Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
PRINCE in Spanish: PRÍNCIPE
Príncipe · noun · PREEN-see-peh
The Spanish word for prince is príncipe, an esdrújula word (stressed on the third-to-last syllable), which always carries a written accent mark. Príncipe appears in fairy tales, historical texts, and modern news about royal families alike. The feminine counterpart is princesa (princess). One well-known literary connection is El Principito, the Spanish title of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, one of the most widely translated books in the world.
PREEN-see-peh
El príncipe heredero asistió a la ceremonia oficial.
The crown prince attended the official ceremony.
How Native Speakers Use Príncipe
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Fairy tales
En el cuento, el príncipe rescata a la princesa del dragón.
In the story, the prince rescues the princess from the dragon.
Classic fairy tale vocabulary pairs príncipe with princesa.
Historical reference
El Príncipe de Asturias es el título del heredero al trono español.
The Prince of Asturias is the title of the heir to the Spanish throne.
This historic title has been used in Spain since the 14th century.
Figurative use
Llegó vestido como un príncipe a la fiesta de graduación.
He arrived dressed like a prince at the graduation party.
Príncipe is used figuratively to describe someone elegant or charming.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Príncipe
Forgetting the accent mark
Incorrect: El principe vive en un castillo.
Correct: El príncipe vive en un castillo.
Príncipe is an esdrújula word (stress on the antepenultimate syllable), which always requires a written accent in Spanish.
Confusing príncipe with principal
Incorrect: Él es el príncipe de la escuela.
Correct: Él es el director de la escuela.
Principal in English means a school leader, but príncipe means a royal prince. The correct Spanish word for school principal is director.
Lock in Prince 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 Príncipe used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using príncipe in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El príncipe heredero asistió a la ceremonia oficial. 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 Prince in Spanish
- Why does príncipe have an accent mark?
- In Spanish, words stressed on the third-to-last syllable (called esdrújulas) always require a written accent mark. Since príncipe is stressed on prín-, the first of three syllables before the end, it must carry the tilde over the i.
- What is the feminine form of príncipe?
- The feminine form is princesa (princess). Unlike many Spanish noun pairs that simply change -o to -a, príncipe and princesa have distinct forms, reflecting their Latin and Old French origins.
- What is El Principito?
- El Principito is the Spanish title of The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The diminutive -ito transforms príncipe into principito, meaning 'little prince.' This beloved novella has been translated into over 300 languages and is one of the most-read books worldwide.