billete
/bee-YEH-teh/
banknote
El billete: Paper money or a banknote.
billete(noun)
banknote
?paper money
bill
?a dollar bill, a five-euro bill
,paper money
?general term
📝 In Action
Perdí un billete de diez euros en la calle.
A1I lost a ten-euro banknote on the street.
¿Tienes cambio para un billete de cincuenta?
A2Do you have change for a fifty-bill?
Prefiero pagar con tarjeta que con billetes.
A2I prefer to pay by card rather than with cash/bills.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
Since 'billete' ends in '-e', it is masculine, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up bills and coins
Mistake: "Dame una billete."
Correction: Dame un billete. (Remember 'billete' is masculine, and 'moneda' is used for coins.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
In many Latin American countries, 'billete' is used primarily for large denominations or paper money in general, while 'dinero' is the general term for money.
El billete: A ticket for travel, like a bus or train ticket.
billete(noun)
ticket
?for travel (bus, train, plane)
lottery ticket
?a piece of paper for a drawing
📝 In Action
Necesito comprar un billete de tren a Madrid.
A2I need to buy a train ticket to Madrid.
Perdimos el avión porque no encontramos nuestros billetes.
B1We missed the plane because we couldn't find our tickets.
Compré un billete de lotería con la esperanza de ganar.
B2I bought a lottery ticket hoping to win.
💡 Grammar Points
Travel vs. Events
Use 'billete' mostly for major transport (planes, trains). For concerts or movies, you usually say 'entrada' or 'boleto' (especially in Latin America).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'billete' for a movie ticket
Mistake: "Compré dos billetes para la película."
Correction: Compré dos entradas/boletos para la película. ('Billete' sounds too formal for a quick event ticket.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Check-in Terminology
When checking in for a flight, the paper you receive is usually called the 'tarjeta de embarque' (boarding pass), not just the 'billete'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: billete
Question 1 of 2
Which word would a Spanish person most likely use if they were buying transportation to another city?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Billete vs. Boleto?
In Spain, 'billete' is preferred for both money and travel tickets. In much of Latin America, 'boleto' is more common for tickets (especially bus or general tickets), while 'billete' is reserved for paper money or sometimes plane tickets.
Is 'billete' cash?
It specifically refers to paper money (bills). The general term for cash or money is 'dinero' or 'efectivo' (cash).