Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Password" in Spanish
Contraseña · noun · kohn-trah-SEH-nyah
The Spanish word for "password" is *contraseña*, a feminine noun literally meaning "counter-sign." In Latin America, *clave* (key/code) is also widely used, particularly for numeric PINs and access codes.
kohn-trah-SEH-nyah
No recuerdo mi contraseña del correo electrónico.
I don't remember my email password.
Password in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for password, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| contraseña | password | kohn-trah-SEH-nyah | Default, widely understood |
| clave | password | Latin America — especially for PINs and access codes | |
| password | password | tech contexts, used as an anglicism |
How Native Speakers Use Contraseña
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Logging in
Ingresa tu contraseña para acceder a tu cuenta.
Enter your password to access your account.
Instruction on a login screen.
Forgotten password
Haz clic aquí si olvidaste tu contraseña.
Click here if you forgot your password.
Common prompt on websites and apps.
Sharing Wi-Fi access
La clave del wifi es "casa2026", todo en minúsculas.
The Wi-Fi password is "casa2026," all lowercase.
Giving someone the Wi-Fi password at home, using "clave."
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Contraseña
Using "palabra de paso"
Incorrect: ¿Cuál es tu palabra de paso?
Correct: ¿Cuál es tu contraseña?
"Palabra de paso" is a literal calque of "pass-word" and is not used in modern Spanish. The correct term is "contraseña."
Omitting the tilde on the ñ
Incorrect: Cambia tu contrasena cada tres meses.
Correct: Cambia tu contraseña cada tres meses.
Dropping the tilde from contraseña produces "contrasena," which is not a real Spanish word and would be confusing to a native speaker.
Lock in Password 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 Contraseña used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using contraseña in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No recuerdo mi contraseña del correo electrónico. 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 Password in Spanish
- What is the difference between "contraseña" and "clave"?
- "Contraseña" is the standard word for any password. "Clave" is broader — it can mean password, PIN, code, or key. In everyday Latin American speech, many people use "clave" for Wi-Fi passwords and ATM PINs.
- How do I say "username and password" in Spanish?
- "Username and password" is "nombre de usuario y contraseña." You may also hear "usuario y contraseña" for short.
- What does "contraseña" literally mean?
- It breaks down into "contra" (against/counter) and "seña" (sign/signal). Historically, it was a counter-sign used to verify identity — much like a military challenge-and-response.