Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Mortgage" in Spanish
Hipoteca · noun · ee-poh-TEH-kah
Hipoteca is the Spanish word for mortgage. It refers both to the financial product (the loan secured by real property) and the legal concept (the lien or encumbrance on the property). The adjective form is hipotecario/hipotecaria, seen in terms like crédito hipotecario (mortgage credit) and tasa hipotecaria (mortgage rate).
ee-poh-TEH-kah
Pagamos la hipoteca cada mes durante treinta años.
We pay the mortgage every month for thirty years.
mortgage in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for mortgage, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| hipoteca | mortgage | ee-poh-TEH-kah | Default, widely understood |
| crédito hipotecario | mortgage | the mortgage loan itself | |
| préstamo hipotecario | mortgage | formal, mortgage loan |
How Native Speakers Use Hipoteca
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
At the bank
Solicité una hipoteca a tasa fija para comprar mi primera casa.
I applied for a fixed-rate mortgage to buy my first home.
Hipoteca a tasa fija is the standard phrase for a fixed-rate mortgage in banking conversations.
Discussing monthly expenses
La hipoteca representa el gasto más grande de nuestro presupuesto.
The mortgage is the biggest expense in our budget.
In household finance discussions, hipoteca often appears as a synonym for the monthly payment itself.
Real estate transaction
El notario revisó los términos de la hipoteca antes de la firma.
The notary reviewed the mortgage terms before the signing.
In many Spanish-speaking countries, a notario (notary) plays a key legal role in mortgage closings, unlike in the U.S.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Hipoteca
Confusing hipoteca with hipótesis
Incorrect: Tenemos que pagar la hipótesis del apartamento.
Correct: Tenemos que pagar la hipoteca del apartamento.
Hipótesis means 'hypothesis.' Hipoteca means 'mortgage.' Despite sounding similar, they have entirely unrelated meanings.
Using incorrect gender
Incorrect: El hipoteca tiene una tasa alta.
Correct: La hipoteca tiene una tasa alta.
Hipoteca is a feminine noun. It must be preceded by feminine articles and adjectives: la hipoteca, una hipoteca, esta hipoteca.
Lock in mortgage 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 Hipoteca used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using hipoteca in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Pagamos la hipoteca cada mes durante treinta 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 mortgage in Spanish
- What is the difference between hipoteca and crédito hipotecario?
- Hipoteca can mean both the legal lien on the property and the loan itself. Crédito hipotecario (or préstamo hipotecario) refers specifically to the loan product — the money borrowed. In everyday conversation, hipoteca covers both meanings.
- How do you say 'to mortgage' as a verb?
- The verb is hipotecar. For example, hipotecar una propiedad means 'to mortgage a property.' It conjugates regularly: yo hipoteco, tú hipotecas, él/ella hipoteca.
- Is hipoteca used the same way in Spain and Latin America?
- Yes, hipoteca is universally understood and used across all Spanish-speaking countries. The mortgage process and legal framework differ by country, but the vocabulary remains consistent.