letra
/ˈletɾa/feminine
The English phrase "lyrics" is translated into Spanish as letra. Wiktionary also lists lírica.
Meaning: the words to a song (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| letra | /ˈletɾa/ | feminine |
| lírica | /ˈliɾika/ | Caribbean, feminine |
In the context of music, letra refers to the words of a song. While the word can also mean a letter of the alphabet, its musical meaning is clear through context.
Which one should you use?
The form lírica is specifically used in Caribbean regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
lírica is a form used in Caribbean regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to the lyrics of a specific song, it is common to use the singular form la letra. To refer to the lyrics of a song in the plural, you can use las letras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈletɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use the plural las letras to refer to the lyrics of a single song, but in Spanish, it is more common to use the singular la letra for one specific song.
Did you know?
- The word letra is also used in Spanish finance to refer to a 'bill of exchange' or a treasury bill.
- The word letra comes from the Latin littera, which originally referred to a tablet used for writing.
- The word letra can describe the physical handwriting of a person, meaning their 'script' or 'hand'.
Examples in context
- Te sabes las letras?Do you know the lyrics?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows the lyrics.Tatoeba #6633367 by Joffrey, translation #6631126 by Eccles17
- ¿De quién es esa letra?Whose lyrics are these?This sentence is useful for asking who wrote the lyrics.Tatoeba #1281845 by hayastan, translation #1284222 by marcelostockle
- ¿Tú traduces letras de canciones?Do you translate lyrics?This sentence is useful for asking if someone translates song lyrics.Tatoeba #1896403 by marcelostockle, translation #1840575 by Amastan
- 20 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are listening to music in a cafe.
- Daniel¿Te gusta la letra de esta canción, María?Do you like the lyrics of this song, María?
- MaríaSí, me encanta la letra.Yes, I love the lyrics.
- DanielEs muy profunda y hermosa.It is very deep and beautiful.
- MaríaDaniel, tienes mucha razón.Daniel, you are very right.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lyrics” translations and entries letra, lírica, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries letra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
