Inklingo

How to Say "credit" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “credit” is “crédito” — use 'crédito' when referring to a financial loan or the ability to borrow money, or for academic units required for graduation..

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crédito

nounA2general
Use 'crédito' when referring to a financial loan or the ability to borrow money, or for academic units required for graduation.

Examples

Pedí un crédito al banco para comprar la casa.

I asked the bank for a loan to buy the house.

crédito

nounB1academic
Use 'crédito' for academic units or course requirements needed to complete a program of study.

Examples

Necesitas 60 créditos para graduarte este semestre.

You need 60 credits to graduate this semester.

mérito

nounB1general
Use 'mérito' to acknowledge someone's effort or achievement for a job well done, emphasizing the quality of the work itself.

Examples

Tu dibujo tiene mucho mérito, te esforzaste mucho.

Your drawing has a lot of merit; you put in a lot of effort.

medalla

meh-DAH-yah/meˈða.ʝa/

nounB2colloquial
Use 'medalla' figuratively to describe someone taking undeserved recognition or praise for accomplishments, often implying they are wrongly claiming the glory.
A simple green laurel wreath placed on a colorful pedestal, symbolizing honor and recognition.

Examples

Él siempre se cuelga la medalla por el trabajo de su equipo.

He always takes the credit for his team's work.

No te cuelgues la medalla; yo fui quien tuvo la idea.

Don't take the credit; I was the one who had the idea.

Reflexive Action

This idiom uses the reflexive verb 'colgarse' (to hang [something] on oneself), emphasizing that the person is actively taking the credit for themselves.

haber

/ah-BEHR//aˈβeɾ/

nounC1accounting
Use 'haber' specifically in accounting contexts to refer to the credit side of a financial ledger, contrasting with 'debe' (debit).
A treasure chest overflowing with gold coins and jewels, representing financial assets or credit balance.

Examples

El contador revisó el debe y el haber de la cuenta.

The accountant checked the debit and credit of the account.

El haber total de la compañía es impresionante.

The company's total assets are impressive.

Crédito vs. Mérito/Medalla

Learners often confuse 'crédito' with 'mérito' or 'medalla'. Remember that 'crédito' primarily refers to financial loans or academic units. Use 'mérito' for genuine acknowledgment of effort and 'medalla' when someone is figuratively taking credit, often inappropriately.

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