Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Seal in Spanish: Foca (Animal) and Sello (Stamp)
Foca · noun (feminine / masculine) · FOH-kah
Seal in Spanish splits by meaning. The marine mammal is una foca (FOH-kah). An official stamp or seal is un sello. A sea lion is un león marino. The verb 'to seal' (close, stamp) is sellar.
Foca is FOH-kah, two syllables. Sello is SEH-yoh.
Las focas descansan en las rocas de la costa.
The seals rest on the rocks along the coast.
Seal in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for seal, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| foca | seal | FOH-kah | Default, widely understood |
| sello | seal | seal (stamp, official mark) | |
| sellar | seal | to seal (verb, close or stamp) | |
| león marino | seal | sea lion (often confused) |
How Native Speakers Use Foca
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
The animal
Vimos focas jugando en la playa durante el paseo.
We saw seals playing on the beach during the walk.
Foca is the standard word for the marine mammal.
Official stamp
El documento necesita el sello del notario.
The document needs the notary's seal.
Sello is a stamp or seal of authenticity.
Sealing an envelope
Sella el sobre antes de enviarlo.
Seal the envelope before sending it.
Sellar is the verb: to seal shut or to stamp.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Foca
Confusing foca with león marino
Incorrect: Vi un foca con orejas grandes. (it's a sea lion)
Correct: Vi un león marino con orejas grandes.
Focas (true seals) have no visible ear flaps and wiggle on land. Leones marinos (sea lions) have ear flaps and walk on flippers.
Using sello for the animal
Incorrect: Los sellos nadan en el océano.
Correct: Las focas nadan en el océano.
Sello is a stamp or official mark, not the animal. Foca is the animal.
Lock in Seal Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Foca used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Seal in Spanish
- How do you say seal in Spanish?
- The animal is foca (FOH-kah). An official stamp is sello. The verb to seal is sellar.
- What is the difference between foca and león marino?
- A foca (seal) has no visible ears, short flippers, and scoots on its belly. A león marino (sea lion) has external ear flaps, long flippers, and can walk upright.
- How do I say 'seal of approval' in Spanish?
- Seal of approval is sello de aprobación. Figuratively: dar el visto bueno (to give the go-ahead).