You seldom think your daily vocabulary in English consists of Spanish words. Be it food, music, culture, or geography, Spanish has left its imprint on English, especially in the United States. Whether you are ordering burritos for lunch or talking about tornadoes, you are using words that trace their roots way deeper in Spanish.
What follows is a list of common 60 Spanish words that have formed a part of the English language, mainly used without our realization of their origins.
Food & Drinks
- Taco: A popular Mexican dish, taco has become an internationally known word to refer to a folded tortilla containing yummy ingredients.
- Burrito: A burrito is a large tortilla filled with ingredients like beans, cheese, and meat.
- Salsa: Although it originally means a type of sauce in Spanish, salsa today refers to both a dance and a food.
- Guacamole: Guacamole, a creamy dip made from avocados, has become a popular party favorite.
- Churro: Churros are deep-fried dough pastries coated in sugar, popular as a snack.
- Nachos: Nachos are a snack of tortilla chips smothered in cheese and other toppings.
- Quesadilla: A quesadilla is a grilled tortilla filled with melted cheese, sometimes with additional ingredients.
- Tequila: A well known Mexican spirit, derived from the blue agave plant.
- Tamale: The typical Mesoamerican food of corn dough wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves.
- Paella: A traditional rice dish from the Valencia region of Spain, usually prepared with seafood, chicken, or rabbit.
Music & Dance
- Flamenco: Traditional Spanish art that involves vocal expression, playing the guitar, and dance.
- Samba: Although Brazilian, samba originated from Latin and African rhythms, with its Spanish root associated with similar types of dance.
- Mariachi: A style of regional Mexican music performed with stringed instruments and trumpets.
- Tango: A style of Argentine dance that became popular all over the world.
- Rumba: A style of Cuban dance music characterized by complex rhythms and sensual dance movements.
Nature & Animals
- Coyote: A North American wild canine, the word coyote comes from Spanish, derived from the Nahuatl word coyotl.
- Alligator: Derived from the Spanish word el lagarto, meaning “the lizard.”
- Tornado: A powerful storm, the word tornado comes from the Spanish tornar, meaning “to turn.”
- Jaguar: A large wild cat native to the Americas, the word jaguar comes from the Spanish word of the same spelling, derived from the indigenous Tupi word yaguara, meaning “wild beast.”
- Sierra: A mountain range or jagged range, such as the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Plaza: A public square, plaza is common in cities around the world, often serving as a communal gathering space.
- Canyon: From the Spanish cañón, meaning “tube” or “pipe,” it describes deep, steep-sided valleys.
- Savanna: This word for a grassy plain originates from the Spanish sabana, itself derived from a Taino word.
Everyday Objects & Terms
- Patio: A courtyard or outdoor space, patio is a direct borrowing from Spanish.
- Poncho: A blanketlike poncho has become a universal term for a rain-resistant covering.
- Sombrero: Originally a wide-brimmed hat used in Spain and Mexico, sombrero is known the world over.
- Macho: The Spanish word meaning “manly” or “strong,” macho has come to signify exaggerated masculine attributes.
- Lasso: A rope for catching animals, the word lasso originates from the Spanish lazo, meaning “knot.”
- Mustang: A wild horse, mustang derives from the Spanish mesteño, meaning “wild or stray animal.”
- Cargo: Meaning goods transported by ship or plane, cargo is a direct import from Spanish.
- Bronco: Bronco, a wild or untamed horse, is often associated with rodeo culture.
- Banana: While the word banana originally comes from African languages, it entered English through Spanish.
- Vigilante: A person taking the law into their own hands, vigilante directly translates to “watchman” or “guard.”
Geography & Place Names
- Florida: Named by Spanish explorers, Florida means “land of flowers.”
- Nevada: Nevada, meaning “snow-covered,” gets its name from Spanish.
- Montana: This state’s name means “mountainous” in Spanish.
- Colorado: Derived from the Spanish word colorado, meaning “colored red,” referring to the Colorado River.
- Los Angeles: Short for El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles, this California city’s name means “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels.”
- San Francisco: Named after St. Francis of Assisi, San Francisco reflects the Spanish influence in early Californian history.
- El Paso: Meaning “the pass,” El Paso refers to its location in a mountain pass in Texas.
Cultural & Descriptive Words
- Fiesta: A Spanish word for “party” or celebration, fiesta is used globally to mean the same.
- Siesta: A midday nap, siesta is commonly associated with Spanish-speaking countries.
- Desperado: Desperado originally meant “a person without hope,” but now it refers to an outlaw or bandit.
- Bonanza: A term meaning “a great profit” or windfall, bonanza originates from Spanish mining terminology.
- Guerrilla: A style of irregular warfare, guerrilla comes from the Spanish word for “little war.”
- Cigar: Derived from the Spanish cigarro, cigars have long been associated with Spain and Latin America.
- Coyote: Often referring to a person smuggling migrants, the word’s roots are tied to the animal in Spanish.
Sports & Leisure
- Rodeo: A competitive sport involving livestock, rodeo means “roundup” in Spanish.
- Matador: The person who kills the bull in a bullfight, matador means “killer” in Spanish.
- Bodega: A small convenience store, often in urban areas, bodega comes from the Spanish word for “wine cellar.”
- Palomino: A type of golden-colored horse, palomino comes from Spanish, meaning “dove-colored.”
Miscellaneous
- Corral: An enclosed area for animals, the term corral comes directly from Spanish.
- Barrio: A neighborhood.
- Tornado: A violent whirling windstorm, tornado is derived from the Spanish tornar, meaning “to turn.”
- Cafeteria: Although originally a “coffee shop” in Spanish, cafeteria has come to refer to a food-dispensing establishment where customers serve themselves.
- Adobe: A building material of earth and organic matter, adobe comes from the Spanish word for mudbrick.
- Mesa: A flat-topped hill with steep sides, mesa is Spanish for “table.”
- Piñata: A decorated container filled with treats and used in celebration, piñata hails from Spanish.
- Savvy: Derived from the Spanish word saber meaning “to know,” savvy today describes practical knowledge or sense.
- Vamoose: A slang word for “take off in a hurry,” vamoose is built from Spanish vamos, meaning “let’s go.”
