{"id":144856,"date":"2023-03-08T16:48:43","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T21:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/english-words-of-spanish-origin\/"},"modified":"2025-01-31T07:22:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T12:22:05","slug":"english-words-of-spanish-origin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/spanish\/english-words-of-spanish-origin\/","title":{"rendered":"70 English Words of Spanish Origin"},"content":{"rendered":"

The English language is drawn to the Spanish language.\u00a0Many English-language words<\/a> come directly from the Spanish language\u2014and I’m not just talking about the ones you find on the menu<\/a> at your local\u00a0Mexican or quasi-Mexican restaurant.<\/p>\n

From “canyon” to “alligator,” you’ll be surprised by just how much the Spanish language has influenced English.\u00a0<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

US Location Names<\/h2>\n

\"map-of-california\"<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Arizona<\/h3>\n

Despite rumors to the contrary, this isn’t Spanish for “arid zone.” Instead, the name Arizona was derived from the Spanish name Arizonac,<\/em>\u00a0which was in turn derived from an O’odham<\/a> phrase meaning “small stream.”<\/p>\n

2. California<\/h3>\n

The name California\u00a0originated in the 1510 book “Las sergas de Esplandi\u00e1n”<\/em> <\/a>(“The Adventures of Esplandi\u00e1n”). In the story, California was a remote kingdom inhabited only by women. The name came from the name of their queen, Calafia.\u00a0<\/em>Her name may have come from the Spanish word califa<\/i>, which came from the Arabic word khalifa<\/em>, referring to a religious state leader.<\/p>\n

3. Colorado<\/h3>\n

While the state itself derived its name from the Colorado River, the river got its name from the Spanish word colorado<\/em> ,<\/em>\u00a0meaning “red.”<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Florida<\/h3>\n

Florida <\/em>in Spanish\u00a0is an adjective meaning “flowered” or “flowery.”<\/p>\n

5. Montana<\/h3>\n

The name Montana comes from the Spanish word monta\u00f1a<\/em> ,\u00a0<\/em>which means “mountain.”<\/p>\n

6. Nevada<\/h3>\n

Though you’d never guess it from the bright lights and vast deserts in this state, the Spanish adjective nevada<\/em> \u00a0means “snowy” or “snow-covered,” and as a noun it means “snowfall.” It was named for the snow that blankets the mountains in winter.<\/p>\n

7. Texas<\/h3>\n

The name Texas originated from the Spanish word tejas<\/em> ,\u00a0<\/em>derived\u00a0from a Caddo<\/a> word for “friends.”<\/p>\n

8. Puerto Rico<\/h3>\n

In Spanish, puerto<\/em> means “port” while rico<\/em> \u00a0means “rich,” so this name literally means “rich port.”<\/p>\n

9. Los Angeles<\/h3>\n

Ever wonder why Los Angeles is called “The City of Angels”? There’s an easy answer: The Spanish phrase los \u00e1ngeles<\/em> \u00a0means “the angels.”<\/p>\n

10. Las Vegas<\/h3>\n

Las Vegas<\/em> means “the meadows”\u2014and you’ll be skipping through them if you hit the jackpot!<\/p>\n

11. “San” anything<\/h3>\n

The Spanish word san<\/em> \u00a0means “saint,” so any city that begins with San<\/em>\u00a0is just “Saint” something. For instance, San Diego is the Spanish name for Saint Didacus of Alcal\u00e1, and San Antonio is the Spanish name for Saint Anthony of Padua.<\/p>\n

Places<\/h2>\n

\"canyon-with-cloudy-sky\"<\/a><\/p>\n

12.\u00a0Cafeteria<\/h3>\n

The word “cafeteria” originated from the Latin American Spanish word cafeter\u00eda<\/em> ,<\/em> which meant “coffee shop.” Nowadays, though, the Spanish caf\u00e9<\/em> \u00a0is a more commonly used term for “coffee shop,” and cafeter\u00eda<\/em> has come to mean… you guessed it, “cafeteria.”<\/p>\n

13. Canyon<\/h3>\n

“Canyon” came from the Spanish word ca\u00f1\u00f3n<\/em> , meaning “tube,” “pipe” or “gorge.”<\/p>\n

14.\u00a0Corral<\/h3>\n

This word comes from the Spanish word corral<\/em> . In both Spanish and English, it refers to a pen or farmyard enclosure.<\/p>\n

15.\u00a0Mesa<\/h3>\n

In English, a “mesa” is a large plateau, but it originated from the Spanish word mesa<\/em> ,<\/em>\u00a0which means “table.”<\/p>\n

16.\u00a0Patio<\/h3>\n

In both English and the original Spanish, patio<\/em> \u00a0is a type of courtyard.<\/p>\n

17.\u00a0Plaza<\/h3>\n

In English, this is a public square. The Spanish term plaza<\/em> \u00a0originally meant “place,” but it now can also be used to refer to a public square.<\/p>\n

18.\u00a0Ranch<\/h3>\n

“Ranch” originated from the Spanish word rancho<\/em> \u00a0which can refer to either a ranch or a communal meal.<\/p>\n

19.\u00a0Savanna<\/h3>\n

“Savanna” comes from the Spanish word sabana<\/em> . They share the same meaning.<\/p>\n

Food\"two-tomatoes-with-pepper-and-salt\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

20.\u00a0Anchovy<\/h3>\n

From the Spanish word anchoa<\/em> .<\/i> You can blame the Spanish for the name when someone tries to sneak some of these onto your pizza.<\/p>\n

21.\u00a0Banana<\/h3>\n

Though it’s debated, some believe this word originated from the Spanish word banana<\/em> , which originated from the Mande<\/a> word banana<\/em>. They all refer to the same fruit.<\/p>\n

22.\u00a0Barbecue<\/h3>\n

“Barbecue” is derived from the Spanish word barbacoa<\/em> \u00a0which may have come from the Arawak<\/a> language. In Spanish, barbacoa<\/em>\u00a0is, in fact, meat that’s slow cooked on an open fire\u2014anybody else craving Chipotle now?<\/p>\n

23.\u00a0Burrito<\/h3>\n

Now known as a delicious rolled dish in both Spanish and English, the word burrito<\/em> \u00a0originally meant (and can still mean) “little donkey.”<\/p>\n

24.\u00a0Chocolate<\/h3>\n

The English word “chocolate” originates from chocolate<\/em> in Spanish,<\/em>\u00a0which is derived from the Nahuatl<\/a> word chocolatl<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

25.\u00a0Churro<\/h3>\n

Of course, in both Spanish and English it can be used to refer to the delicious fried dough. But in Spanish, it originally meant “fritter.” Now it’s popular as slang with many different meanings ranging from “a mess” to “disaster” to more vulgar things.<\/p>\n

26.\u00a0Cilantro<\/h3>\n

You might know that the English word “cilantro” came from the Spanish word cilantro<\/em> .<\/em>\u00a0What you might not have known is that, outside of the US, the same herb is often referred to as “coriander” or “coriander leaves.” Looks like the Spanish name really stuck in the US!<\/p>\n

27.\u00a0Gordita<\/h3>\n

While it’s sometimes used to refer to a particular type of dish in the US, in Spanish gordita<\/em> literally means “little fatty” and is used as a term of endearment.<\/p>\n

28.\u00a0Jerky<\/h3>\n

This is derived from the Spanish word charqui<\/em> \u00a0which was derived from a Quechua word<\/a>. In Spanish, it can refer to dried meat or fruit.<\/p>\n

29. Mojito<\/h3>\n

In both Spanish and English, mojito<\/em> refers to the classic drink. However, the word was originally derived from the Spanish word mojado<\/em> , meaning “wet.”<\/p>\n

30.\u00a0Pimento<\/h3>\n

“Pimento” comes from the Spanish word pimiento<\/em> ,<\/i>\u00a0meaning “pepper.”<\/p>\n

31. Pi\u00f1a Colada<\/h3>\n

Though you may be more familiar with the drink in English-speaking countries, both words in its name are Spanish. Pi\u00f1a<\/em> is “pineapple,” while colada<\/em> \u00a0means “strained.”<\/p>\n

32.\u00a0Potato<\/h3>\n

“Potato” comes from the Spanish word patata<\/em> ,<\/em>\u00a0which comes from the Ta\u00edno<\/a> word batata<\/em>.<\/p>\n

33.\u00a0Tomato<\/h3>\n

“Tomato” comes from the Spanish word tomate<\/em> \u00a0<\/em>which comes from the Nahuatl word xitomatl<\/em>.<\/p>\n

34.\u00a0Tuna<\/h3>\n

While it has older roots in several languages, the English word “tuna” is derived from the Spanish word at\u00fan<\/em> . The exact origins seem fishy.<\/p>\n

Animals<\/h2>\n

\"mosquito\"<\/a>35.\u00a0Alligator<\/h3>\n

“Alligator” comes from the Spanish phrase el lagarto<\/em> , which means “the lizard.”<\/p>\n

36.\u00a0Alpaca<\/h3>\n

This word comes from the Spanish word alpaca<\/em>,<\/em> which is derived from the Aymara<\/a> word allpaca<\/em>.<\/p>\n

37.\u00a0Armadillo<\/h3>\n

Though it now refers to the animal in both Spanish and English, the original meaning of armadillo<\/em>\u00a0was “little armed one.”<\/p>\n

38.\u00a0Barracuda<\/h3>\n

In both English and Spanish, barracuda <\/em>\u00a0refers to the same fish. It is thought to have been derived from a Cariban language.<\/p>\n

39.\u00a0Cockroach<\/h3>\n

The word “cockroach” comes from cucaracha<\/em> , the Spanish word for the same pest.<\/p>\n

40.\u00a0Condor<\/h3>\n

“Condor” came from the Spanish word, c\u00f3ndor<\/em>, which came from Quechua.<\/p>\n

41.\u00a0Coyote<\/h3>\n

The name of this animal came from the Spanish name for the animal, coyote<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0which itself came from a Nahuatl word.<\/p>\n

42.\u00a0Iguana<\/h3>\n

Derived from Spanish, which derived it from Arawak, iguana<\/em> \u00a0has the same spelling and meaning in both Spanish and English.<\/p>\n

43.\u00a0Llama<\/h3>\n

This word passed from Quechua to Spanish to English. It has the same spelling and meaning in all three languages.<\/p>\n

44.\u00a0Mosquito<\/h3>\n

Though it now has the same meaning in both Spanish and English, the literal translation was originally “little fly.”<\/p>\n

45.\u00a0Mustang<\/h3>\n

“Mustang” is thought to have originated from the words mostrenco<\/em> and mestengo<\/em>,<\/em> which both referred to free-roaming cattle but now simply means “unclaimed” or “without owner.”<\/p>\n

People\"a-man-riding-a-horse\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

46.\u00a0Buckaroo<\/h3>\n

This old-timey term was derived from the word vaquero<\/em> \u00a0which means “cowboy.”<\/p>\n

47.\u00a0Comrade<\/h3>\n

“Comrade” is thought to come from the Spanish word camarada<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0which means “companion.”<\/p>\n

48.\u00a0Renegade<\/h3>\n

The original Spanish word renegado<\/em>\u00a0was used to refer to a rebel or turncoat.<\/p>\n

49.\u00a0Vigilante<\/h3>\n

“Vigilante” comes from the Spanish term with the same spelling. In Spanish, it means “watchman” or “guard.”<\/p>\n

Things\"hurricane-from-space\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

50. Armada<\/h3>\n

The word for this grouping of ships comes from the Spanish term of the same spelling and meaning.<\/p>\n

51.\u00a0Bonanza<\/h3>\n

You’ll probably shout this out when you strike gold, but in the original Spanish, it simply meant (and still means) “prosperity.”<\/p>\n

52.\u00a0Bronco<\/h3>\n

In English, we use the term to refer to a bucking horse. But the original Spanish word actually means “rough” or “coarse.”<\/p>\n

53.\u00a0Breeze<\/h3>\n

“Breeze” likely comes from the Spanish word brisa<\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>which shares the same\u00a0meaning.<\/p>\n

54.\u00a0Canoe<\/h3>\n

“Canoe” likely comes from the Spanish word canoa<\/em>,<\/i> which shares the same meaning. The Spanish word is believed to have come from another language, though theories tend to vary.<\/p>\n

55.\u00a0Cargo<\/h3>\n

The English word “cargo” is derived from the Spanish word cargo<\/em>. They share the same meaning.<\/p>\n

56.\u00a0Cigar<\/h3>\n

“Cigar” likely comes from the Spanish word cigarro<\/em> which comes from the adopted Mayan word sikar<\/em>\u00a0meaning “to smoke.”<\/p>\n

57.\u00a0Cojones<\/h3>\n

While used in English to denote courage, the original Spanish word of the same spelling means “testicles.”<\/p>\n

58.\u00a0Embargo<\/h3>\n

The original Spanish word shares the same spelling and meaning as the English word. Both are used to describe official bans on trade.<\/p>\n

59.\u00a0Flotilla<\/h3>\n

In both English and Spanish, a “flotilla” is a fleet of ships, though the literal meaning in Spanish is “little fleet.”<\/p>\n

60.\u00a0Guerrilla<\/h3>\n

In both English and Spanish, “guerrilla” has come to refer to an armed person or group. However, the original Spanish meaning is “little war.”<\/p>\n

61.\u00a0Hurricane<\/h3>\n

The English word came from the Spanish word hurac\u00e1n<\/em> \u00a0(same meaning), which likely came from an indigenous American language.<\/p>\n

62.\u00a0Jade<\/h3>\n

The word “jade” is derived from the Spanish term for the same stone, piedra de ijada<\/em>, which literally means “stone of the flank.”<\/p>\n

63.\u00a0Junta<\/h3>\n

The English word “junta,” which often refers to a coup d’\u00e9tat, is derived from the Spanish word junta<\/em>,<\/em>\u00a0which can mean “joint” or “committee.”<\/p>\n

64.\u00a0Lasso<\/h3>\n

“Lasso” comes from the Spanish word lazo<\/em>\u00a0meaning “bow,” “knot” or “tie.”<\/p>\n

65.\u00a0Macho<\/h3>\n

This word shares the same spelling and meaning in both Spanish and English.<\/p>\n

66.\u00a0Platinum<\/h3>\n

This English word is derived from the Spanish word for the same metal, platino<\/em>,<\/em> which literally means “little silver.” The Spanish word platino<\/em> was originally known as platina<\/em>\u00a0from the word\u00a0plata<\/em> (silver).\u00a0<\/p>\n

67.\u00a0Rodeo<\/h3>\n

Though in both Spanish and English this word can refer to a cowboy show, the original Spanish word comes from the verb rodear<\/em>\u00a0meaning “to go around.”<\/p>\n

68.\u00a0Stampede<\/h3>\n

“Stampede” comes from the Spanish word estampida<\/em>. They share the same\u00a0meaning.<\/p>\n

69.\u00a0Suave<\/h3>\n

The English word “suave” comes from the Spanish word suave<\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>which means “smooth” or “charming.”<\/p>\n

70.\u00a0Tornado<\/h3>\n

“Tornado” is derived from two Spanish words: tronada<\/em> (thunderstorm) and tornar<\/em>\u00a0(to turn).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As you can see, there are so many English words of Spanish origin. English and Spanish have both had an influence on each other, with each language adopting words from the other over the course of history.<\/p>\n

A great way to become familiar with these words is to consume native media<\/strong> and see how the languages are spoken by native speakers. There are many different ways to immerse yourself in native media, such as watching videos on YouTube, or you could even try a language learning program like FluentU<\/a>.

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \"FluentU\r\n

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