contraseña
“contraseña” means “password” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
password
Also: passcode, key
📝 In Action
Olvidé mi contraseña para acceder al correo electrónico.
A1I forgot my password to access the email.
Es importante usar una contraseña fuerte y única.
A2It is important to use a strong and unique password.
Por favor, introduce tu contraseña en la casilla de abajo.
A1Please, enter your passcode in the box below.
watchword
Also: sign
📝 In Action
Los soldados debían usar la contraseña correcta para pasar la guardia.
B2The soldiers had to use the correct watchword to pass the guard.
La libertad se convirtió en la contraseña de su movimiento político.
C1Freedom became the watchword (or slogan) of their political movement.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "contraseña" in Spanish:
passcode→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: contraseña
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es la traducción más común de 'contraseña' en el contexto digital?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from combining two older Spanish words: 'contra' (meaning 'against' or 'in response to') and 'seña' (meaning 'sign' or 'signal'). It literally means 'counter-sign'—a secret response or token given back to confirm identity.
First recorded: 16th century (in the sense of military watchword)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'contraseña' masculine or feminine?
It is always feminine: 'la contraseña.' Remember this because the root word 'seña' (sign) is feminine.
Can I use 'clave' instead of 'contraseña'?
Yes, 'clave' also means 'key' or 'code' and is often used interchangeably with 'contraseña' in many Spanish-speaking regions, especially when talking about a PIN or numeric code.