How Many Spanish Words Are There in 2024? (Yes, it Changes!)
Wondering how many words the Spanish language has? You’re in the right place!
As a former Spanish Teacher with a M.A. in Foreign Language Education, let me tell you learning Spanish is a wild ride—challenging and rewarding all at the same time.
In this comprehensive guide, we’re delving into a frequently asked question by Spanish learners: How many words are there in Spanish? Why is it so hard to come up with a total count? And, what’s the best way, as a learner, to dive into this extensive and rich vocabulary pool?
Let’s get started.
How Many Words Are There in Spanish?
The Spanish language has approximately 93,000 words, as recognized by the Real Academia Española (RAE or Royal Spanish Academy in English).
Think about it—that’s a colossal amount of different words to express, communicate, and connect in Spanish! 🤯
If that number doesn’t blow your mind, listen to this: 93,000 words is just a starting point!
First, it’s not a static number. Every year, new terms are added in reflection of the language’s ongoing evolution.
This amount of words doesn’t even include the countless slang and regional variations spread across Spanish-speaking countries. Or all the ways a single word could be counted as many (More on that later in the post).
How Are New Words Added to the Spanish Dictionary?
So, how does the Spanish language keep evolving? That would be through the RAE. This is the official royal institution responsible for overseeing the Spanish language.
Through meticulous research and analysis, the RAE standardizes rules, grammar, and orthography for the Spanish language.
When it comes to adding new words, the RAE follows trends, more or less.
When new words are used for a considerable period and have a clear meaning that is widely understood, the RAE will determine whether or not they should be added to the Diccionario Real Academia Española (official dictionary). They also determine if words should be altered.
For instance, in 2020, the RAE added words specifically related to the Coronavirus pandemic like “nueva normalidad” (new normal) and “webinario” for (webinar). (The last one’s not so surprising, as most W words in Spanish are adopted from other languages.)
So, how many words are added to the dictionary, annually?
The RAE adds about 200 new words to the official dictionary each year, which, in turn will add to the final count.
How Does the Evolution of Spanish Impact Vocabulary?
Spanish is constantly evolving and has been, as a living language, for centuries. With almost 100,000 words today, you can imagine how the Spanish language reflects both history and culture.
Its roots go back to both Latin and Arabic. Plus, the conquest of the Americas introduced indigenous terms. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Of course, it’s not just about the past. Just think about how tech terms have become part of our everyday language. Words like “navegador” (browser) and “blog” show how Spanish adapts to our digital world.
Spanish will continue to adapt to cultural and historical changes and new words will emerge, some of which will be added to the official Spanish dictionary.
Let’s explore more about how the official language word count grows in this section.
The Role of Slang and Colloquialisms
Slang and colloquialisms are vital, reflecting the language’s living, evolving nature in each Spanish speaking country.
Take words the word cool in English. It has different names like “guay” in Spain or “padre” in Mexican Spanish, or “chévere” in several countries. Interestingly, the word “chévere” comes from African languages!
They’re not formal, but they play a crucial role in everyday life and communication.
If they find their way into the mainstream language, they may end up in the RAE’s dictionary, too! Even then, it may be impossible to come up with a comprehensive list of all the Spanish vocabulary words in existence today.
Technology’s Influence on the Spanish Lexicon
In our digital era, technology isn’t just shaping our lives; it’s also reshaping Spanish!
To explain, new technologies bring new concepts, for which new words are needed. For example, “tuitear” (to tweet) and “googlear” (to Google). For better or worse, these tech-inspired verbs are now part of daily Spanish conversation.
A dynamic language, the addition of tech words is a reflection of how Spanish adapts and grows in our interconnected world. The same can be said for the English language, with its adoption of tech words left and right!
Linguistic Borrowing
Linguistic borrowing in Spanish is not a new phenomenon. For centuries, Spanish has incorporated words from languages it has come into contact with.
For example, Arabic influence is seen in words like “alcohol” (alcohol) and “alfombra” (carpet).
English has contributed terms like “fútbol” (football) and “sandwich” (sandwich). A fun way to see just how widespread the word “sandwich” has become in Spanish is to check out my post on sandwiches in Spanish.
This process works both ways, as well. To explain, the Oxford English Dictionary includes English words derived from other languages!
Linguistic borrowing not only diversifies the language but also significantly boosts the Spanish word count.
Why is it So Hard to Count Words in Any Language?
When it comes to word counts, here’s the thing—counting words is much more complex than tallying dictionary entries.
For instance, Spanish, the 4th most widely-spoken world language, has about 93,000 words in its dictionary. But, as you’ve already seen, languages are dynamic, evolving entities.
The way words are used in different countries, their variations, and the context all play a part in word counts.
Here’s a snapshot of estimated word counts in the dictionaries of some of the most widely spoken languages for a global perspective:
| Language | Word Count |
| Korean | 1,100,373 |
| Japanese | 500,000 |
| Italian | 260,000 |
| English | 171,476 |
| Russian | 150,000 |
| Spanish | 93,000 |
| Chinese | 85,000 |
| Norwegian | 330,000 |
| German | 330,000 |
| Turkish | 316,000 |
How would you like to learn Korean, by the way? 🤣
While the word counts of these different languages are intriguing, they’re just a starting point in understanding how many words are actually used in any given language.
Inflection and Word Forms
When it comes to counting words, the use of inflections in Spanish is a particular challenge.
One of the primary challenges in counting words is dealing with inflection and different word forms.
For instance, take the verb “estar.” It conjugates to “estoy” (I am), “estás” (you are), and “está” (he/she/it is).
Although each verb form or conjugation could be counted separately, official dictionaries tend to group and count words by their headword, the main word under which all the related words fall.
Deciding whether to count each inflected form as separate words significantly impacts the total number of Spanish words.
Multiple Meanings and Homographs
Deciding how to count words with multiple meanings and homographs (words that are spelled the same but have different meanings) adds another layer of complexity to counting the number of words in Spanish.
For example, “banco” is an example of a homograph in Spanish. It means “bench” or “bank.” Homographs are more common than you might think and part of what makes Spanish both challenging and fun!
But, should “banco” be counted once or twice for its different meanings? Should the total count be limited to words that have their own dictionary entry?
As you can imagine, determining whether to count such words once or multiple times based on their meanings adds to the complexity. Even native Spanish speakers may disagree!
Regional Variations
Travel to the Spanish-speaking world, and you’ll quickly realize how prevalent regional variations are. Each Spanish-speaking country has words not used anywhere else.
For instance, words in Latin American Spanish often carry a strong influence from indigenous languages, adding a unique twist to everyday conversations.
For example, in Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru the word for avocado is “palta” originating from Nahuatl. The common Spanish word for avocado is “aguacate.”
(By the way, a native Spanish speaker won’t even know all the different forms used regionally! For instance, when I was living in Spain, sometimes I’d use words that speakers of Castillian Spanish didn’t recognize!)
Since each region has unique words or different ways of saying the same word, it further complicates the total word count.
These regional nuances aren’t just about different words or accents. They’re insights into the diversity of cultures within the Spanish-speaking world. As a Spanish learner, embracing these variations will enrich your understanding and appreciation of amazing language.
Spelling and Pronunciation Issues
When learning Spanish—or any of the romance languages—some words might be written as one word but pronounced separately, or vice versa.
This adds another “challenging yet fun” layer to your language skills journey!
For instance, the word “vino” could mean “he came” or “wine”, depending on its pronunciation.
In another case, “votar” (to vote) and “botar” (to toss or throw) are pronounced the same, but spelled differently and have different meanings.
As you can see, the discrepancy could make it nearly impossible to come up with a finite list of words to count.
What Does This Mean For Spanish Learners?
While the Spanish language boasts a rich lexicon, I’ve got good news for Spanish learners, especially native English speakers!
That is, you don’t need to learn every single word to achieve fluency.
Research suggests focusing on the most frequently used words, common phrases, and everyday use of the language for effective communication. This core vocabulary list of basic Spanish words will add up to about 1000-2000 words.
I don’t expect you to read the dictionary for fun, after all!
Instead, focus on the most common Spanish words and phrases. Here are three great ways to get started:
- Consider using language learning sites like Babbel or Rosetta Stone. These platforms offer interactive lessons on essential Spanish vocabulary and are great for learners at all levels. In addition, pick up a Spanish-English dictionary and a copy of 501 Spanish Verbs if you’re serious about learning Spanish.
- Listening to Spanish media, podcasts, and movies is also immensely helpful for learning common words and practical understanding. (Lingopie’s interactive subtitle tool is a great resource for beginners!)
- Immerse yourself in the native language, whether in the United States, Spain, or any Spanish-speaking country, will also help you to enhance your language skills quickly.
Final Thoughts on How Many Spanish Words Are There?
As you continue your journey in mastering Spanish as a second language, don’t let a silly word count deter your goal!
Hey, even experts can’t agree on the exact number of words in Spanish. Plus, native speakers don’t even know every word in the dictionary—that goes for any language.
Rather, focus on the most basic words and Spanish phrases, practice consistently, and use resources that fit your learning style.
Do this, and you’ll find yourself communicating confidently in Spanish in no time.
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