Giving yourself time to think.... (allora)

[conejodescarado]

After learning Italian I found it very convenient that they love to start a sentence with "allora, ...". When used in this way it means something like "Well then, ....", but then it's used so frequently it's almost just meaningless and is more of an exclamation "hmmmm" in everyday speech. It's great for somebody who's not Italian to just drop in at the start of a sentence to give themselves time to think about what they're going to say.

"Cosa hai fatto oggi?" (What did you do today?)
"Allora, stamane sono andato al supermercato, ma questo pomeriggio non ho fatto nulla" (This morning I went to the supermarket, but this afternoon I've done nothing"

"Quante persone vengono stasera?" (How many people are coming tonight?)
"Allora, ci saranno Maria, Fillipa, Paolo e Fabio... quattro persone!" (There'll be Maria, Fillipa, Paolo and Fabio... four people!"

Are there any similar words I can open a sentence with in Spanish that will not (usually) change the meaning of the sentence, and therefore give me time to think in this way? The funny thing is, often the word 'allora' just pops out when I'm actually trying to speak Spanish!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by conejodescarado

Are there any similar words I can open a sentence with in Spanish that will not (usually) change the meaning of the sentence, and therefore give me time to think in this way?

Here in Tenerife, I have never heard a sentence which does not start with one of two swearwords, and ending with the other one. They are mandatory to indicate you wish to be taken seriously.

[conejodescarado]

A bit like England then!

I might be imagining it, but I think I may have seen "bueno" used arbitrarily like this. Is it common for people to just randomly say "Bueno, ...." then start talking, even when they're not expressing pleasure in something?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by conejodescarado

A bit like England then!

[irmamar]

I was going to answer "Bueno" before reading your post, conejodescarado.

[poli]

Bueno is a very common filler word. You may hear it more among Argentinians, but everyone else uses it too. It's kind of a panacea word meaning good, yes, well etc.
Pués is really common too, and especially common among Colombians.
OK is used among Puerto Ricans.
As OK is used in Puerto Rico, vale is used in Spain. It means yes
or OK, but it's also a filler.

[conejodescarado]

Muchas gracias, chicos ¡Bueno lo es entonces!

[aleCcowaN]

Bueno ... este .... hmmm ....

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Adding to those already said, "pues" is very often used here too.