Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Bell in Spanish: Campana
Campana · noun (feminine) · kahm-PAH-nah
Bell in Spanish is campana for a large bell, timbre for a doorbell, and campanilla for a small bell or handbell.
Campana is kahm-PAH-nah, with the stress on the second syllable.
Las campanas de la iglesia sonaron a mediodía.
The church bells rang at noon.
Bell in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for bell, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| campana | bell | kahm-PAH-nah | Default, widely understood |
| timbre | bell | doorbell | |
| campanilla | bell | small bell |
How Native Speakers Use Campana
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Church bell
La campana del pueblo anuncia las horas.
The town bell announces the hours.
Traditional time-keeping.
Doorbell
Alguien está tocando el timbre, ¿puedes abrir?
Someone is ringing the doorbell, can you open?
Timbre for a doorbell.
School bell
Cuando suena la campana, los niños salen al recreo.
When the bell rings, the kids go out to recess.
School setting.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Campana
Using campana for doorbell
Incorrect: Toca la campana de la puerta.
Correct: Toca el timbre.
A doorbell is timbre, not campana. Campana is a large, traditional bell.
Confusing campana with campaña
Incorrect: La campaña de la iglesia es antigua.
Correct: La campana de la iglesia es antigua.
Campana (bell) and campaña (campaign) are different words—the ñ changes the meaning entirely.
Lock in Bell Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Campana used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using campana in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Las campanas de la iglesia sonaron a mediodía. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Bell in Spanish
- How do you say bell in Spanish?
- A large bell is campana, a doorbell is timbre, and a small handbell is campanilla—each type has its own specific word.
- What does tocar la campana mean?
- Tocar la campana means to ring the bell, using the verb tocar which means to touch, play, or ring depending on context.
- What is a campanario?
- A campanario is a bell tower, the structure in a church or building that houses the bells, derived from campana.