Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| contraseña | /kontɾaˈseɲa/ | feminine |
| palabra clave | /palabɾa klabe/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
In computing, a password is a string of characters known only to a user. While contraseña is the standard term, you may also see palabra clave used in technical contexts or to refer to passphrases.
What does it mean word for word?
The word contraseña is composed of the prefix contra- (against/counter) and seña (sign/mark), literally meaning 'counter-sign'.
Which one should you use?
Contraseña is the most common term for a digital password. In contrast, palabra clave literally means 'keyword' and is frequently used in technical settings or for passphrases.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain Latin American countries, the term clave is more commonly used instead of contraseña.
How does it change in a sentence?
Contraseña is a feminine noun. The plural form is las contraseñas.
How do you pronounce it?
/kontɾaˈseɲa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes use clave alone to mean password, but clave usually refers to a 'key' or 'code' and often requires palabra to mean 'password' (palabra clave).
Did you know?
- The word clave comes from the Latin clāvis, making it a linguistic relative of the English word 'clavicle', which refers to the collarbone.
Examples in context
- No me sé la contraseña.I don't know the password.This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not know your contraseña.Tatoeba #4489119 by cueyayotl, translation #2276076 by CK
- ¿Cuál es la contraseña?What's the password?This sentence is useful for asking what the contraseña is.Tatoeba #9706685 by Shishir, translation #2234120 by CK
- La contraseña es "Muiriel".The password is "Muiriel".This sentence is useful for stating what the contraseña is.Tatoeba #2488 by Shishir, translation #1283 by wuiwie
- Pedro, ¿puedes darme la contraseña de tu Wi-Fi, por favor?Pedro, can you give me the Wi-Fi password, please?
- 65 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel is helping Sofía access her account on a computer.
- SofíaDaniel, no puedo entrar a mi cuenta.Daniel, I can't get into my account.
- Daniel¿Es un problema con la contraseña?Is it a problem with the password?
- SofíaSí, creo que la escribí mal.Yes, I think I wrote it incorrectly.
- DanielTranquila, Sofía, intenta escribirla otra vez.Don't worry, Sofía, try writing it again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “password” translations and entries contraseña, palabra clave, 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 clave, contraseña, palabra, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
