Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Stamp in Spanish: Sello
Sello · noun (masculine) · SEH-yoh
Stamp in Spanish is sello (Spain), estampilla (Latin America), or timbre (Mexico) for postage stamps, and sello or cuño for rubber stamps.
Sello is SEH-yoh, two syllables with stress on SEH.
Necesitas poner un sello en la carta antes de enviarla.
You need to put a stamp on the letter before sending it.
Stamp in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for stamp, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sello | stamp | SEH-yoh | Default, widely understood |
| estampilla | stamp | Latin America for postage stamp | |
| timbre | stamp | Mexico for postage stamp |
How Native Speakers Use Sello
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Mailing a letter
¿Dónde puedo comprar estampillas para mandar esta postal?
Where can I buy stamps to send this postcard?
At the post office in Latin America.
Official document
El documento necesita el sello oficial de la universidad.
The document needs the official stamp from the university.
Bureaucratic or official context.
Passport stamp
Me pusieron un sello en el pasaporte al entrar al país.
They stamped my passport when I entered the country.
Immigration and travel.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sello
Using estampa for stamp
Incorrect: Pon una estampa en el sobre.
Correct: Pon una estampilla en el sobre.
Estampa means a print or picture card; estampilla is the postage stamp in Latin America.
Regional confusion
Incorrect: Necesito un timbre para la puerta.
Correct: Necesito un timbre postal para la carta.
Timbre can mean doorbell or postage stamp depending on context; clarify with timbre postal for mail.
Lock in Stamp 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 Sello used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sello in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Necesitas poner un sello en la carta antes de enviarla. 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 Stamp in Spanish
- How do you say stamp in Spanish?
- The translation varies by region: sello in Spain, estampilla in most of Latin America, and timbre in Mexico—all referring to the postage stamp you put on mail.
- What is the difference between sello and estampilla?
- Sello is the preferred term in Spain and can also mean a rubber stamp or official seal, while estampilla is used specifically for postage stamps in Latin American countries.
- How do you say rubber stamp in Spanish?
- A rubber stamp is sello de goma or cuño, used for stamping documents with ink, and the verb to stamp is sellar.