Spanish Financial Terms (Vocabulary List)

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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.

Preposition Errors in Spanish 1
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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.

Spanish Grammar
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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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