pista
/ˈpista/feminine
In Spanish, the English word track is translated as pista when referring to a song or a short piece of music on a record.
The word pista is a feminine noun used to denote a track of music. It is also part of the common phrase pista de baile, which means dance floor. Beyond music, there are idiomatic ways to use the word, such as the phrase seguir la pista de to mean 'to keep track of' or 'to follow the trail of' someone or something.
Meaning: a song or other relatively short piece of music, on a record, separated from others by a short silence (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, particularly in Colombia, the word vereda is used to refer to a rural track or pathway. For formal contexts involving a track or roadway in the sense of transportation, you may use vía.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of pista is pistas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpista/
Did you know?
- The word pista is also used to refer to an airport 'runway'. In this context, it describes the physical track that aircraft use for takeoff and landing.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you tell someone to dar una pista, you aren't telling them to run on a track, but rather to give them a 'clue' or a 'hint' to solve a mystery.
- While pista refers to a music track, the Spanish word for a 'soundtrack' in a movie is usually banda sonora. This literally translates to 'sound band' rather than using the word for 'track'.
Examples in context
- Los caballos atraviesan la pista y van nariz a nariz.The horses are coming down the track and it's neck and neck.This sentence shows the use of pista regarding a physical track.Tatoeba #1253750 by marcelostockle, translation #19268 by CK
- Tom quiere comprar un reproductor de ocho pistas para poner en el coche que le dio su abuela.Tom wants to buy an eight-track player to put in the car his grandmother gave him.This sentence uses pista in the context of an eight-track player.Tatoeba #3626428 by Leono, translation #2620034 by CK
- No puedo seguir la pista de todos los cambios que se están dando en el mundo de la investigación del SIDA.I can't keep track of all the changes taking place in the world of AIDS research.This sentence demonstrates the idiomatic phrase using pista to mean 'to keep track of'.Tatoeba #1312727 by marcelostockle, translation #65383 by CK
- El estadio tiene una pista de atletismoThe stadium has an athletics track
- La ruta de senderismo es muy pintorescaThe hiking trail is very picturesque
- La vía del tren está bloqueadaThe train track is blocked
- ¿Tienes alguna pista sobre quién rompió el jarrón?Do you have any clues about who broke the vase?
- No tengo ni idea, no tengo ninguna pistaI have no idea, I don't have any clues
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Daniel are listening to a new album in the living room.
- María¿Te gusta la segunda pista?Do you like the second track?
- DanielSí, es una pista excelente.Yes, it is an excellent track.
- MaríaDaniel, ¿podemos repetir esa pista?Daniel, can we repeat that track?
- DanielClaro, la pongo otra vez.Of course, I'll play it again.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “track” translations and entries pista, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
