Loanwords and diminutives: English words taken from Spanish

Spanish loanwords, diminutives, and phrases have significantly influenced English, reflecting cultural exchanges in areas like food, geography, law, music, and everyday life, primarily due to historical interactions in the Americas and Spain.

Below is a comprehensive list of common Spanish words and phrases used in English, organized by category for clarity, with their meanings or contexts. These are frequently encountered in English speech and writing. Some words are simply derivatives, as you’ll see noted below.

Food and cuisine

• Adobo – A marinade or seasoning, often used in Latin American or Filipino dishes (via Spanish influence).
• Burrito – A flour tortilla wrapped around fillings like beans, meat, or cheese.
• Chili – A spicy stew or the chili pepper itself (from chile).
• Churro – A fried dough pastry, often dusted with sugar.
• Enchilada – A corn tortilla rolled around a filling, covered with chili sauce.
• Fajita – Grilled meat served on a tortilla, often with peppers and onions.
• Flan – A caramel custard dessert.
• Guacamole – A dip made from mashed avocados, lime, and spices.
• Margarita – A cocktail made with tequila, lime, and orange liqueur.
• Nacho – Tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and other ingredients.
• Paella – A Spanish rice dish with seafood, meat, or vegetables.
• Quesadilla – A tortilla folded with melted cheese and other fillings.
• Salsa – A spicy sauce, often tomato-based, used as a dip or condiment.
• Taco – A tortilla folded around fillings like meat, lettuce, and cheese.
• Tamale – A dish of masa dough filled with meat or other ingredients, wrapped in corn husks and steamed.
• Tapas – Small portions of various dishes served as appetizers in Spain.
• Tequila – A distilled spirit made from the agave plant.
• Tortilla – A flatbread made from corn or wheat flour.

Geography and nature

• Arroyo – A small stream or dry creek bed, common in the American Southwest.
• Canyon (from cañón) – A deep, narrow valley with steep sides.
• Cenote – A natural sinkhole or water-filled cave.
• Cordillera – A system of mountain ranges.
• Llano – A flat, grassy plain, often in the Southwest U.S.
• Mesa – A flat-topped hill with steep sides.
• Patio – An outdoor courtyard or paved area.
• Plaza – A public square or marketplace.
• Sierra – A range of mountains with a jagged profile.
• Tornado – A violent rotating storm (from tronada, meaning thunderstorm).

Animals and ranching

• Alligator (from el lagarto) – A large reptile, named for its lizard-like appearance.
• Armadillo (armado + illo) – A small mammal with bony plates covering its body.
• Bronco – An untamed or wild horse.
• Buckaroo (from vaquero) – A cowboy or ranch hand.
• Chaps (from chaparreras) – Protective leather leg coverings worn by cowboys.
• Corral – An enclosure for livestock.
• Lasso – A rope with a loop used to catch cattle or horses.
• Mustang (from mesteño) – A wild horse.
• Rodeo – A competitive event involving livestock handling skills.
• Stampede (from estampida) – A sudden rush of animals or people.

Music and dance

• Bolero – A slow, romantic dance or music style.
• Castanets – Small, handheld percussion instruments used in Spanish dance.
• Flamenco – A passionate Spanish dance and music style with guitar and vocals.
• Mariachi – A traditional Mexican musical ensemble.
• Rumba – A lively dance or music style of Afro-Cuban origin.
• Samba – A Brazilian dance with Spanish and African roots (via Spanish influence).
• Tango – A dramatic dance originating in Argentina, influenced by Spanish culture.

Law and society

• Adobe – Sun-dried mud bricks or a building made from them.
• Alcalde – A mayor or magistrate in Spanish-speaking regions.
• Hacienda – A large estate or plantation.
• Junta – A governing council or committee, often military.
• Peon – A laborer or worker, often in a low-status role.
• Vigilante – A person who takes the law into their own hands.

Everyday expressions and objects

• Adios – Goodbye, often used casually.
• Amigo – Friend.
• Bodega – A small grocery store or wine cellar.
• Cargo – Goods carried by a ship or vehicle (from cargar, to load).
• Comrade (from camarada) – A companion or colleague, often in a political context. (also French).
• Embargo – A government ban on trade or commerce.
• Fiesta – A festival or celebration.
• Macho – Exaggeratedly masculine or tough.
• Nada – Nothing, often used informally.
• Piñata – A decorated container filled with candy, broken at celebrations.
• Sombrero – A wide-brimmed Mexican hat.
• Vamoose (from vamos) – To leave quickly.

Nautical and exploration

• Armada – A fleet of warships.
• Canoe (from canoa) – A small, narrow boat, via Spanish from Indigenous languages.
• Caravel – A small, fast sailing ship used by Spanish explorers.
• Flotilla (from flota)– A small fleet of ships or boats.
• Galleon – A large Spanish sailing ship used for trade or war.

Miscellaneous

• Barbecue (from barbacoa) – A method of cooking meat over an open fire.
• Cigar (from cigarro) – A rolled tobacco product.
• Guerrilla – A member of a small, irregular military force.
• Hammock (from hamaca) – A hanging bed or sling, via Spanish from Indigenous languages.
• Machete – A large, broad knife used for cutting.
• Mosquito – A small, biting insect.
• Renegade (from renegado) – A deserter or traitor.
• Savanna (from sabana) – A grassy plain with few trees.
• Tobacco (from tabaco) – A plant used for smoking or chewing.
• Vanilla – A flavoring derived from orchids, via Spanish from Mesoamerica.

Notes on usage

• Pronunciation: Many Spanish loanwords retain their original pronunciation (e.g., “taco” as “tah-ko”), but some are anglicized (e.g., “canyon” as “kan-yun” instead of “cañón”).
• Spelling variations: Words like “chili” (vs. chile) or “barbecue” (vs. barbacoa) may have adapted spellings in English.
• Indigenous influence: Some Spanish loanwords (e.g., “canoe,” “hammock”) originated from Indigenous languages of the Americas and entered English via Spanish.
• Context: Words like “salsa” or “amigo” are casual and widely used, while others like “junta” or “alcalde” are more specific to historical or cultural contexts.