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Published on: Vocabulary

Spanish Words That Start With C

Hey there, future polyglots!  Let’s talk about the letter “C,” shall we? This fantastic letter is like the Swiss army knife of the Spanish alphabet. It’s versatile, it’s exciting, and it forms the basis for a plethora of spectacular Spanish words that start with C. Think of the letter “C” as your gateway to many of the essential words you’ll use in daily conversations, whether you’re in Cuba, Colombia, or anywhere else in the Latin America region.

Imagine walking into a room and being able to talk about “casa” (house), “cocinar” (cooking), and even discussing the “clima” (climate) like a champ. You’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also get to understand the nuances and shades that come with each new word you learn. In other words, prepare to wow your social circle and raise some impressed eyebrows from our Dedicated Teachers at SpanishVIP.

Now, what if I told you that by the end of this guide, you’d have an arsenal of new Spanish words starting with the letter C? I’m talking nouns, verbs, adjectives, and even adverbs. Yep, this guide is comprehensive, amigos! You’ll be well on your way to being a “C” aficionado, impressing those Dedicated Teachers and engaging like a pro with our Student Success Advisors. Ready for a journey to expand your vocabulary? Buckle up, because we’re diving deep into the magical world of Spanish words that start with C!

The History of the Letter C in the Spanish Alphabet

Hold onto your seats, language enthusiasts! Ever wondered about the origins of the letter C in the Spanish language? Ah, it’s a tale as old as time—or at least as old as the Roman Empire. The letter “C” comes to Spanish from Latin, just like much of the alphabet we use today. But here’s the kicker: the sounds associated with the letter have gone through some fascinating twists and turns over the centuries.

In Latin, the letter C was primarily pronounced as “K,” such as in the word “Canis” (dog). When Latin evolved into the various Romance languages, including Spanish, the sound of the letter C started to diversify. Depending on its position in a word and the letters following it, it could produce sounds like the hard ‘K’ in “casa” (house) or the soft ‘S’ sound in “cine” (cinema).

So, the next time you stumble upon Spanish words that start with C, take a moment to appreciate its rich history. It’s not just a letter; it’s a living, breathing part of the language! 

Let’s Dive into the World of Spanish Words Starting with C!

Spanish Nouns Starting With C (Sustantivos)

Nouns, people, nouns! They’re the building blocks of any language, the foundation upon which all else stands. In Spanish, nouns give us the who and the what in a sentence—people, places, things, or ideas. They’re your go-to when you want to talk about literally anything! So, why not supercharge that noun vocabulary of yours with some C-starting superstars? Ready to meet them? Of course, you are!

Spanish English
Casa Home
Caballo Horse
Cerveza Beer
Cine Cinema
Carro Car
Cuarto Room
Cabeza Head
Cara Face
Cuenta Account / bill
Colombia Colombia
Comida Food
Computadora Computer
Ciudad City
Cielo Sky
Cama Bed
Cultura Culture
Clima Climate
Calle Road, way
Cama Bed
Caja Box
Clase Class
Corazón Heart
Cliente Customer
Cuchara Spoon

DID YOU KNOW…? 

As you can see, many of the words that start with “c” in Spanish will not only start with this letter in English, but the translation can be very similar in both languages.

Wooden cutout of the letter C on white background
Image by Nikhil Mitra via Unsplash

Spanish Verbs Starting With C (Verbos) 

Ah, verbs! The action words, the doers, the movers and shakers of the language world. If nouns are the foundation, verbs are the framework that gives a sentence its structure and momentum. You can’t possibly get by in the Spanish language—or any language, really—without a robust arsenal of verbs. So, how about we enrich your spoken Spanish with some mighty verbs that start with C? Ready, set, let’s verb-ify your vocabulary!

Spanish English
Comer To eat
Correr To run
Coger To pick up
Cocinar To cook
Creer To believe
Cambiar To change 
Cortar To cut
Contar To count,  to tell
Cantar To sing
Caer To fall
Calentar To heat up, to warm
Comprar To buy
Conducir To drive
Comenzar To begin
Cuidar To take care of
Construir To construct
Cruzar To cross
Conocer To meet, to know
Celebrar To celebrate
Conseguir To get, to obtain
Colocar To place, to put

QUICK NOTE…

The letter “C” is usually pronounced in different ways depending on the letter that follows it. When the next letter is a vowel O or A, C sounds like the letter K, while when the next letter is a vowel E, I, or U the letter C sounds like S. On the other hand, if the next letter is an H, both letters together create a sound similar to that of English, like that of the word “chair”.

Spanish Adverbs Starting With C (Adverbios)

Okay, gang, let’s switch gears for a moment. Imagine you’ve got this cool car (or verb, in our case) and you want to soup it up. What do you do? You add some snazzy adverbs to make that ride smoother! Adverbs are like the turbochargers of the Spanish language. They add nuances, making your sentences more precise, lively, and downright interesting. Let’s ramp up your understanding of Spanish with adverbs that start with the letter C. Fasten your seatbelts!

Spanish English
Claramente Clearly
Cerca Near, closely
Casi Almost
Completamente Completely
Ciertamente Certainly
Constantemente Constantly
Casualmente Casually
Correctamente Correctly
Cómodamente Comfortably
Cuidadosamente Carefully
Cruelmente Cruelly
Conscientemente Consciously
Curiosamente Curiously
Comúnmente Commonly

Spanish Adjectives Starting With C (Adjetivos)

All right, friends, time to get descriptive! If verbs are the engines of a sentence, and adverbs are the turbochargers, then adjectives are the paint and polish that make that car look oh-so-good. In any language, adjectives add color, texture, and nuance. They can turn a simple “house” into a “cozy house,” or a plain “car” into a “sleek car.” Let’s dazzle your Spanish with some snappy adjectives that start with the letter C. You’re gonna want to take notes on this one!

Spanish English
Caliente Hot
Caro Expensive
Claro Clear
Cómico Funny
Corto Short
Curioso Curious
Cansado Tired
Completo Complete
Contento Happy
Cruzado Crossed

DID YOU KNOW…? 

The letter C is the tenth most used letter of all the letters of the alphabet in Spanish

Ready To Make The Spanish Language Your New Goal?

Well, my friends, you’ve just taken a whirlwind tour of Spanish words that start with the letter C! You’ve met nouns, verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, all joining hands to make your Spanish vocabulary more dynamic and expressive. Keep this list handy, and don’t hesitate to add these words to your daily Spanish conversations.

Ready for some real-life practice? At SpanishVIP, our Dedicated Teachers and Student Success Advisors are here to help you use these words like a pro. Start with a free 1:1 class or enjoy free 7 days of group classes. You’ve got nothing to lose and a whole language to gain!

Hasta luego, and keep those language wheels turning!

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