Spanish vocabulary · Intermediate
How to Say Scholarship in Spanish: Beca
Beca · noun (feminine) · BEH-kah
Scholarship in Spanish is beca, a feminine noun referring to financial aid or grants awarded for academic study.
Beca is BEH-kah, two syllables with stress on BEH.
Ganó una beca completa para estudiar ingeniería en la universidad.
She won a full scholarship to study engineering at the university.
Scholarship in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for scholarship, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| beca | scholarship | BEH-kah | Default, widely understood |
| erudición | scholarship | when meaning academic learning or scholarly work |
How Native Speakers Use Beca
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Applying for funding
Estoy solicitando una beca para mi maestría en el extranjero.
I'm applying for a scholarship for my master's degree abroad.
Academic application process.
Celebrating achievement
Le dieron la beca porque sus calificaciones fueron las mejores del curso.
They gave her the scholarship because her grades were the best in the class.
Academic achievement.
Partial funding
La beca cubre solo la matrícula, no los gastos de vida.
The scholarship only covers tuition, not living expenses.
Discussing financial details.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Beca
Using beca for scholarly knowledge
Incorrect: Su beca en historia medieval es impresionante.
Correct: Su erudición en historia medieval es impresionante.
When scholarship means academic expertise or knowledge, use erudición; beca is only for financial awards.
Masculine article
Incorrect: El beca fue otorgado.
Correct: La beca fue otorgada.
Beca is feminine; it takes la and related adjectives must be feminine too.
Lock in Scholarship 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 Beca used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using beca in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Ganó una beca completa para estudiar ingeniería en la universidad. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Scholarship in Spanish
- How do you say scholarship in Spanish?
- The word beca is used universally across Spanish-speaking countries for any type of academic scholarship, grant, or financial aid for studies.
- What is a becario in Spanish?
- A becario or becaria is the person who holds a beca—essentially a scholarship recipient or fellow, and in some work contexts it can also mean an intern.
- How do you say full scholarship in Spanish?
- A full scholarship is beca completa or beca al cien por ciento, meaning all tuition and sometimes living costs are covered by the award.