How English Has Influenced Spanish Vocabulary: A Trained Linguist’s Guide

How much has English influenced the Spanish language? More than most people realize. As a trained linguist and translator with over 30 years of experience — including years living in Argentina and Puerto Rico — I’ve watched this influence grow in real time. From technology and pop culture to food and fashion, English loanwords and calques are reshaping Spanish vocabulary across the globe. Here’s what that looks like linguistically, and why it matters.

History of Spanish and English

Spanish and English belong to the same Indo-European language family but are very different branches — Spanish descends from Latin, while English developed primarily from Germanic languages. Despite these different roots, centuries of cultural contact, trade, and more recently globalization and digital communication have created a steady flow of English vocabulary into Spanish. Linguists call these borrowed words anglicismos — anglicisms — and they are now found in virtually every domain of modern life.

Business and Technology:

The world of business and technology has greatly impacted the Spanish language, with many English words being used to describe modern concepts and products. For example, words such as “internet,” “email,” “software,” and “hardware” have become part of everyday Spanish vocabulary. This is largely due to the fact that many of these technological advancements were developed in English-speaking countries and then became widely adopted around the world.

Sports:

The world of sports is another area where English language influences on modern Spanish vocabulary can be seen. English-speaking countries are often leaders in sports, and many of the most popular sports in the world have English names. Words such as “golf,” “tennis,” “rugby,” and “hockey” are now part of the Spanish language lexicon.

Entertainment:

English-language entertainment, such as movies, music, and television shows, has had a significant impact on the Spanish language as well. English words like “film,” “pop,” “rock,” and “DJ” have become part of Spanish vocabulary, and many English-language media outlets have Spanish-language counterparts.

Food and Drink:

Finally, the world of food and drink is another area where English language influences on modern Spanish vocabulary can be seen. As global cuisine becomes more popular, English-language terms such as “fast food,” “hamburger,” “sandwich,” and “cocktail” have made their way into the Spanish language.

Conclusion

The flow of English vocabulary into Spanish is not a sign of linguistic weakness — it reflects the natural dynamism of living languages. Spanish has always borrowed and adapted words from other languages, from Arabic during the Moorish period to indigenous languages of the Americas after colonization. English is simply the latest and most pervasive influence. What’s remarkable is how Spanish speakers have made these words their own — often adapting spelling, pronunciation, and even meaning in ways that reflect distinctly Spanish-language sensibilities.

100 English Loanwords in Spanish

The following list illustrates the breadth of English influence on modern Spanish vocabulary. Note that many of these anglicisms coexist with traditional Spanish equivalents — speakers often use both interchangeably depending on register, region, and context.

1. Okay – De acuerdo
2. Shopping – Compras
3. Laptop – Portátil
4. Hobby – Pasatiempo
5. Marketing – Mercadotecnia
6. Manager – Gerente
7. Meeting – Reunión
8. Performance – Rendimiento
9. Skateboard – Patineta
10. Show – Espectáculo
11. Software – Programa
12. Tablet – Tableta
13. Trailer – Avance
14. T-shirt – Camiseta
15. Wifi – Wifi
16. Blog – Blog
17. Bluetooth – Bluetooth
18. Boom – Auge
19. Box – Caja
20. Budget – Presupuesto
21. Bye-bye – Adiós
22. Camping – Campamento
23. Chat – Chat
24. Check-in – Registro de entrada
25. Cheerleader – Animadora
26. Coach – Entrenador
27. Coffee break – Descanso para café
28. Computer – Computadora
29. Cool – Genial
30. Counter – Mostrador
31. Cover – Cubierta
32. Cruise – Crucero
33. Data – Datos
34. Deadline – Fecha límite
35. Delivery – Entrega
36. Design – Diseño
37. Disco – Discoteca
38. DJ – DJ
39. Drive-in – Cine al aire libre
40. Email – Correo electrónico
41. Fan – Fanático
42. Fashion – Moda
43. Feedback – Retroalimentación
44. Film – Película
45. Flash – Destello
46. Fun – Diversión
47. Glamour – Glamour
48. Gossip – Chisme
49. GPS – GPS
50. Happy hour – Hora feliz
51. Hip-hop – Hip-hop
52. Hit – Éxito
53. Home cinema – Cine en casa
54. Hot dog – Perro caliente
55. Hotel – Hotel
56. Jeans – Vaqueros
57. Junior – Júnior
58. Junk food – Comida chatarra
59. Kickboxing – Kickboxing
60. K.O. – K.O.
61. Leader / Líder – Líder
62. Lifestyle – Estilo de vida
63. Live – En vivo
64. Loft – Loft
65. Look – Aspecto
66. Mobile – Móvil
67. Modem – Módem
68. Mouse – Ratón
69. Networking – Redes
70. Notebook – Cuaderno / Portátil
71. Office – Oficina
72. Online – En línea
73. Outlet – Tienda outlet
74. Parking – Estacionamiento
75. Party – Fiesta
76. Password – Contraseña
77. PC – Computadora personal
78. Pin – Pin
79. Play-off – Play-off
80. Pop – Pop
81. Pub – Pub / Taberna
82. Radio – Radio
83. Ranking – Clasificación
84. Rock – Rock
85. Selfie – Selfie / Autofoto
86. Smartphone – Teléfono inteligente
87. Spot – Anuncio / Lugar
88. Streaming – Transmisión en línea
89. Stress / Estrés – Estrés
90. Surfing – Surf
91. Thriller – Thriller / Película de suspenso
92. Tweet – Tweet / Tuit
93. Unisex – Unisex
94. Video / Vídeo – Vídeo
95. Weekend – Fin de semana
96. WhatsApp – WhatsApp / Wasap (colloquial)
97. Workshop – Taller
98. Zoom – Zoom (videollamada)
99. Youtuber – Youtuber / Creador de contenido
100. Brunch – Brunch / Almuerzo tardío

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Interested in how languages borrow from each other? These related posts explore the topic from different angles:

• ¡Hola! How Spanish Has Influenced Modern English — the other direction of influence
• Taíno Influences on Spanish Language Vocabulary — indigenous Caribbean words in modern Spanish
• The Origins of el Día de San José
• Dictionary vs. Glossary vs. Lexicon: A Linguist Explains the Difference

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About the Author

Andrew Lillie is a professional Spanish-English translator and interpreter with over 30 years of experience. He holds graduate degrees in translation from Brigham Young University and the University of Puerto Rico and has lived and worked in Argentina and Puerto Rico. He has served as a certified interpreter for Washington State DSHS and the US Customs and Immigration Service. He is the founder of Firefly Linguistic Services LLC and the creator of the Spanish by Topic bilingual vocabulary platform.