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Spanish Words That Start With L

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Today, we submerge ourselves into the fascinating sphere of Spanish vocabulary, casting the spotlight on the letter “L”. This particular letter holds a significant presence in the Spanish language and is integral to numerous words and phrases.

No matter if you’re just embarking on your Spanish learning journey as a beginner or you’re an experienced linguist seeking to broaden your word bank, you’ve landed at the right place. 

This blog post invites you to explore the myriad of Spanish words starting with the letter “L”, delving into their meanings, applications, and roots.

From everyday words like “libro” (book) and “luz” (light) to more specialized vocabulary like “laringe” (larynx) and “lexicología” (lexicology), we’ve got you covered. We’ll also be looking at common phrases that start with “L” such as “la vida loca” (the crazy life) and “lo siento” (I’m sorry).

As a result of perusing this blog post, not only will you boost your vocabulary, but you’ll also obtain a more profound comprehension of the Spanish language in its entirety. 

By unveiling the nuances of various words and phrases, you’ll enhance your communication with native Spanish speakers and extend your cultural understanding of the language.

Whether your goal is to ace your upcoming Spanish exam, to impress your Spanish-speaking peers at the office, or simply to enrich your personal vocabulary, this blog is your key. 

So, let’s begin to unfold the categories of Spanish words that start with “L” such as “lapiz” (pencil) and “mesa” (table) on this enlightening list. 

With translation provided for each word, we assure that you’ll leave this post with a treasure trove of newfound knowledge and a greater admiration for the beauty and complexity of the Spanish language.

Some History Of The Letter L In The Spanish Alphabet

The Spanish letter “L” has a rich history that goes back to its origins in the Phoenician alphabet. Over time, this symbol evolved into the Greek letter “Lambda” and the Latin letter “L.”

During the Middle Ages, the letter “L” was often used in ligatures, where it was combined with other letters such as “I” to create a new symbol. This ligature was called “eli,” and it is still sometimes used in medieval manuscripts.

In Spanish, the letter “L” is pronounced as a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, which means that the tongue is placed against the alveolar ridge, and air is allowed to pass on either side of the tongue. 

The letter “L” is an important letter in Spanish, appearing in many common words such as “amor” (love), “luz” (light), and “libertad” (freedom).

The letter “L” has also played an important role in Spanish literature. It has been used in many famous works, including “La Celestina” by Fernando de Rojas and “La vida es sueño” by Pedro Calderón de la Barca. 

In modern times, the letter “L” continues to be an important part of the Spanish language and culture. It appears in the names of many famous Spanish speakers, including the artist Pablo Picasso, the author Gabriel García Márquez, and the soccer player Lionel Messi.

Overall, the letter “L” has a long and interesting history in the Spanish language, and it remains an important and significant part of Spanish culture today.

Spanish Nouns Starting With L (Sustantivos)

Nouns are a fundamental part of any language, including Spanish. They are words that refer to people, places, things, or ideas, and they can be classified as either masculine or feminine. In Spanish, the gender of a noun is important, as it affects the form of other words in a sentence.

Let’s see some nouns starting with J in Spanish:

Spanish 

English

Lactancia

Breastfeeding

Lágrima

Tear

Lámina

Sheet (of paper, metal, etc.)

Lámpara

Lamp

Lancha

Boat

Lápida

Gravestone

Lapicera

Pen

Lapso

Lapse

Laringe

Larynx

Látex

Látex

Lavabo

Sink or washbasin

Lavadora

Washing machine

Lazo

Bow

Lechón

Suckling pig

Legado

Legacy

Legumbre

Legume

Lenguaje

Language

Lente

Lens

Leña

Firewood

León

Lion

Ley

Law

Leyenda

Legend

Libro

Book

Licor

Liquor

Líder

Leader

Lienzo

Canvas

Liga

League

Limpieza

Cleaning

FUN FACT…

The Spanish word for the letter “L” is “ele” (pronounced eh-leh), which is a homophone for the Spanish word for “he” (él). This can sometimes lead to confusion or jokes, such as the phrase “Elle es una letra, no un hombre” (She’s a letter, not a man).

Student thinking with a pen holding colorful notebook
Image by KamranAydinov via Freepik

Spanish Verbs Starting With L (Verbos)

Verbs are words that express an action, occurrence, or state of being. In Spanish, verbs are an essential part of speech and are used to convey a wide range of meanings, including describing actions, expressing emotions, and indicating changes in state or condition.

Here is a list of Spanish verbs starting with “L”:

Spanish 

English

Lamentar

To regret or lament

Lanzar

To throw or launch

Lavar

To wash

Leer

To read

Legitimar

To legitimize

Levantar

To lift or raise

Liberar

To liberate or free

Licenciar

To license or dismiss

Lidiar

To fight or struggle

Ligar

To bind or connect

Limitar

To limit or restrict

Limpiar

To clean

Llamar

To call

Llegar

To arrive or come

Llenar

To fill

Llevar

To carry or wear

Luchar

To fight or struggle

Lustrar

To shine or polish

Spanish Adverbs Starting With L (Adverbios)

Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, adding more detail to how or in what manner something is done. In Spanish, adverbs often end in “-mente” and are generally placed after the verb or phrase they modify.

Here is a list of Spanish adverbs starting with “L”:

Spanish 

English

Laboriosamente

Laboriously

Lamentablemente

Unfortunately

Lateralmente

Laterally

Lealmente

Loyally

Legalmente

Legally

Lentamente

Slowly

Ligeramente

Lightly

Linealmente

Linearly

Lógicamente

Logically

Longitudinalmente

Longitudinally

Lucidamente

Lucidly

Luminosamente

Luminously

Lujosamente

Luxuriously

Luminosamente

Luminously

Smiling student holding notebooks with pink background
Image by wayhomestudio via Freepik

Spanish Adjectives Starting With L (Adjetivos)

Adjectives are words used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns, indicating their attributes or qualities. In Spanish, adjectives generally come after the noun they modify, and their endings often agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

Here is a list of Spanish adjectives starting with “L”:

Spanish 

English

Largo

Long

Lamentable

Regrettable

Laminado

Laminated

Lateral

Lateral

Latente

Latent

Leal

Loyal

Legal

Legal

Legible

Legible

Leñoso

Woody

Leve

Light

Liberal

Liberal

Liberado

Liberated

Libertario

Libertarian

Lícito

Lawful

Ligero

Light

Limpio

Clean

Lineal

Lineal

Lírico

Lyrical

Liso

Smooth

Literario

Literary

Literal

Literal

Lluvioso

Rainy

Local

Local

Loco

Crazy

Lodoso

Muddy

Lógico

Logical

Longevo

Long-lived

Longitudinal

Longitudinal

Luminoso

Luminous

Lunático

Lunatic

Lúcido

Lucid

Lujoso

Luxurious

Luminiscente

Luminous

Lúdico

Playful

Lustrado

Shiny

DID YOU KNOW…? 

The Spanish word “lluvia” (rain) used to be spelled with a “y” (as in “yuvia”), but it was changed to a double “l” in the early 20th century to distinguish it from the word “yuca” (yucca).

Are You Ready For Learning Spanish?

We have seen that the Spanish language is rich in vocabulary, and the letter “L” alone brings a multitude of interesting nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs to learn and use in everyday communication. 

From everyday words likelibroand “leche” to more complex terms like “luminiscente” and “libertario,” the letter “L” represents a fascinating world of linguistic possibilities.

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With experienced teachers and a flexible curriculum tailored to your specific needs, SpanishVIP provides a comprehensive and effective way to learn Spanish from anywhere in the world. 

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