Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| película | /peˈlikula/ | feminine |
| filme | /ˈfilme/ | masculine |
The most common and widely used term for a motion picture is película.
Which one should you use?
While película is the standard word for movie, filme is a more formal or technical term often used in academic or cinematic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
película is the standard term, while filme is a formal alternative similar to using 'film' instead of 'movie' in English. In casual conversations, you may also see the abbreviated informal form peli. Additionally, cinta is occasionally used in formal settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Mexico, the phrase una función is sometimes used to refer to a movie showing or going to the movies.
How does it change in a sentence?
película is a feminine noun. The plural form is películas.
How do you pronounce it?
/peˈlikula/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Because película is feminine, do not use the masculine article el. Use la instead.
Did you know?
- If you call a movie a película, you are literally using a word that originates from the Latin word for 'little skin' or 'hide'.
- While película is the general word for movie, cinta literally means 'ribbon' or 'tape'.
- In Spanish, película can also mean a 'thin layer' or 'film' of a substance, such as a película de aceite meaning a 'film of oil'.
Examples in context
- Ya vi esa película.I've already seen that movie.This sentence shows how to say you have already seen a specific película.Tatoeba #1891218 by hayastan, translation #1891165 by CK
- La película me gustó.I enjoyed the movie.This sentence is useful for expressing that you enjoyed a película.Tatoeba #928535 by Shishir, translation #5958381 by CK
- Vi una película ayer.I saw a movie yesterday.This sentence demonstrates how to say you saw a película yesterday.Tatoeba #13046058 by ecorralest101, translation #10713880 by quoctrong018
- Me encanta ir al cine a ver una buena película.I love going to the cinema to watch a good movie.
- En mi opinión, el cine francés produce películas de gran calidad.In my opinion, French cinema produces high-quality films.
- El festival de cine presentará varias cintas premiadas de todo el mundo.The film festival will screen several award-winning movies from around the world.
- Vamos a casa a ver una peli esta noche.Let's go home and watch a movie tonight.
- ¡Esa peli fue genial! No puedo esperar para ver otra película.That movie was fantastic! I can't wait to watch another film.
- ¿Quieres venir a ver una película conmigo?Do you want to come watch a movie with me?
- Te recomiendo esta película, es muy entretenida.I recommend this movie, it's very entertaining.
- Me encantan las películas de suspense.I love suspense movies.
- Ayer vi una película romántica.Yesterday I watched a romantic movie.
- 383 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are deciding what to watch at home.
- Sofía¿Vemos una película hoy?Shall we watch a movie today?
- AlejandroSí, me encantaría, Sofía.Yes, I would love to, Sofía.
- SofíaTengo una película nueva aquí.I have a new movie here.
- Alejandro¡Perfecto! Vamos a verla.Perfect! Let's watch it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “movie” translations and entries película, filme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries filme, película, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
