Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| idioma | /iˈdjoma/ | masculine |
| lengua | /ˈlenɡwa/ | feminine |
Both words refer to a body of words used for communication. Idioma is commonly used when referring to a specific language like Spanish or English in a general or technical sense.
Which one should you use?
Idioma is the neutral term for a specific language. Lengua can mean language in a linguistic or poetic sense, but its primary meaning is the physical organ (the tongue).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico or Colombia, lenguaje is sometimes used instead of idioma in informal contexts. In parts of Spain, habla or lengua might be used instead of idioma in certain situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
Idioma is a masculine noun and uses masculine articles and adjectives, such as el idioma or un idioma extraño. Lengua is a feminine noun and uses feminine articles and adjectives, such as la lengua or una lengua materna.
How do you pronounce it?
/iˈdjoma/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful when using lengua to mean language in casual conversation, as it may be interpreted as referring to the physical tongue.
Did you know?
- Because lengua means both 'language' and 'tongue', Spanish has a common expression tener una lengua larga to describe someone who talks too much.
- The word idioma shares a root with the English word 'idiom', which refers to a phrase unique to a specific language.
- The word idioma comes from the Ancient Greek word for 'peculiarity'.
Examples in context
- Me gusta mi idioma.I like my language.This sentence expresses a personal preference for one's idioma.Tatoeba #1515258 by marcelostockle, translation #1514918 by gleki
- Me gusta tu lengua.I like your language.This sentence expresses a personal preference for one's lengua.Tatoeba #9931318 by Shishir, translation #9930198 by lucasmg123
- No hablo tu idioma.I don't speak your language.This sentence communicates an inability to speak someone's idioma.Tatoeba #10261566 by Shishir, translation #2276207 by CK
- El idioma oficial de este país es el español.The official language of this country is Spanish.
- El estudio de la lengua española es apasionante.The study of the Spanish language is fascinating.
- El idioma español es muy hermoso.The Spanish language is very beautiful.
- ¿Cuál es tu idioma materno?What is your mother tongue?
- Me gusta estudiar diferentes lenguas.I enjoy studying different languages.
- 1011 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are talking about their studies at a university.
- Sofía¿Cuál es tu idioma favorito?Which is your favorite language?
- DanielMe encanta el italiano.I love Italian.
- SofíaEl italiano es un idioma hermoso.Italian is a beautiful language.
- DanielSí, es muy musical.Yes, it is very musical.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “language” translations and entries idioma, lengua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries idioma, lengua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
