How to Say “Word” in Spanish

Ways to say it

In Spanish, several terms can refer to a "word," depending on the context. palabra is the standard term for a linguistic unit. You can use it to talk about giving one's word in a promise (as in palabra de honor) or in a meeting context where dar la palabra means to give someone the floor to speak. vocablo is a more technical term often found in linguistics or literature, and voz is a literary term that can refer to a word as a spoken sound or a specific entry in a dictionary.

Which one should you use?

palabra is the most common and standard way to say "word." vocablo is more formal and technical, used specifically when referring to a lexical item. voz is primarily used in literary contexts or to describe a word as a spoken sound.

Related words

Creative word of God (name): Verbo.

Scripture (name): Verbo.

How does it change in a sentence?

palabra is a feminine noun. Its plural form is palabras. vocablo is a masculine noun. Its plural form is vocablos.

How do you pronounce it?

/paˈlabɾa/

When do people say it?

If you are learning Spanish and need to ask for help, there are specific ways to ask for a word or its pronunciation depending on who you are talking to. To be formal, you can say Disculpe, ¿cómo se dice la palabra "_____" en español?" to ask for a word or ¿Podría decirme cómo se pronuncia la palabra "_____" en español?" to ask for pronunciation. For informal situations, you can use Oye, ¿cómo se dice la palabra "_____" en español?" or ¿Me puedes ayudar a saber cómo se pronuncia la palabra "_____" en español?"