Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Spring in Spanish: Primavera, Resorte & Manantial
Primavera · noun (feminine) · pree-mah-VEH-rah
Spring as a season is primavera (la primavera) in Spanish. Unlike English, where 'spring' has many unrelated meanings, Spanish uses distinct words for each: resorte for a mechanical spring, manantial or fuente for a natural water spring, and saltar or brincar for the verb 'to spring.' Primavera is the most commonly searched translation.
Primavera is pree-mah-VEH-rah, four syllables, stress on VEH. Resorte is reh-SOHR-teh. Manantial is mah-nahn-tee-AHL.
La primavera es mi estación favorita del año.
Spring is my favorite season of the year.
Spring in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for spring, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| primavera | spring | pree-mah-VEH-rah | Default, widely understood |
| resorte | spring | Universal — a metal spring (coil) | |
| manantial | spring | Universal — a natural water spring | |
| saltar | spring | Universal — to spring/jump (verb) |
How Native Speakers Use Primavera
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Seasonal reference
En primavera los cerezos florecen por todo el parque.
In spring the cherry trees bloom all over the park.
En primavera (in spring) is used without an article when speaking generally about the season, just like English.
Mechanical spring
El reloj dejó de funcionar porque se rompió el resorte.
The clock stopped working because the spring broke.
Resorte is a masculine noun (el resorte) referring to any coiled metal spring — in clocks, mattresses, or toys.
Water spring
Encontramos un manantial de agua cristalina en la montaña.
We found a crystal-clear spring in the mountain.
Manantial is a masculine noun for a natural water source emerging from the ground. Fuente can also mean spring but more often means fountain.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Primavera
Using primavera for a metal spring
Incorrect: La primavera del colchón está rota.
Correct: El resorte del colchón está roto.
Primavera is only the season. A metal coil spring is resorte. Confusing them would sound like 'the season of the mattress is broken.'
Capitalizing primavera unnecessarily
Incorrect: Me encanta la Primavera.
Correct: Me encanta la primavera.
In Spanish, seasons are not capitalized. Unlike English, which also lowercases seasons, this catches learners who overcapitalize from habit.
Lock in Spring 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 Primavera used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using primavera in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La primavera es mi estación favorita del año. 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 Spring in Spanish
- When is spring in Spanish-speaking countries?
- In the Northern Hemisphere (Spain, Mexico, Central America), spring runs roughly March through June, same as in English. In the Southern Hemisphere (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay), spring is September through December. The word primavera is the same regardless of hemisphere.
- What does 'pizza primavera' mean?
- Primavera in cooking means 'spring-style,' typically indicating fresh seasonal vegetables. Pasta primavera or pizza primavera features vegetables like zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. The term comes from Italian but is understood in Spanish.
- How do I say 'spring break' in Spanish?
- Spring break is vacaciones de primavera or, in Mexico, Semana Santa (Holy Week), since the school break typically coincides with Easter. In Spain, it is vacaciones de Semana Santa.