The english meaning of the spanish word

When Spanish Words Become Our Own

Adopted and Borrowed Words Enrich English

Rodeo, pronto, taco, enchilada — English or Spanish?

The answer, of course, is both. For English, like most languages, has expanded over the years through assimilation of words from other tongues. As people of different languages intermingle, inevitably some of the words of one language become words of the other.

It doesn’t take someone who studies etymology to look at a Spanish-language website (or the websites in nearly any other language) to see how English vocabulary, particularly as it relates to technical subjects, is spreading. And while English now may be giving more words to other languages than it is absorbing, that wasn’t always true. For the English vocabulary today is as rich as it is largely because it accepted words from Latin (mostly by way of French). But there’s also a small share of the English language that is derived from Spanish.

Words From Various Origins

Many Spanish words have come to us from three primary sources. As you can hypothesize from the list below, many of them entered American English in the days of Mexican and Spanish cowboys working in what is now the U.S. Southwest. Words of Caribbean origin entered English by way of trade. The third major source is food vocabulary, especially for foods whose names have no English equivalent, as the intermingling of cultures has expanded our diets as well as our vocabulary. As you can see, many of the words changed meaning upon entering English, often by adopting a narrower meaning than in the original language.

Spanish Words Assimilated Into English

Following is a list, by no means complete, of Spanish loanwords that have become assimilated into the English vocabulary. As noted, some of them were adopted into the Spanish language from elsewhere before they were passed on to English. Although most of them retain the spelling and even (more or less) the pronunciation of Spanish, they are all recognized as English words by at least one reference source.

A–B: Adios to Burro

• adios (from adiós)
• adobe (originally Coptic tobe, «brick»)
• aficionado
• albino
• alcove (from Spanish alcoba, originally Arabic al-qubba)
• alfalfa (originally Arabic al-fasfasah. Many other English words beginning with «al» were originally Arabic, and many may have had a Spanish-language connection in becoming English.)
• alligator (from el lagarto, «the lizard»)
• alpaca (animal similar to a llama, from Aymara allpaca)
• armada
• armadillo (literally, «the little armed one»)
• arroyo (English regionalism for «stream»)
• avocado (originally a Nahuatl word, ahuacatl)
• bajada (a geological term referring to a type of alluvial slope at the base of a mountain, from bajada, meaning «slope»)
• banana (word, originally of African origin, entered English via either Spanish or Portuguese)
• bandoleer (type of belt, from bandolera)
• barbecue (from barbacoa, a word of Caribbean origin)
• barracuda
• bizarre (some sources, not all, say this word came from the Spanish bizarro)
• bonanza (although the Spanish bonanza can be used synonymously with the English cognate, it more often means «calm seas» or «fair weather»)
• booby (from bobo, meaning «silly» or «selfish»)
• bravo (from either Italian or Old Spanish)
• bronco (means «wild» or «rough» in Spanish)
• buckaroo (possibly from vaquero, «cowboy»)
• bunco (probably from banco, «bank»)
• burrito (literally «little donkey»)
• burro

C: Cafeteria to Criollo

• cafeteria (from cafetería)
• caldera (geological term)
• canary (Old Spanish canario entered English by way of French canarie)
• canasta (the Spanish word means «basket»)
• cannibal (originally of Caribbean origin)
• canoe (the word was originally Caribbean)
• canyon (from cañón)
• cargo (from cargar, «to load»)
• castanet (from castañeta)
• chaparral (from chaparro, an evergreen oak)
• chaps (from Mexican Spanish chaparreras)
• chihuahua (dog breed named after Mexican city and state)
• chile relleno (Mexican food)
• chili (from chile, derived from Nahuatl chilli)
• chili con carne (con carne means «with meat»)
• chocolate (originally xocolatl, from Nahuatl, an indigenous Mexican language)
• churro (Mexican food)
• cigar, cigarette (from cigarro)
• cilantro
• cinch (from cincho, «belt»)
• cocaine (from coca, from Quechua kúka)
• cockroach (Two English words, «cock» and «roach,» were combined to form «cockroach.» It is believed, but isn’t certain, that the words were chosen because of their similarity to the Spanish cucaracha.)
• coco (type of tree, from icaco, originally Arawak ikaku from the Caribbean)
• comrade (from camarada, «roommate»)
• condor (originally from Quechua, an indigenous South American language)
• conquistador
• corral
• coyote (from the Nahuatl coyotl)
• creole (from criollo)
• criollo (English term refers to someone indigenous to South America; Spanish term originally referred to anyone from a particular locality)

D–G: Dago to Guerrilla

• dago (offensive ethnic term comes from Diego)
• dengue (Spanish imported the word from Swahili)
• desperado
• dorado (type of fish)
• El Niño (weather pattern, means «The Child» due to its appearance around Christmas)
• embargo (from embargar, to bar)
• enchilada (participle of enchilar, «to season with chili»)
• fajita (diminutive of faja, a belt or sash, probably so named due to strips of meat)
• fiesta (in Spanish, it can mean a party, a celebration, a feast — or a fiesta)
• filibuster (from filibustero, derived from Dutch vrijbuiter, «pirate»)
• flan (a type of custard)
• flauta (a fried, rolled tortilla)
• flotilla
• frijol (English regionalism for a bean)
• galleon (from Spanish galeón)
• garbanzo (type of bean)
• guacamole (originally from Nahuatl ahuacam, «avocado,» and molli, «sauce»)
• guerrilla (In Spanish, the word refers to a small fighting force. A guerrilla fighter is a guerrillero.)

H–L: Habanero to Llama

• habanero (a type of pepper; in Spanish, the word refers to something from Havana)
• hacienda (in Spanish, the initial h is silent)
• hammock (from jamaca, a Caribbean Spanish word)
• hoosegow (slang term for a jail comes from Spanish juzgado, participle of juzgar, «to judge»)
• huarache (type of sandal)
• hurricane (from huracán, originally an indigenous Caribbean word)
• iguana (originally from Arawak and Carib iwana)
• incomunicado
• jaguar (from Spanish and Portuguese, originally from Guarani yaguar)
• jalapeño
• jerky (the word for dried meat comes from charqui, which in turn came from the Quechua ch’arki)
• jicama (originally from Nahuatl)
• key (the word for a small island comes from the Spanish cayo, possibly of Caribbean origin)
• lariat (from la reata, «the lasso»)
• lasso (from lazo)
• llama (originally from Quechua)

M–N: Machete to Nopal

• machete
• machismo
• macho (macho usually means simply «male» in Spanish)
• maize (from maíz, originally from Arawak mahíz)
• manatee (from manatí, originally from Carib)
• mano a mano (literally, «hand to hand»)
• margarita (a woman’s name meaning «daisy»)
• mariachi (a type of traditional Mexican music, or a musician)
• marijuana (usually mariguana or marihuana in Spanish)
• matador (literally, «killer»)
• menudo (Mexican food)
• mesa (In Spanish it means «table,» but it also can mean «tableland,» the English meaning.)
• mesquite (tree name originally from Nahuatl mizquitl)
• mestizo (a type of mixed ancestry)
• mole (The name for this delightful chocolate-chili dish is sometimes misspelled as «molé» in English in an attempt to prevent mispronunciation.)
• mosquito
• mulatto (from mulato)
• mustang (from mestengo, «stray»)
• nacho
• nada (nothing)
• negro (comes from either the Spanish or Portuguese word for the color black)
• nopal (type of cactus, from Nahuatl nohpalli)

O–P: Ocelot to Punctilio

• ocelot (originally Nahuatl oceletl; the word was adopted into Spanish and then French before becoming an English word)
• olé (in Spanish, the exclamation can be used in places other than bullfights)
• oregano (from orégano)
• paella (a savory Spanish rice dish)
• palomino (originally meant a white dove in Spanish)
• papaya (originally Arawak)
• patio (In Spanish, the word most often refers to a courtyard.)
• peccadillo (from pecadillo, diminutive of pecado, «sin»)
• peso (Although in Spanish a peso is also a monetary unit, it more generally means a weight.)
• peyote (originally Nahuatl peyotl)
• picaresque (from picaresco)
• pickaninny (offensive term, from pequeño, «small»)
• pimento (Spanish pimiento)
• pinole (a meal made of grain and beans; originally Nahuatl pinolli)
• pinta (tropical skin disease)
• pinto (Spanish for «spotted» or «painted»)
• piñata
• piña colada (literally meaning «strained pineapple»)
• piñon (type of pine tree, sometimes spelled «pinyon»)
• plantain (from plátano or plántano)
• plaza
• poncho (Spanish adopted the word from Araucanian, an indigenous South American language)
• potato (from batata, a word of Caribbean origin)
• pronto (from an adjective or adverb meaning «quick» or «quickly»)
• pueblo (in Spanish, the word can mean simply «people»)
• puma (originally from Quechua)
• punctilio (from puntillo, «little point,» or possibly from Italian puntiglio)

Q–S: Quadroon to Stockade

• quadroon (from cuaterón)
• quesadilla
• quirt (type of riding whip, comes from Spanish cuarta)
• ranch (Rancho often means «ranch» in Mexican Spanish, but it can also mean a settlement, camp or meal rations.)
• reefer (drug slang, possibly from Mexican Spanish grifa, «marijuana»)
• remuda (regionalism for a relay of horses)
• renegade (from renegado)
• rodeo
• rumba (from rumbo, originally referring to the course of a ship and, by extension, the revelry aboard)
• salsa (In Spanish, almost any kind of a sauce or gravy can be referred to as salsa.)
• sarsaparilla (from zarza, «bramble,» and parrilla, «small vine»)
• sassafras (from sasafrás)
• savanna (from obsolete Spanish çavana, originally Taino zabana, «grassland»)
• savvy (from sabe, a form of the verb saber, «to know»)
• serape (Mexican blanket)
• serrano (type of pepper)
• shack (possibly from Mexican Spanish jacal, from the Nahuatl xcalli, «adobe hut»)
• siesta
• silo
• sombrero (In Spanish, the word, which is derived from sombra, «shade,» can mean almost any kind of hat, not just the traditional broad-rimmed Mexican hat.)
• spaniel (ultimately from hispania, the same root that gave us the words «Spain» and español)
• stampede (from estampida)
• stevedore (from estibador, one who stows or packs things)
• stockade (from a French derivation of the Spanish estacada, «fence» or «stockade»)

T–Z: Taco to Zapateado

• taco (In Spanish, a taco can refer to a stopper, plug or wad. In other words, a taco originally meant a wad of food. Indeed, in Mexico, the variety of tacos is almost endless, far more varied than the beef, lettuce and cheese combination of U.S.-style fast food.)
• tamale (The Spanish singular for this Mexican dish is tamal. The English comes from an erroneous backformation of the Spanish plural, tamales.)
• tamarillo (type of tree, derived from tomatillo, a small tomato)
• tango
• tejano (type of music)
• tequila (named after a Mexican town of the same name)
• tobacco (from tabaco, a word possibly of Caribbean origin)
• tomatillo
• tomato (from tomate, derived from Nahuatl tomatl)
• toreador
• tornado (from tronada, thunderstorm)
• tortilla (in Spanish, an omelet often is a tortilla)
• tuna (from atún)
• vamoose (from vamos, a form of «to go»)
• vanilla (from vainilla)
• vaquero (English regionalism for a cowboy)
• vicuña (animal similar to a llama, from Quechua wikuña)
• vigilante (from adjective for «vigilant»)
• vinegarroon (from vinagrón)
• wrangler (some sources say word is derived from Mexican Spanish caballerango, one who grooms horses, while other sources say the word comes from German)
• yucca (from yuca, originally a Caribbean word)
• zapateado (a type of dance emphasizing movement of the heels)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of English language words whose origin can be traced to the Spanish language as «Spanish loan words». Words typical of «Mock Spanish» used in the United States are listed separately.

A[edit]

abaca

via Spanish abacá from Tagalog abaká

abalone

from Spanish , from Ohlone aluan or Rumsen awlun.

adios

from Spanish ‘adiós’ meaning «goodbye» < latin ad deus «to god» (short for «a Dios seas», «a Dios seades», literally, «may (you) be (commended) to God»)

adobe

From Egyptian via Arabic «Al-tub»

aficionado

from past participle of aficionar, to inspire affection, from afición affection, from Latin affection-, affectio, from afficere .

albatross

from alcatraz, see below.

Alcalde

from alcalde, magistrate.

Alcatraz

(meaning «gannet») from Arabic غطاس al-ġaţţās («the diver»)

alidade

via French, Spanish alidada and Medieval Latin alhidade from Arabic العهدة al-idada, «the revolving radius»

alligator

from el lagarto, «the lizard» < latín lacartus < lacertus.

alpaca

via Spanish, from Aymara allpaqa

aludel

from Old French alutel, via Spanish and Medieval Latin from Arabic الأثال al-ʾuṯāl, «the sublimation vessel»

amigo

from Spanish and/or Portuguese amigo, «friend»; from Latin amicus meaning «friend,» derived from amare (to love).

amole

Mexican Spanish from Nahautl amolli meaning «soap root.»^[1]

amontillado

from the village of Montilla «little mount», Province of Córdoba, Spain

ancho

from Mexican Spanish (chile) ancho, «wide (chili)» < latin amplus

anchovy

from Spanish anchoa or more probably Portuguese anchova meaning «bluefish»; from Genoese or Corsican dialect; ultimately from Latin apua meaning «small fish» and Greek Αφυε aphye meaning «small fry» or from Basque anchuva meaning «dry»^[2]

Angeleno

from American Spanish

Apache

from Mexican Spanish from Yavapai ‘epache meaning «people» or from Zuni apachu meaning «enemy»^[3]

armada

«armed [fleet]» from the Spanish navy, La armada española

armadillo

from armadillo, «little armored one»

arroyo

from arroyo, «stream» < arrugium

avocado

alteration of Spanish aguacate, from Nahuatl ahuacatl.

ayahuasca

via Spanish from Quechua ayawaska meaning «soul vine.»

B[edit]

banana

from Spanish or Portuguese banana, probably from a Wolof word,^[4] or from Arabic بأننا “ba’ nana” fingers^[5]

bandolier

from Spanish bandolero, meaning «band (for a weapon or other) that crosses from one shoulder to the opposite hip» and bandolero, loosely meaning «he who wears a bandolier»

barbeque

from barbacoa, from Spanish, taken from Caribbean Taínos barbacu, cooking set-up with wood tray at a height over fire

barracuda

from barracuda May have come from barraco, meaning overlapping tooth

barranca

from Spanish barranca or barranco, ravine

barrio

from Spanish barrio, «neighborhood», from Arabic بري barri, wild

bastinado

from bastonada, from Spanish bastón, cane

bodega

from Spanish and/or Portuguese bodega, meaning cellar < latin-greek aphothekam.

bodegón

from bodegón

bolero

from Spanish bolero

bonanza

from bonanza meaning «prosperity» < latin bonantia < bonus «good».

bonito

from Spanish bonito, meaning «beautiful» < latin bonus «good».

breeze

from brisa «cold northeast wind» or from Frisian briesen — to blow (wind)^[6]

bronco

from bronco meaning «coarse»

buckaroo

from vaquero meaning «cowboy», ultimately from Latin «vaccarium» «cowboy» (vacca «cow»).

burrito

diminutive of burro, a dish originally from Northern Mexico, literally «little donkey»

burro

from burro, «donkey» < latin burricus «small horse».

C[edit]

caballero

from Spanish caballero meaning «knight/gentleman», from caballo, «horse», Celtic caballos «horse».

cabana

from Spanish cabaña or Portuguese cabana < latin < capanna; both meaning «cabin»

cacique

from Spanish, from Taíno cacike or Arawak kassequa, both meaning a chief

cafeteria

from cafetería, «coffee store»

calaboose

from Vulgar Latin calafodium «to dig a protected place» and Louisiana French calabouse, from Spanish calabozo^[7]

caldera

from Spanish caldera meaning «cauldron» from Latin caldaria, «cooking pot.»

California

place name first seen in print in 1510 Spanish novel ‘Las sergas de Esplandián’ by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo

camarilla

from camarilla, «small room» diminutive of cámara «room» < latin camara.

camino

from camino a path or road, from Celtic cammanos «road».

cannibal

from Spanish caníbal, alteration of caríbal, from Caribe

canoe

from Spanish canoa, from Haitian canaoua

canyon

from cañón with same meaning. Derived from caño, «a pipe, tube, gorge, tube;» ultimately from Latin canna meaning «reed.»^[8]

carabao

from Spanish from Visayan language kalabaw, from Malay language kerabau.

caramba

from Spanish, meaning «heck»; expression of dread, displeasure, or disapproval, euphemism for carajo

carbonado

from carbonada, from carbón meaning «coal»

cargo

from the verb cargar meaning «to load»

Caribbean

from Spanish Caribe, from name of Carib Indians of the region.

cassava

from cazabe, from Taíno caçábi

caudillo

from caudillo, from Latin capitellium «head» meaning «leader»

cedilla

from cedilla, archaic spelling zedilla (little z)

chaparral

from Spanish, chaparro loosely meaning small evergreen oak, from Basque txapar, «small, short»

chaps

from Mexican Spanish chaparreras, leg protectors for riding through chaparral

chayote

from Spanish, literally: «squash», from Nahuatl chayotl meaning «spiny squash»

chicha

from Spanish chicha, from Kuna chichab, meaning «maize» or from Nahuatl chichiatl, «fermented water.»

chicle

from chicle «gum», from Nahuatl tzictli «squishy stuff» or Mayan tsicte.^[9]

chile

from Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chilli

chipotle

from Spanish, smoked jalapeño, from Nahuatl chilpoctli

chocolate

from Spanish chocolate, from Nahuatl xocolatl meaning «hot water» or from a combination of the Mayan word chocol meaning «hot» and the Nahuatl word atl meaning «water.»

Choctaw

from the native name Chahta of unknown meaning but also said to come from Spanish chato (=»flattened») because of the tribe’s custom of flattening the heads of male infants.^[10]

chorizo

from chorizo, «sausage»

churro

from churro, «fritter»

cienega or cienaga

from ciénaga, «swamp» < latin caenus «mud» and native suffix -aka, caénaka.

cigar

from Spanish cigarro meaning «fag (UK), stogie, stogy», from Mayan sicar or sic, «tobacco»

cigarette

from French cigarette «little weed», diminutive of French cigare «stogie», from Spanish cigarro meaning «fag (UK), stogie, stogy.»

cilantro

from Spanish cilantro < latin coriandrum, «coriander»

coca

from Spanish, coca meaning «coke», from Quechua kuka

cockroach

from Spanish cucaracha

cocoa or cacao

from Spanish cacao, from Nahuatl cacáhuatl

cojones

from Spanish cojones < latin coleones meaning «balls, testicles», to denote courage

Colorado

from Spanish colorado < latin coloratus, red or colored

comrade

from French camarade meaning «friend», from Spanish camarada < latin camara «room», «pal, mate»

condor

from Spanish, from Quechua kuntur

conquistador

from conquistador meaning «conqueror», from conquista < latin conquisita, «conquest»

coquina

from coquina, dim. form of «concha» meaning seashell; a sedimentary rock of NE Florida

cordillera

from cordillera, «range» < cordel «cord».

corral

from corral meaning «pen, yard» from Portuguese curral meaning «pen» of unknown; perhaps ultimately from Afrikaans kraal or from Vulgar Latin currale loosely meaning «enclosure for vehicles.»^[11]

corrida

a bullfight (literally: «raced»)

coyote

from Spanish coyote, from Nahuatl coyotl

cowboy

from Spanish vaquero, an individual who managed cattle while mounted on horseback, from vaca, «cow», from Latin vacca

creole

from French créole, from Spanish criollo, from Portuguese crioulo, raised in the house

crimson

from Old Spanish cremesín, via Medieval Latin cremesinus from Arabic قيرميزل qirmizI, from Persian قرمز qermez kermes; ultimately from Sanskrit कृमिज krmi-ja meaning «worm-made.»^[12]

crusade

blend of Middle French croisade and Spanish cruzada; both ultimately from Latin crux, crucis «cross»

cuadrilla

from cuadrilla «group of people» diminutive of cuadro «square» < latin quadrus.

cumbia

from Spanish cumbia, a popular dance (for couples) originating in Colombia.

D[edit]

daiquiri

from Daiquiri, a port city in eastern Cuba

dengue

from Spanish dengue meaning «fever», from Swahili dinga, «seizure»

derecho

from Spanish derecho meaning «straight» or «masculine of right side» < latin directum, a widespread and long-lived convection-induced straight-line windstorm

descamisado

from Spanish descamisado, «without a shirt» < camisa «shirt» < celtic kamisia.

desperado

from Spanish desesperado, desperate

doubloon

from Spanish doblón : meaning «two-sided» for two-headed coin («doble» is double in Spanish < latin duplex).

E[edit]

El Dorado

from El Dorado, literally, «the golden one»

El Niño

from El Niño de la Navidad, literally, «the Christmas child» due to the warming of Pacific waters seemed to warm around Christmas

embarcadero

from embarcadero a boat dock, from barca «rowboat».

embargo

from Spanish embargar, to «seize» or «impound» < latin imbarricare.

escabeche

from escabeche, «pickle» < Arabic assukkabáǧ.

escopeteros

from Spanish escopetero, «musketeer», from escopeta «shotgun» < italian schioppetto.

F[edit]

Federales

from Federales, «federal police»

fiesta

from the Spanish fiesta meaning «party» < latin festa

Flamenco

«Spanish genre of music and dance typical of the gypsies». From Dutch flaming «from Flanders» (in the past it was believed that the gypsies were of German origin)

Florida

from La Florida, the flowery or plant-filled place or pascua florida, «flowery Easter.»

flotilla

diminutive of flota, «fleet»

G[edit]

galleon

from Spanish «galeón» (a large sailing ship having three or more masts, from the 15th to 18th century)

gaucho

from Mapuche «Argentine cowboy»

gracias

from Latin expression gratias agere («to give thanks»)

gringo

probably from griego («Greek»), in reference to the language (cf. Greek to me), and originally referring to any type of foreigner

guacamole

via American Spanish from Nahuatl ahuaca-molli («avocado sauce»)^[13]

guerrilla

from Spanish obsolete meaning «small war» or current meaning «fire-armed group» (raised out of unbalanced democracy) from guerra «war» < Gothic werra «war» (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡeˈriʎa])

H[edit]

habanero

from the Spanish for the name of the Cuban city of La Habana, which is known as Havana in English. Although it is not the place of origin, it was frequently traded there.

hacienda

from Old Spanish facienda, «estate»

hackamore

from Spanish jaquima, «halter.»

hola

Spanish greeting, equivalent to «hello»

Hispano

From Spanish hispanic. Also came from Latin Hispania, the whole Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) called by Romans.

hombre

from Spanish hombre, «man» < medieval homre < latin hominis

hoosegow

from Spanish juzgado, courthouse, from juzgar < latin iudicare «to judge»

hurricane

from Spanish huracán, from Taíno hurákan; akin to Arawak kulakani, thunder

I[edit]

Inca

via Spanish inca, from Quechua Inka, literally: «lord, king.»^[14]

incommunicado

from incomunicado, without communication (in the mountains, in the jail,…), «in solitary confinement.»

iguana

from Spanish iguana from Arawak iwana.

J[edit]

jade

from Spanish piedra de ijada, «stone of flank.»

jalapeño

from Spanish, a type of spicy chilli named after Jalapa de Enríquez, a town in Mexico, and the capital of the state of Veracruz

jerky

via Spanish charqui, from Quechua ch’arki, «dried flesh»

junta

from Spanish junta literally «joint»; a board of joint administration; sometimes used to refer to military officers command in a coup d’état. As an adjective, it means «together».

K[edit]

key

from Spanish cayo, from Taíno cayo (this is English ‘key’/’cay’/’quay’ as in an island, reef or a linked series of them, not the ‘key’ with which one locks/unlocks doors)

L[edit]

La Niña

«The little girl», complementary weather pattern to (q.v.) El Niño

lariat

from la reata, meaning «the strap, rein, or rope» from reatar («to tie again») from atar «to tie (up);» from Latin aparte, «to join.»^[15]

lasso

via American English from Spanish lazo meaning «tie; or rope» ultimately from Latin laqueum, «noose, snare.»^[16]

Latino

English short for the Spanish word latinoamericano, formed by latino «related to the Latin empire and language» and americano «from the Americas»

llama

via Spanish llama, from Quechua llama

Llanos

from Spanish llano «plain» < latin planus; vast tropical grassland plain situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela.

loco

from loco, «mad» or «crazy»

Lolita

from the diminutive for Lola, short for Dolores

M[edit]

macho

from macho «male, brave» < latin masculus, the property of being overtly masculine.

majordomo

via Spanish mayordomo or Italian maggiordomo (both meaning «butler») from Latin maior domus meaning «mayor of the place.»

mano

from mano, «hand». Stone handtool

manzanilla

from Spanish manzanilla, a natural tea for some superficial pains. The word is diminutive of manzana «apple»

marijuana

from Spanish marihuana meaning cannabis.

maroon

from the Spanish cimarrón, which was derived from an Arawakan root

matador

from matador meaning «killer» from matar («to kill») probably from Arabic مات mata meaning «he died», also possibly cognate with Persian مردن mordan, «to die» as well as English «murder.» Another theory is that the word «matador» is derived from a combination of the Vulgar Latin mattāre, from Late Latin mactare (to slaughter, kill) and the Latin -tor (which is cognate with Greek τορ -tōr and Sanskrit तर -tar-.)^[17]

merengue

a type of music and dance originating in the Dominican Republic

mesa

from mesa, table < latin mensa. The corresponding Spanish word to a flat top mountain is meseta

mescal

from Spanish mezcal, from Nahuatl mexcalli

mesquite

from Mexican Spanish mezquite, from Nahuatl mizquitl

mestizo

from mestizo «racially mixed» < latin mixticius «mixed» or «mongrel», in Spanish, refers to a person of mixed European and Native American descent.

mojito

dim. formed from «mojado» (wet or dripping) probably referring to the mint leaves in the well known Cuban drink

mole

also from Spanish as Guacamole, from Nahuatl molle or molli («sauce»)

Montana

from montaña, a mountain

mosquito

from mosquito, literally «little fly» < mosca «fly» < latin musca.

mulatto

from Spanish or Portuguese mulato meaning «octoroon, sambo» from mulo «mule» > «hybrid». in Spanish, refers to a person of mixed European-African descent.

mustang

from mustango, mestengo, mestencoor mesteño, «without known master or owner» (archaic)

mustee

from mestizo, «racially mixed.»or «mongrel»

N[edit]

nacho

from Nacho, a nickname for the given name Ignacio, inventor of the snack

nada

from «nada» meaning » nothing.»^[18]

Negro

from Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian negro, «black», from Latin nigrum (nom. niger) and Greek νέγρος négros, both meaning «black.».^[19] In Spanish it might be derogatory (depending on intonation and facial expression on some Latin countries).

Nevada

from Nevada («snowy») after the Sierra Nevada («snowy mountains»)

nostromo

from nuestro amo, «our master».

O[edit]

olé

an interjection, an expression of approval or triumph, similar to the Italian bravo (capable), by spectators of bull fights or football (soccer) matches

oregano

from orégano, «marjoram»

P[edit]

pachuco

from pachuco, «fancy-dresser.» or «unsuitable or bad-looking attire»

paella

from Spanish paella, from Valencian paella «pan» and the dish name. Originated in Latin patella, also meaning «pan.»

palmetto

from palmito, «palm heart, little palm», diminutive form of the word for palm.

pampa

via Spanish, from Quechua pampa, plain

papaya

from papaya, akin to Arawak papáia

páramo

from Spanish páramo (moorland)

patio

from patio, inner courtyard, «an open paved area adjacent to a home»

peccadillo

from pecadillo, «small sin»

peccary

from Spanish pecarí, from Carib pakira or paquira.^[20]

peon

from Spanish peón («laborer»)

peyote

from Spanish, from Nahuatl peyotl («caterpillar»)

Philippines

via Spanish Filipinas from Latin Philippinae, «islands of king Philip II of Spain»; ultimately from Greek Φιλιππίναι Philippinai from the Greek phrase Φίλος ίππος Νησιά Fílos Íppos Ni̱sí, «Islands of the Horse Friend.»

piccadill

from picadillo, «hash»

pimento or pimiento

from pimiento, «pepper.»

piña colada

from Spanish piña (pineapple), and colada, which means strained, from the Spanish verb colar («to strain»)

piñata

from piñata («jug, pot») from Latin pinea, «pine cone.» or «birthday batting-pony game for kids»^[21]

piñon or pinyon

from piñón, «pine»

pinta

from pinta, «he/she/it paints»; also archaic Spanish for pintada, «painted»

Pinto

from pintar, «to paint»; a white horse with a coat «painted» in large patterns of any other color.

piragua

from Carib language

pisco

from pisco, «turkey»

placer mining

from placer, «sand bank» or «pleasure»

platinum

from platina, «little silver» (now platino)

playa

from playa, «beach» < latin plagea

plaza

from plaza, «public square, spot or place» < latin platea.

politico

from Spanish or Italian político meaning «politician, political agent;»^[22] ultimately from Latin politicus meaning «of citizens or the state, civil, civic,» from Greek πολιτικός (Ancient Greek: πολῑτικός) politikos, «of citizens or the state,» from πολίτης (plural: πολίτες) polites (citizen) from πόλις polis, «city.»^[23]

poncho

from poncho, from Araucanian pontho meaning «woolen fabric.»^[24] or «Short of Proper name Alfonso»

potato

from Peninsular Spanish patata, itself from batata, «sweet potato», from Taíno and papa, «potato» from Quechua

potrero

from potrero, archaic term for «tongue of land»

pronto

from Spanish «soon, prompt»

pronunciamento

from pronunciamiento proclamation, «military coup d’état», usually establishing a military dictatorship (often a junta)

puma

from Spanish «cougar, panther», from Quechua

pueblo

via Castilian pueblo from Latin populus («people») or «Population of Country-side or outskirts».

Q[edit]

quadroon

from cuarterón, «fourth»

quesadilla

from quesadilla meaning a traditional Mexican dish made with tortillas and cheese, diminutive of queso, cheese.

quetzal

from Spanish, from Nahuatl «quetzalli»: a group of colourful birds of the trogon family found in tropical regions of the Americas. It also may refer to Guatemalan quetzal, the currency of Guatemala.

quinoa

via Spanish quinua, from Quechua kinwa

quinceañera

from Spanish quince años, literally: «fifteen-year-old-girl»; a girl’s fifteenth birthday celebration similar to a «sweet sixteen»; with special rituals in South America.

Quixotism/Quixotic

from fictional character Don Quixote as in «tilting at windmills»

quirt

from Spanish cuarta literally: «quarter»; a short horseman’s whip, from «one fourth» (of a vara)

R[edit]

ranch

from rancho, a very small rural community, smaller than a town; also a very humble dwelling in South American Spanish.

reconquista

from reconquista, «reconquest»

remuda

from Mexican Spanish remudar, to exchange (horses)

renegade

from renegado, «turncoat, heretic, disowned»

rhumba

from rumba synomyn of Big-Party

rincon

from rincón, «meadow» or «corner-side»

robalo

from Spanish róbalo meaning «bass, sea wolf,» a tropical marine game and fish food

roble

from Spanish roble, «oak tree» < latin roboris.

rodeo

from rodeo and verb rodear (to go around) or «go-after and animal»

rumba

from rumba or «farra» synomyn of Big-Party

S[edit]

saguaro

from saguaro, from Piman

salsa

from salsa, «sauce»

sapodilla

from zapotillo

sarabande

from French sarabande in turn from Spanish zarabanda

savanna

from sabana, «veld», from Taíno zabana

savvy

from Spanish or Portuguese sabe, «knows»; sabio, «wise, learned» < latin sapidus «with sapience».

shack

perhaps from Mexican Spanish jacal meaning «hut», from Nahuatl xacalli

sherry

from Old Spanish Xerés [ʃeˈɾes], modern Spanish Jerez [xeˈɾeθ].

sierra

from sierra, a mountain range

Sierra Nevada

literally «snowy mountains»

siesta

from siesta, «nap», from Latin Sexta [hora] «sixth hour»

silo

from silo

sombrero

from sombrero (literally, shade maker), «hat»

stampede

from estampida

stevedore

from estibador (literally, one who stuffs), «ship loader»

stockade

from a French derivation of the Spanish estocada, «stab»

suave

meaning «charming, confident, and elegant» < latin suavis «sweet».

T[edit]

taco

from taco, «plug»^[25] or from Portugues Bat

tamale

from Spanish tamales, pl. of tamal, from Nahuatl tamalli meaning dumpling made from corn flour

tango

from Spanish tango.

tapioca

from tapioca, «cassava»

ten-gallon hat

from Spanish tan galán meaning «so gallant (looking)»; alternate theory is the gallon of Texas English here is a misunderstanding of galón meaning braid

temblor

Spanish for trembling, or earthquake; from temblar, to shake, from Vulgar Latin *tremulāre, from Latin tremulus

tequila

from tequila, from the town Tequila, where the beverage originated

telenovela or telenovella

from telenovela, «soap opera» or to some extent «TV-drama-show»

tilde

from tilde from Spanish ‘ symbol above some vowels

tobacco

from Spanish (Nahuatl influenced) tabaco, «snuff»

tomatillo

from Spanish tomatillo, «small tomato» (see Physalis philadelphica)

tomato

from Spanish tomate, from Nahuatl xitomatl

torero

from toro, «bull»

tornado

from Spanish tronada, «thunderstorm», influenced by tornar, «to turn»

tortilla

from tortilla, literally «small cake». In Mexico is a type of thin flatbread made of finely ground wheat flour. Now is called «omelet» in Spain

tostada (toast) and tostada (tortilla)

from tostada, «toasted»

tuna

from Spanish atún, from Arabic تون tun, from Latin thunnus, from Greek θύννος, thynnos (=tuna fish)

turista

from turista, «tourist» as either gender M/F

V[edit]

vamoose

from vamos, meaning «let’s go»

vanilla

from Spanish vainilla, diminutive of Latin vaina, from vagina meaning «pod»^[26]

vaquero

from the Spanish word vaquero

vertigo

from the Spanish word vértigo

vicugna

via Spanish, from Quechua wik’uña

vigilante

from Spanish vigilante, meaning «watchman.» < latin vigiliā «sleepless night, vigil».

W[edit]

wop

from Italian guappone, from Spanish guapo, «handsome» or «attractive».

Y[edit]

yerba buena

from Spanish yerbabuena meaning «good herb» (infused in Tea which has a Mint smell) < latin erbam bonam

Z[edit]

Zorro

from Spanish zorro, a fox, originally «smart» (of Basque origin)

See also[edit]

• List of Spanish words of Indigenous American Indian origin
• List of U.S. place names of Spanish origin
• List of English–Spanish interlingual homographs

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Montague, Artur, El elemento español en el vocabulario inglés: prolegómenos a una lista. AIH. Actas IV (1971). (in Spanish)
• Online Etymology Dictionary
• List of English words of Spanish origin

What Loanwords from Spanish Tell Us

Loanwords from Spanish offer us a glimpse into the history of colonialism, westward expansion, immigration, and trade. For centuries, there has been significant interaction between native English and Spanish speakers. As a result, thousands of Spanish words have become part of the English language.

Many of the earliest loanwords on record were a result of secondary borrowing. The Spanish colonization of the Americas brought about frequent interactions between the first Spanish explorers and the indigenous people of the region. Native terms for plants, animals, and other indigenous concepts were absorbed into the Spanish language, then later passed on to English.

Other loanwords from Spanish can be attributed to westward expansion in the 19th century. As English-speaking settlers moved from the East Coast to the North American Southwest, contact increased between Spanish-speaking and English-speaking communities. Many of the loanwords that were adopted at this time were related to mining, cattle farming, cooking, and cowboy culture. The California Gold Rush led to a rapid increase in the number of immigrants, many from Latin America. This resulted in more loanwords, many of which were slang.

Other factors that have contributed to the increase in Spanish loanwords in English include Puerto Rico becoming a part of the United States, trade with Caribbean countries, and the proximity of Mexico to the United States.

Indigenous Words

Below are some common words that have made their way into English from various indigenous languages of the Americas. Spanish adopted them first, and English adopted them from Spanish!

Cowboy Words

Here are some of the words that were adopted into English by Anglo-American cowboys working in the southwestern United States.

Foods

Thanks to the popularity of Mexican cuisine in the United States, many adopted Spanish words are food terms, such as taco, burrito, tortilla, and jalapeño. Many borrowed food terms have no English equivalent, and we sometimes forget that we are using Spanish words because they are so deeply embedded in the English language!

Other borrowed food words have been changed slightly, such as maize from the Spanish word maízand vanilla from the Spanish word vainilla.

Animals

A number of animal words are borrowed words. Alligator comes from lagarto, the Spanish term for lizard. Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning little armored one and mosquito means little fly. Cockroach comes from the Spanish cucaracha.

Cities and States

In the United States hundreds of city names derive from Spanish. Buena Vista means good view, El Paso means the pass, Fresno means ash tree, and Las Vegas translates as the meadows.

There are also many state names of Spanish origin. New Mexico is an anglicization of Nuevo México, Florida means flowery, Nevada means snowy, and Montana comes from the Spanish word montaña(mountain).

Additional Loanwords

There are many other words in English that derive from Spanish. The word cargo comes from the Spanish verb cargar, meaning to load. Tornado comes from tronada, which means thunderstorm. And vamoose comes from vamos, which means let’s go.

Here’s a list of more loanwords from Spanish that are common in the English language!

We’re taking a cue from the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place every year from September 15 to October 15, to look at the many ways Spanish has impacted the English language.

It’s not surprising that English has a lot of Spanish in it: Hispanic people are the largest ethnic minority in the US. And, in 1848, Mexico was compelled to cede approximately 50% of its original territory to the US—much of which is now the Southwest—following the Mexican American War. Many English terms originated from Spanish (silo, stampede, ranch), and others are Spanish words that have been integrated into the language (salsa, siesta). Some of these words, such as coyote and guacamole, have deeper roots in Indigenous languages (stay posted: we’ll cover these in a later piece).

These words remain evergreen and are used 365 days year-round. Ready to dive in? ¡Vámonos! The recognition of Hispanic cultures goes on!

tornado

If you’re from the Midwest, you may be all too familiar with this force of nature. A tornado is a violently spinning column of air recognized by its iconic “long, funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris.” While tornados appear all over the world, they’re most notoriously sighted in the US’ eponymous Tornado Alley.

Tornado was first recorded in English around 1550–60, emerging from the Spanish word tronada, or “thunderstorm.” The torna in tornado is also derived from the Spanish verb tornar (“to turn or to twist”), which if you’re unlucky enough to be near a tornado, you’ll see the winds twisting into its vortex.

• When the tornado’s winds died down, the girl stepped outside the house to find she wasn’t in Kansas anymore.”

Get caught up in the whirlwind of language around tornados, cyclones, hurricanes, and more.

alligator

This wide-snouted reptile is ubiquitous throughout the swamps and marshlands in the US and parts of Mexico. Its name, alligator, is derived from the original Spanish of el lagarto, or “the lizard.” And seeing how alligators can grow up to 15 feet, you’re sure to know exactly which lizard people mean when they say el lagarto!

Emerging during the Spanish invasion of the Americas, the word alligator was first recorded around 1560-70. Bilingual bonus: the US state known for its alligators, Florida, derives its name from one Spanish name for Palm Sunday, Pascua florida. The Spanish word florida also means “florid,” or having a lot of flowers.

• With its massive jaws, the alligator has one of the strongest bites of any creature on the planet.

Do you know the difference between an alligator and crocodile?

buckaroo

Considering that the Southwestern states were part of Mexico until 1848, it’s not surprising that terms associated with the Old West hold a Spanish origin. And among one of the most iconic images of the 19th-century West is the cowboy, sometimes called a buckaroo, or in Spanish, vaquero. With the word vaca (“cow”) at its root, vaquero is literally “cowboy.”

But how did we go from vaquero to buckaroo? In Spanish, the V and B sound alike (confusing many Spanish learners), so the V in vaquero is softer and sounds like “baquero.” This eventually evolved into buckaroo.

While vaqueros had been herding cattle in the Americas since the 1500s, buckaroo is recorded as entering English-language use around 1820-30 as more white Americans migrated westward and into Mexican ranching territories.

• After several hours, the buckaroo eventually quelled the wild horse.

lasso

And what’s a buckaroo without a lasso handy? This long rope or line of hide is characterized by the loop at the end of it in order to rope cattle or other livestock. In English, this noun is also used as a verb, to lasso something is to “catch something,” particularly as you would with a lasso.

Recorded in about 1760, lasso comes from the Spanish lazo, or “ribbon.”

• To keep the steer from getting away, we lassoed it by the horns.

vamoose

Need to go quickly or in a hurry? Chances are you’ve been told at some point or another to “vamoose”! Typically used in the imperative, vamoose was derived from the Spanish command, “Vamos,” or “let’s go,” around 1830-1840.

Strange as it sounds, vamoose has nothing to do with the antlered moose.

• Once he saw the tornado on the horizon, the buckaroo told his crew, “Vamoose!”

ranch

We mean the place, not the salad dressing! A ranch is generally defined as “an establishment maintained for raising livestock under range conditions.” Like other 19th-century terms connected to the Southwest, ranch holds a Spanish root word, rancho. It’s also fairly easy to see how rancho lost an O somewhere along the way and became the shortened English ranch.

While ranch was first documented among US English-speakers around the early 1800s, its predecessor rancho comes from the verb rancharse, meaning “to lodge” or “to eat together,” implied to be at a large table. Considering that ranches are often places where many vaqueros would lodge or stay over with others, typically on a seasonal basis, we can see the connection from verb to noun.

• The Saavedra family ranch mostly raises free-range chickens, but they keep a few cows, too.

stampede

Whether it’s a herd of wild horses or fans rushing to the latest boy band concert, we all know that when there’s a stampede coming, you move! Defined as “a sudden, frenzied rush or headlong flight of a herd of frightened animals, especially cattle or horses,” the word stampede is derived from the Spanish verb estampar, or “to stamp.” Basically, that’s the action the feet (or hooves) are making as they pound into the ground!

Estampar ultimately gave way to the noun estampida, which became stampede in English. In line with many terms of the Southwest, stampede entered English-speakers’ usage around 1815-25.

• The fallen lion was no match for the stampede of wildebeest.

chaps

While the Spanish predecessor for this word has lost a few letters over the years, the meaning is essentially still the same. Originally called chaparajos, chaps are “a pair of joined leather leggings, often widely flared, worn over trousers, especially by cowboys, as protection against burs, rope burns, and the like while on horseback.”

Chaps’ origin word, chaparajos, is likely a compound word. Combining chaparral (the arid, dusty biome common to the Southwest) with aparejos (Spanish for “gear”), this was the “chaparral apparel” that would protect you from the chaparral’s rough tumbleweed, spiky cactus, and other brush.

• After riding through thick underbrush for the past couple hours, Esteban wished he had worn chaps.

silo

Maybe you’ve seen one of these large, cylindrical grain repositories on a farm or, if you’re part of corporate America, maybe you work in one. A silo is a structure that stores fodder, forage, grain, or green feeds. In general, it’s used to refer to how something (or someone) is separated from everything else.

Silo was first recorded in 1825–35, from the Spanish word referring to the “place for storing grain, hay, etc.” Originally, silos referred to a structure as being subterranean.

• Exchange of knowledge is important, so even experts can’t be expected to work in the silo of their department.

armadillo

With its plated, protective covering, the root word of this little critter common to the Americas should be pretty obvious. If you can hear the word armor in armadillo, you’re right on track! Coined sometime around the late 1500s, armadillo comes from the Spanish adjective armado, or “armed,” and the diminutive suffix -illo. Combined, these create the word armadillo, or “little armored one.”

Fun fact: Before the arrival of the Spanish, Nahuatl-speaking peoples referred to armadillos as āyōtōchtli, which means “turtle-rabbit.” Between the long ears and the shell, we can definitely see the resemblance!

• By rolling up into a ball, the armadillo’s tough exterior protected it from the hungry predator.

bodega

Most commonly seen throughout the East Coast, bodegas are “small, independent or family-owned grocery stores.” They’re often found in big cities and typically serve Latino communities, especially those with roots in the Caribbean (e.g. Puerto Ricans, Dominicans). The word bodega literally means a “wine cellar, wine shop,” from the Latin apothēca (“storehouse”). The words apothecary and boutique are also related to this Latin root!

What happens if you’re in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or somewhere else in the Southwest? Bodegas in these regions are typically referred to as mercados by their predominantly Mexican-American clientele. Take a closer look mercado and say it slowly: can you see how it’s related to the word market itself?

• Flora stepped into the bodega to quickly restock on fresh plantains, milk, and this week’s lottery ticket.

mosquito

In Spanish, the -ito ending is common to denote that something is small or diminutive. So you’ll get words like carrito (little car or cart), perrito (little dog or a puppy), or mijito (a Latin American endearment for one’s own child). While there’s not anything endearing or cute about a fly, mosquito is a tinier version of mosca, your average housefly. Mosquito was recorded in English around 1575–85.

• As much of a nuisance as they are, mosquitos are also excellent pollinators, helping more plants reproduce and produce fruit.

sierra

For some, the word sierra conjures images of a desert or a popular soft drink. The geography it technically refers to is “a chain of hills or mountains, the peaks of which suggest the teeth of a saw.” That image of a saw is important since that’s the meaning of its Latin root word, serra, which is also the source of the English word serrated.

Sierra is recorded as first appearing in use between 1590–1610.

• After days of navigating the sierra’s rugged terrain, we finally made it to a local town.

alpaca

Not to be confused with its more aggressive cousin, the llama, alpacas were (and still are) the primary livestock of many people in South America, especially in Peru and Ecuador. A domesticated animal, alpaca are known for their long, soft fleece that can be used to make a number of products from sweaters and shawls to blankets and socks.

Alpaca is derived from the native Aymara word (from the region in Peru and Bolivia near Lake Titicaca), allpaqa.

• Some of the comfiest jackets and blankets are spun from alpaca fleece!

savvy

If you’re “in the know” or “hip to the rules,” then chances are the word savvy also applies to you, too. Meaning to be “experienced, knowledgeable, well-informed, or shrewd,” savvy is most frequently used as an adjective, typically linked with another word (e.g. tech-savvy). Savvy can also be a noun, as in a real estate agent who has a lot of savvy on the direction the housing market is going.

As previously mentioned, the B and V sounds in Spanish can be interchangeable. So the Spanish word sabe (“she/he/it knows”) eventually morphed into savvy by about 1775-85—just in time for certain pirates in the Caribbean to make it their catchphrase.

• If you’re savvy to the unwritten rules of fashion, you’d know that one’s shoes should always match their belt.

maize

Whether creamed, on the cob, or popped and buttered, most people are familiar with maize in one of its various incarnations or another—it’s corn! By extension, maize can also refer to “a pale yellow resembling the color of corn.”

While the Spanish word maíz is documented in English about 1545–55, its roots run deeper. Taíno people, the indigenous population of modern-day islands such as Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, called this crop mahís before the term was acquired into Spanish. Corn, alongside squash and beans, is considered one of the life-sustaining, sacred foods (the “Three Sisters”) in the Americas.

• Rosario twirled in her dress, which was a golden maize that complemented the fall colors of her home’s interior.

Spanish has a strong influence on American English in particular, where areas including Texas, California, Arizona, and Colorado (the latter literally meaning red-coloured) were once part of Mexico. 

Spanish colonialism in the 1500s imported many words into English, including war terms such as armada and embargo. Other Spanish loanwords are more recent from the 41 million native Spanish speakers living in the United States.

Here are 29 popular English words are close or direct translation from Spanish

You could probably guess that adios or fiesta come from Spanish, but did you know that patio, banana, and marijuana are also Spanish loanwords?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91zhlfSzFOc

1. Adiós – from the Spanish adios, literally meaning “may you be (commended) to God”.
2. Aficionado – Spanish for a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a pursued interest or activity. From the Spanish afición, primarily meaning hobby/ pastime, but it can also mean affection.
3. Amigo – Spanish word for friend (male). The female version amiga isn’t officially recognized in English.
4. Armada – Spanish for a fleet of warships
5. Banana – English borrowed this from Spanish and Portuguese, who in turn most likely borrowed it from Wolof (West Africa)
6. Bodega – Spanish for wine storehouse or winery
7. Bonanza – Spanish meanings include calm sea and prosperity
8. Breeze – from the Spanish brisa, for northwest wind
9. Cafeteria – from the Spanish cafetería meaning coffeehouse
10. Cigar – from the Spanish word for cigarette in Spain, cigarro (the actual word for cigar over there is puro)
11. Embargo – from the Spanish word embargar, to bar
12. Fiesta – Spanish for a festival or party, in particular a saint’s day celebrated in Spain, Latin America, and the Philippines with processions and dances
13. Guerilla – Spanish word derived from guerra, war in Spanish
14. Hola – A Spanish interjection meaning hi
15. Incognito – from the Spanish incógnito, meaning having one’s identity concealed 
16. Lasso – from the Spanish lazo, meaning snare or bow
17. Loco – Spanish for crazy or frenzied
18. Macho – Spanish for male when referring to animals. Worth noting: when referring to people, macho has negative, sexist connotations!
19. Marijuana – from the Mexican Spanish mariguana or marihuana
20. Mucho – Spanish for much or many
21. Nada – Spanish for nothing
22. Patio – Spanish for courtyard
23. Plaza – Spanish for a public square or open area
24. Pronto – Spanish for without delay
25. Renegade – from the Spanish renegado, one who abandons their ideals or faith
26. Siesta – Spanish for an afternoon nap or rest
27. Tango – Spanish for the Latin dance of the same name
28. Tomato – from the Spanish word tomate, from the Nahuatl tomatl
29. Vigilante – Spanish for watchman or guard

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Discover 16 Spanish ‘food’ words that we already use in English 

There’s no area where Spanish influence is more visible in English than with food. 

Popular Spanish words in English from Latin cuisine that need no introduction include nacho, tortilla, taco, jalapeño, guacamole, burrito, queso, quesadilla, chorizo and vanilla. But there’ll be others you might not have heard of:

1. Avocado – a modification of the Spanish aguacate, from the Nahuatl āhuacatl
2. Burrito – need we say more?
3. Barbecue – comes from the Spanish barbacoa, the structure for cooking meat over a fire
4. Chilli – hot or sweet peppers or a meat sauce made from them and comes from the Spanish chile.
5. Chorizo – need we say more?
6. Cilantro – Spanish word for what the plant that cilantro (or coriander, according to the Brits) grows on 
7. Guacamole – need we say more?
8. Jalapeño – need we say more?
9. Nacho – need we say more?
10. Quesadilla – need we say more?
11. Queso – need we say more?
12. Salsa – the Spanish word for sauce, which in Spanish speaking countries, can include variations that don’t include tomatoes
13. Taco – need we say more?
14. Tortilla – tortilla is spelled the same in Spanish; but if you say tortilla to a Spaniard, their minds will first conjure up an image of an omelette, not a wrap, thanks to the one of the most traditional dishes in Spain, tortilla de patata (potato omelette).  
15. Tequila – named after the town in Mexico, where the spirit originates
16. Vanilla – from the Spanish vainilla

Introducing 7 Spanish nature words you’ll find in English

Nature enthusiasts might also be surprised to find loanwords from S

1. Savanna – from the Spanish sabana
2. Sierra – Spanish for mountains, hills or mountain range (and saw – the DIY tool, not the verb)
3. Mesa – from the Spanish mesa, which literally means table  
4. Pueblo – a cliff-style dwelling of Native Americans, which is named after the Spanish word for village.
5. Tornado – derived from the Spanish tronada,  – a (rarely used) word for thunder – nowadays, Spaniards use tornado or trueno
6. Hurricane – English adaptation of the Spanish huracán, a Spanish loanword from Taino. 
7. The El Niño and La Niña weather patterns – translate to the boy and the girl.

Worth noting: English also often uses Spanish names for animals that are native to the Americas. Think armadillo, llama, alpaca, chinchilla, iguana, bronco, and even mosquito. The English word alligator comes from el lagarto, the Spanish word for lizard.

Wait, there’s more! Here are 12 great examples of Spanish cognates

Cognates are words that come from the same linguistic root – in this case, Latin. 

This includes words that are the same in English and Spanish, as well as words with variations in spelling and pronunciation. 

If you’re learning Spanish, look for cognates that can help you guess the meanings of words. There are loads of these handy word pairings in English that make Spanish easier than almost any other language to learn. 

Here are a 12 great examples: 

1. Universidad – university
2. Montaña – mountain
3. Excelente – excellent
4. Problema – problem
5. Carro – Car
6. Parque – park
7. Comenzar – to start, commence
8. Necesitar – to need
9. Árbol – tree (arborist, arboretum)
10. Creer – to believe (credence, credible, creed)
11. Hospital – hospital
12. Personal – personal

Top tip: You can also guess something about a Spanish word from common suffixes. For example, –ito or -ita means a smaller version of something, like casita (small house), or the cute nickname amorcito (little love).

But beware of false friends in Spanish and English

Hold on a minute! 

While cognates are very useful, proceed with caution. Not every similar-sounding word in English and Spanish shares the same meaning. We call these tricky words “false friends”, because they seem familiar but could betray you. 

Here are some examples of false friends in Spanish and English:

• Lectura means reading, not a lecture
• Embarazado means pregnant, not embarrassed
• Librería means bookstore, not library
• Sensible means sensitive, not sensible

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And that’s a wrap – you’ve just learned (nearly) all there is to know about the Spanish words that have made their way into the English language. 

Our advice? Pay attention when you’re hearing or reading Spanish – even a beginner can pick up a word or two. Stay vigilant, and soon, you’ll fill in the rest. Adios! 

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