banda sonora
/ˌbanda soˈnoɾa/feminine
The English word soundtrack is translated into Spanish as banda sonora. Wiktionary also lists banda sónica.
Meaning: the sound (especially the music) component of a movie (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| banda sonora | /ˌbanda soˈnoɾa/ | feminine |
| banda sónica | /banda sonika/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
The term refers to the sound component, especially the music, of a movie.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, banda sonora translates to 'sound band' or 'sound strip'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use the phrase música original de la película to specifically refer to the original score composed for a movie.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make this phrase plural, you must change both the noun and the adjective to form bandas sonoras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbanda soˈnoɾa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying banda de sonido, which is a literal translation of 'sound band' that English speakers sometimes use. Use banda sonora instead.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- ¿Cuál es tu banda sonora favorita?What's your favorite movie soundtrack?This sentence is useful for asking someone about their favorite banda sonora.Tatoeba #1061559 by alexmarcelo, translation #906815 by CK
- La música es la banda sonora de tu vida.Music is the soundtrack of your life.This sentence uses banda sonora in a metaphorical way regarding life.Tatoeba #3560690 by carlosalberto, translation #3560619 by carlosalberto
- Cuando veo ánime japonés, generalmente tengo la banda sonora japonesa. Suena mucho mejor. Y no se trata solo de practicar el idioma… ¡Hurra!When I watch Japanese anime, I usually have the Japanese soundtrack on. It sounds much better. And it's not just language practice… Yay!This sentence shows how someone might use a specific banda sonora when watching anime.Tatoeba #10960965 by nonong, translation #10960951 by nonong
- La banda sonora captura perfectamente el ambiente de la película.The soundtrack perfectly captures the mood of the film.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are talking about a movie at a cafe.
- Lucía¿Te gustó la película, Javier?Did you like the movie, Javier?
- JavierSí, pero la banda sonora es lo mejor.Yes, but the soundtrack is the best part.
- LucíaEs verdad, la música es increíble.It's true, the music is incredible.
- JavierVoy a buscar la banda sonora en Spotify.I'm going to look for the soundtrack on Spotify.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soundtrack” translations and entries banda sonora, 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 banda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
