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How to Say "list" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “list” is “lista” — use 'lista' for a simple, everyday list of items you've written down, like a shopping list or a to-do list..

English → Spanish

lista

/lees-tah//'lista/

NounA1general
Use 'lista' for a simple, everyday list of items you've written down, like a shopping list or a to-do list.
A piece of paper with a hand-drawn list of groceries, including icons for an apple and milk, representing a shopping list.

Examples

Hice una lista de la compra.

I made a shopping list.

Tu nombre no está en la lista de invitados.

Your name isn't on the guest list.

El profesor va a pasar lista ahora.

The teacher is going to take attendance now.

Always Feminine: 'la lista'

When 'lista' means a list, it's a feminine noun. That means you'll always use 'la' or 'una' with it, like 'la lista' (the list) or 'una lista' (a list).

tabla

TAH-blah/ˈtaβla/

NounB1general
Use 'tabla' when referring to a structured arrangement of data, such as a table of contents or a data table.
An illustration showing a grid structure of colored squares arranged neatly in rows and columns, representing a data table.

Examples

Por favor, consulta la tabla de contenidos para encontrar el capítulo.

Please consult the table of contents to find the chapter.

El profesor nos hizo memorizar la tabla de multiplicar.

The teacher made us memorize the times table.

Los resultados están resumidos en la siguiente tabla.

The results are summarized in the following table.

Data vs. Furniture

Be careful: 'tabla' is for data lists, while 'mesa' is the word for the furniture you eat at or work on.

inventario

een-ben-TAH-ryoh/imbenˈtaɾjo/

NounA2formal/business
Use 'inventario' for a formal, detailed record of possessions, especially in a commercial or organizational setting like a warehouse.
A neat stack of boxes and crates on a wooden pallet in a clean warehouse.

Examples

Necesitamos hacer un inventario de todos los productos en el almacén.

We need to make an inventory of all the products in the warehouse.

El inventario de la casa incluye muebles antiguos y cuadros.

The house inventory includes antique furniture and paintings.

Gender and Articles

This word is masculine, so always use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a). For example: 'el inventario'.

Inventario vs. Stock

Mistake: “Using 'stock' as a Spanish word in formal writing.”

Correction: While people use the English word 'stock' in casual business, 'inventario' or 'existencias' is the correct Spanish term.

relación

NounB2formal
Use 'relación' for an official or formal account or list of events or items, often used in legal or historical contexts.

Examples

El testigo hizo una detallada relación de los hechos.

The witness gave a detailed account of the events.

rol

rohl/rol/

NounC1specialized/maritime
Use 'rol' specifically for an official registration or list of a ship's crew or a similar group of people.
A colorful storybook illustration of a group of sailors in striped shirts standing in a line on the wooden deck of a ship.

Examples

El capitán debe anotar a todos los marineros en el rol de tripulación.

The captain must list all sailors on the muster roll.

Specialized Vocabulary

This meaning is very rare in daily conversation; you will likely only see it if you are reading about maritime law or history.

Lista vs. Inventario

The most common confusion is between 'lista' and 'inventario'. Remember that 'lista' is for simple, personal lists like shopping or to-do lists, while 'inventario' refers to a more formal, detailed count of items, often for business or stock-taking purposes.

Related Translations

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