12 Best Spanish Ads for Language Learners

Viewing Spanish TV series and films is excellent for language acquisition, but we often lack the time. Additionally, lengthy content can be daunting for those just starting.

1. Mastercard — “Nacho’s Unforgettable Day”

This touching MasterCard ad (known as “El día inolvidable de Nacho” in Spanish) depicts a young boy passionate about soccer as he achieves his ambition. He speaks quite slowly, making it easy to follow, and his voice is emotionally moving.

You will also catch some dialogue from his parents, who talk a little faster for an additional challenge. You'll likely want to view it more than once, and you can enable subtitles if you require assistance.

2. IKEA — “Don’t We Know Our Family?”

This ad might touch your heart—or inspire you to curb your smartphone use. Called “¿No conocemos a nuestra familia?” in Spanish, it features Spanish families taking part in a quiz that shows they are more familiar with social media trends and YouTubers than with one another.

Lasting just over three minutes, it offers a decent amount of material and a variety of voices for listening exercises. You can also learn a fair amount of vocabulary and phrases used by Spanish speakers in daily life.

3. Campofrío — “A Good Base is Everything”

This Spanish commercial presents an amusing exchange between a couple setting some fundamental agreements before their wedding. They are very direct with each other, which could be the secret to a successful marriage.

The Spanish title “Una buena base lo es todo” alludes to the significance of both a marriage's foundation and a pizza's base.

This ad and several others in this list can be found on the Lingflix platform. Lingflix uses authentic videos—such as music videos, movie trailers, news, and inspiring talks—and converts them into customized language learning sessions. You can test Lingflix for free for 2 weeks. Visit the website or get the iOS app or Android app. P.S. Click here to benefit from our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Lingflix also runs a Spanish YouTube channel where you can discover many similar videos. For instance, if you need a break from ads, you can check out a video like this one that transforms a Big Bang Theory episode into a detailed Spanish lesson:

4. McDonald’s — “Night Run”

This is a charming commercial that offers a look at the happiness of approaching parenthood and the commitment needed to keep a loved one content—and well-nourished! This everyday life story is also very good for language students.

The opening lines are in English, but after that, the rest is in Spanish. Notice the fluid pronunciation of all the Spanish conversation and the idioms employed. The ending surprise is certain to make you grin!

5. McDonald’s — “Love the Most”

This is another excellent McDonald’s ad because it offers practice with comparisons as well as the application of descriptions. It’s a brief, sweet family tale where the father is both endearing and insightful.

It’s short enough to watch several times, so don’t hesitate to press “repeat” and speak along with the dialogue for some pronunciation practice as well.

6. Bimbo — 1980s Bread Commercial

Travelers to South America will recognize the Bimbo bear and value this classic commercial. It’s an affecting mother/daughter lunch story with English subtitles.

The benefit of this one (besides the charm!) is the cultural perspective. It allows us to observe a typical family interaction in Spanish and listen to the conversation.

7. Bimbo — “Who Wants Bread?”

This commercial, another one for Bimbo bread, will leave you singing the tune after you see it. If you've ever been curious about a Spanish earworm, give this a listen!

The very simple and catchy song named “¿Quién quiere pan?” in Spanish provides a perfect snippet for listening comprehension and pronunciation practice.

8. Pedigree — Talking Dog Ad

This one includes English subtitles, but the action is so clear and the dog’s pronunciation is distinct enough that even novice Spanish learners could grasp it without them.

Watch it the first couple of times for the language-learning value… and watch it a few more times for the cute dog! At only 22 seconds, it won’t take much time.

9. IKEA — “The Other Letter”

IKEA excels at presenting a dramatic commercial! In this advertisement, parents read Christmas letters penned by their children. All I can say is, have the tissues ready. It’s lovely and deeply moving, much like the earlier IKEA ad.

And it’s a treasure for Spanish language learners. The dialogue is genuine and most of it is delivered slowly and with strong emotion. It also includes English subtitles, making it suitable for beginners.

10. Super Bowl — Commercial Compilation

This collection of English-language ads from the 2016 Super Bowl comes with Spanish subtitles, making it a valuable resource for early beginners. You’ll make connections between the words you’re reading and what you’re hearing to expand your vocabulary.

You’ll also see Spanish spellings and sentence patterns without confusion. Look for the slang words and pay attention to the more difficult punctuation. Attempt to jot down any new Spanish terms and their English meanings.

11. Spanish Christmas Lottery — “The Greatest Prize is Sharing It”

The lottery commercials from Spain are truly unique. They emphasize a major occasion for many individuals, and the ads are nearly as eagerly awaited as the lottery draw itself.

This poignant commercial from 2014 is named “ El mayor premio es compartirlo” in Spanish. It narrates the story of a Christmas lottery draw that focuses less on winning money and more on camaraderie. The ad is subtitled, and there are several characters, so you’ll hear some diversity in spoken Spanish.

12. Spanish Christmas Lottery — “The Christmas Fat One”

This 2015 commercial can mainly assist with your Spanish reading skills. You’ll notice written words at the factory where the main character is employed, in a newspaper on the bus, and elsewhere. The story is beautifully animated and is sure to touch your heart.

Like the commercial above, it also effectively demonstrates the cultural tradition of the Spanish Christmas lottery that you may not know about. This lottery is frequently called “El Gordo,” which is why the commercial’s Spanish title is “El Gordo de Navidad.”

Why Watch Spanish Ads?

Although they are generally intended to market a product, for Spanish students the value of commercials and other advertisements lies in the language learning opportunities they provide.

The language is deliberately crafted to be understandable to a broad audience but will also frequently introduce you to common idiomatic terms. Since the commercials are made by and for native Spanish speakers, you’ll hear real accents and pronunciations.

Furthermore, the entire goal of a commercial is to capture and hold your attention. This makes them an enjoyable and effective learning resource. And, let’s not overlook this— they’re free of charge!

A word of caution: Spanish ads can be highly engaging. You’ll start for the learning and remain for the narratives.

Watch, listen, and learn. Commercials aren’t just for quick breaks anymore!