Spanish Synonyms: 48 Similar Words to Spice Up Spanish (With Examples)
Once you’re on a certain level in Spanish, it’s time to look for Spanish synonyms to spice up your game! These synonyms will certainly make your Spanish vocabulary better and will improve your fluency in the language.
Having a hard time remembering new words? No worries! Spring Spanish (a project I co-founded) has got you covered!
What are synonyms? They are words that have similar meanings. If you expand your knowledge of Spanish synonyms, you’ll express yourself more widely and thus, avoid repetition.
1. Spanish synonyms for when you meet someone new
When meeting someone new, it’s important to make a good impression. Instead of using the same standard greeting, you can use synonyms to sound like a native.
It’s a pleasure to meet you: Mucho gusto – Encantado/a de conocerle – Es un placer
These phrases all express the same sentiment of being pleased to meet someone, but with slightly different meaning.
“Mucho gusto” is a straightforward way to say “nice to meet you.”
“Encantado/a de conocerle” adds a touch of formality, while “Es un placer” expresses honest pleasure.
Example sentences:
- Mucho gusto, soy Juan. (It’s nice to meet you, I’m Juan.)
- Encantado de conocerle, profesor Ramírez. He oído hablar mucho de usted. (Delighted to meet you, Professor Ramírez. I’ve heard a lot about you.)
- Es un placer tenerlo aquí con nosotros, embajador. (It’s a pleasure to have you here with us, ambassador.)
My name is: Me llamo – Soy – Mi nombre es – Me dicen
While “Me llamo” is the most common way to introduce yourself, the other synonyms offer more variety.
“Soy” is a more direct translation of “I am,” while “Mi nombre es” adds a bit more formality.
“Me dicen” is a colloquial way to say “They call me” or “My name is.”
Examples:
- Me llamo Sofía y soy de Madrid. (My name is Sofía and I’m from Madrid.)
- Soy la nueva vecina, me mudé la semana pasada. (I’m the new neighbor, I moved in last week.)
- Mi nombre es Lucía, mucho gusto. (My name is Lucía, nice to meet you.)
2. Spanish synonyms when running into an old friend
Reuniting with an old friend calls for an enthusiastic greeting. These Spanish synonyms capture the joy and surprise of the moment.
How long it’s been without seeing you, my dear friend: ¡Cuánto tiempo sin verte, alma mía! – ¡Hace tanto tiempo que no nos vemos, amiga mía!
Both of these phrases express how much time has passed since the last meeting. “Alma mía” literally means “my soul,” while “amiga mía” is an endearment meaning “my friend.”
Examples:
- ¡Cuánto tiempo sin verte, alma mía! ¿Cómo has estado? (How long it’s been without seeing you, my dear friend! How have you been?)
- ¡Hace tanto tiempo que no nos vemos, amiga mía! Cuéntame, ¿qué ha sido de tu vida? (It’s been so long since we last saw each other, my dear friend! Tell me, what has become of your life?)
Well, well, look who the current brought me: ¡Pero mira a quién me trajo la corriente! – ¡Vaya, vaya, mira a quién me trajo la corriente!
These playful expressions suggest a happy surprise at running into an old friend unexpectedly. The metaphor of the “current” bringing someone refers to the flow of life and circumstances that brought you together again.
Examples:
- ¡Pero mira a quién me trajo la corriente! ¡Si es mi viejo amigo Carlos! (Well, well, look who the current brought me! If it isn’t my old friend Carlos!)
- ¡Vaya, vaya, mira a quién me trajo la corriente! El mismísimo Juan Pérez. (Well, well, look who the current brought me! The one and only Juan Perez.)
3. Spanish synonyms for describing people
When describing someone’s personality or character, having a range of synonyms in your pocket, you to paint a precise picture.
He/She is a very good person: Es una persona muy buena – Tiene un corazón de oro
While “Es una persona muy buena” is a straightforward way to say someone is a good person, “Tiene un corazón de oro” (literally “has a heart of gold”) shows an exceptional level of kindness and generosity.
Example:
- María es una persona muy buena, siempre dispuesta a ayudar al prójimo. (Maria is a very good person, always willing to help others.)
- Mi abuela tiene un corazón de oro, es la persona más generosa que conozco. (My grandmother has a heart of gold, she’s the most generous person I know.)
He/She is very stubborn: Es muy testarudo/a – No cambia de opinión fácilmente
Both of these phrases describe someone who is stubborn or unwilling to change their mind, but the second one is a bit more indirect. It literally means “He/she doesn’t change their opinion easily.”
Examples:
- Miguel es muy testarudo, una vez que toma una decisión es casi imposible hacerlo cambiar de opinión. (Miguel is very stubborn, once he makes up his mind it’s almost impossible to make him change his opinion.)
- Mi padre no cambia de opinión fácilmente, así que es mejor presentarle todos los hechos antes de discutir con él. (My father doesn’t change his opinion easily, so it’s better to present him with all the facts before discussing with him.)
4. Spanish synonyms for the most common verbs
Even common verbs like “to speak” and “to pass” have multiple synonyms in Spanish that can add precision to your speech.
To speak: Hablar – Discutir – Explicar – Decir
While “hablar” is the most general term for “to speak,” the other synonyms have more specific meanings. “Discutir” means to discuss or debate, “explicar” means to explain, and “decir” means to say or tell.
Examples:
- Los niños hablan muy bien el inglés. (The children speak English very well.)
- En la reunión, discutimos los nuevos planes de expansión. (In the meeting, we discussed the new expansion plans.)
- El profesor explicó la lección con mucha claridad. (The teacher explained the lesson very clearly.)
To pass: Pasar – Superar – Transitar – Suceder
“Pasar” can mean to pass by, to happen, or to undergo something. “Superar” means to overcome or get through something, “transitar” means to transit or go through, and “suceder” means to happen.
Examples:
- El autobús pasó sin detenerse. (The bus passed without stopping.)
- Logró superar sus miedos y subir al escenario. (He managed to overcome his fears and go on stage.)
- Los peatones deben transitar por las aceras. (Pedestrians must transit on the sidewalks.)
- ¿Qué sucedió anoche? (What happened last night?)
To love/to want: Querer – Amar – Adorar – Gustar
While “querer” is the most common way to say “to want” or “to love,” the other synonyms add different shades of meaning. “Amar” is a deeper, more romantic love, “adorar” expresses adoration, and “gustar” means to like or enjoy something.
Examples:
- Te quiero mucho, eres mi mejor amigo. (I love you a lot, you’re my best friend.)
- Amo a mi esposa con todo mi corazón. (I love my wife with all my heart.)
- Los niños adoran los dulces y los juguetes. (Children adore sweets and toys.)
- Me gusta mucho tu nuevo corte de pelo. (I really like your new haircut.)
5. Spanish synonyms for Spanish nouns
Even common nouns like “house” and “man” have multiple synonyms in Spanish that can make your speech more varied and expressive.
House: Casa – Residencia – Domicilio – Mansión
While “casa” is the most basic word for “house,” the other synonyms offer different connotations. “Residencia” is a formal term that can also mean residence or home, “domicilio” is a legal or official term for an address or domicile, and “mansión” refers specifically to a large, luxurious mansion.
Examples:
- Vivo en una casa pequeña cerca del parque. (I live in a small house near the park.)
- Los estudiantes internacionales viven en la residencia universitaria. (International students live in the university residence.)
- Por favor, envíe el paquete a mi domicilio laboral. (Please send the package to my work address.)
- Esa familia millonaria vive en una enorme mansión. (That millionaire family lives in a huge mansion.)
Man: Hombre – Caballero – Persona – Adulto
“Hombre” is the most common word for “man,” but the other synonyms have slightly different meanings. “Caballero” is a more formal or polite term, “persona” is a gender-neutral way to refer to a person, and “adulto” specifically means an adult male.
Examples:
- Ese hombre de allí es mi vecino. (That man over there is my neighbor.)
- Permítame ayudarla con esas bolsas, señora. Soy un caballero. (Allow me to help you with those bags, ma’am. I’m a gentleman.)
- Esa persona de allá parece perdida. (That person over there seems lost.)
- Los niños deben ir acompañados por un adulto. (Children must be accompanied by an adult.)
Woman: Mujer – Señora – Chica – Fémina
Like “man,” the word “mujer” has several synonyms with different connotations. “Señora” is a polite way to address an older or married woman, “chica” is a more casual term for a young woman or girl, and “fémina” is a formal or scientific term for a female.
Examples:
- Las mujeres han luchado mucho por obtener igualdad de derechos. (Women have fought hard to obtain equal rights.)
- Disculpe señora, ¿me puede indicar dónde queda la panadería? (Excuse me, ma’am, could you tell me where the bakery is?)
- Esa chica de allá es mi hermana menor. (That girl over there is my younger sister.)
- En el estudio participaron 50 féminas de entre 20 y 30 años. (The study involved 50 females between the ages of 20 and 30.)
6. Spice up your presentation with these Spanish synonyms
Whether you’re giving a speech, presentation, or simply having a conversation, using synonyms can make your Spanish sound more dynamic.
To start with: Para empezar – Para romper el hielo – Sin más preámbulos
Instead of the common “para empezar,” you could use “para romper el hielo” (literally “to break the ice”) or “sin más preámbulos” (without further ado) to introduce your topic in a more attention-grabbing way.
Examples:
- Para empezar, me gustaría agradecer a todos por venir. (To begin with, I would like to thank everyone for coming.)
- Para romper el hielo, ¿por qué no nos presentamos todos? (To break the ice, why don’t we all introduce ourselves?)
- Sin más preámbulos, permítanme presentarles al orador principal. (Without further ado, allow me to introduce the keynote speaker.)
On one hand: Por un lado – Por una parte – Desde un ángulo
Rather than simply saying “por un lado” (on one hand), you could use “por una parte” or “desde un ángulo” to transition to a different perspective or argument.
Examples:
- Por un lado, el proyecto representa una gran oportunidad de crecimiento. Por otro lado, también implica ciertos riesgos. (On one hand, the project represents a great growth opportunity. On the other hand, it also involves certain risks.)
- Por una parte, el nuevo plan de estudios es más exigente. Por otra parte, prepara mejor a los estudiantes. (On one part, the new curriculum is more demanding. On the other part, it better prepares students.)
To sum up: En resumen – Para resumir – En conclusión
Instead of the common “en resumen,” you could use “para resumir” or “en conclusión” to summarize your main points in an impactful way.
Examples:
- En resumen, el proyecto fue un éxito gracias al arduo trabajo de todo el equipo. (In summary, the project was a success thanks to the hard work of the entire team.)
- Para resumir, hemos analizado los pros y los contras de cada opción. Ahora debemos tomar una decisión. (To summarize, we have analyzed the pros and cons of each option. Now we must make a decision.)
- En conclusión, creo que esta nueva estrategia de marketing será beneficiosa para la empresa a largo plazo. (In conclusion, I believe this new marketing strategy will be beneficial for the company in the long run.)
7. Practice Worksheet for Spanish synonyms
Fill in the blanks with the correct synonyms in Spanish you learned in this blog post!
Do you want to practice more? Click the button now, and gain access to the full practice worksheets!
8. Learn more Spanish grammar, vocabulary and words in Spanish with Conversation Based Chunking
One effective technique for learning synonyms is Conversation Based Chunking. This method is all about actively using new Spanish words and their synonyms in real conversations.
If you engage in conversations with native speakers or through immersive content like Spanish movies, easy Spanish books, and Spanish podcasts, you’ll naturally see and hear synonyms in context.
Pay attention to the differences in meaning and usage, and make a conscious effort to incorporate these new words into your own Spanish conversations!
Looking to learn more about Conversation Based Chunking? Sign up now and get a weekly study program, see the favourite resources to learn Spanish and access the Full Practice Worksheet Library!
