In today’s interconnected world, mastering financial and economic vocabulary in Spanish can unlock a wealth of professional and academic opportunities. From discussing market trends to understanding economic indicators, learning advanced Spanish vocabulary for finance and economics allows you to engage confidently in boardrooms, classrooms, and beyond. Knowing specific terms and expressions helps you navigate complex conversations, whether you’re analyzing trends or discussing investment options.
For advanced Spanish learners, especially those in finance or economics, acquiring industry-specific vocabulary is essential. Having a command of financial terms can make conversations smoother, enhance presentations, and boost your credibility. This vocabulary also helps you understand economic reports, financial news, and market analyses in Spanish, giving you a broader understanding of global finance.
Key Financial Terms and Phrases in Spanish
To start, let’s explore some fundamental financial terms that will serve as building blocks for any economic discussion in Spanish.
Fundamental Financial Terms
Spanish | English |
Ingresos | Income |
Gastos | Expenses |
Beneficios | Profit |
Pérdida | Loss |
Presupuesto | Budget |
Ahorros | Savings |
Impuestos | Taxes |
Inversión | Investment |
These terms are essential for general financial conversations. For example, “ingresos” refers to income, while “gastos” refers to expenses. When discussing a company’s performance, you might talk about “beneficios” (profits) and “pérdidas” (losses).
Terms for Financial Transactions in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Transferencia bancaria | Bank transfer |
Crédito | Credit |
Débito | Debit |
Interés | Interest |
Préstamo | Loan |
Hipoteca | Mortgage |
Depósito | Deposit |
Retiro | Withdrawal |
These terms help you discuss specific transactions. For instance, “interés” refers to the interest accrued on a loan or savings account, while “préstamo” is the term for a loan.
Vocabulary for Economic Analysis in Spanish
Economics involves analyzing markets, trends, and indicators. Here’s vocabulary to discuss economic analysis and key indicators in Spanish.
Common Economic Indicators in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) | Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
Tasa de inflación | Inflation rate |
Tasa de desempleo | Unemployment rate |
Déficit | Deficit |
Superávit | Surplus |
Crecimiento económico | Economic growth |
Deuda pública | Public debt |
Understanding economic indicators is vital for assessing the health of an economy. For example, “PIB” (GDP) is commonly referenced in economic reports, while “tasa de inflación” (inflation rate) is important for discussing price stability.
Advanced Concepts in Economics in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Oferta y demanda | Supply and demand |
Ciclo económico | Economic cycle |
Mercado financiero | Financial market |
Capital humano | Human capital |
Política monetaria | Monetary policy |
Sector privado/público | Private/Public sector |
Comercio exterior | Foreign trade |
These terms allow you to discuss more sophisticated economic concepts, such as the “ciclo económico” (economic cycle) and “política monetaria” (monetary policy). Understanding these terms is essential for in-depth economic discussions.

Vocabulary for Investments and Banking in Spanish
Investment and banking vocabulary is crucial for discussing financial markets and understanding investment strategies.
Key Investment Terms in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Acciones | Stocks |
Bonos | Bonds |
Cartera de inversión | Investment portfolio |
Dividendos | Dividends |
Rendimiento | Yield/Return |
Riesgo | Risk |
Liquidez | Liquidity |
These investment terms are commonly used when discussing financial strategies. For instance, “acciones” (stocks) and “bonos” (bonds) are essential components of an investment portfolio, or “cartera de inversión.”
Banking and Financial Institutions in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Banco central | Central bank |
Sucursal bancaria | Bank branch |
Fondo de inversión | Investment fund |
Crédito hipotecario | Mortgage credit |
Cuenta de ahorro | Savings account |
Cuenta corriente | Checking account |
Comisión | Fee/Commission |
If you’re discussing banking, it’s useful to know terms like “banco central” (central bank) and “cuenta de ahorro” (savings account). These words will help you discuss financial institutions and services.
Terminology for Business Finance in Spanish
Business finance vocabulary is essential for corporate finance discussions, whether you’re talking about capital, assets, or cash flow.
Corporate Finance Vocabulary in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Capital | Capital |
Deuda | Debt |
Patrimonio neto | Net worth |
Flujo de caja | Cash flow |
Capital de trabajo | Working capital |
Costos fijos/variables | Fixed/Variable costs |
Margen de ganancia | Profit margin |
Corporate finance often involves discussions around “capital” (capital) and “flujo de caja” (cash flow). This vocabulary is essential for understanding financial reports and making strategic decisions.
Accounting Terms in Spanish
Spanish | English |
Activo | Asset |
Pasivo | Liability |
Balance general | Balance sheet |
Estado de resultados | Income statement |
Inventario | Inventory |
Contabilidad | Accounting |
Capital contable | Equity |
In accounting, “activo” (asset) and “pasivo” (liability) are two critical terms used on a “balance general” (balance sheet) to assess a company’s financial health.
Useful Phrases for Financial and Economic Discussions in Spanish
Beyond vocabulary, it’s useful to know specific phrases for discussing financial and economic trends, making predictions, and providing analysis.
Discussing Trends and Analysis in Spanish
- El mercado está en alza – The market is on the rise
- Hay una recesión económica – There is an economic recession
- Se espera un aumento en… – An increase is expected in…
- Los precios están bajando – Prices are dropping
- Hay una tendencia de crecimiento – There is a growth trend
These phrases help describe current trends in the market or economy, whether you’re talking about growth, declines, or recessions.
Making Predictions and Projections in Spanish
- Se proyecta que… – It is projected that…
- Se estima un crecimiento de… – A growth of… is estimated
- El rendimiento futuro dependerá de… – Future performance will depend on…
- Es probable que el mercado fluctúe – It’s likely the market will fluctuate
- La inflación podría afectar… – Inflation could affect…
These phrases are helpful for discussing forecasts and projections in financial and economic settings, making it easier to express expectations or concerns.
QUICK TIP…
To reinforce your financial vocabulary, read financial news in Spanish. This helps familiarize you with common terms and gives context to new vocabulary and grammar making it easier to understand and use in discussions.

Expand Your Financial Spanish with Confidence
Mastering advanced vocabulary for financial and economic discussions gives you the tools to engage in conversations about markets, business, and investments. With these terms and phrases, you’re ready to navigate Spanish-speaking financial contexts and hold your own in professional settings.
So, looking to expand your financial vocabulary even further? SpanishVIP offers tailored support with 1:1 classes or free group sessions to build confidence in real-world conversations. Start with a free private class or a 7-day free trial of our group classes to take your financial Spanish to the next level. Happy learning!
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