contabilidad
/kontabiliˈdad/feminine
The Spanish word for accounting is contabilidad.
contabilidad refers to the development and maintenance of system for recording and analyzing financial transactions. In a business setting, you may use the noun phrase departamento de contabilidad to refer specifically to the accounting department. If you need to refer to a balance sheet, the term is estado de situación. To describe the person practicing the profession, use contador for a man or contadora for a woman.
Meaning: development and maintenance of system for recording and analyzing financial transactions (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
contabilidad is a feminine noun and is typically used with the definite article la, as in la contabilidad.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontabiliˈdad/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American contexts, llevar la contabilidad is used idiomatically to describe someone who keeps a mental tally of favors or grudges in a relationship.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a contador is not just an employee but a legally licensed professional who must sign off on official tax documents to validate them.
- The root of contabilidad is the word contar, which means 'to count' or 'to tell a story'.
Examples in context
- Tom es de contabilidad.Tom is from accounting.This sentence uses contabilidad to indicate which department Tom is from.Tatoeba #11967701 by Eremon, translation #2273141 by CK
- ¿Sabes de contabilidad?Do you know accounting?This sentence uses contabilidad to ask about someone's knowledge of the subject.Tatoeba #11967715 by Eremon, translation #7841340 by basilhan
- El departamento de contabilidad presentó una cotización de piezas de respuesto al presidente de la compañía.The accounting department presented an estimate for replacement parts to the president of the company.This sentence uses contabilidad within the phrase for the accounting department.Tatoeba #4520995 by atomsk, translation #7918638 by fpp
- El conocimiento en contabilidad es fundamental para una carrera exitosa en el ámbito financiero.Knowledge in accounting is essential for a successful career in the financial field.
- El informe de auditoría reveló algunas irregularidades en los registros contables.The audit report revealed some irregularities in the accounting records.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are discussing their university degrees.
- AlejandroElena, ¿qué estudias en la universidad?Elena, what are you studying at the university?
- ElenaEstudio contabilidad porque me gustan los números.I study accounting because I like numbers.
- AlejandroEs una carrera muy útil y demandada.It is a very useful and in-demand career.
- ElenaSí, la contabilidad es esencial para cualquier empresa.Yes, accounting is essential for any company.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accounting” translations and entries contabilidad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
