YouTube’s become an indispensable free Spanish learning resource. Short YouTube videos are better for a learner’s concentration span than Spanish-language movies or TV shows.
The language is also often easier to understand and more authentic than in movies or series.
Getting addicted to an entertaining Spanish YouTube channel means you can improve your Spanish without realizing it while binge-watching great content. YouTube makes it appealing and fun to take quick Spanish study breaks!
Here are some of the best Spanish YouTube channels for learners.
I’ve divided the list into educational channels for Spanish learners and native content for advanced students.
Tips:
- If you’re struggling to understand native content at natural speed, experiment with slowing down video playback to 0.75 or even 0.5 . You can do this in YouTube in Settings under Playback Speed. Try not to get too dependent on slowed-down audio though.
- In addition to the subtitle options listed below for each channel, most Spanish YouTube videos offer auto-generated Spanish subtitles. These can then be auto-translated into English and other languages. Auto-captions are not the most accurate, but sometimes they’re better than nothing!
Top Spanish YouTube Channels for Learners
Here are some of the best educational channels for Spanish learning.
1. Why Not Spanish
Levels: Beginner to advanced
Accent: Colombian, with guests from other Spanish-speaking countries
Subtitles: Spanish, some with English
Fun and inventive series that pairs Cody, a Spanish learner from the US, with María, an experienced teacher from Bogotá, Colombia.
Videos feature entertaining short skits using lively everyday Spanish. Interviews with guests from various Spanish-speaking countries expose you to different accents.
Most videos include a quiz at the end to test your understanding as well as links to free worksheets. Paid courses are also available.
2. Español con Juan
Levels: Pre-intermediate to advanced
Accents: European Spanish; some guests from Latin America
Subtitles: A few videos have Spanish; otherwise just auto-generated Spanish
Personable teacher Juan Fernández hails from Granada, Spain, but now lives in London. This engaging and humorous channel is highly recommended for learners lower intermediate and up who understand at least 50-60% of his videos.
Content is in Spanish only. Juan teaches grammar and vocabulary in the context of entertaining games and stories.
Be sure to also visit Juan’s website 1001 Reasons To Learn Spanish for a wealth of additional resources. These include:
- a popular podcast with free Spanish transcripts and activities
- short novels Juan’s written for learners at all levels
- paid courses on topics such as colloquial Spanish
3. Easy Spanish
Levels: Beginner to advanced
Accents: Variety of Latin American with a focus on Mexican; European Spanish
Subtitles: Spanish and English
Easy Languages is a unique non-profit that helps people learn languages through authentic street interviews. Easy Spanish‘s short, enjoyable videos show local language and culture in natural, everyday situations.
This engaging show mostly consists of street conversations with native speakers from Spanish-speaking countries.
Videos feature fun brief interviews on topics like:
Conversations are chock-full of useful colloquial expressions.
Beginners should check out the Super Easy Spanish videos, while advanced students will enjoy the Juan Responde series.
4. Spanishland School
Levels: Intermediate to advanced
Accent: Colombian, with guests from other Latin American countries and Spain
Subtitles: Spanish, some with English
Andrea, an enthusiastic Spanish teacher from Colombia, presents this popular channel that helps learners move beyond basic Spanish. She provides a variety of fun lessons on pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and slang.
Videos focus on building fluency with practical tips and listening exposure to real-world conversations. Some explanations in English.
The website has free PDF cheat sheets for many videos.
Andrea shares additional tips for improving Spanish fluency on the Spanishland School Podcast. Each 10-minute episode offers engaging, clear explanations of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural topics.
She and her American husband Nate also host Españolistos, a weekly half-hour conversational podcast. Free transcripts on the website.
Spanish YouTube Channels for Native Speakers
Take your Spanish to the next level with the full immersion experience of Spanish-language YouTube channels for native Spanish speakers.
Listening to everyday conversational Spanish is a great way to develop your ear for the language. Here are the best Spanish-speaking YouTube channels I’ve found to learn real Spanish. They are a mix of entertaining Spanish YouTubers and news and documentary-style shows.
Beginner and intermediate learners can start with content with English or Spanish subtitles. However, don’t be afraid to watch videos that interest you that don’t have subtitles. Even if you don’t understand everything, it’ll help tune your ear to the sounds of Spanish.
5. Luisito Comunica
Level: Advanced
Accent: Mexican Spanish
Subtitles: Only auto-generated captions
This popular Mexican YouTuber posts funny, creative reports from Mexico and around the world. His goofy good humor is contagious, even when he experiences mishaps like getting mugged in Venezuela or being detained by border security in Bangladesh.
The youth-oriented show is a great way to brush up on the latest Mexican slang.
Tip: “Don’t read the comments” may be the first rule of the Internet, but the comments on Luisito’s videos can be a hilarious way to pick up current pop culture references and Internet slang.
6. BBC Mundo
Levels: Beginner to advanced
Accent: Variety
Subtitles: Spanish for most videos; a few with English
Short clips of the BBC world news in Spanish.
This channel is part of the BBC World Service’s foreign language output, one of 40 languages it provides. Stories cover the latest global news, business, technology, science, health, society, and culture.
Try these interesting playlists:
7. Superholly
Levels: Beginner to intermediate
Accent: Mexican Spanish
Subtitles: Some videos with Spanish and English captions. Many Spanish videos have English versions.
Holly Tuggy, a.k.a. Super Holly, is a bilingual YouTuber offering Spanish and English classes, storytimes, lifestyle tutorials, and reviews.
Holly was born in North Carolina but spent her childhood moving back and forth between Mexico and the US. Her Spanish is inspiringly fluent.
Many of her videos have both English and Spanish versions, making them accessible for beginners.
Check out Holly’s most popular videos in Spanish.
8. Viajando a Nuestro Aire
Levels: Beginner to advanced
Accent: European Spanish
Subtitles: English
Disclaimer: José has been my awesome language exchange partner in Madrid for some time. He and his charming wife Sandra hit the road every chance they get with their cute orange VW bug Elvis to explore the hidden corners of Spain and beyond. (Language note: Viajando a nuestro aire means “traveling our own way.”)
These Spanish YouTubers show us recommended sights as well as plenty of mouthwatering regional cuisine. We get the insider perspective through José and Sandra’s interviews with the locals.
A great opportunity to practice European Spanish while learning about the diverse gastronomy, traditions, and dialects of the Iberian Peninsula.
9. La Ruta de la Garnacha
Levels: Beginner to advanced
Accent: Mexican Spanish
Subtitles: Spanish and English for most videos
If you love Mexican street food, this one is for you.
Charismatic standupero (stand-up comedian) Lalo Villar travels Mexico and beyond in search of the best garnacha (street snacks). Super entertaining and educational!
10. Backdoor
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Accent: Mexican Spanish
Subtitles: Most with Spanish and English
Backdoor is the Spanish-language version of Porta dos Fundos, the wildly popular Brazilian YouTube channel famed for controversial comedy sketches.
The Mexican cast provides an irreverent, politically incorrect take on themes such as religion, drug use, political corruption, relationships, and sexuality.
11. Madrileños por el Mundo (MXM)
Level: Advanced
Accent: European Spanish
Subtitles: Only auto-generated captions
This enormously entertaining Telemadrid show travels to a different location each week to interview local madrileño expats who show us around town, allowing an intimate glimpse into their lives.
The series’ producers do a great job finding engaging characters to interview (the typically outgoing Spanish personality probably makes this fairly easy!). Before travelling, I always search for episodes on my planned destinations.
The only drawback to this show is the lack of captions, since fast-paced madrileño Spanish can be tricky to understand. However, the compelling content more than makes up for it. It’s an excellent opportunity to hear real-life European Spanish.
Note that as of 2019 Telemadrid no longer releases the latest full episodes of MXM on YouTube, but there is still a large back catalog of shows to enjoy.
The popularity of this format has spawned many similar shows across the Spanish-speaking world:
- Extranjeros x el MundO – fun interviews in Spanish with foreigners living in Latin America, mostly in Mexico
- Españoles en el Mundo
- Castellano-Manchegos por el Mundo
- Mexicanos en el Extranjero
12. Senderos
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Accent: Mexican Spanish
Subtitles: Only auto-generated captions available, but the Spanish is clear and easy to understand
This series from Mexico’s Canal 22 follows five young Mexican mochileros (backpackers) as they explore the country’s gorgeous southeast, including the Yucatan and Chiapas.
The show promotes sustainable adventure ecotourism developed in cooperation with local indigenous communities. It’s a good way to learn about indigenous culture and the natural wonders of Mexico.
A very thoughtful, enjoyable watch, especially if you’re planning to visit the Yucatan or Chiapas.
13. VICE en Español
Level: Advanced
Accent: Variety, with a focus on Mexican Spanish
Subtitles: A few videos have Spanish subtitles, otherwise only auto-generated captions available
Like its counterpart in English, this edgy alternative news channel provides oft-controversial perspectives on diverse topics in culture, crime, sports, art, sexuality, and fashion.
Slick and sometimes shallow, the millennial-focused content features lots of Spanish slang.
For more Spanish practice, don’t miss:
Have more Spanish YouTube channel recommendations? Some of my best suggestions come from readers! Please share your favorite Spanish-speaking YouTubers in the comments.
Do you know if anything that features Salvadoran Spanish?
Hi Melissa, I haven’t personally (my main focus is Mexican and European Spanish), but I found what seems to be a helpful list: http://youtubersfamoso.blogspot.com. Seems like a great way to learn some Salvadoran slang and get exposure to the culture. Please let us know if you find a particular channel you love!
Thanks for compiling these lists. They’re really helpful. I listen to a lot of progressive YouTube channels and podcasts in English like Contrapoints and The Majority Report. Do you know of any similar channels in Spanish?
Hi Heather, great question. I would recommend checking out shows from Mexico’s progressive public TV station Canal 22 on YouTube… they have series like Historias de mujeres, La mujer revelada, and Miradas sobre México. Voces de la equidad and Engaño colorido are podcasts focusing on gender equality. If you haven’t listened to them already, I’d also recommend the podcasts Radio Ambulante and Las Raras (from Chile) as they both frequently cover race, diversity, and social justice issues. Hope that helps!
Thanks for your suggestions! Going to check them out. I like a YouTube travel channel by Alan por el Mundo (Mexican Spanish). https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTJTpwrK4a-ajXs4-Wry09A
Thanks for the suggestion… looks like a great channel!
I like Why Not Spanish, with Maria. She’s fun and has a broad range of videos. I am surprised she doesn’t make any of the best of youtube for Spanish lists.
Thanks for the recommendation! I have seen a couple of their videos, and I agree, it’s a very good channel. I’ll leave the link here in case anyone wants to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIdFcLCIJQ_YMrormG_nU8w
Why not Spanish is my favorite and never seem to be listed on these “best” lists! Maria and her gringo husband Cody are great and I have learned so much from them!
Thanks for the suggestion! So many people have recommended this Spanish YouTube channel to me that I’ve added it. 🙂
May I suggest 1001 Reasons to Learn Spanish? Juan is a Spanish professor living in England, and his channel is full of fun stories, interviews, and activities. He has a warm and funny style of teaching. I don’t think he speaks any English on his channel, yet I have no problem following along which is very gratifying for an intermediate level. He also writes novels at beginner and intermediate level, but for adults, not children. https://www.1001reasonstolearnspanish.com/
Thank you so much for the recommendation, Mary. I’ve heard very good things about his podcast also. Just added the channel to the list.
Thanks so much for putting this list together! I also like SpanishLand School https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMqdq1osi5ECCBkia2jsNw and in the very beginning Spanish with Paul (https://www.youtube.com/user/learnspanishvideos). I am also enjoying Why not Spanish and 1001 Reasons to learn Spanish that have been mentioned.
Hi Kateryna, thanks so much for the recommendations! These look like great resources for beginners and intermediates. I will check them out for my list. 🙂
Kateryna, just wanted to let you know that due to your feedback, and that of other readers, I’ve restructured the post, dividing it into educational channels and more advanced native content.
I’ve added Español with Juan (1001 Reasons To Learn Spanish) and Spanishland School and am working my way through reviewing more! I don’t really watch educational channels any more myself (I prefer native content), but I know they are super helpful to many readers. Thanks! 🙂
As a beginner, I enjoy watching YouTube videos from Practiquemos (Let’s Practice Spanish) by Catalina Moreno E. and Buena Gente (from Spanish Playground). I also listen to Oscar Pellus’ podcasts (from Spanish Unlimited).
Hola, Wally, thanks for the recommendations! Agree that Oscar has a great beginner-level podcast. If you haven’t yet, check out my list of Spanish podcasts, where I include it and others: https://www.secondhalftravels.com/best-spanish-podcasts/.
Hi Ingrid! Really love your website! There’s a really awesome YouTube channel by a person named “Jaime Altozano” wherein he analyses various different types of pop music in a fun way.
Almost all of the video have Spanish and English subtitles which make it really great.
Do check it out.
https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCa3DVlGH2_QhvwuWlPa6MDQ
Sounds like a really fun channel! 🙂 Thanks for the recommendation!
I suggested Why not Spanish last time but also love “Vagaboom” with Demis and Nancy. It’s all in Spanish but I have improved my Spanish listening to this channel. Fascinating premise: Demis is Swiss with a Spaniard for a father and an Italian mother and he speaks 7 languages and fell in love with Mexico and married his Mexican wife Nancy and they travel all over. Great channel!
Thanks for the recommendation! I have seen one of Demis’s videos before, and you’re right, they have a fascinating story. Learning about other places and cultures while practicing Spanish is a great combination.