Happy Halloween in Spanish: 139 Spooky Spanish Words
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How do you say Happy Halloween in Spanish? Find out how, plus learn 100+ Halloween Spanish words!
If you’re traveling to a Spanish-speaking country during the Halloween season, it’s essential to know some basic Halloween words in Spanish.
While Halloween isn’t celebrated in all Spanish-speaking countries, many countries have adopted Halloween and have some type of celebration going on.
For instance, when I was living in Spain, I was invited to dress up and go to a Halloween party. I also learned about many other traditional celebrations that coincide with Oct 31st to November 2nd.
Good thing I (a former Spanish teacher) knew some Halloween vocabulary in Spanish!
In this post, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of Halloween Spanish words that you can use during your travels. We’ll cover how to say “Happy Halloween” in Spanish as well as other basic Spanish Halloween words to help you navigate the Halloween festivities in a Spanish-speaking country!
How Do You Say Happy Halloween in Spanish?
As Halloween is celebrated in several Spanish-speaking countries, you’ll want to know how to say “Happy Halloween” in Spanish.
The most common way to say “Happy Halloween” in Spanish is “¡Feliz Noche de Brujas!” This greeting directly translates to “Happy Night of Witches” and is widely used in many Spanish-speaking communities.
“¡Feliz Día de Brujas!” is also a common way to say Happy Halloween in Spanish. (Día means day and Noche means night.)
Yet other Spanish Speakers will say, “Happy Halloween!” or “¡Feliz Halloween!” (pronounced jalogüin).
However, it’s important to note that Halloween is not celebrated in every Spanish-speaking country. Take care to learn the cultural context of the country you are in before wishing someone a “Happy Halloween.”
Basic Halloween Words in Spanish
As you learn Halloween vocab in Spanish, it’s important to start with the basics! Here are 13 common Halloween terms and phrases in Spanish, along with their English translations and example sentences:
1. Truco o trato – Trick or treat
“Trick or treat” is an American Halloween tradition where children dress in costumes and go door-to-door to ask their neighbors for candy. Trick or treat also sometimes called dulce o trato in Spanish.
Los niños salieron a pedir truco o trato.
The kids went out trick or treating.
2. La Calabaza – Pumpkin
Pumpkins are associated with Halloween, fall, and Thanksgiving. Pumpkins are used for carving jack-o’-lanterns and making dishes like pumpkin pie.
Tallamos una calabaza para Halloween.
We carved a pumpkin for Halloween.
3. El Esqueleto – Skeleton
Skeletons (the bones of the human body) are popular Halloween decorations.
La decoración de esqueleto es espeluznante.
The skeleton decoration is spooky.
4. El Fantasma – Ghost
A ghost is the spirit or soul of a deceased person which some people believe haunts the living. Ghosts are particularly popular during Halloween as costumes or decor.
Mi primito se va a disfrazar de fantasma en Halloween.
My little cousin is going to dress up as a ghost for Halloween.
5. La Araña – Spider
Spiders are scary and thus are often incorporated into Halloween decorations.
Había una araña grande en mi dulce de Halloween.
There was a big spider on my Halloween candy.
6. El Gato Negro – Black Cat
A symbol of superstition in many cultures, black cats are associated with witches. They are a common Halloween motif.
Me encanta tu disfraz de gato negro.
I love your black cat costume.
7. El Murciélago – Bat
Bats, the scary nocturnal flying mammals, are often tied to darkness and Halloween due to their appearance and behavior.
Los murciélagos vuelan por la noche.
Bats fly at night.
8. La Telaraña – Spider web
Spiderwebs are often used as decorative elements during Halloween.
Decoramos la mesa con telarañas.
We decorated the table with spiderwebs.
9. La Calavera – Skull
Skulls are often used as a symbol of death and used for Halloween decorations.
Voy a pintarme una calavera en la cara en Halloween.
I’m going to paint a skull on my face for Halloween.
10. El Espantapájaro – Scarecrow
A scarecrow is a figure made to resemble a human then placed in fields to scare away birds. Scarecrows are commonly used in fall and Halloween displays.
¡Ese espantapájaros en el campo es espeluznante!
That scarecrow in the field is creepy!
11. El Cementerio – Cemetery
Cemeteries are often depicted in Halloween imagery as a spooky setting, especially on Halloween night.
Vamos a visitar el cementerio para honrar a nuestros difuntos.
We are going to visit the cemetery to honor our deceased.
12. La Lápida – Gravestone
Gravestones (also called headstones) are the stone markers that indicate a person’s burial place in a cemetery. People often use gravestones in their Halloween decorations.
¿Qué está escrito en esa lápida?
What is written on that gravestone?
13. La Casa Embujada – Haunted House
Haunted houses are homes that are believed to be inhabited by ghosts or spirits. These homes or buildings are often transformed into attractions during Halloween for a scary good time!
No quiero ir a la casa embrujada con ustedes esta noche.
I don’t want to go to the haunted house with you guys tonight.
Halloween in Spanish Words: Dates & Weather
As you know, Halloween is celebrated each fall on October 31st. So, what is Halloween in Spanish? Halloween in Spanish is Día de las Brujas, which translates to the Day of the Witches.
In addition to Halloween, there are some other important dates that are celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries.
In order for you to talk about the season, the dates, and the holidays, here are some Halloween-associated words in Spanish:
14. El 31 de octubre – October 31
Halloween es el 31 de octubre.
Halloween is on October 31st.
15. Octubre – October
¿Cúal es tu mes favorito? El mío es octubre.
What is your favorite month? Mine is October.
Note that octubre is not capitalized in Spanish.
16. Día de Brujas, Noche de Brujas – Halloween
Vamos a tener una fiesta en la Noche de Brujas.
We’re having a party on Halloween.
17. Otoño – Fall
Las hojas cambian de color en el otoño.
The leaves are changing colors in the fall.
18. Día de Todos los Santos – All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day is a Christian holiday observed on November 1st in Spain and some other Spanish-speaking countries. On this day, families gather to honor their deceased loved ones, often lighting a candle or placing flowers on their graves. In some regions of Spain, it is also used to refer to Halloween as the celebrations often overlap.
Visitamos las tumbas de nuestros seres queridos en el Día de Todos los Santos.
We visit the graves of our loved ones on All Saints’ Day.\
19. Día de los Difuntos – All Souls Day
All Souls Day is observed on November 2nd to pray for the souls of the departed and remember loved ones who have passed away. This is observed in many Spanish-speaking countries, although it’s not as popular as All Saints’ Day.
En el Día de los Difuntos, visitaré la tumba de mis abuelos y encenderé velas en su memoria.
On All Souls’ Day, I will visit my grandparents’ grave and light candles in their memory.
20. Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. It honors deceased loved ones through colorful altars, offerings, and festivities.
Celebramos el Día de los Muertos haciendo un altar para nuestros seres queridos.
We celebrate the Day of the Dead by making an altar for our loved ones.
21. Frío – Cool, Chilly
El clima está frío hoy.
The weather is chilly today.
22. Las Hojas – Leaves
Las hojas de otoño son preciosas este año.
The fall leaves are gorgeous this year.
23. El Huerto de Calabazas – Pumkin patch
Lleva a su familia al huerto de calabazas para tomar fotos.
She’s taking her family to the pumpkin patch for photos.
24. La Luna Llena – Full Moon
Siempre es divertido cuando hay luna llena en Halloween.
It’s always fun when there’s a full moon on Halloween.
25. La Noche – Night
¿Qué vas a hacer en la noche de Halloween?
What are you doing on Halloween night?
26. La Luz de Luna – Moonlight
Vimos un murciélago volando a la luz de la luna.
We saw a bat flying in the moonlight.
27. El Festival de Otoño – Fall Festival
Mi iglesia organiza el mejor festival de otoño.
My church throws the best fall festival.
28. La Feria – Fair
Suele haber una feria de Halloween en el centro comercial.
There’s usually a Halloween fair at the mall.
29. La Fiesta de Halloween – Halloween Party
¡Vamos a la fiesta de Halloween!
Let’s go to the Halloween party!
30. La Fiesta de Disfraces – Costume Party
Voy a tener una fiesta de disfraces el próximo Halloween.
I’m going to have a costume party next Halloween.
Halloween Costumes Vocabulary in Spanish
When it comes to Halloween, costumes are everything. Check out this Halloween costume vocabulary in Spanish to talk about how you’re dressing up for the holiday.
31. El Disfraz – Costume
I’m going to wear a vampire costume for Halloween.
Voy a usar un disfraz de vampiro para Halloween.
32. La Bruja – Witch
Voy a disfrazarme de bruja en Halloween.
I’m going to dress up as a witch for Halloween.
33. El Brujo – Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock
El mago en la casa embrujada me asustó.
The wizard in the haunted house scared me.
34. La Momia – Mummy
Mi hermanita quiere ser una momia en Halloween.
My little sister wants to be a mummy for Halloween.
35. El Monstruo – Monster
Mi amigo se va a disfrazar de monstruo en Halloween.
My friend is going to dress up as a monster for Halloween.
36. La Muerte – Grim Reaper
Ese disfraz de la muerte es muy original.
That grim reaper costume is very original.
37. El Hombre Lobo – werewolf
¿Has visto al hombre lobo que vive en esa casa?
Have you seen the werewolf who lives in that house?
38. El Pirata – Pirate
Va a llevar un disfraz de pirata en Halloween.
She’s going to wear a pirate costume for Halloween.
39. El Vampiro – Vampire
Va a llevar un disfraz de vampiro a la fiesta.
He’s going to wear a vampire costume to the party.
40. El Zombi – Zombie
Se van a disfrazar de zombis para la fiesta de Halloween.
They’re going to dress up as zombies for the Halloween party.
41. El Diablo – Devil
El diablo no es un buen disfraz para niños.
The devil isn’t a good costume for kids.
42. El superhéroe, La superheroína – Superhero
Se disfrazaron de superhéroes para el concurso de disfraces en Halloween.
They dressed up as superheroes for the Halloween costume contest.
43. La Capa – Cape
El niño llevaba una capa roja y una máscara de murciélago para su disfraz de Halloween.
The boy was wearing a red cape and a bat mask for his Halloween costume.
44. Los Colmillos – Fangs
La niña se puso colmillos falsos para parecer un vampiro en la fiesta de Halloween.
The girl put on fake fangs to look like a vampire at the Halloween party.
45. La Escoba – Broom
La bruja en el desfile de Halloween llevaba una escoba y un sombrero puntiagudo.
The witch in the Halloween parade was carrying a broom and a pointy hat.
46. La Guadaña – Scythe
El disfraz de la Muerte incluía una guadaña larga y afilada.
The Death costume included a long and sharp scythe.
47. La Sangre – Blood
El maquillaje de zombi incluía manchas de sangre falsa para dar un aspecto espeluznante.
The zombie makeup included fake blood stains to create a creepy look.
48. El Sombrero de Bruja – Witch’s hat
La niña usaba un sombrero de bruja negro y largo mientras recogía caramelos en Halloween.
The girl wore a long black witch’s hat while trick-or-treating on Halloween.
49. La Máscara – Mask
El disfraz de demonio venía con una máscara terrorífica que ocultaba su rostro.
The demon costume came with a terrifying mask that hid his face.
50. El Maquillaje – Make-up
Ella se aplicó maquillaje blanco y oscuro para parecer un esqueleto en la fiesta de disfraces.
She applied white and dark makeup to look like a skeleton at the costume party.
51. Pintura Facial – Face paint
Los niños se divirtieron pintando sus rostros con pintura facial para el concurso de disfraces.
The children had fun painting their faces with face paint for the costume contest.
52. La Varita Mágica – Wand
La niña vestida de hada sostenía una varita mágica y hacía trucos para entretener a los niños en la fiesta.
The girl dressed as a fairy held a magic wand and performed tricks to entertain the kids at the party.
Halloween Verbs in Spanish
When it comes to Halloween, there are a few verbs in Spanish that are helpful to know to participate in Halloween festivities and communicate effectively with other Spanish speakers.
Here are some of the most commonly used Spanish Halloween verbs:
53. Asustar, dar miedo a – To Scare
Los niños quieren asustar a sus amigos con sus disfraces. (The kids want to scare their friends with their costumes.)
54. Asustarse – To get scared
Me asusté cuando vi a ese zombi caminando por la calle.
I got scared when I saw that zombie walking down the street.)
55. Aullar – To Howl
Durante la noche de Halloween, los lobos aullan en el bosque, creando una atmósfera espeluznante.
During Halloween night, wolves howl in the forest, creating a spooky atmosphere.
56. Bailar – To Dance
En la fiesta de disfraces, todos comenzaron a bailar al ritmo de la música de Halloween.
At the costume party, everyone started dancing to the rhythm of Halloween music.
57. Carcajearse – To Cackle
La bruja en el cuento comenzó a carcajearse de manera siniestra mientras preparaba sus pociones.
The witch in the story began to cackle sinisterly as she brewed her potions.
58. Celebrar – To Celebrate
Cada año, mi familia y yo celebramos Halloween organizando una fiesta con disfraces y dulces.
Every year, my family and I celebrate Halloween by hosting a costume party with candies.
59. Decorar – To Decorate
Nosotros decoramos la casa con calabazas y arañas.
We decorated the house with pumpkins and spiders.
60. Disfrazarse – To Dress Up
Nosotros nos disfrazamos de vampiros para Halloween.
We dressed up as vampires for Halloween.
61. Conmocionar – To Shock
La película de terror logró conmocionar a la audiencia con sus escalofriantes escenas.
The horror movie managed to shock the audience with its chilling scenes.
62. Creer – To Believe (in)
Los niños suelen creer en fantasmas y monstruos durante la temporada de Halloween.
Children often believe in ghosts and monsters during the Halloween season.
63. Echizar – To Put a Spell on, Bewitch
La bruja echizó a la princesa con un hechizo mágico en la historia.
The witch bewitched the princess with a magical spell in the story.
64. Embrujar – To Cast a Spell
La bruja intentó embrujar al héroe valiente, pero él resistió sus poderes.
The witch tried to cast a spell on the brave hero, but he resisted her powers.
65. Espantar – To Startle
El ruido repentino del trueno logró espantar a los niños durante la noche de Halloween.
The sudden sound of thunder managed to startle the children on Halloween night.
66. Festejar – To Party
Nos reunimos en casa de un amigo para festejar Halloween con disfraces y música.
We gathered at a friend’s house to party for Halloween with costumes and music.
67. Fingir – To Pretend
Los niños fingieron ser monstruos y asustaron a sus amigos en la fiesta.
The children pretended to be monsters and scared their friends at the party.
68. Gritar – To Scream
Los visitantes de la casa embrujada no pudieron evitar gritar cuando las sorpresas los asustaron.
The visitors of the haunted house couldn’t help but scream when the surprises frightened them.
69. Hacer un truco / Gastar una broma (a alguien) – To Play a Trick
Los niños se divirtieron haciendo trucos y gastando bromas a sus vecinos durante el truco o trato.
The children had fun playing tricks and pranking their neighbors during trick-or-treating.
70. Llevar una máscara – To Wear a Mask
Decidí llevar una máscara de calavera para el baile de disfraces de Halloween.
I decided to wear a skull mask for the Halloween costume party.
71. Pedir dulces – To Trick-or-Treat
Los niños van por la calle pidiendo dulces.
The kids go around the street trick-or-treating.
72. Pintarse – To Paint
Va a pintarse la cara como un esqueleto en Halloween.
She’s going to paint her face like a skeleton for Halloween.
73. Remover – To Stir
La bruja comenzó a remover la poción en su caldero mágico mientras cantaba un conjure.
The witch started to stir the potion in her magic cauldron while chanting a spell.
74. Resucitar – To Rise From the Dead
En muchas leyendas de Halloween, los espíritus resucitan de entre los muertos para asustar a los vivos.
In many Halloween legends, spirits rise from the dead to frighten the living.
75. Rondar – To Haunt
Se dice que el espíritu de un antiguo caballero ronda por este castillo en Halloween.
It is said that the spirit of an ancient knight haunts this castle on Halloween.
76. Sorprender – To surprise
Los amigos decidieron sorprender a su vecino con una decoración espeluznante en su jardín.
The friends decided to surprise their neighbor with spooky decorations in his garden.
77. Tener miedo (de) – To Be Scared of
Algunos niños tienen miedo de las criaturas monstruosas durante la noche de Halloween.
Some children are scared of monstrous creatures on Halloween night.
78. Tocar el timbre – To Knock on the Door
Los niños emocionados comenzaron a tocar el timbre de las casas en busca de dulces.
The excited children started to knock on the doors of houses in search of candies.
Halloween Adjectives in Spanish
When it comes to describing Halloween in Spanish, there are many adjectives that can be used to set the spooky mood!
Here are some of the most common Halloween adjectives in Spanish with their English translations:
79. Aterrador – Terrifying
El laberinto de terror en el parque de diversiones era tan aterrador que muchos gritaban de miedo.
The haunted maze at the amusement park was so terrifying that many screamed in fear.
80. Cautivador/a – Bewitching
La danza de la bruja tenía un encanto cautivador que hipnotizaba a todos los presentes.
The witch’s dance had a bewitching charm that mesmerized everyone present.
81. Embrujado – Haunted
La antigua mansión abandonada se decía que estaba embrujada por los espíritus de sus antiguos habitantes.
The old abandoned mansion was said to be haunted by the spirits of its former residents.
82. Escalofriante – Scary
La historia de fantasmas que leyeron en voz alta resultó ser tan escalofriante que algunos se taparon los oídos.
The ghost story they read aloud turned out to be so scary that some covered their ears.
83. Espeluznante – Creepy
El pasillo oscuro y lleno de sombras tenía un aspecto espeluznante que hizo que todos se sintieran incómodos.
The dark and shadow-filled hallway had a creepy look that made everyone feel uneasy.
84. Fantasmal – Ghostly
La mansión abandonada tenía una apariencia fantasmal bajo la luz de la luna en la noche de Halloween.
The abandoned mansion had a ghostly appearance under the moonlight on Halloween night.
84. Horripilante – Grisly
La película de terror presentaba escenas horripilantes que mantenían a la audiencia en vilo.
The horror movie featured grisly scenes that kept the audience on edge.
84. Macabro – Macabre
El cuadro en la pared representaba una escena macabra con calaveras y figuras sombrías.
The painting on the wall depicted a macabre scene with skulls and shadowy figures.
84. Malvado – Wicked
El villano de la historia tenía un plan malvado para sembrar el caos en la noche de Halloween.
The villain of the story had a wicked plan to sow chaos on Halloween night.
84. Misterioso – Mysterious
La casa abandonada en la colina tenía un aire misterioso que intrigaba a quienes la veían.
The abandoned house on the hill had a mysterious aura that intrigued those who saw it.
84. Muerto – Dead
Los espíritus de los muertos regresan en la noche de Halloween, según algunas creencias populares.
The spirits of the dead return on Halloween night, according to some popular beliefs.
90. Oscuro – Dark
El bosque se volvía oscuro y tenebroso cuando caía la noche de Halloween.
The forest became dark and gloomy as Halloween night fell.
90. Repugnante – Gruesome
La escena del crimen era demasiado repugnante para los investigadores, incluso en Halloween.
The crime scene was too gruesome for the investigators, even on Halloween.
90. Sangriento – Gory
La película de terror estaba llena de efectos especiales sangrientos que impresionaban a la audiencia.
The horror movie was filled with gory special effects that impressed the audience.
90. Siniestro – Sinister
La figura siniestra acechaba en la oscuridad, causando temor en la noche de Halloween.
The sinister figure lurked in the darkness, causing fear on Halloween night.
90. Sobrenatural – Supernatural
Las leyendas de criaturas sobrenaturales cobraban vida en la imaginación de los niños en Halloween.
Legends of supernatural creatures came to life in children’s imagination on Halloween.
90. Tenebroso – Dark and gloomy
El cielo tenebroso y las sombras alargadas contribuyeron a la atmósfera espeluznante de Halloween.
The dark and gloomy sky, along with elongated shadows, contributed to the eerie atmosphere of Halloween.
90. Tonto/a – Silly
Los disfraces tontos y divertidos añadían un toque de humor a la fiesta de Halloween.
The silly and amusing costumes added a touch of humor to the Halloween party.
90. Negro – Black
El gato negro se cruzó en mi camino mientras caminaba por la calle en la noche de Halloween.
The black cat crossed my path as I walked down the street on Halloween night.
90. Aranajado – Orange
Las calabazas naranjas talladas con caras espeluznantes eran la decoración típica de Halloween.
The orange pumpkins carved with spooky faces were the typical decoration of Halloween.
90. Morado – Purple
Las luces moradas y oscuras creaban una atmósfera misteriosa en la fiesta de Halloween.
The purple and dim lights created a mysterious atmosphere at the Halloween party.
100. Verde – Green
Los fantasmas verdes brillaban en la oscuridad mientras adornaban los jardines para Halloween.
The green ghosts glowed in the dark as they adorned the gardens for Halloween.
Halloween Food Words in Spanish
When it comes to Halloween, food is a large part of the celebration!
Here are some Halloween words for food in Spanish that you can use to impress your friends and family.
101. El Caramelo – Candy
Candy is sweet treat that trick-or-treaters think about all year! Dulce is another word for candy in Spanish.
Los niños recorrían el vecindario con bolsas en busca de caramelos durante la noche de Halloween.
The children went around the neighborhood with bags, looking for candy on Halloween night.
¿Podemos comer un dulce ahora?
Can we eat candy now?
102. La Manzana – Apple
Ellas fueron meneando las manzanas en la Feria de Halloween.
They went bobbing for apples at the Halloween Fair.
103. La Manzana Acaramelada – Caramel Apple
A caramel apple is an apple that is coated in caramel and often other toppings like nuts. Candy apples are a Halloween treat in the United States.
En la feria de Halloween, disfrutamos de deliciosas manzanas acarameladas cubiertas con chocolate y nueces.
At the Halloween fair, we enjoyed delicious caramel apples covered in chocolate and nuts.
104. El Chocolate – Chocolate
Los niños estaban emocionados por la gran cantidad de chocolate que recolectarían durante la noche de Halloween.
The children were excited about the amount of chocolate they would collect on Halloween night.
105. El Maíz Dulce – Candy Corn
This small, tri-colored candy that is shaped like a kernel of corn is a popular fall sweet treat.
Mi abuela siempre tenía maíz dulce para compartir durante las reuniones de la familia en Halloween.
My grandmother always had candy corn to share during our family gatherings on Halloween.
106. El Pastel de Calabaza – Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is made with pumpkin and warming spices that’s traditionally eaten on Thanksgiving. It’s often served as a dessert during the fall season at parties.
Después de una cena deliciosa, todos estábamos ansiosos por probar un trozo de pastel de calabaza casero.
After a delicious dinner, we were all eager to have a slice of homemade pumpkin pie.
107. El Tazón de Dulces – Candy Bowl
Colocamos un tazón de dulces en la mesa para que los niños pudieran servirse.
We placed a candy bowl on the table so that the children could help themselves.
108. La Sidra Achampañada – Apple cider
Apple cider is a non-alcoholic, fizzy cider made from apples. It’s popular among kids and adults alike, particularly during the fall and winter seasons.
Disfrutamos de un vaso refrescante de sidra achampañada mientras observábamos las decoraciones de Halloween en el vecindario.
We enjoyed a refreshing glass of apple cider while we watched the Halloween decorations in the neighborhood.
109. Las Gomitas – Gummy Candies
A los niños les encanta las gomitas de formas espeluznantes que reciben en Halloween.
Kids love the spooky-shaped gummy candies they receive during Halloween.
Words Associated w/Pumpkin Carving in Spanish
When it comes to Halloween, one of the most popular things to do to mark the season is pumpkin carving. If you’re planning on carving a pumpkin this year with Spanish-speaking friends, you’ll need to know the Halloween terms in Spanish to communicate.
Here’s the vocabulary you’ll need for pumpkin carving in Spanish:
110. La Calabaza – Pumpkin
This is the main word you’ll need to know when it comes to pumpkin carving!
Compramos una calabaza grande para tallar.
We bought a big pumpkin for carving.
111. La Linterna de calabaza – Jack-o-lantern
You’ll carve your pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, placing a candle inside each night leading up to Halloween Jack-o-lantern in Spanish is linterna de calabaza or calabaza iluminada.
Cada año, tallamos una linterna de calabaza para decorar nuestra entrada en Halloween.
Every year, we carve a pumpkin lantern to decorate our entrance for Halloween.
112. El Cuchillo – Knife
You’ll need a sharp knife to carve your pumpkin (You can get special carving knives inside pumpkin-carving kits).
I need a knife to carve the pumpkin.
Necesito un cuchillo para tallar la calabaza.
113. La Cuchara – Spoon
You’ll need a spoon to scoop out all the pumpkin seeds.
Usé una cuchara para sacar las semillas y la pulpa de la calabaza antes de tallarla.
I used a spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp from the pumpkin before carving.
114. Las Semillas – Seeds
After you’ve carved your pumpkin, you can roast the seeds for a tasty snack.
Vamos a guardar las semillas de la calabaza para tostarlas más tarde.
Let’s save the pumpkin seeds to roast later.
115. La Vela – Candle
A candle (real or electric) is placed inside the pumpkin to light it up in the dark.
Necesitamos una vela para poner dentro de la calabaza.
We need a candle to put inside the pumpkin.
116. Tallar – To Carve
This is the verb form of “carving” and is used to describe the act of cutting into the pumpkin.
Vamos a tallar una cara espeluznante en la calabaza.
We’re going to carve a spooky face into the pumpkin.
117. Encender – To Light
Los niños se preparaban para encender las velas en las calabazas talladas como parte de la celebración de Halloween.
The children were getting ready to light the candles inside the carved pumpkins as part of the Halloween celebration.
118. La Plantilla – Template
If you’re not sure how to carve a pumpkin, you can use a printable template as a guide.
Vamos a imprimir una plantilla para tallar calabazas para usar.
Let’s print out a pumpkin carving template to use.
More Halloween Vocabulary in Spanish
Here are some more Halloween nouns and other Halloween scary words in Spanish that you can use to make your Halloween even more exciting:
119. La Calabaza – Gourd
120. Las Decoraciones – decorations
121. El Vecino – neighbor
122. La Bolsa – bag
123. El Horror – Horror
124. La Travesura – Mischief
125. El Mágico Negro – Black Magic
126. El Hechizo – Spell
127. La Hechicería, Brujería – Witchcraft
128. La Caldera – Cauldron
129. La Infusión de las Brujas – Witches’ Brew
130. La Oscuridad – darkness
131. El Cuervo – crow
132. El Ataúd – Coffin
133. La Tumba – Tomb
134. El Cerebro – Brain
135. El Cadáver – Corpse
136. Los Muertos – The Dead
137. El Mausoleo – Mausoleum
138. La Pesadilla – Nightmare
139. La Criatura – Creature
Halloween Celebrations in Spanish-Speaking Countries
Across the Spanish-speaking world, Halloween is celebrated in different ways—if it’s observed at all. While some countries have adopted American-style Halloween with trick-or-treating, spooky costumes, and fun community events, others have their own meaningful traditions.
For instance, one of the most famous celebrations in Mexico is the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). Held on November 1st and 2nd, this festive and colorful holiday is for families to honor their deceased relatives.
For Halloween in Spain, people celebrate Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) on November 1st. Families visit the graves of their loves ones with flowers and traditional sweets called huesos del santo (Saints’ Bones).
However, there is a tradition similar to Halloween known as Noche de Calabazas or Night of the Pumpkins in the region of Galicia, Spain. During this version of Spanish Halloween, Galician people carve pumpkins and perform rituals to ward off evil spirits.
Halloween Spanish Vocabulary Activities
There are many ways to learn Halloween vocabulary in Spanish at any age. Try them out and see which methods work best for you!
Make a Free Crossword Puzzle
Use a free online puzzle maker to create a crossword puzzle using things associated with Halloween in Spanish. Your crossword clues can be definitions (in English or Spanish) or the translation of the words in English, depending on your level of Spanish. A word search is also easy to make and a good way to practice your spelling!
Write Flashcards
Create flashcards to practice your Spanish vocabulary words! Write the Halloween noun, adjective, or verb in Spanish on one side. On the other side, you can put a picture, a definition, or the vocab word in English.
Play Halloween Charades
Play a game of charades with Halloween terms in Spanish. Divide into teams and take turns acting out different vocabulary words while the other team tries to guess the word.
Throw a Spanish-only Halloween Party
Host a Halloween party with other Spanish learners. Commit to only speaking Spanish for the duration of the party. This is a fun way to practice Spanish Halloween phrases and sayings in a comfortable environment.
Scavenger Hunt
Create a scavenger hunt with Halloween-themed items and clues in Spanish. This activity helps with vocabulary retention and reading comprehension and is fun for all ages!
Halloween in Spanish Songs
When it comes to learning Halloween in Spanish words, a wonderful way to do so is by listening to Halloween songs in Spanish. (My students always requested to learn Spanish with authentic Spanish songs.)
There are a variety of catchy songs that you can easily find on YouTube to help learn and remember Halloween vocabulary—whether they are funny Halloween words or creepy ones!
To practice your words associated with Halloween in Spanish, sing along to the lyrics. Some videos even have English and Spanish lyrics on the screen. Printing the lyrics and removing some keywords to create your own fill-in-the-blank is helpful, too!
Here are some of the best Spanish Halloween songs:
La Llorona
This traditional Mexican folk story tells the story of La Llorona (the crying woman), a ghostly woman who is said to have drowned her children. This Spanish song is a great way to introduce yourself to Mexican folklore and learn Halloween-related vocabulary such as fantasma (ghost) and muerte (death).
El Monstruo de la Laguna
This song is about a monster that lives in the lake and comes out at night to scare people. It’s catchy and is a great way to learn vocabulary related to spooky creatures such as “monstruo” (monster) and “susto” (fright). Although it’s a kids’ song, it’s good for adults, too!
La Bruja
This popular Mexican folk song is about a scary witch who needs blood to survive. The song features creepy repetitive lyrics that make it easy for adults to learn and remember Halloween vocabulary such as calabaza (pumpkin) and criaturas (creatures).
Calaveritas y Diablitos
This song by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs reminds us that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. The protagonist of the song doesn’t want to die without having loved and uses Spanish Halloween vocabulary such as (calaveritas (skulls) and tumbas (graves).
Spanish Halloween Words FAQ
How do you say, “Boo!” in Spanish?
To say “boo!” in Spanish, simply say “bu!” which is pronounced almost the same as in English.
What are some French Halloween words?
While French-speaking countries do not typically celebrate Halloween to the same extent as English or Spanish-speaking countries, there are still some Halloween-related words in French. For example, “Halloween” is often simply referred to as la fête d’Halloween or la nuit d’Halloween. Other Halloween words in French include la citrouille (pumpkin), la sorcière (witch), and le fantôme (ghost).
Halloween Spanish Words: Conclusion
Remember, the key to learning the Spanish language is to practice, practice, practice. Try using these spooky Spanish words in conversations with other language learners and native Spanish speakers to improve your fluency.
With enough practice, you’ll be able to speak about Halloween in Spanish whether you find yourself in Spain, Latin America, or the Caribbean next Halloween!
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