Inklingo

How to Say "film" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “film” is “película” — use 'película' when referring to a motion picture or movie, especially in casual conversation..

películaA1

Use 'película' when referring to a motion picture or movie, especially in casual conversation.

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cine🔊B1

Use 'cine' to refer to the art form, the industry, or the place where movies are shown (the cinema).

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cinta🔊B1

Use 'cinta' when referring to a specific movie, footage, or older recording formats like videotapes.

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film🔊A2

Use 'film' primarily for a motion picture, though it can also mean a thin layer, especially in technical contexts.

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filme🔊A2

Use 'filme' as a synonym for a motion picture or movie, often sounding slightly more formal or literary than 'película'.

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capa🔊B1

Use 'capa' to describe a distinct layer or surface covering, such as a layer of dust or paint.

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velo🔊B2

Use 'velo' to describe a thin, often obscuring layer, like mist or a metaphorical blur.

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video🔊A1

Use 'video' for a motion picture, especially an older term or when referring to content like viral clips.

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English → Spanish

película

nounA1general
Use 'película' when referring to a motion picture or movie, especially in casual conversation.

Examples

¿Quieres ver una película esta noche?

Do you want to watch a movie tonight?

cine

SEE-nay/ˈsi.ne/

nounB1general
Use 'cine' to refer to the art form, the industry, or the place where movies are shown (the cinema).
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'.

cinta

SEEN-tah/ˈsin̪.t̪a/

nounB1general
Use 'cinta' when referring to a specific movie, footage, or older recording formats like videotapes.
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.

film

/feelm//fil(m)/

nounA2general
Use 'film' primarily for a motion picture, though it can also mean a thin layer, especially in technical contexts.
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-may//ˈfilme/

nounA2general
Use 'filme' as a synonym for a motion picture or movie, often sounding slightly more formal or literary than 'película'.
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.

película

nounB2general
Use 'película' when referring to 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-pah/ˈkapa/

nounB1general
Use 'capa' to describe a distinct layer or surface covering, such as a layer of dust or paint.
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

/feelm//fil(m)/

nounB2general
Use 'film' for a thin layer or coating, often a protective one applied to a surface.
A large, classic film reel lying on its side, ready for projection, symbolizing a movie.

Examples

Puso un film protector sobre la pantalla del teléfono.

He put a protective film on the phone screen.

¿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.

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-may//ˈfilme/

verbB2general
Use 'filme' as a verb when expressing a hope or command for someone to record something, like a wedding.
A classic movie camera on a tripod next to a large reel of film.

Examples

Espero que ella filme la boda.

I hope that she films the wedding.

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.

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.

velo

/beh-loh//ˈbelo/

nounB2general
Use 'velo' to describe a thin, often obscuring layer, like mist or a metaphorical blur.
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-oh/ˈbi.ðe.o/

nounA1general
Use 'video' for a motion picture, especially an older term or when referring to content like viral clips.
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.)

Movie vs. Layer

The most common mistake is confusing the words for 'movie' with those for 'layer'. 'Película', 'cine', 'cinta', 'film', and 'filme' can all mean movie, but 'película', 'capa', 'film', and 'velo' can mean layer. Always consider the context to differentiate.

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