How to watch Netflix in Spanish

Switch the audio to Spanish

While a show is playing, click the speech bubble icon and select Español from the audio options. You'll usually see two options: Español (Spain) and Español (Latinoamérica). Pick whichever accent you're learning.

Pick a show you already know

Rewatch something familiar — Friends, Breaking Bad, The Office. You already know the plot, so your brain can focus on the Spanish instead of figuring out what's happening.

This is the fastest way to start. Once you're comfortable, move to native Spanish content.

Graduate to native Spanish shows

Shows originally made in Spanish have natural dialogue, not dubbed scripts. Dubbed audio often sounds flat because it's translated literally.

Beginner-friendly: - Las Chicas del Cable — slow, clear speech - Club de Cuervos — Mexican Spanish, comedy

Intermediate: - La Casa de Papel — fast-paced but engaging - Elite — teen drama, modern slang

Advanced: - El Marginal — Argentine Spanish, heavy slang - Vis a Vis — dark drama, varied accents

Use Spanish subtitles, not English

English subtitles are a trap. Your brain will read instead of listen. Use Spanish subtitles so you're connecting Spanish sounds to Spanish words.

If you catch yourself reading more than listening, try turning subtitles off for a scene.

How much to watch

Aim for 30 minutes a day. That's one episode of most shows. In a month, that's 15 hours of Spanish input.

Research from Dreaming Spanish suggests you'll start understanding patient speakers around 150 hours, and follow native content around 300-600 hours. Every episode counts.

Keep track of your hours

Tracking Languages runs in the background while you watch Netflix. It detects the Spanish audio and counts every minute automatically. You can see your daily, weekly, and all-time totals in the side panel.