billetes
/bee-yeh-tes/
banknotes
The most common meaning of 'billetes' is banknotes or paper currency.
billetes(noun)
banknotes
?paper currency
,bills
?US English for paper currency
cash
?as in 'paper cash'
📝 In Action
Pagué la cuenta con billetes de cincuenta.
A1I paid the bill with fifty-unit banknotes.
No tengo monedas, solo billetes grandes.
A2I don't have coins, only large bills.
¿Cuántos billetes de diez hay aquí?
A1How many ten-unit bills are there here?
💡 Grammar Points
Billetes vs. Monedas
Remember that 'billetes' refers only to paper money. For metal currency, use 'monedas' (coins).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'dinero' for paper money
Mistake: "Dame los dineros."
Correction: Dame los billetes. ('Dinero' is the general term for money, 'billetes' specifies paper money.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Singular
While 'billetes' (plural) is common, 'billete' (singular) is used when referring to one specific piece of paper money, like 'un billete de cinco euros'.
'Billetes' can also refer to tickets for travel or entry.
📝 In Action
Perdí mis billetes de tren y ahora no puedo viajar.
A2I lost my train tickets and now I can't travel.
Necesitamos comprar los billetes para el partido de fútbol.
A2We need to buy the tickets for the soccer match.
Los billetes de avión son muy caros en verano.
B1The plane tickets are very expensive in summer.
💡 Grammar Points
Focus on the Destination
When talking about travel tickets, you usually specify the type: 'billetes de avión' (plane tickets), 'billetes de autobús' (bus tickets).
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Preference
In many Latin American countries, 'boletos' is the more common word for tickets, especially for public transport or events, while 'billetes' is preferred in Spain.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: billetes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'billetes' to mean 'tickets'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'billetes' used everywhere in the Spanish-speaking world?
Yes, it is understood everywhere. However, in many parts of Latin America, 'boletos' is often preferred for tickets, while 'billetes' is primarily used for paper money.
How do I say 'a lot of money' using this word?
You can say 'muchos billetes' (many banknotes), but a more common way to express a large sum of money generally is 'mucho dinero' or, informally, 'mucha pasta'.