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Mi nivel de español es básico.

Mi nivel de español es básico.
My level of Spanish is basic.

Breakdown of Mi nivel de español es básico.

ser
to be
mi
my
de
of
español
Spanish
el nivel
the level
básico
basic
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Questions & Answers about Mi nivel de español es básico.

Why is it mi and not me here?

In Spanish, mi (no accent) is a possessive adjective meaning “my”. It must go before the noun:

  • mi nivel = my level
  • mi casa = my house

me is an object pronoun (me = “to me / me”) and never goes in front of a noun:

  • Me gusta el español. = I like Spanish.
  • Me nivel ❌ (incorrect)
Why does it say nivel de español instead of nivel en español?

Both exist, but they’re used differently:

  • nivel de español literally “level of Spanish” – this is the normal way to say language level.
    • Mi nivel de español es básico.
  • nivel en español is more like “level in Spanish (class / subject / test)” and is less common when talking about general ability.

For your overall skill in the language, nivel de español is the natural choice.

Why is it es and not está?

Spanish has two “to be” verbs:

  • ser (es) = essential, permanent, defining characteristics
  • estar (está) = states, conditions, locations, temporary situations

Your “level” is treated as a characteristic, not a temporary state:

  • Mi nivel de español es básico. ✅ (characteristic)
  • Mi nivel de español está básico. ❌ (sounds wrong)

So es (from ser) is correct here.

Why is básico masculine? Why not básica?

Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

  • The noun nivel is masculine singular: el nivel
  • So the adjective must also be masculine singular: básico

If the noun were feminine:

  • Mi gramática es básica.
    (gramática is feminine → básica)

Here, nivel is masculine, so básico is correct.

How do I pronounce español and what does the ñ mean?

español has three syllables: es-pa-ñol.

  • ñ is a separate letter in Spanish. It sounds like the ny in “canyon”.
  • So español sounds like es-pa-NYOL.

The tilde on ñ is not an accent mark; it’s part of the letter.

Why do español and básico have accent marks?

Accent marks in Spanish usually show where the stress goes (and sometimes distinguish words that are spelled the same).

  • español ends in l (a consonant that is not n or s), so normal stress would be on the last syllable anyway: es-pa-ñol. The accent mark confirms that stress.
  • básico ends in a vowel, so normal stress would be on the second-to-last syllable (ba-SI-co), but the accent tells you it is BÁ-si-co, stress on the first syllable.

So:

  • es-pa-ÑOL
  • BÁ-si-co
Why is español not capitalized like Spanish in English?

In Spanish, names of languages and nationalities are written in lowercase, unless they start a sentence:

  • Hablo español.
  • Soy mexicano.
  • El español es difícil.

In your sentence, español is in the middle of the sentence, so it stays lowercase.

Could I also say Mi nivel de español es bajo instead of básico?

You can, but they don’t sound exactly the same:

  • básico = basic, beginner level (neutral, very common when talking about language level)
  • bajo = low (sounds more like “poor”/“low” level, a bit more negative)

For talking about your official or general level, básico is more standard:

  • Mi nivel de español es básico. ✅ (sounds like “I’m at beginner level”)
  • Mi nivel de español es bajo. ✅ (understandable, but more like “my level is low / not very good”)
Can I leave out de español and just say Mi nivel es básico?

Yes, if the context is clear that you’re talking about Spanish.

For example, if someone asks:

  • ¿Cómo es tu nivel de español?
    – Mi nivel es básico.

Without context, Mi nivel es básico is ambiguous (level of what?), so normally you include de español the first time you say it.

Why is it mi nivel de español and not el nivel de mi español?

Both are possible, but they sound different:

  • Mi nivel de español = the standard, natural way to say “my level of Spanish”.
  • El nivel de mi español = grammatically correct, but sounds more formal or a bit awkward in everyday speech.

In normal conversation, people say:

  • Mi nivel de español es básico. ✅
Why is it mi nivel (singular) and not mis nivel?

The possessive must agree with the number of the noun, not the owner:

  • mi nivel (one level)
  • mis niveles (two or more levels)

So:

  • Mi nivel de español es básico. ✅
  • Mis nivel de español es básico. ❌

You would only use mis if the noun is plural: mis niveles.

What verb tense and person is es?

es is:

  • Verb: ser (“to be”)
  • Person: 3rd person singular (he / she / it / you-formal)
  • Tense: present indicative

Roughly: “is”.

It matches mi nivel de español (“my Spanish level”), which is grammatically third person singular:

  • Mi nivel de español es básico.
    (Literally: My level of Spanish is basic.)
Are there other natural ways to say “My Spanish level is basic” in Latin American Spanish?

Yes, some very common alternatives:

  • Soy principiante en español. = I’m a beginner at Spanish.
  • Mi español es muy básico.
  • Hablo un poco de español. / Hablo solo un poco de español.
  • Tengo un nivel básico de español.

All of these are natural in Latin America.

Is this sentence the same in Latin America and Spain?

Yes.

Mi nivel de español es básico. is perfectly natural and standard in both Latin America and Spain. There is no regional difference in this particular sentence.