sopa de letras
/ˌsopa de ˈletɾas/feminine
The English phrase "word search" is translated into Spanish as sopa de letras. Wiktionary also lists buscapalabras.
Meaning: a word game (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sopa de letras | /ˌsopa de ˈletɾas/ | feminine |
| buscapalabras | /buskapaˈlabɾas/ | feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sopa de letras literally translates to "alphabet soup".
Which one should you use?
Sopa de letras is the most common term for the game, whereas buscapalabras is a more descriptive alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make sopa de letras plural, you pluralize the first noun to form sopas de letras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌsopa de ˈletɾas/
Did you know?
- The term sopa de letras is so common that a real food called 'alphabet soup' is often called sopa de letras in Spanish, making the game and the actual meal identical in name.
- The word sopa is a distant relative of the English word 'sop', which also describes bread dipped in liquid.
- The term sopa de letras uses a culinary metaphor, imagining the grid of letters as alphabet pasta floating in a bowl.
Examples in context
- Mi hermano mayor: "¿Me puedes ayudar con esta búsqueda de palabras?"My older brother: "Can you help me with this word search?"
- Me encanta resolver sopas de letras.I love solving word searches.
- la sopa de letrasLa sopa de letras es muy divertida.
- esta sopa de letrasNo encuentro las palabras en esta sopa de letras.
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are looking at a puzzle book.
- DanielMira, Lucía, encontré una sopa de letras.Look, Lucía, I found a word search.
- LucíaQué divertido, ¿de qué tema es?How fun, what is the theme?
- DanielEs una sopa de letras de animales.It is a word search about animals.
- LucíaAyúdame a encontrar el primero, Daniel.Help me find the first one, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “word search” translations and entries sopa de letras, buscapalabras, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
