Grapefruit slices arranged in the shape of C

Spanish Words That Start With C

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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 CubaColombia, 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!

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!

Comer

To eat

Correr

To run

Coger

To pick up

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!

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!

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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