Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Guitar in Spanish: Guitarra — Origins and Cultural Significance
Guitarra · noun (feminine) · gee-TAH-rrah
Guitar in Spanish is guitarra, a feminine noun. The English word 'guitar' actually comes from the Spanish 'guitarra,' which itself traces back to the Arabic 'qītāra.' The instrument holds enormous cultural importance in flamenco, mariachi, and Latin American folk music.
gee-TAH-rrah — three syllables. The double 'rr' is a strong trill, which distinguishes guitarra from a hypothetical 'guitara.'
Aprendió a tocar la guitarra cuando tenía diez años.
He learned to play the guitar when he was ten years old.
Guitar in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for guitar, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| guitarra | guitar | gee-TAH-rrah | Default, widely understood |
| guitarra eléctrica | guitar | electric guitar | |
| guitarra acústica | guitar | acoustic guitar | |
| guitarra clásica | guitar | classical / Spanish guitar |
How Native Speakers Use Guitarra
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Playing an instrument
Todas las noches toca la guitarra en el balcón.
Every night he plays the guitar on the balcony.
Tocar is the verb used for playing musical instruments in Spanish, not 'jugar.'
Buying a guitar
Quiero comprar una guitarra clásica española.
I want to buy a Spanish classical guitar.
Spanish classical guitars are renowned worldwide for their warm, rich tone.
Flamenco performance
El guitarrista tocó un solo de flamenco impresionante.
The guitarist played an impressive flamenco solo.
A guitar player is 'guitarrista,' which is gender-neutral — el guitarrista (male) or la guitarrista (female).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Guitarra
Using jugar instead of tocar
Incorrect: Ella juega la guitarra muy bien.
Correct: Ella toca la guitarra muy bien.
In Spanish, 'tocar' is the verb for playing instruments. 'Jugar' is for playing games or sports.
Dropping the double 'rr'
Incorrect: Necesito una guitara nueva.
Correct: Necesito una guitarra nueva.
Guitarra has a double 'rr,' which changes the pronunciation to a strong trill. A single 'r' would sound different and is a spelling error.
Lock in Guitar 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 Guitarra used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using guitarra in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Aprendió a tocar la guitarra cuando tenía diez años. 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 Guitar in Spanish
- Did the English word 'guitar' come from Spanish?
- The English word guitar was borrowed from Spanish guitarra, which came from Arabic 'qītāra,' itself ultimately derived from the Greek 'kithara.' The instrument and its name traveled through Moorish Spain into European languages.
- What is a guitarrista?
- A guitarrista is a guitarist or guitar player. The word is the same for male and female — only the article changes: 'el guitarrista' (male) or 'la guitarrista' (female).
- How is the guitar important in Spanish-speaking cultures?
- The guitar is central to flamenco in Spain, mariachi and ranchera music in Mexico, trova and bolero in Cuba, tango in Argentina, and countless folk traditions across Latin America. It is arguably the most iconic instrument in the Spanish-speaking world.