letras
/LEH-tras/
letters (of the alphabet)
As its most literal translation, letras refers to the individual characters of the alphabet used for writing.
letras(noun)
letters (of the alphabet)
?individual characters used for writing
characters
?written symbols
📝 In Action
¿Cuántas letras tiene la palabra 'paraguas'?
A1How many letters does the word 'paraguas' have?
El niño está aprendiendo a reconocer las letras mayúsculas.
A2The child is learning to recognize the capital letters.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine Plural
Even though it refers to basic symbols, remember 'letras' is always a feminine noun, so you use 'las' (the) or 'estas' (these) with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'letras' and 'números'
Mistake: "Usar 'letras' para referirse a cifras."
Correction: Use 'números' (numbers) for digits and 'letras' for alphabetical characters.
When referring to a song, letras means the lyrics, or the words being sung.
📝 In Action
Me encantan las letras de la nueva canción de Shakira.
A2I love the lyrics of Shakira's new song.
Él escribe las letras y ella compone la música.
B1He writes the lyrics and she composes the music.
💡 Grammar Points
Singular vs. Plural for Lyrics
While 'letras' (plural) means 'lyrics,' Spanish often uses the singular 'la letra' when referring to the words of one specific song: '¿Cuál es la letra?' (What are the words/lyrics?)
In an academic context, letras can refer to the humanities, covering subjects like history, literature, and philosophy.
letras(noun)
humanities
?academic field of study
literature
?studies focusing on language and culture
📝 In Action
Mi hermana estudia Letras en la Universidad de Salamanca.
B1My sister studies Humanities/Literature at the University of Salamanca.
Siempre fui mejor en letras que en ciencias.
B2I was always better at humanities than at sciences.
💡 Grammar Points
Academic Usage
When referring to the academic field, 'Letras' is often capitalized and used in contrast with 'Ciencias' (Sciences).
Letras is also a commercial term for a bill of exchange, a document promising payment between parties.
letras(noun)
bill of exchange
?commercial document promising payment
draft
?financial instrument
📝 In Action
El abogado revisó la letra de cambio antes de firmarla.
C1The lawyer reviewed the bill of exchange before signing it.
El vencimiento de la letra es a 90 días.
C2The maturity of the draft is 90 days.
💡 Grammar Points
Financial Context
In this formal context, 'letra' (singular) refers to a specific written document that guarantees a payment, like a promissory note.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: letras
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'letras' is used in the phrase: 'Las letras de esa canción son muy tristes.'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'letras' plural when referring to the field of study (Humanities)?
It's plural because it encompasses many different subjects—like language, history, and literature—all related to written culture and human expression, much like the English 'Arts' or 'Humanities' is often plural.
How do I say 'letter' in the sense of 'mail'?
For a 'letter' you send in the mail, you must use the word 'carta'. 'Letra' only refers to the written characters, the lyrics, or the academic field.