Inklingo

How to Say "mail" in Spanish

English → Spanish

correo

koh-RREH-ohkoˈreo

nounA1general
Use 'correo' when referring to the physical letters and packages that are delivered by a postal service.
A stack of colorful letters and a small brown package tied with twine, representing physical mail.

Examples

Recibí mucho correo hoy.

I received a lot of mail today.

El cartero trae el correo a las diez de la mañana.

The mailman brings the mail at ten in the morning.

Tengo que firmar para recibir este correo certificado.

I have to sign to receive this registered mail.

Using Plural for Quantity

Mistake: “Muchos correos”

Correction: Mucho correo. The word 'correo' often acts like a mass noun (like 'water' or 'sand') when referring to the general delivery, even if it contains many letters.

carta

KAR-tahˈkaɾta

nounA1general
Use 'carta' specifically for a written letter intended for someone, or sometimes for the postal system in a general sense.
A hand dropping a sealed white envelope with a colorful stamp into the slot of a bright red, traditional mailbox.

Examples

Le envié una carta a mi amigo.

I sent a letter to my friend.

Escribo una carta para mi abuela.

I'm writing a letter to my grandmother.

¿Has recibido alguna carta hoy?

Have you received any mail today?

Envió la solicitud por carta certificada para estar seguro.

He sent the application by registered letter to be sure.

Always Feminine

No matter what kind of 'carta' you're talking about, it's always a feminine word. So, you'll always say 'la carta' or 'una carta'.

'Carta' vs. 'Letra'

Mistake: “Quiero escribir una letra a mi amigo.”

Correction: Quiero escribir una carta a mi amigo. 'Letra' means a letter of the alphabet (like A, B, C), while 'carta' is the message you mail.

correspondencia

koh-rrehs-pohn-DEHN-syahkoresponˈdensja

nounB1general
Use 'correspondencia' for both physical and digital letters, often implying a collection of mail or the process of exchanging mail, especially in a professional context.
A stack of colorful envelopes with postage stamps on a wooden table.

Examples

La correspondencia importante se guarda en el archivo.

Important mail is kept in the file.

Reviso la correspondencia todas las mañanas al llegar a la oficina.

I check the mail every morning when I get to the office.

Toda la correspondencia oficial debe ser archivada.

All official correspondence must be filed.

He perdido una pieza importante de mi correspondencia bancaria.

I have lost an important piece of my bank mail.

Always Feminine

Words ending in '-encia' are almost always feminine. Always use 'la', 'una', or feminine adjectives with it.

Collective Noun

You can use this in the singular to talk about a whole stack of letters or emails at once.

Gender confusion

Mistake: “El correspondencia es privado.”

Correction: La correspondencia es privada. Remember that the -a at the end and the -encia ending signal it is a feminine word.

postal

po-stalposˈtal

adjectiveB1general
Use 'postal' as an adjective in compound nouns, like 'código postal' (postal code) or 'servicio postal' (postal service).
A bright red, official street mailbox standing outdoors, with a white envelope being dropped into the mail slot.

Examples

Necesito tu dirección y código postal.

I need your address and postal code.

¿Cuál es tu código postal? Lo necesito para el envío.

What is your zip code/postal code? I need it for the shipment.

La oficina postal está cerrada los domingos.

The post office is closed on Sundays.

Adjective Placement

As an adjective, 'postal' usually follows the noun it describes, such as in 'código postal' (postal code) or 'oficina postal' (post office).

Correo vs. Carta

The most common mistake is confusing 'correo' and 'carta'. While 'carta' usually means a single letter, 'correo' refers to the mail in general, including packages and multiple letters. Think of 'correo' as the mail you receive, and 'carta' as a specific type of mail you might send or receive.

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