run
deberto owe / should
decidirto decide
decirto say / tell
dejarto leave / let
dependerto depend
descansarto rest
describirto describe
discutirto discuss
dormirto sleep
entrarto enter
esconderto hide
escribirto write
escucharto listen
esperarto wait / hope
estarto be (temporary)
estudiarto study
existirto exist
ganarto win / earn
gritarto shout
guardarto keep
hablarto speak
hacerto do / make
invitarto invite
irto go
lavarto wash
leerto read
limpiarto clean
llamarto call
llenarto fill
llevarto carry / wear
llorarto cry
mandarto send
mirarto look / watch
montarto ride / assemble
necesitarto need
notarto notice
odiarto hate
olvidarto forget
pararto stop
pasarto pass / spend time
pensarto think
permitirto allow
pintarto paint
poderto be able to / can
ponerto put / place
preguntarto ask
prepararto prepare
presentarto present
prometerto promise
quedarto stay / arrange
quererto want
recibirto receive
regresarto return
responderto answer
romperto break
saberto know
salirto leave / go out
seguirto follow / continue
sentirto feel
serto be (permanent)
subirto go up / upload
tenerto have
terminarto finish
tirarto throw / pull
tomarto take / drink
trabajarto work
usarto use
venderto sell
venirto come
verto see
viajarto travel
visitarto visit
vivirto live

On two of the three lists — 21 verbs

Still high-frequency and worth knowing for any board.

VerbMeaning
alquilarto rent
barrerto sweep
cenarto have dinner
charlarto chat
consumirto consume
coserto sew
desayunarto have breakfast
desearto wish
dibujarto draw
enseñarto teach
firmarto sign
gastarto spend
meterto put in
nadarto swim
ocurrirto happen
quitarto remove
robarto steal
sorprenderto surprise
sufrirto suffer
temerto fear
unirto unite

On one list — 5 verbs

Required by one board's list; useful beyond GCSE too.

VerbMeaning
añadirto add
cumplirto fulfil
definirto define
dividirto divide
insistirto insist

Beyond the GCSE lists — 7 verbs

These seven verbs are on none of the three 2024 GCSE lists: absorber aplaudir arder ceder prender tejer toser. They are still common in real Spanish, so keep them for A-Level or everyday use, but don't let them crowd out the 121 verbs above.

How to actually learn them

A list like this helps you prioritise, but reading it won't make the forms stick. Type each conjugation from memory with our free practice tool, focusing first on the all-three-boards group, then check your accuracy by tense.

Start with the top 116 verbs

Free typed conjugation practice, built for GCSE recall. No card, no premium tier.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most important Spanish verbs for GCSE?
The verbs on all three 2024 GCSE vocabulary lists are the safest: ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, poder, querer, saber and dozens more. This page ranks all 121 on-list verbs by how many boards require them.
How many verbs are there in the GCSE Spanish vocabulary list?
The 2024 lists don't publish a single verb count, but each spec requires 1,200 lexical items at Foundation tier and 1,700 at Higher tier, and verbs are the highest-frequency words on every list.
Are the GCSE Spanish vocabulary lists the same for every exam board?
Not identical, but at least 85% of every 2024 list comes from the top 2,000 most frequent Spanish words, so the high-frequency verb core is nearly the same across AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas.

Last updated 2 August 2026. Written by Daniel Holmes for GCSE & A-Level Spanish students.