hipoteca
/ipoˈteka/feminine
The English phrase mortgage is translated into Spanish as hipoteca.
A mortgage is a special form of secured loan. In Spanish, you typically use the phrase pagar la hipoteca to mean 'to pay the mortgage', whereas in English one might say 'to make the mortgage'.
Meaning: special form of secured loan (noun)
Which one should you use?
The adjective forms hipotecario (masculine) or hipotecaria (feminine) are used to describe things related to a mortgage, such as a mortgage loan.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, several specific terms are used: Crédito Hipotecario (mortgage credit), Hipoteca Bancaria (a mortgage) and Préstamo Hipotecario (sometimes used to refer to a bank mortgage).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun hipoteca is feminine, so it takes the feminine article la or feminine adjectives.
How do you pronounce it?
/ipoˈteka/
Did you know?
- While 'mortgage' in English evokes the Old French 'mort' (death) and 'gage' (pledge), the Spanish hipoteca completely avoids any reference to 'death' and instead focuses on the Greek concept of a 'deposit' or 'pledge'.
- While hipoteca refers to the legal security on a property, Spanish speakers often use the phrase estoy pagando la casa to mean they are paying off their mortgage.
- The legal concept behind hipoteca is strictly distinct from prenda in Spanish, which is the term used for a secured loan on movable personal property rather than real estate.
Examples in context
- Cada vez más gente se está retrasando en el pago de la hipoteca.More and more people are falling behind in their mortgage payments.This sentence shows people falling behind in their hipoteca payments.Tatoeba #2707457 by teskmon, translation #945658 by darinmex
- El peor escenario posible es que Tom pierda su trabajo y no sea capaz de seguir pagando su hipoteca.The worst-case scenario is that Tom will lose his job and won't be able to keep up his mortgage payments.This sentence describes a worst-case scenario involving a job loss and the ability to pay the hipoteca.Tatoeba #5918930 by albrusgher, translation #3510668 by patgfisher
- Hay madres y padres que se quedan despiertos después de que sus hijos se hayan dormido y se preguntan cómo conseguir pagar la hipoteca o las facturas del médico, o cómo ahorrar el suficiente dinero para la educación universitaria de sus hijos.There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for their child's college education.This sentence illustrates parents worrying about how to afford the hipoteca and other expenses.Tatoeba #538643 by Shishir, translation #347771 by CM
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are discussing their finances in their living room.
- JavierLa hipoteca es demasiado alta para nosotros.The mortgage is too high for us.
- ElenaPodemos hablar con el banco mañana.We can talk to the bank tomorrow.
- JavierEspero que nos den una tasa mejor.I hope they give us a better rate.
- ElenaTienes razón, Javier.You are right, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mortgage” translations and entries hipoteca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hipoteca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
