common words in spanish

I find the Spanish words very interesting.  Sometimes if you change one letter or change the accent to a different spot in the same word it means something totally different.  I noticed the reaction to spanish only speaking people is that they are in total disarray as to what you actually meant.  I would think if something like that were to happen in english that it would be easy to catch and understand what the beginner meant.  I think this makes it extremely difficult to have a conversation when you are a beginner.