Top Spanish Grammar Mistakes Heritage Speakers Make

By Jairo Pérez

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November 06, 2025

Contents

Introduction

Why Do Heritage Speakers Make Grammar Mistakes?

Mistake 1: Gender Agreement Errors

Mistake 2: Verb Conjugation Confusion

Mistake 3: Tense Mix-Ups

Mistake 4: Misplacing Pronouns

Mistake 5: Wrong Prepositions

Mistake 6: Ser vs. Estar Confusion

Mistake 7: Literal Translations (False Friends)

Mistake 8: Ignoring Accent Marks

Mistake 9: Mixing Up Formal and Informal Speech

Mistake 10: Overlooking Grammar in Writing

Why Fixing These Mistakes Matters

What’s Next? How to Keep Improving

Conclusion

Introduction

If you grew up speaking Spanish at home but didn’t study it formally, you’re what we call a heritage Spanish speaker. You likely learned Spanish by talking with family. You didn't focus on textbooks or grammar in school.

This gives you a strong foundation but also creates some challenges. You can chat in Spanish easily, but you might feel unsure when writing, giving presentations, or using it in school or work.

This guide looks at common Spanish mistakes that heritage speakers make. It also shows how to correct these grammar errors. We will discuss the link between language and identity. Fixing these mistakes can help you boost your bilingual identity and foster pride in your language.

Why Do Heritage Speakers Make Grammar Mistakes?

Heritage speakers often develop Spanish naturally at home, but without formal training, they may:

Learn regional or informal speech patterns
Mix English and Spanish (known as language interference)
Skip grammar rules like verb conjugations or accent marks
Struggle with formal Spanish writing or academic language

These mistakes are normal and fixable. Let’s look at the top 10 grammar mistakes heritage Spanish speakers make and how you can improve.

Mistake 1: Gender Agreement Errors

Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine, and the words that describe them like adjectives must match. A typical error of heritage speakers is mixing up “el” and “la” or forgetting to make adjectives agree.

Wrong: El casa bonita

Right: La casa bonita

Fix It:

Memorize the gender of common nouns.
Practice matching adjectives with nouns.
Use grammar apps or games to test yourself.

Mistake 2: Verb Conjugation Confusion

Many heritage speakers use the wrong verb forms. This is one of the most common Spanish grammar mistakes heritage speakers make. Regular and irregular verbs often cause problems.

Wrong: Ella querer ir

Right: Ella quiere ir

Fix It:

Study conjugation patterns for common tenses.
Use verb charts or apps to quiz yourself.
Write simple sentences using different verbs and tenses.

Mistake 3: Tense Mix-Ups

Mixing up the present, past, or future tenses is another common error.

Wrong: Ayer voy al mercado

Right: Ayer fui al mercado

Fix It:

Review when to use each tense.
Keep a notebook with examples.
Write short stories using different time frames.

Mistake 4: Misplacing Pronouns

Spanish has specific rules for placing pronouns. Many heritage speaker Spanish errors involve putting pronouns in the wrong place.

Wrong: Yo lo veo a Juan

Right: Yo veo a Juan

Fix It:

Study direct and indirect object pronoun rules.
Do sentence-building exercises.
Listen to Spanish conversations and note how pronouns are used.

Mistake 5: Wrong Prepositions

Language interference from English can cause preposition errors. For example, using en instead of a.

Wrong: Voy en la tienda

Right: Voy a la tienda

Fix It:

Make a list of common Spanish prepositions and their meanings.
Read Spanish texts and highlight prepositions.
Practice writing your own sentences using correct prepositions.

Mistake 6: Ser vs. Estar Confusion

Both verbs mean "to be," but they are used in different situations. Heritage speaker errors often include switching them.

Wrong: Estoy doctor

Right: Soy doctor

Fix It:

Learn the basic rules: ser = permanent, estar = temporary.
Do matching exercises.
Practice describing people, feelings, or places using the correct verb.

Mistake 7: Literal Translations (False Friends)

Translating English straight into Spanish can cause confusion with false cognates. These are words that look alike but have different meanings.

Wrong: Estoy embarazada (to say “I’m embarrassed”)

Right: Estoy avergonzado/a

Fix It:

Make a chart of false cognates(embarrassed ≠ embarazada).
Practice using tricky words in different sentences.
Read Spanish stories to see how these words are used correctly.

Mistake 8: Ignoring Accent Marks

Accent marks affect pronunciation and meaning. Many heritage speakers skip them, which leads to confusion.

Wrong: Si tu quieres, vamos.

Right: Sí, tú quieres, vamos.

Fix It:

Learn the rules for written accents in Spanish.
Use spellcheck tools that highlight accent errors.
Practice rewriting words with and without accents.

Mistake 9: Mixing Up Formal and Informal Speech

Many heritage Spanish speakers use tú in all situations. This might be okay with friends but not in work or school.

Wrong: ¿Cómo estás, señor López?

Right: ¿Cómo está, señor López?

Fix It:

Learn when to use tú vs. usted.
Role-play formal vs. informal conversations.
Ask for feedback when writing or speaking to adults, teachers, or coworkers.

Mistake 10: Overlooking Grammar in Writing

Heritage speakers often speak better than they write. Writing mistakes can include everything above plus sentence structure, punctuation, and formal tone.

Fix It:

Write short paragraphs, then revise them for grammar.
Ask a teacher or fluent friend to check your writing.
Take a heritage Spanish class that focuses on grammar and writing.

Why Fixing These Mistakes Matters

Correcting these errors helps you:

Improve communication at school, work, and in your community
Build confidence when writing or giving presentations
Strengthen your heritage language and identity
Take pride in your progress and background

Improving your Spanish is not about being perfect, it’s about growing. Fixing grammar mistakes shows that you care about your language identity heritage and want to honor it.

What’s Next? How to Keep Improving

Fixing heritage Spanish mistakes takes time, but you don’t have to do it alone. Here’s how to keep learning:

Take a Heritage Spanish Course

Look for a heritage Spanish program designed just for heritage speakers. These classes focus on real challenges, such as grammar pitfalls, false cognates, and building cultural identity through language.

Practice Speaking and Writing Daily

Improving Spanish grammar through daily practice is a key step. Mix informal and formal Spanish. Write stories, chat with family, or describe your day out loud. Mistakes will happen just keep going.

Learn from Media and Books

Watch Spanish shows, read Latino literature, and follow Spanish-language social media. These tools help you learn natural grammar and expressions while exploring your cultural heritage.

Use Tools Like Comligo

Platforms like Comligo help with error correction through interactive lessons, exercises, and feedback from expert teachers. You’ll learn to fix errors and grow your bilingual identity with confidence.

Conclusion

As a heritage speaker, you already have a valuable gift your Spanish. But like any skill, it can be improved. Fixing common grammar mistakes helps heritage speakers speak and write better. This leads to more accuracy and confidence.

This process will help you embrace your cultural identity and improve your Spanish. It shows pride in your roots and invests in your future.

Ways to self-correct mistakes when speaking or writing in Spanish include studying grammar, practicing often, and enrolling in a heritage Spanish class. Using tools like Comligo can also support your growth.

Your language and cultural identity deserve to shine. Fixing these small mistakes is part of a much bigger story your journey to becoming a strong, proud, and fluent Spanish speaker.

Jairo Pérez

Academic Team

Jairo Pérez is the Head of Academics at Comligo. Originally from Mexico, he has extensive experience teaching Spanish as a second language and in the fields of Human and Artistic Sciences. Passionate about language, culture, and education, he enjoys exploring different cultures, visiting museums, and embracing nature.