Words With Spanish Origins

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300 Words

1 abalone An edible sea snail with a flattened, ear-shaped shell lined with mother-of-pearl; also, its meat.
2 abra A narrow pass or gap through hills or a mesa.
3 abuela A grandmother, especially in a Spanish-speaking or Hispanic family.
4 Acosta A Spanish surname of Catalan origin.
5 aficionado A person with a strong, informed enthusiasm for a particular hobby or interest.
6 Alabama A Muscogee-speaking Indigenous people originally from central Alabama, or a member of that people.
7 alameda A tree-lined avenue or promenade, especially one found in Spain, Portugal, or Spanish-speaking countries.
8 alamo A poplar or cottonwood tree native to the southwestern United States.
9 alcazar A fortified palace built by Moorish rulers in Spain.
10 Alejandra A female given name from Spanish, equivalent to Alexandra.
11 Alejandro A male given name from Spanish, equivalent to Alexander.
12 alfalfa A leafy green plant grown as livestock feed and cover crop, also called lucerne.
13 Alhambra A historic fortress and palace complex in Granada, Spain.
14 Allende A Spanish surname, borne notably by Chilean president Salvador Allende and author Isabel Allende.
15 alligator A large reptile with powerful jaws and a broad snout, found mainly in the southeastern United States and China...
16 alpaca A domesticated South American animal related to the llama, valued for its soft wool, or the wool/fabric made f...
17 Alvarado A Spanish surname, also the name of several places in the Americas named after Spanish settlers.
18 Alvarez A Spanish surname.
19 Amarillo A city in the Texas panhandle, United States, the county seat of Potter County.
20 Amaya A female given name of Spanish and Basque origin, popularised in the 1990s.
21 amiga A female friend (a term borrowed from Spanish, often used in English by Spanish speakers or in Spanish-influen...
22 amparo In several Latin American legal systems, a special court proceeding used to protect a person's constitutional...
23 anchovy A small, strong-tasting saltwater fish, often preserved in salt or oil and used to flavor other dishes.
24 Andes The long mountain range running down the western edge of South America.
25 ani A black, long-tailed tropical bird in the cuckoo family, found across the Americas.
26 Anita A female given name, a Spanish diminutive of Ana ("Ann").
27 Apache A member of any of several related Native American peoples of the southwestern United States.
28 Appalachian Relating to the Appalachian Mountains or the region and culture of Appalachia in the eastern United States.
29 Aragon An autonomous region in northeastern Spain, whose capital is Zaragoza; historically an independent medieval ki...
30 armadillo A burrowing mammal native to the Americas, covered in tough, jointed armor-like plates.
31 arroyo A dry streambed or gully that only fills with water after heavy rain.
32 avocado A pear-shaped fruit with rich, buttery green flesh and a large central stone, eaten as a savoury food.
33 Aztec Relating to the Aztecs, the Nahuatl-speaking people who built a powerful empire in central Mexico before the S...
34 Bahamas A chain of islands and independent country in the Caribbean, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
35 balboa Panama's official currency, split into 100 centésimos and pegged 1:1 with the US dollar.
36 banana A long curved tropical fruit with soft flesh and a peelable yellow skin.
37 barbecue A grill or fireplace used for cooking food, usually outdoors over hot coals or gas flame.
38 barrio A neighborhood or district, especially a Spanish-speaking one within a city.
39 Beatriz A female given name from Portuguese and Spanish, equivalent to English Beatrice.
40 Belen A feminine given name, the Spanish form of Bethlehem, meaning "house of bread".
41 Belize An English-speaking country on the Caribbean coast of Central America, formerly called British Honduras.
42 Bermuda A pale, slightly blue-tinted shade of green, named after the islands.
43 Bilbao The largest city in Spain's Basque Country and the capital of Biscay province.
44 Bilbo A finely tempered, flexible sword originally made in Bilbao, Spain.
45 blanco To whiten or polish equipment (such as military webbing or belts) using a chalky whitening compound.
46 bolero A lively Spanish dance, or the slower, related Cuban dance style.
47 bolo A long, heavy single-edged machete used for cutting or as a weapon.
48 bongo One of a pair of small hand drums, played by beating with the fingers and palms.
49 bonito A fast-swimming ocean fish related to tuna, prized in cooking, especially for flakes used in Japanese broths.
50 boob A silly mistake.
51 bronco A wild or only partly tamed horse, especially from western North America.
52 buckaroo A cowboy, especially one working cattle rather than competing in rodeos.
53 burrito A Mexican dish of a flour tortilla wrapped around a filling such as meat, beans, or cheese.
54 burro A small donkey, especially one used as a pack animal or living wild in the American Southwest.
55 cabeza In Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking, meat from the head of a cow, especially the cheek, often slow-cooked for tacos...
56 Cabron (vulgar, slang, from Spanish) An insulting term for a man; roughly "bastard" or "jerk."
57 caiman A crocodile-like reptile found in Central and South America, related to alligators.
58 Caliente A place name meaning "hot" in Spanish, borne by towns in California and Nevada.
59 California The most populous U.S. state, on the Pacific coast, whose capital is Sacramento.
60 camino A long-distance pilgrimage route across Spain, especially the route to Santiago de Compostela.
61 campo An open field or plain, especially in Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking regions.
62 canasta A card game related to rummy, played with two decks, where players form sets called melds.
63 cannibalism The practice of eating the flesh of one's own species.
64 canoe A narrow boat, pointed at both ends, propelled with single-bladed paddles.
65 capa A traditional Spanish cloak, often worn draped over the shoulders.
66 capitan Spanish for "captain," sometimes borrowed into English for local flavor.
67 capsize To turn over or roll over in the water, or to cause a boat to do so.
68 Caracas The capital city of Venezuela.
69 caramba An exclamation of surprise, frustration, or dismay — similar to "wow" or "darn."
70 Carmen A feminine given name of Spanish origin, also used as a masculine given name in Italian, made famous by Bizet'...
71 Casablanca The largest city in Morocco, and the title of the classic 1942 film set there.
72 Castillo A Spanish surname meaning "castle".
73 Catalina A twin-engined amphibious aircraft widely used during the Second World War.
74 Cesar A masculine given name of Spanish origin, a variant of Caesar.
75 ceviche A dish of raw fish or seafood "cooked" by marinating it in citrus juice or another acidic liquid, popular acro...
76 Chaco A province in northern Argentina, and part of the larger Gran Chaco lowland region of South America.
77 chaps Sturdy leather leggings, open at the back, worn over trousers to protect the legs, especially by cowboys or mo...
78 Chavez A Spanish surname, notably borne by labor leader Cesar Chavez and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
79 chia A flowering plant grown for its small, edible seeds, popular as a health food.
80 chica A young Latin-American woman or girl (used especially in Spanish-influenced English).
81 chico (informal) A young Latin-American man or boy.
82 Chile A long, narrow country on the western coast of South America.
83 chili A hot-tasting pepper (fresh or dried) used to add spice to food.
84 chinchilla A small rodent from the Andes mountains, prized for its extremely soft, dense fur and often kept as a pet.
85 chino A sturdy cotton fabric, or trousers made from it.
86 chipotle A ripe jalapeño pepper that has been dried and smoked, used to add a smoky heat to food.
87 chocolate A sweet food made from roasted, ground cocoa beans, eaten as a bar, candy, or used as an ingredient.
88 cholo (informal, sometimes offensive) A term, mainly used in the US, for a Mexican-American or Hispanic gang member...
89 chorizo A spicy Spanish or Latin American sausage flavoured with paprika.
90 churro A fried, ridged pastry of Spanish origin, often dusted with sugar and served with chocolate for dipping.
91 cigar A roll of tobacco leaves wrapped for smoking, typically thicker and stronger than a cigarette.
92 Coachella A city in California, and the large annual music festival held there.
93 coca A South American shrub whose leaves are chewed or brewed as a mild stimulant and are the source of cocaine.
94 cockroach A flat-bodied, fast-moving insect of the order Blattodea, notorious as a household pest.
95 coco Informal short form of coconut, or the coconut palm tree.
96 cocoa A brown powder made from roasted, ground cacao beans, used to make chocolate and in baking.
97 coconut The large seed of the coconut palm, with a hard brown husk, white flesh, and clear liquid inside.
98 cojones Courage and boldness; nerve. (Informal, from a word for testicles.)
99 Colorado A state in the western United States, known for the Rocky Mountains; its capital is Denver.
100 Comanche A member of a Native American nation historically based in Texas and Oklahoma, known for their skill as horseb...
101 compadre A close friend or companion, especially used informally.
102 condor A very large vulture native to the Americas, known for its wide wingspan and soaring flight.
103 conga A tall, narrow hand drum of Cuban origin, played with the hands.
104 conquistador A Spanish soldier or explorer who took part in the conquest of the Americas in the 1500s.
105 Consuelo A feminine given name of Spanish origin, meaning "consolation," often referencing the Virgin Mary as "Our Lady...
106 Cordero A Spanish surname, derived from a word meaning "lamb."
107 Coronado A Spanish surname and place name, meaning "crowned," associated with explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.
108 corral A fenced enclosure for keeping livestock, especially horses or cattle.
109 Cortes A Spanish and Portuguese surname, meaning "courts," notably borne by conquistador Hernán Cortés.
110 coyote A wild dog-like animal native to North America, smaller than a wolf.
111 crimson A deep, rich red colour with a hint of blue or purple in it.
112 Cristobal A male given name, the anglicized form of the Spanish name Cristobal (equivalent to "Christopher").
113 cuatro A small four-stringed (or sometimes ten-stringed) guitar-like instrument used in Latin American music.
114 Cuba A country made up of the largest island in the Caribbean, with Havana as its capital.
115 cucaracha A lively Mexican dance performed in ballrooms and nightclubs.
116 cuesta A ridge or hill with a gentle slope on one side and a steep drop on the other.
117 Cuzco A city in Peru, the former capital of the Inca Empire.
118 dahlia A garden plant with large, colourful, tuberous flowers, native to Mexico.
119 Delgado A common Spanish-language surname.
120 Delores A female first name, a spelling variant of the Spanish name Dolores.
121 dengue A tropical viral illness spread by mosquitoes, causing high fever, rash, and severe joint pain.
122 Duarte A surname of Spanish or Portuguese origin.
123 dunder The residue left over from fermenting sugarcane juice, used to flavour rum during distillation.
124 Duran A Spanish surname, notably borne by the boxer Roberto Duran; also a commune in France.
125 Ecuador A country on the northwestern coast of South America, home to the Galápagos Islands and named for the equator,...
126 enchilada A Mexican dish of a tortilla rolled around a filling and covered in a chili-based sauce, then baked.
127 ese An informal, chiefly Mexican-American term of address for a man, roughly equivalent to "dude" or "man."
128 espada A bullfighter who delivers the final sword thrust; a matador.
129 fandango A lively Spanish dance, or the music that accompanies it.
130 Filipino A person from the Philippines, or someone descended from Philippine ancestry.
131 flamenco A passionate style of Spanish music and dance from the Andalusia region, marked by guitar, singing, hand-clapp...
132 flamingo A tall wading bird with long legs, a curved neck, and pink or reddish feathers.
133 flor A layer of yeast that forms on top of certain wines during fermentation, deliberately encouraged when making s...
134 Fresno A city in central California, United States.
135 Fuentes A surname of Spanish origin.
136 gato Spanish word for "cat," sometimes borrowed casually into English speech or writing.
137 gaucho A skilled horseman and cattle-herder of the South American grasslands, especially Argentina, Uruguay, and sout...
138 Gauna A surname of Basque origin, tied to a particular place, that later spread through Spanish-speaking families.
139 Gaviria A surname of Basque origin, common in Spanish-speaking countries.
140 Geraldo A Portuguese and Spanish surname.
141 gibberish Speech or writing that makes no sense or is impossible to understand.
142 Gomez A common Spanish surname.
143 Gonzalez A common Spanish surname.
144 gracias Thank you (borrowed directly from Spanish, used in English as an informal way of saying thanks).
145 Grenada An island country in the Caribbean, also the name of small towns in California and Mississippi.
146 gringo A term, sometimes derogatory, used mainly in Latin America for a white foreigner, especially an American.
147 guacamole A creamy green dip made from mashed avocado, usually mixed with lime, onion, tomato, and chilli, eaten with to...
148 Guadalajara A major city in central Mexico, capital of the state of Jalisco and one of the country's largest cities.
149 Guadalcanal A large island in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, the site of a major World War II battle between Japanese...
150 guan A large, pheasant-like bird found in Central and South America.
151 guano The droppings of seabirds or bats, especially when collected and used as a fertilizer.
152 Guatemala A country in Central America, bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador.
153 guava A tropical fruit with a thin skin and sweet, seedy flesh, or the tree it grows on.
154 Guerrero A state in southwestern Mexico, home to the resort city of Acapulco.
155 guerrilla A fighter in a small, independent armed group that uses surprise raids rather than open battle, typically agai...
156 Gutierrez A common Spanish surname.
157 Guzman A Spanish surname.
158 hacienda A large estate or ranch house, especially in Spanish-speaking countries or regions shaped by Spanish colonial...
159 hammock A hanging bed made of fabric or netting, suspended between two points and used for lying down or sleeping.
160 hasta Informal way of saying goodbye, short for "hasta luego" or "hasta la vista."
161 Hernandez A common surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Hernando".
162 hidalgo A member of the lower Spanish nobility, historically exempt from certain taxes but without a formal title.
163 hola An informal greeting meaning "hello" or "hi," borrowed from Spanish.
164 hombre A man, especially used informally, often implying a tough or rugged character.
165 Honduras A country in Central America, capital Tegucigalpa.
166 huerta A fertile, irrigated agricultural region, especially in southeastern Spain.
167 huevos Short for huevos rancheros, a Mexican breakfast dish of fried eggs served on tortillas with tomato-chili sauce...
168 hurricane A powerful rotating tropical storm with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, typically forming over...
169 huzzah An old-fashioned cheer of triumph, joy, or approval.
170 iguana A large tropical lizard, often green, native to the Americas and sometimes kept as an exotic pet.
171 Inca A member of the South American people who built a major empire in the Andes before the Spanish conquest.
172 indigo A deep blue-purple color, or the dye of that color traditionally extracted from certain plants.
173 indio A term, now often considered dated or sensitive, historically used for an indigenous person in Latin America o...
174 Isabel A female given name from Hebrew, related to Elizabeth.
175 Isabela A female given name from Spanish, a variant of Isabel.
176 Jorge A male given name from Spanish or Portuguese, equivalent to the English name George.
177 Jose A male given name from Spanish and Portuguese, equivalent to the English name Joseph.
178 Juana A female given name from Spanish, the feminine counterpart of Juan.
179 Juarez A surname of Spanish origin.
180 kano Filipino slang for an American man, or more broadly a Western foreigner.
181 Laguna A member of the Laguna Pueblo, a federally recognized Native American tribe in New Mexico.
182 Lindo A surname, in English usage generally derived from the place name Lindow.
183 llama A South American pack animal related to the camel, kept for its wool and as a beast of burden.
184 loco Crazy or out of one's mind (informal).
185 Lola (informal, in some cultures, especially Filipino English) A term for one's grandmother.
186 Lolita A sexually precocious young girl (a term now widely considered offensive and best avoided).
187 Luis A male given name, the Spanish form of Louis.
188 lupe A short form of the given name Guadalupe, used especially in Spanish-speaking cultures.
189 maca A hardy Andean plant grown for its turnip-like root, or a supplement made from that root, often taken for ener...
190 Macarena A line dance with simple, repeated arm movements and hip swaying, done to a fast Latin beat.
191 Magdalena A female first name, a variant of Magdalene.
192 maize A tall cereal plant with large ears of kernels; known as "corn" in American English.
193 Malaga A port city in southern Spain, capital of the province of the same name.
194 mamacita Slang for an attractive woman.
195 mambo A lively Latin American dance and musical style that developed from the rumba in 1940s Cuba.
196 mami An informal, affectionate word for mother, or a slang term for an attractive woman.
197 manatee A large, slow-moving plant-eating aquatic mammal (genus Trichechus) with a paddle-shaped tail, found in warm c...
198 mancha A prized, high-quality grade of Spanish saffron.
199 mangrove A tropical tree or shrub that grows in salty coastal shallows, supported by tangled above-ground roots.
200 mano A smooth, hand-held grinding stone used with a flat stone base (a metate) to crush corn or other grain.
201 margarita A cocktail made with tequila, orange liqueur, and lime or lemon juice, often served with a salted rim.
202 marijuana The dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant, used as a drug for its mind-altering effects.
203 mariposa A mariposa lily, a wildflower native to western North America with striking cup-shaped blooms.
204 Marquez A Spanish surname, notably borne by the novelist Gabriel García Márquez.
205 Martinez A Spanish surname meaning "son of Martin," one of the most common surnames in Spanish-speaking countries.
206 masa Dough made from specially prepared corn, used to make tortillas, tamales, and similar foods.
207 matador The bullfighter whose role is to fight and kill the bull in a traditional bullfight.
208 Mexican A person from Mexico or of Mexican descent.
209 mija A Spanish term of affection for a woman or girl, similar to "sweetheart" or "dear".
210 mijo A Spanish term of affection for a man or boy, similar to "sweetheart" or "son".
211 Mila A female given name common across Slavic languages and beyond.
212 Miramar A common place name for coastal towns and neighborhoods across the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world, and...
213 Modesto A city in California, United States, the county seat of Stanislaus County.
214 mojito A Cuban cocktail made with rum, lime juice, sugar, mint, and soda water.
215 mona A small West African monkey (Cercopithecus mona) with a distinctive patterned coat.
216 monte A gambling card game in which several cards are dealt face-up and players bet on which will be the next to mat...
217 Montecito An affluent community in Santa Barbara County, California, United States.
218 Monterey Describing a building style influenced by early Spanish-Californian architecture, typically with a low-pitched...
219 montero A round, brimless Spanish cap with side or back flaps, historically worn by huntsmen.
220 Monterrey A city in Mexico, the capital of the state of Nuevo León.
221 Montevideo The capital city of Uruguay.
222 Montoya A surname of Spanish origin, ultimately from Basque.
223 Morales A Spanish surname, and also the name of several towns in Latin America.
224 Moreno A Spanish surname, and the name of a city in Argentina.
225 Moro A member of the Muslim population native to the southern Philippines, especially Mindanao and the Sulu Archipe...
226 mosey To walk or move somewhere in a slow, relaxed, unhurried way.
227 muchacho An informal, friendly way to address a young man, similar to "dude" or "pal."
228 mulatto A historical term, now widely considered dated or offensive, for a person of mixed Black and white ancestry.
229 mustang A small, hardy wild horse descended from domesticated Spanish horses, found roaming the western United States.
230 muy Very (used in Spanish loanwords or phrases within English text).
231 nada Nothing at all (informal).
232 nao A type of Spanish or Portuguese sailing ship, similar to a carrack, used in early ocean exploration.
233 Navajo A member of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the United States, based mainly in the Sou...
234 Nevada A state in the western United States, known for Las Vegas and its desert landscape.
235 Nicaragua A country in Central America, officially the Republic of Nicaragua, with its capital at Managua.
236 Nogales A pair of twin border cities, one in Arizona, United States, and one in Sonora, Mexico.
237 Nunez A Spanish surname (also spelled Núñez).
238 Ola A given name of Yoruba or Scandinavian origin, also used as a surname.
239 ole An exclamation shouted to cheer on a performer, bullfighter, or sports team.
240 Ona A Spanish surname; also the name of an indigenous language spoken in Tierra del Fuego.
241 oregano A fragrant herb, related to mint, whose leaves are widely used to season savory dishes, especially in Italian...
242 Ortega A Spanish surname.
243 Ortiz A Spanish surname.
244 Oso A supporter of the short-lived Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 California.
245 Pac A surname of Polish, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, or Guatemalan origin.
246 paco An alpaca, a South American animal related to the llama, raised for its soft wool.
247 paloma A cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda.
248 palomino A horse with a golden or tan coat and a pale cream or white mane and tail.
249 papaya A tropical fruit tree bearing large, sweet, orange-fleshed fruit, or the fruit itself.
250 Pascual A surname of Spanish origin.
251 pendejo A Spanish slang insult meaning a stupid or foolish person.
252 pepita A pumpkin seed, typically roasted and shelled, eaten as a snack or used in cooking.
253 pepito A sandwich, popular across Latin America and originating in Spain, typically filled with beef, pork, or chicke...
254 peso The unit of currency used in several Latin American countries and the Philippines.
255 Petro In Haitian Vodou, a category of spirits (loa) generally seen as fierce, forceful, or combative in character.
256 peyote A small spineless cactus native to Mexico and the southwestern US, whose buttons are chewed for their hallucin...
257 Philippines A Southeast Asian island nation made up of thousands of islands, with Manila as its capital.
258 Picasso A surname, most famously associated with the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.
259 pinto A horse with a patchy, two-colour coat, typically white mixed with another colour.
260 piranha A small South American freshwater fish known for its sharp teeth and reputation for ferocity, though most spec...
261 Pixar An American animation studio famous for computer-animated films such as Toy Story.
262 playa A flat area of land that periodically floods and then dries out completely, leaving a hard, cracked surface.
263 poncho A simple cloak made from a piece of cloth with a hole for the head, worn over the shoulders.
264 porgy Any of several sea bream fish of the family Sparidae, commonly eaten as food.
265 potato A starchy vegetable that grows underground as the tuber of the potato plant.
266 presidente A Cuban cocktail made with rum, curaçao, dry vermouth, and grenadine, shaken or stirred with ice.
267 problemo A jokey, faux-Spanish way of saying "problem," most familiar from the phrase "no problemo."
268 puma A large wild cat native to the Americas, also called a mountain lion or cougar.
269 querida Darling or sweetheart — a term of endearment.
270 quesadilla A Mexican dish made by folding a tortilla around melted cheese, often with other fillings, and cooking it unti...
271 Questa A surname of Spanish origin, also a village in New Mexico.
272 quinoa A grain-like plant native to the Andes, grown for its edible seeds.
273 Quintana A surname of Spanish origin.
274 quirt A short riding whip made of braided leather.
275 Quito The capital city of Ecuador.
276 ramada A simple shelter or open-sided porch, typically covered with a roof of branches or thatch.
277 Ramirez A Spanish surname, originally a patronymic.
278 Ramos A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, from a word meaning "branch".
279 ranch A large farm, especially in the western United States, used for raising cattle, sheep, or horses.
280 rancho A simple hut or shelter, often thatched, used for temporary lodging by farm or ranch workers.
281 Raquel A feminine given name of Hebrew origin, a Spanish form of Rachel.
282 raunchy Crude or sexually explicit in a way that can be humorous or shocking.
283 Rey A Spanish surname, a doublet of Roy, meaning "king."
284 Ricardo A masculine given name of Portuguese and Spanish origin, equivalent to English Richard.
285 Rigor A surname of Spanish origin, found predominantly in the Philippines.
286 rio A mid-tier grade of Spanish saffron, ranked below the top "mancha" and "coupé" grades but above the ordinary "...
287 rito The young, tender leaves of the coconut palm, traditionally woven into baskets, mats, and other items in parts...
288 Rivera A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "riverbank".
289 roc A giant bird from Middle Eastern legend, said to be strong enough to carry off elephants.
290 rodeo A competitive event, especially in North America, featuring skills such as bull riding, roping, and bronco rid...
291 Rodriguez A patronymic surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Rodrigo".
292 Rojas A surname of Spanish origin.
293 Rosario A surname and given name of Spanish origin meaning "rosary", and a major city in Argentina.
294 rumba A lively Cuban dance with partners, danced to a slow 4-beat rhythm.
295 rusk A hard, dry, twice-baked biscuit, often given as a teething food for babies.
296 Sacramento The capital city of California and seat of Sacramento County.
297 sangria A chilled Spanish drink made from wine mixed with fruit, juice, and sometimes soda or brandy.
298 Santa An instance of someone dressed up as Santa.
299 sarsaparilla A tropical vine with fragrant roots, traditionally used to flavour drinks and folk remedies.
300 savanna A grassy plain with scattered trees, typical of tropical and subtropical regions, where the trees are spaced t...