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How to Say "billboard" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “billboard” is “cartel” — use 'cartel' for any poster or sign, especially one displayed outdoors or in a public place, that advertises something or announces information..

English → Spanish

cartel

/kar-TEL//kaɾˈtel/

nounA1general
Use 'cartel' for any poster or sign, especially one displayed outdoors or in a public place, that advertises something or announces information.
A large, colorful poster depicting a simple illustration of a bright yellow sun, tacked onto a plain wooden wall.

Examples

Pon un cartel en la tienda para anunciar las rebajas.

Put up a poster in the shop to announce the sales.

Pusimos un cartel en la ventana anunciando la venta.

We put a poster in the window announcing the sale.

El cartel de la película es muy llamativo.

The movie poster is very eye-catching.

Sigue el cartel que indica la salida de emergencia.

Follow the sign that indicates the emergency exit.

Gender Check

Remember 'cartel' is always masculine, so you must use 'el cartel' or 'un cartel'.

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La cartel.”

Correction: El cartel. Even though it ends in 'l', it follows the masculine rule for nouns ending in L, O, N, E, R, S.

valla

/BA-ya//ˈbaʝa/

nounB1general
Use 'valla' specifically for a large, freestanding outdoor advertising structure, often found along highways or main roads.
A large colorful sign board standing on a metal frame in an open field.

Examples

La valla publicitaria mostraba un nuevo coche.

The billboard showed a new car.

Hay una valla publicitaria enorme al lado de la autopista.

There is a huge billboard next to the highway.

Cartel vs. Valla

Learners often use 'cartel' for all outdoor signs, but 'valla' is the more precise term for the large, distinct roadside advertising structures. While a 'valla' is a type of 'cartel', not all 'carteles' are 'vallas'.

Related Translations

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