From fútbol and suéter to marketing, streaming and tuitear — English has left footprints all over modern Spanish. Learn how they work (and when to prefer the native Spanish equivalents) so you sound natural everywhere.
Contents
What Are English Loanwords in Spanish?
Anglicismos are words that Spanish has borrowed from English. Some arrive unchanged (golf, yoga), others get a Spanish twist (fútbol, suéter, tráiler), and some spawn brand-new verbs with -ear (tuitear, chatear, hackear).
How English Words Adapt to Spanish
Most anglicisms follow predictable “Spanish-ification” rules. Master these and you’ll recognize (and form) them with confidence.
Accents to keep stress
Spanish adds accents to preserve stress patterns.
- fútbol ← football
- suéter ← sweater
- tráiler ← trailer (film)
- hándicap ← handicap
- kétchup ← ketchup
- líder ← leader
Plural formation
- Regular -s/-es: blogs, memes
- Invariable plural: los jeans, los shorts, los emoji
- Invariant mass nouns: el/los software
Gender defaults
- Tech/business default: el marketing, el wifi, el streaming
- Abbreviations often feminine: la app
- Web as page/site: la web
Verbing with -ear
Everyday Spanish forms verbs from English roots with -ear.
- tuitear (to tweet), retuitear, chatear
- hackear, googlear/guglear, postear
- clickear (hacer clic), streamear
Calques (useful native equivalents)
Prefer these standard Spanish terms in formal contexts.
- enlace ← link
- reiniciar ← reboot
Pseudo-anglicisms & regionalisms
- footing = jogging
- puenting = bungee jumping
- mobbing = workplace bullying (ES)
- parking = parking lot (ES); estacionamiento (LA)
Anglicisms by Theme (High-Impact Lists)
Technology & Internet
- software, hardware, wifi, router/rúter, app, streaming, email, blog, link, emoji, meme, smartphone
Business & Marketing
- marketing, branding, brief, freelance, startup, feedback, pitch, outsourcing, benchmarking, stock, lead, deadline
Sports & Fitness
- fútbol, béisbol, básquetbol/baloncesto, golf, hándicap, yoga, córner, penalti/penal, jogging, fitness
Fashion & Lifestyle
- jeans, suéter/jersey, shorts, bikini, look, outfit, vintage, cool, T-shirt, polo
Food & Drink
- sándwich, kétchup/catsup, hot dog, brunch, bacon/beicon, muffin, cupcake, brownie, ice cream/helado
Pop Culture & Media
- spoiler, tráiler, reboot, spin-off, casting, show, reality, thriller, blockbuster, binge
Everyday & Transport
- parking, ticket, hobby, ranking, camping, campus, skate
Advanced & Nuance (Write Like a Native)
- Register matters: in formal writing, prefer native equivalents (correo electrónico over email).
- Be consistent: don’t mix link/enlace randomly in the same doc.
- Dialects vary: parking (ES) vs estacionamiento (LA); jersey (ES) vs suéter (LA).
- Spelling adapts: accents and hispanized forms (rúter, béisbol) are common and acceptable.
Pronunciation Quick Tips
- Five pure vowels: pronounce loans with Spanish vowel sounds.
- Accent marks = stress: fútbol, tráiler, hándicap.
- Letter names differ: English h is silent in Spanish (hámster sounds like “ámster”).
- Consonants soften: final clusters are often simplified in speech.
When to Use Anglicisms (and When Not To)
- Use them when they’re standard in your field (tech, marketing, pop culture).
- Switch to the native term in formal, academic, or government contexts.
- When in doubt, check a reputable dictionary and stay consistent across your text.
FAQ
Are anglicisms “good” or “bad” Spanish?
Neither by default. Many are standard in tech/business/media. In formal writing, prefer the established Spanish equivalent.
Why do some words take accents or change spelling?
Spanish uses accents and spelling tweaks (fútbol, suéter) to preserve stress and fit Spanish pronunciation rules.
What’s the plural of words like “software” or “jeans”?
Software is usually invariable (el/los software). Jeans, shorts are plural invariable (los jeans/shorts).
Is “email” correct in Spanish?
It’s widely used, especially informally. For formal contexts, correo electrónico is the safe choice.
What’s with the “-ear” verbs like tuitear?
Spanish productively forms verbs from English roots with -ear. They’re common in speech; choose native verbs in formal texts.
Do all regions use the same anglicisms?
No. Usage varies: Spain loves parking and jersey; much of Latin America prefers estacionamiento and suéter.
How do I pick between the loanword and the calque?
Follow your audience and register. If your readers expect link, use it; if you’re drafting a report, go with enlace.