How do you say flashlight in Spanish?

Flashlight in Spanish is linterna, pronounced leen-TEHR-nah. It's a feminine noun—la linterna—and works across all Spanish-speaking countries. You might hear foco in parts of Mexico or lámpara de mano from older speakers, but linterna is always understood.

Is linterna the same as lantern?

Despite the visual similarity between the words, linterna and lantern are not equivalents. Linterna means flashlight — a portable, battery-powered light. A decorative or hanging lantern is farol in Spanish. This is a common false-friend trap for English speakers.

How do you say phone flashlight in Spanish?

Phone flashlight is la linterna del celular in Latin America or la linterna del móvil in Spain. You can say enciende la linterna del celular (turn on the phone flashlight) or prende la linterna del teléfono, and everyone will understand.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Flashlight in Spanish: How to Say Linterna and Be Understood Everywhere

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Linterna · noun · leen-TEHR-nah

Flashlight in Spanish is linterna, a feminine noun (la linterna) that works in every Spanish-speaking country. While some Mexicans might say foco and older speakers may prefer lámpara de mano, linterna is the universally understood standard term for a portable handheld light.

Stress falls on the second syllable: leen-TEHR-nah. Keep the r soft—a single tap of the tongue against the ridge behind your upper teeth, not a rolled rr.

Necesito una linterna porque se fue la luz.

I need a flashlight because the power went out.

Flashlight in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for flashlight, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
linterna	flashlight	leen-TEHR-nah	Default, widely understood
lámpara de mano	flashlight		some rural areas, older speakers
foco	flashlight		Mexico, can also mean lightbulb

How Native Speakers Use Linterna

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Power outage at home

¿Dónde guardaste la linterna? Se fue la luz otra vez.

Where did you put the flashlight? The power went out again.

The most common real-life scenario for linterna—searching for light during a blackout.

Camping trip

No olvides empacar la linterna para el campamento.

Don't forget to pack the flashlight for the camping trip.

Outdoor activities are another frequent context where linterna appears naturally.

Phone flashlight

Usa la linterna del celular para buscar las llaves.

Use the phone flashlight to look for the keys.

Modern usage—linterna del celular or linterna del teléfono for the phone's built-in light.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Linterna

Saying linterna for lantern

Incorrect: Colgamos la linterna del techo. (We hung the flashlight from the ceiling.)

Correct: Colgamos el farol del techo. (We hung the lantern from the ceiling.)

Linterna means flashlight (portable, battery-powered). A decorative or hanging lantern is farol or farolillo. The English word lantern looks like linterna but they are false friends in this context.

Confusing foco (lightbulb) with linterna (flashlight) in Mexico

Incorrect: Necesito comprar un foco nuevo para la linterna. (mixing both terms awkwardly)

Correct: Necesito comprar pilas nuevas para la linterna.

In Mexico, foco primarily means lightbulb. While some people casually use foco for flashlight, linterna is clearer and avoids ambiguity. Pilas (batteries) are what a linterna needs, not a foco.

Lock in Flashlight 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 Linterna used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using linterna in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Necesito una linterna porque se fue la luz. 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 Flashlight in Spanish

How do you say flashlight in Spanish?: Flashlight in Spanish is linterna, pronounced leen-TEHR-nah. It's a feminine noun—la linterna—and works across all Spanish-speaking countries. You might hear foco in parts of Mexico or lámpara de mano from older speakers, but linterna is always understood.
Is linterna the same as lantern?: Despite the visual similarity between the words, linterna and lantern are not equivalents. Linterna means flashlight — a portable, battery-powered light. A decorative or hanging lantern is farol in Spanish. This is a common false-friend trap for English speakers.
How do you say phone flashlight in Spanish?: Phone flashlight is la linterna del celular in Latin America or la linterna del móvil in Spain. You can say enciende la linterna del celular (turn on the phone flashlight) or prende la linterna del teléfono, and everyone will understand.