Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| préstamo | /ˈpɾestamo/ | masculine |
| empréstito | /emˈpɾestito/ |
In Spanish, a loan is a borrowed sum of money or other property. The most common way to refer to a single loan is un préstamo. Related verbs include prestar and acreer, which both mean to lend.
Which one should you use?
While préstamo is the standard word for a loan, empréstito is a more formal term often used in the context of large-scale financial or public debt.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, empréstito is a term mostly used to refer to a loan in economic or financial contexts. In some Latin American countries, such as Colombia, the term crédito bancario is used to refer to a bank loan. Additionally, in Spain and some Latin American countries, the slang term pasta can be used to refer to money.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun préstamo is masculine. To talk about multiple loans, use the plural form préstamos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpɾestamo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse the noun préstamo (loan) with the verb prestar (to lend). Use the verb when you are describing the action of lending.
Did you know?
- The word préstamo also refers to a 'loanword' in linguistics, such as when Spanish adopts a word from English.
- The verb prestar can be used reflexively as prestarse to mean something is 'available' or 'suitable', moving far away from the concept of lending money.
- The noun préstamo descends from the Latin praestō, which literally meant 'to stand before' or 'to provide'.
Examples in context
- ¿Todavía necesitas un préstamo?Do you still need a loan?This sentence is useful for asking if someone still needs a préstamo.Tatoeba #5002429 by DarkHollow, translation #3738219 by CK
- Tom le pidió un préstamo a Mary.Tom asked Mary for a loan.This sentence shows how to use préstamo when someone asks for a loan.Tatoeba #1348513 by hayastan, translation #1095881 by CK
- No he terminado de pagar mi préstamo.I have not finished paying off my loan.This sentence is useful for discussing the process of paying off a préstamo.Tatoeba #7679327 by arh, translation #8203352 by magnificentgoddess
- Necesito un préstamo para comprar una casa.I need a loan to buy a house.
- Me gustaría solicitar un crédito para expandir mi negocio.I would like to apply for a loan to expand my business.
- ¿Me puedes prestar un poco de plata?Can you lend me some money?
- ¿Me puedes dejar un poco de pasta hasta que me paguen?Can you lend me some money until I get paid?
- ¿Qué requisitos necesito para obtener un crédito bancario?What requirements do I need to get a bank loan?
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing their finances at a cafe.
- DanielEl préstamo del banco es muy alto.The bank loan is very high.
- MaríaEs verdad, Daniel, debemos tener cuidado.It's true, Daniel, we must be careful.
- Daniel¿Podemos pedir un préstamo más pequeño?Can we ask for a smaller loan?
- MaríaQuizás sea una mejor opción para nosotros.Maybe it would be a better option for us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loan” translations and entries préstamo, empréstito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries préstamo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
