How to Say "jewels" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “jewels” is “joyas” — use 'joyas' when referring to a collection of jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, or bracelets, especially when inherited or gifted..
joyas
HOY-ahs/ˈxo.ʝas/
Examples
Ella heredó las joyas de su abuela.
She inherited her grandmother's jewelry.
Perdió algunas joyas caras en el viaje.
She lost some expensive jewels on the trip.
Compramos joyas de plata en el mercado local.
We bought silver jewelry at the local market.
Plural Form
Remember that 'joyas' is the plural form of 'joya' (a single piece of jewelry or gem). When referring to the entire category of things you wear, Spanish often uses the plural 'joyas'.
Using 'joyería' instead of 'joyas'
Mistake: “La joyería es muy bonita. (Intended: The jewelry is very pretty.)”
Correction: Las joyas son muy bonitas. ('Joyería' means the jewelry store or the craft of jewelry making, not the items themselves.)
brillantes
bree-YAHN-tehs/bɾiˈʎantes/
Examples
El collar estaba adornado con pequeños brillantes.
The necklace was adorned with small diamonds.
El joyero mostró los brillantes más grandes que tenía.
The jeweler showed the largest jewels (diamonds) he had.
Noun vs. Adjective
When used as a noun, 'brillantes' refers specifically to the precious stones. When used as an adjective, it describes the quality of shining (e.g., 'zapatos brillantes' - shiny shoes).
General vs. Specific
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.