20 Beautiful Spanish Words to Add to Your Vocabulary (2024)

Take note that these are not common words spoken in everyday Spanish, but nonetheless, they are interesting and lovely words that would be a great addition to your vocabulary.

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1 . Impío (m) / Impía (f)

Meaning: Impious: means not respectful or reverent, especially towards religious authority or belief.

2. Dadivoso (m) / dadivosa (f)

Meaning: Generous. This fancy Spanish word can just as easily be replaced by much more common, less beautiful-sounding synonyms like generoso or abundante.

3. Orate

Meaning: Madman: A really uncommon word that refers to a crazy person.

4. Dédalo

Meaning: Maze, labyrinth. This isn’t something you would hear everyday, but it’s a beautiful word that comes from “Daedalus”, the maker of the Labyrinth in Greek mythology.

5. Execrable

Meaning: Appalling, atrocious. Some people would just be contented with saying antipático or desagradable to describe something unpleasant, but for something so reprehensible, this word says it best.

6. Etéreo (m) / Etérea (f)

Meaning: Ethereal. This word is just as wonderful as its English counterpart and evokes an imagery of something as intangible and delicate as it sounds.

7. Petricor

That delightful smell of rain touching the ground… Can you smell it in your imagination? That’s petricor.

8. Efímero (m) / Efímera (f)

Ephemeral. Another beautiful word in both English and Spanish, this refers to something fleeting or short-lived.

9. Perenne

Means: Perennial. This word rarely appears in everyday speech and is often replaced with the more common “permanente.” But it’s a more poetic way to say something is everlasting.

10. Inefable

Ineffable. Something that cannot be expressed or described, something unutterable or that simply cannot be spoken because of its sacredness. It’s inefable.

11. Inmarcesible

Means: Unfathomable, everlasting, undying, unfading. This word is also used to describe a flower that doesn’t wither.

12. Serendipia

Means: Serendipity. That amazing happenstance when you come across something totally unexpected. Just like its English version, it’s a lovely word.

13. Ademán

Means: Gesture. You can just as easily say “gesto” to describe the gestures and actions people make when they talk. But if you’re feeling fancy, ademán is the word for you.

14. Ataraxia

Ataraxia. A state of serene calmness; a mood of total quietness and peace.

15. Inconmensurable

Means: Immeasurable. It’s unfathomable, boundless, incalculable. In Spanish, you say, inconmensurable.

16. Ornitorrinco

Means: Platypus. Don’t you just love how the word "Ornitorrinco" rolls off in your tongue? This word is already long and playful, but it seems to suit perfectly the animal it names: a mammal that lives underwater and also has a duck beak.

17. Pavonearse

Means: Strutting around like a peaco*ck. There is no exact word for this in English, but when someone struts around like they own the place, it’s called pavonearse.

18. Muérgano (m) / Muérgana (f)

This may be a beautiful word, but this uncommon adjective refers to someone mean-spirited; an ill-willed person with bad intentions.

19. Dilapidar

This verb means "to squander". There are much more familiar terms that mean the same such as "malgastar," but dilapidar is a more fancy way to say to waste or throw away money.

20. Vergüenza Ajena

Meaning: to feel embarrassed for someone. There is no exact counterpart to this word in English, but I know you know the feeling. That extreme embarrassment you feel for somebody else? The Spanish call it Vergüenza Ajena.

See also:

10 Beautiful Spanish Love Quotes that will Melt Your Heart

40 DE LAS MÁS BELLAS PALABRAS DEL CASTELLANO. ¿ESTÁN VUESTRAS FAVORITAS?