Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| enganche | /enˈɡant͡ʃe/ | Guatemala, Mexico, masculine |
| adelanto | /adeˈlanto/ | masculine |
| entrada | /enˈtɾada/ | Spain, feminine |
| cuota inicial | /kwota iniθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kwota inisjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, feminine |
| abono inicial | /abono iniθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /abono inisjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Panama, masculine |
| pronto pago | /pɾonto paɡo/ (from spelling rules) | Puerto Rico, masculine |
| inicial | /iniˈθjal/ /iniˈsjal/ |
Venezuela, feminine |
| pago inicial | /paɡo iniθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /paɡo inisjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| down payment (daum péiment) | Puerto Rico, masculine | |
| caparra | /kapara/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to a payment representing a fraction of the price. Depending on the context, some terms can also imply a general advance, such as an advance on a salary.
Which one should you use?
While most terms refer to the down payment itself, caparra has a specific legal or formal meaning: it refers to the earnest money or deposit provided to secure a reservation or a contract. Additionally, adelanto is a versatile term that can mean a down payment on a purchase or a general advance on a payment or salary.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Guatemala, enganche is the most common way to say down payment. In Spain, entrada is a common and acceptable term. In Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, the phrase cuota inicial is used. In Panama, you may hear abono inicial and in Puerto Rico, the terms pronto pago or down payment (daum péiment) are used. In Venezuela, the feminine form inicial is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
Pago inicial is a neutral, widely understood way to express the concept of a down payment across most Spanish-speaking countries. The term adelanto is masculine, while entrada, cuota inicial and inicial are feminine. Enganche, abono inicial, pronto pago and pago inicial are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/enˈɡantʃe/
Did you know?
- The Mexican term enganche comes from the verb enganchar, which means 'to hook' or 'to catch'. It implies the payment 'hooks' the buyer to the deal.
- While adelanto refers to a down payment, the verb it comes from, adelantar, can also mean to overtake another car on the road.
- The word entrada literally means 'entrance' or 'entry', suggesting that the down payment is the way to get into a contract or a new home.
Examples in context
- El enganche o pago inicial para esta casa es del 20%.The down payment for this house is 20%.
- Necesito apartar esta casa con un adelanto del 10%I need to reserve this house with a 10% down payment
- Necesito el enganche para la casa.I need the down payment for the house.
- ¿De cuánto es el enganche?How much is the down payment?
- El enganche es del veinte por ciento.The down payment is twenty percent.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are discussing buying a new car.
- SofíaAlejandro, ¿sabes cuánto es el enganche del auto?Alejandro, do you know how much the down payment for the car is?
- AlejandroCreo que el enganche es muy alto.I think the down payment is very high.
- SofíaPero si pagas un buen enganche, las mensualidades bajan.But if you pay a good down payment, the monthly payments go down.
- AlejandroTienes razón, buscaré opciones más baratas.You're right, I'll look for cheaper options.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “down payment” translations and entries enganche, adelanto, entrada, abono inicial, inicial, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries adelanto, cuota, enganche, entrada, inicial, CC BY-SA 4.0.
