Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Vacation in Spanish
Vacaciones · noun · bah-kah-see-OH-nes
The Spanish word for vacation is vacaciones. Unlike English, this noun is always plural — you never say vacación by itself in standard usage.
bah-kah-see-OH-nes
Este verano nos vamos de vacaciones a la playa.
This summer we are going on vacation to the beach.
Vacation in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for vacation, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| vacaciones | vacation | bah-kah-see-OH-nes | Default, widely understood |
| descanso | vacation | Universal — a rest or break from work | |
| asueto | vacation | Mexico / Central America — a formal day off | |
| feriado | vacation | Latin America — a public holiday |
How Native Speakers Use Vacaciones
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Planning a summer trip
¿Ya decidiste adónde irás de vacaciones este año?
Have you decided where you will go on vacation this year?
The phrase ir de vacaciones (to go on vacation) is the standard way to talk about taking a trip.
Taking time off from work
Necesito unas vacaciones porque llevo meses sin descansar.
I need a vacation because I haven't rested in months.
Even when English uses the singular a vacation, Spanish keeps the plural: unas vacaciones.
Talking about a public holiday
El lunes es feriado, así que tenemos un fin de semana largo.
Monday is a holiday, so we have a long weekend.
Feriado refers to an official public holiday, distinct from a personal vacation or time off.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Vacaciones
Using the singular form vacación
Incorrect: Tomé una vacación la semana pasada.
Correct: Tomé unas vacaciones la semana pasada.
Vacaciones is always plural in Spanish. The singular vacación is not used in everyday speech. Always pair it with plural articles and adjectives.
Saying en vacaciones instead of de vacaciones after ir
Incorrect: Nos fuimos en vacaciones a Cancún.
Correct: Nos fuimos de vacaciones a Cancún.
The correct preposition with ir is de: ir de vacaciones. Using en changes the meaning and sounds unnatural to native speakers.
Lock in Vacation 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 Vacaciones used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using vacaciones in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Este verano nos vamos de vacaciones a la playa. 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 Vacation in Spanish
- Why is vacaciones always plural in Spanish?
- Spanish treats vacaciones as an inherently plural noun, similar to how English always pluralizes scissors or glasses. There is no widely accepted singular form; even a single day off would be described differently, such as día libre.
- What is the difference between vacaciones and feriado?
- Vacaciones refers to personal time off from work or school, while feriado (or día festivo in Spain) is an official public holiday set by the government. You take vacaciones, but a feriado is given to everyone.
- How do I say 'summer break' in Spanish?
- Summer break is vacaciones de verano. School breaks in general follow the same pattern: vacaciones de invierno (winter break), vacaciones de Semana Santa (Easter break), and so on.