Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Signs in Spanish: Señales
Señales · noun (feminine, plural) · seh-NYAH-lehs
Signs in Spanish is señales when referring to traffic signs, warning signs, or indications. For physical posted signs with text, letreros is commonly used, and for symbols or zodiac signs, the word is signos.
Señales is pronounced seh-NYAH-lehs, with the stress on the second syllable. The ñ produces the ny sound.
Hay que seguir las señales de tránsito para conducir con seguridad.
You need to follow the traffic signs to drive safely.
Signs in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for signs, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| señales | signs | seh-NYAH-lehs | Default, widely understood |
| letreros | signs | physical signs with text, like store signs | |
| signos | signs | symbols or zodiac signs |
How Native Speakers Use Señales
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Driving directions
Sigue las señales hacia la autopista.
Follow the signs to the highway.
Giving driving directions to someone unfamiliar with the area.
Store signage
El letrero del restaurante está iluminado con luces de neón.
The restaurant sign is lit up with neon lights.
Describing the appearance of a commercial establishment.
Detecting clues
Esas son señales de que algo anda mal.
Those are signs that something is wrong.
Interpreting warning indicators in a situation.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Señales
Using signos for traffic signs
Incorrect: Obedece los signos de tránsito.
Correct: Obedece las señales de tránsito.
Signos refers to symbols or zodiac signs, while señales is the correct term for traffic signs and warning indicators.
Confusing letrero with señal
Incorrect: La señal del hotel dice que hay habitaciones disponibles.
Correct: El letrero del hotel dice que hay habitaciones disponibles.
A letrero is a posted sign with written text, while señal refers to a symbol-based sign or an abstract indication.
Lock in Signs 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 Señales used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using señales in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Hay que seguir las señales de tránsito para conducir con seguridad. 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 Signs in Spanish
- How do you say signs in Spanish?
- The most common translation is señales for traffic signs and indicators, letreros for posted text signs, and signos for symbols or zodiac signs.
- What is the singular form of señales?
- The singular is señal, which is a feminine noun, so it takes the article la, as in la señal de pare (the stop sign).
- How do you say 'sign language' in Spanish?
- Sign language is lenguaje de señas or lengua de signos, with the former more common in Latin America and the latter standard in Spain.