Do you know the names of the shapes in Spanish? Today's lesson will teach you what the most basic Spanish shapes are called as well as the words for more advanced Spanish shapes and figures. Let's get started!
Let's start with the basics! Listen to the following caption from the Yabla Spanish video library to hear how to say "shapes" in Spanish:
Puedes jugar con diferentes formas y colores
You can play with different shapes and colors
Caption 76, Manos a la obra Papel picado para Día de muertos
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Now, let's hear the Spanish word for the similar concept of "figures":
como los números o las figuras geométricas,
like numbers or geometric figures,
Caption 16, Carlos explica Vocabulario de las matemáticas - Part 1
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Next, we'll learn the Spanish names for the most classic shapes, including their definite articles, and hear them in context:
Vamos a marcar el círculo
We're going to mark the circle,
Caption 47, Maoli Calabaza de Halloween
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se presenta como un cuadrado de ocho por ocho
appears as an eight by eight square
Caption 18, Aprendiendo con Carlos El ajedrez - Part 1
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Puede ser un cuadrado, un rectángulo.
It can be a square, a rectangle.
Caption 41, María Fernanda Hacer un turbante
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Obtendrás un triángulo.
You will get a triangle.
Caption 39, Manos a la obra Separadores de libros: Charmander
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Let's move on to the Spanish words for some slightly more sophisticated shapes and hear them pronounced:
—podríamos decir que es un óvalo—
we could say that it's an oval—
Caption 49, Con Marta por Madrid La Plaza del Sol - Part 2
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Lograrás un rombo como éste.
You will get a diamond like this one.
Caption 45, Manos a la obra Separadores de libros: Charmander
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Interestingly, this word also means "trapezius" (the muscle) in Spanish as well as "trapeze," as in the following example, which we've included for pronunciation purposes:
como un número de trapecio,
as a trapeze act,
Caption 18, Circo Berlín Jose - Part 2
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"semicírculo",
"semicírculo" [semicircle],
Caption 74, Carlos explica Los prefijos en español - Part 7
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Figures with at least three but typically five or more sides and angles are called los polígonos (the polygons) in Spanish. Let's learn their Spanish names along with their respective numbers of lados (sides) and ángulos (angles):
El pentágono (the pentagon): 5
El hexágono (the hexagon): 6
El hectágono (the hectagon): 7
El octógono (the octagon): 8
El nonógono (the nonagon): 9
El decágono (the decagon): 10
While not "official" geometric shapes, figures like the heart, cross, star, etc., are recognized universally as shapes and/or symbols. Let's learn how to say them in Spanish!
a hacer pancitos de corazón, pancitos decorados y este tipo de, de...
into making heart rolls, decorated rolls, and this kind of, of...
Caption 18, Hispanoamericanos en Berlín Luis y el pan de muerto
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es la cruz de piedra.
is the stone cross.
Caption 16, Viajando con Carlos Popayán - Colombia - Part 2
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y la estrella.
and the star.
Caption 27, Ana Carolina Símbolos de Navidad
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con la punta bien afilada en forma de flecha,
with a well-sharpened tip in the shape of an arrow
Caption 32, Isabel Lavesa Dibujo en acuarela
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Do you know how to say 3-D in Spanish? You could say tridimensional (three-dimensional) or simply use the Spanish pronuncation of 3-D, as we hear here:
Y las obras están sacadas de modelos 3-D del programa Google Earth.
And the works are taken from 3-D models from the Google Earth program.
Caption 24, El estudio De Julio Sarramián
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That said, we'll conclude this lesson with the names of several of the most common formas tridimensionales (3-D shapes):
¿podría ponerme un cono de chocolate por favor?
can you give me a chocolate cone please?
Caption 36, Málaga Calle Larios
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en forma de pirámide invertida.
in the shape of an inverted pyramid.
Caption 14, Víctor en Caracas Centro comercial
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That's all for today. We hope that you have found this lesson on the names of the shapes in Spanish useful, and don't forget to write us with your questions and comments. ¡Hasta pronto!
As the year draws to a close, it's time to learn the Spanish vocabulary you'll need to celebrate like a native speaker! Whether you're planning to ring in the new year with Spanish-speaking friends or simply want to send heartfelt greetings, these five tips will help you master the most commonly used Spanish words and phrases for this festive season.
While the most standard way to say "Happy New Year" in Spanish is simply Feliz Año Nuevo, you may also hear the following alternatives:
• Feliz Año (short for Happy New Year)
• Próspero Año Nuevo (Prosperous New Year)
• Feliz [year] (Happy [year])
These New Year greetings in Spanish are perfect for toasts, cards, and social media posts during the holiday season!
If you're writing to someone, there's a difference between writing Feliz Año Nuevo (with all three words capitalized) and Feliz año nuevo (with the second two words in lowercase).
In fact, while the former is specifically a good wish for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day holidays, the latter is a more general good wish for the new year ahead. This subtle distinction can help you sound more natural when writing Spanish New Year messages!
o "Feliz Año Nuevo".
or "Happy New Year."
Caption 10, Aprendiendo con Silvia Felicitar y expresar buenos deseos - Part 2
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Nochevieja (literally "old night") is the Spanish word for the last night of the year, or New Year's Eve. Just keep in mind that it is preferable to write the name of this special day as one single word (Nochevieja), rather than as two words (Noche Vieja).
nada más y nada menos que la noche de Nochevieja.
nothing more and nothing less than the night of New Year's Eve.
Caption 8, Con Marta por Madrid La Plaza del Sol - Part 2
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This is one of the most important celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries, filled with unique traditions!
In some parts of Latin America, people burn human-size dolls called años viejos (literally "old years") stuffed with old clothes, newspaper, and firecrackers. This symbolic act represents "out with the old, in with the new," casting off the past year and welcoming fresh beginnings. In some regions, these dolls even "leave a will" (testamento) as part of the tradition, as we can hear in the following clip:
Eh... hay una... hay un rito o... un poco más de Nariño, que es que el... el año viejo deja un testamento.
Um... there's a... there's a rite or... a bit more from Nariño, which is that the... the "año viejo" [doll] [literally "old year"] leaves a will.
Captions 24-25, Viajando con Carlos El año viejo en Colombia - Part 2
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It is difficult to imagine the end of the year in many Spanish-speaking countries without fireworks lighting up the sky at midnight. But do you know how to say "fireworks" in Spanish? The following are the two acceptable terms:
Fuegos artificiales
Juegos pirotécnicos
Regarding the second term, be careful not to mix it with the first and say "fuegos pirotécnicos" instead of "juegos pirotécnicos." This mistake is quite common, even among native Spanish speakers! Let's hear how to pronounce the first term:
Sí, fuegos artificiales con un fondo de violines, me encanta, ¿eh?
Yes, fireworks with a background of violin [music]; I love it, huh?
Caption 39, Yago 6 Mentiras - Part 2
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Now you're ready to celebrate Nochevieja and welcome the new year with confidence! From saying Feliz Año Nuevo to understanding unique Latin American traditions like años viejos, you have all the essential Spanish vocabulary for this festive season.
We'd love to hear how you plan to celebrate! Share your favorite New Year traditions and feel free to reach out with any questions about Spanish holiday vocabulary.
¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
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