Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Spell in Spanish: Deletrear
Deletrear · verb · deh-leh-treh-AHR
Spell in Spanish is deletrear when referring to the act of naming letters in a word. If you mean a magical spell or enchantment, the word is hechizo (noun). These two meanings have completely separate translations in Spanish.
Deletrear is pronounced deh-leh-treh-AHR, with the stress on the final syllable. It is a regular -ar verb.
¿Puedes deletrear tu apellido, por favor?
Can you spell your last name, please?
Spell in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for spell, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| deletrear | spell | deh-leh-treh-AHR | Default, widely understood |
| hechizo | spell | a magical spell or enchantment |
How Native Speakers Use Deletrear
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
At a reception desk
Por favor, deletree su nombre completo para el registro.
Please spell your full name for the registration.
A receptionist asking a guest for correct spelling at a hotel check-in.
Teaching a child
La maestra le pidió al niño que deletreara la palabra 'mariposa'.
The teacher asked the child to spell the word 'butterfly.'
A classroom exercise for young learners.
Magical context
La bruja lanzó un hechizo sobre el castillo.
The witch cast a spell on the castle.
Narrating a scene from a fairy tale or fantasy story.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Deletrear
Using hechizo for spelling
Incorrect: ¿Puedes hechizo tu nombre?
Correct: ¿Puedes deletrear tu nombre?
Hechizo is a noun meaning a magical spell, not the verb for spelling out letters. Deletrear is the verb you need.
Conjugation error
Incorrect: Yo deletreo mi nombre: J-U-A-N.
Correct: Deletreo mi nombre: J-U-A-N.
While the conjugation yo deletreo is correct, learners sometimes create nonexistent forms like deletro; the full present tense is deletreo, deletreas, deletrea.
Lock in Spell 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 Deletrear used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using deletrear in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Puedes deletrear tu apellido, por favor? 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 Spell in Spanish
- How do you say spell in Spanish?
- For spelling out letters, the verb is deletrear (deh-leh-treh-AHR), and for a magical spell, the noun is hechizo.
- How do you ask someone to spell a word in Spanish?
- You can say ¿Puedes deletrearlo? (Can you spell it?) or ¿Cómo se deletrea? (How is it spelled?), both of which are polite and natural requests.
- Is deletrear a regular verb?
- Deletrear is a regular -ar verb, so it follows the standard conjugation pattern: deletreo, deletreas, deletrea, deletreamos, deletreáis, deletrean.