A lot of the time, getting to grips with a foreign language takes some serious time and dedication. Whether it’s swotting up on Spanish vocabulary, spending some quality time with your grammar textbook, or forcing yourself out of your comfort zone to practice speaking (every new student’s nemesis!), you really do get out what you put in.

But what if we told you that you could improve your Spanish while mindlessly scrolling social media?

Sure, it might not be a substitute for taking Spanish classes and if it’s all you’re doing then you probably won’t become fluent anytime soon… but following some Spanish-language Instagram accounts is a great way to incorporate Spanish reading and listening into your daily life without even thinking about it! Plus you’ll hear and absorb the real Spanish that young people actually speak – think memes, viral videos and expressions that you’d hear on the streets, with all different types of accents and local slang. It can also be a great way to kick start your Spanish before your Spanish immersion course in Spain!

We’ve put together a list of our favourite Instagram accounts for you to follow to get started, ranging from beginner to advanced-level. And the best thing is, once you start watching a few videos, the algorithm will pick up on what you enjoy (or not) and start suggesting more accounts you might like!

1. Charlemos.in.Spanish

Colombian teacher Mely makes a range of videos to teach you colloquial phrases, useful verbs and more in Spanish.

We especially love the mini-quizzes she posts about features of Spanish that often trip up native English speakers, like the infamous por and para, or the difference between llevar and traer. Try figuring out for yourself which option is correct, then go to the comments to check if you were right – it’s a great way to get used to these tricky grammar features that doesn’t involve endless dull exercises!

Check: Charlemos.in.Spanish

2. Spanish.Toons

Learn a new language watching cartoons – this account posts short clips and memes from animated films and TV shows to explain popular words and phrases in Spanish. Think Rick and Morty, the Simpsons, Family Guy and more!

All of the videos are in both Spanish and English with subtitles, so they’re understandable for all levels of Spanish even if you’re just starting out.

3. SpanishCCAE

These two teachers from Spain, Nerea y Belén, make videos for Spanish learners that are both educational and entertaining! Their focus is on helping you learn a more relaxed, everyday way of speaking – think useful vocabulary, pronunciation tips and videos comparing academic vs street Spanish. All of their videos on their account SpanishCCAE have subtitles in Spanish to help you understand what they’re saying and most feature an English translation too, making them a great account to follow no matter your level of Spanish!

4. Momos_saad

An account that’ll make you giggle and bring a tear to your eye in equal measure, @momos_saad shares viral videos – often with accompanying digitally-illustrated comics in Spanish. Some will restore your faith in humanity while others are just good for a laugh! Think cute animals, kids doing unexpected things and general heart-warming moments.

5. Profedeespañol_

Teacher Miguel is here to help more advanced Spanish learners improve their accent and pronunciation – so if you’re looking to work on your Spanish speaking then this is the account for you!

His videos explain the ins and outs of Spanish pronunciation using real-life examples from TV programs and celebrities, along with tips on how to replicate those sounds to sound more like a native speaker.

One thing worth noting is that he’s from Spain so if you’d rather speak with a Latin American accent then not all of his tips will be for you. However many of his videos highlight the differences between the different accents when speaking Spanish, or apply no matter which variant you’re learning, so we’d still recommend giving him a follow regardless!

6. SpainSays

A glimpse into Spanish culture! The account SpainSays shares funny memes that sum up life as a Spaniard – from typical (and often rude) Spanish expressions to cultural idiosyncrasies.

7. Españolcoloquial

This account is aimed at students who have a pretty good knowledge of Spanish already, but want to stop sounding like they’re reading from a textbook and be able to express themselves more like a native speaker!

Desiré is a teacher who specialises in teaching the colloquial Spanish you actually hear on the streets of Spain – so you can stop feeling like the eternal guiri* and learn to express yourself more naturally when you’re chatting with locals, with slang words and strategies to help you communicate the same way you would in your own language.

Like what you see? She also has a weekly newsletter and podcast where she explains common colloquial words in Spanish and phrases so give her a follow!

* foreigner in Spain / Latin America

8. Kiwiceleste_

This couple share hilarious videos of New Zealander Maddie’s efforts learning Spanish from her Argentine partner and her experiences with his family and culture.

The videos in this account are all in Spanish, but Maddie speaks pretty slowly with simple vocabulary (as she’s learning too!), and they’ve got Spanish subtitles, so are understandable for anyone with an intermediate level.

9. AnaCarolinaParis

This Barcelona-based actress and influencer from Argentina has an incredible talent for imitating the accent of peninsular Spain, and makes hilarious videos comparing the slang from both countries.

While her videos do have subtitles, everything is all in Spanish and she speaks fairly quickly with a lot of colloquial terms from both Spain and Argentina – so best for learners who already have a reasonable grasp of Spanish.