Inklingo

How to Say "film" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “film” is “película” — use this for the most common meaning of 'movie' or 'motion picture', especially in informal conversation.

películaA1

Use this for the most common meaning of 'movie' or 'motion picture', especially in informal conversation.

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cine🔊B1

Use this to refer to the film industry, the art form of movies, or a movie theater.

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film🔊A2

Use this for a motion picture, similar to 'movie', though it can also mean a thin layer.

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filme🔊A2

Use this for a motion picture or movie, often sounding slightly more formal or literary than 'película' or 'film'.

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cinta🔊B1

Use this to refer to a movie, a recording, or footage, especially older video tapes.

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capa🔊B1

Use this for a layer or covering, especially one that is noticeably thick or covers a surface.

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membrana🔊B1

Use this for a very thin, often biological, covering or layer, like a cell membrane.

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velo🔊B2

Use this to describe a thin, often hazy or obscuring layer, like mist or a blur over vision.

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video🔊A1

Use this as an older or more informal term for a movie, especially one viewed on a screen.

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cinematográficoB1

Use this adjective to describe things related to the film industry, movies, or filmmaking.

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English → Spanish

película

nounA1general
Use this for the most common meaning of 'movie' or 'motion picture', especially in informal conversation.

Examples

¿Quieres ver una película esta noche?

Do you want to watch a movie tonight?

cine

SEE-nayˈsi.ne

nounB1general
Use this to refer to the film industry, the art form of movies, or a movie theater.
A vintage film projector operating in a dark room, casting a bright rectangular beam of light onto a large white screen.

Examples

El cine español ha ganado muchos premios internacionales.

Spanish cinema (film industry) has won many international awards.

Estudió la historia del cine clásico en la universidad.

He studied the history of classic film in college.

Para mí, el cine es la forma de arte más influyente del siglo XX.

For me, cinema is the most influential art form of the 20th century.

Using 'del cine'

When you want to describe something related to film (like a genre or a career), you often use the preposition 'de' (of) combined with the article 'el' to form 'del cine': 'director del cine'.

film

feelmfil(m)

nounA2general
Use this for a motion picture, similar to 'movie', though it can also mean a thin layer.
A large, classic film reel lying on its side, ready for projection, symbolizing a movie.

Examples

¿Qué film vamos a ver esta noche?

What movie are we going to watch tonight?

El director presentó su nuevo film en el festival.

The director presented his new film at the festival.

Es un film de terror muy bien hecho.

It's a very well-made horror movie.

Puso un film protector sobre la pantalla del teléfono.

He put a protective film on the phone screen.

Always Masculine

Remember that 'film' is always a masculine noun, so you use 'el film' or 'un film,' even though 'película' (the common synonym) is feminine.

Technical Use

This meaning is often encountered in instructions, science, or when talking about photography equipment, referring to the actual physical material.

Mixing Gender

Mistake: “La film fue buena.”

Correction: El film fue bueno. (The word is masculine, so the article 'el' and the adjective 'bueno' must match.)

filme

FEEL-mayˈfilme

nounA2general
Use this for a motion picture or movie, often sounding slightly more formal or literary than 'película' or 'film'.
A classic movie camera on a tripod next to a large reel of film.

Examples

Este filme ganó el premio a la mejor fotografía.

This film won the award for best cinematography.

Vimos un filme clásico de terror anoche.

We saw a classic horror movie last night.

Espero que ella filme la boda.

I hope that she films the wedding.

Busco a alguien que filme mi corto.

I'm looking for someone who can film my short movie.

Gender Check

Even though it ends in 'e', 'filme' is masculine, so you always use 'el' or 'un' with it.

The Subjunctive Form

'Filme' is a special form of 'filmar' used when talking about doubts, wishes, or after saying 'it's important that...'

Filme vs. Película

Mistake: “Using 'filme' for every single movie conversation.”

Correction: Use 'película' for general chatting. Use 'filme' if you want to sound a bit more professional or like a movie critic.

cinta

SEEN-tahˈsin̪.t̪a

nounB1general
Use this to refer to a movie, a recording, or footage, especially older video tapes.
A vintage black audio cassette tape showing the exposed brown magnetic tape wound on the spools inside.

Examples

Encontré una caja de viejas cintas de vídeo en el sótano.

I found a box of old video tapes in the basement.

La película ganó el premio a la mejor cinta extranjera.

The movie won the award for best foreign film.

Movie Synonym

'Cinta' is a slightly more formal or cinematic way to say 'película' (movie), often used by critics or in awards shows.

película

nounB2general
Use this to describe a thin layer or coating, like dust or a protective covering.

Examples

Una fina película de polvo cubría los muebles.

A thin film of dust covered the furniture.

capa

KAH-pahˈkapa

nounB1general
Use this for a layer or covering, especially one that is noticeably thick or covers a surface.
A cross-section illustration showing three distinct, colorful layers of paint stacked on a surface, representing a layer of material.

Examples

Hay una capa de polvo muy gruesa sobre la mesa.

There is a very thick layer of dust on the table.

Necesitamos aplicar otra capa de pintura para que quede bien.

We need to apply another coat of paint so that it looks good.

La Tierra tiene varias capas, incluyendo la atmósfera.

The Earth has several layers, including the atmosphere.

Describing Thickness

To talk about how thick a layer is, use adjectives like 'gruesa' (thick) or 'fina' (thin), agreeing in gender: 'una capa fina'.

film

nounB2general
Use this for a thin layer or coating, often a protective one, on a surface.

Examples

Puso un film protector sobre la pantalla del teléfono.

He put a protective film on the phone screen.

membrana

mem-BRAH-nahmemˈbɾana

nounB1scientific
Use this for a very thin, often biological, covering or layer, like a cell membrane.
A close-up illustration of a translucent, thin skin-like layer covering a bright green leaf.

Examples

La membrana celular protege el interior de la célula.

The cell membrane protects the inside of the cell.

Hay una fina membrana que recubre el interior del huevo.

There is a thin membrane covering the inside of the egg.

El buceador tiene dañada la membrana del tímpano.

The diver has a damaged eardrum membrane.

It's a 'la' word

Even though it ends in 'a', it's helpful to remember it always takes 'la' or 'una' (la membrana). Words that describe it should also end in 'a' (una membrana fina).

Using 'de' for description

To describe what the membrane is for, Spanish usually puts 'de' (of) after it, like 'membrana de plástico' (plastic membrane).

Membrana vs. Piel

Mistake: “Using 'membrana' for visible outer skin.”

Correction: Use 'piel' for the skin you can see; use 'membrana' for the thin, often internal or specialized layers.

velo

beh-lohˈbelo

nounB2figurative
Use this to describe a thin, often hazy or obscuring layer, like mist or a blur over vision.
A light, purple-toned mist floating over a green meadow.

Examples

Un velo de niebla cubría la montaña esta mañana.

A veil of mist covered the mountain this morning.

Siento un velo en los ojos y no veo bien.

I feel a blur over my eyes and I can't see well.

video

VEE-deh-ohˈbi.ðe.o

nounA1informal
Use this as an older or more informal term for a movie, especially one viewed on a screen.
A brightly colored illustration of a simple rectangular screen (like a tablet) showing a colorful animated scene of a sun setting over a green hill.

Examples

¿Viste el video viral de los gatos bailando?

Did you see the viral video of the dancing cats?

Necesito editar este video para mi clase de historia.

I need to edit this video for my history class.

La calidad del video en 4K es impresionante, aunque requiere mucho almacenamiento.

The 4K video quality is impressive, even though it requires a lot of storage.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though 'video' ends in 'o,' it's always masculine in Spanish. Use 'el video' or 'un video,' never 'la video.'

Misgendering the Noun

Mistake: “Voy a ver la video.”

Correction: Voy a ver el video. (Remember, it's always masculine: EL video.)

filme

verbB2general
Use this verb form to mean 'to film' or 'to record' something, often used in wishes or commands.

Examples

Espero que ella filme la boda.

I hope that she films the wedding.

cinematográfico

adjectiveB1general
Use this adjective to describe things related to the film industry, movies, or filmmaking.

Examples

Fuimos a un festival cinematográfico muy importante.

We went to a very important film festival.

Movie vs. Layer Confusion

The most common mistake is confusing the Spanish words for 'movie' with those for a 'thin layer'. While 'película' can mean both, context is key. Use 'película' for movies and 'cine' for the industry. For layers, 'capa' or 'film' are often clearer choices unless it's a very specific scientific context (membrana).

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