Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
LOAN in Spanish: PRÉSTAMO
Préstamo · noun · PRES-tah-moh
Navigating finances in a Spanish-speaking country requires knowing the word préstamo, which covers everything from borrowing a friend's book to securing a mortgage. The word derives from the verb prestar (to lend), and its structure makes it easy to connect with related financial vocabulary. Understanding préstamo also helps you distinguish between informal lending and formal banking transactions, where crédito is often used interchangeably.
PRES-tah-moh
Solicité un préstamo para comprar mi primera casa.
I applied for a loan to buy my first house.
Loan in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for loan, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| préstamo | loan | PRES-tah-moh | Default, widely understood |
| crédito | loan | banking/financial | |
| empréstito | loan | government/institutional loans |
How Native Speakers Use Préstamo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Banking
El banco aprobó mi préstamo hipotecario.
The bank approved my mortgage loan.
Préstamo hipotecario is the standard term for a mortgage loan.
Informal Lending
¿Me puedes hacer un préstamo de cien pesos?
Can you lend me a hundred pesos?
In casual settings, préstamo can refer to borrowing small amounts between friends.
Student Finances
Todavía estoy pagando el préstamo estudiantil.
I'm still paying off my student loan.
Préstamo estudiantil mirrors the English phrase 'student loan' directly.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Préstamo
Confusing préstamo with prestar
Incorrect: Necesito un prestar del banco.
Correct: Necesito un préstamo del banco.
Prestar is the verb meaning 'to lend,' while préstamo is the noun meaning 'loan.' You cannot use the infinitive verb as a noun in this context.
Missing accent mark
Incorrect: Pedi un prestamo.
Correct: Pedí un préstamo.
Both pedí and préstamo carry accent marks that affect pronunciation and meaning. Dropping them is a spelling error that can cause confusion.
Lock in Loan 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 Préstamo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using préstamo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Solicité un préstamo para comprar mi primera casa. 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 Loan in Spanish
- What is the difference between préstamo and crédito?
- While both relate to borrowing money, préstamo specifically refers to a fixed sum lent and repaid over time, whereas crédito often implies a revolving line of credit, such as a credit card limit. Banks in Latin America frequently use both terms, sometimes interchangeably, but the legal definitions differ.
- How do I say 'to take out a loan' in Spanish?
- The most common expressions are pedir un préstamo (to ask for a loan) and solicitar un préstamo (to apply for a loan). Solicitar sounds more formal and is preferred in banking contexts.
- Is empréstito commonly used?
- Empréstito appears mainly in governmental, institutional, or historical finance contexts, such as when a government issues bonds or receives international funding. In everyday conversation, préstamo or crédito covers nearly all situations.