How to Say "new" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “new” is “nuevo” — use 'nuevo' for something that is recently made, created, or acquired, often implying it's your first of its kind or a replacement..
nuevo
/nweh-boh//ˈnwebo/
Examples
Compré un coche nuevo.
I bought a new car.
Compré un teléfono nuevo.
I bought a brand-new phone.
Mi vestido es completamente nuevo, todavía tiene la etiqueta.
My dress is completely new; it still has the tag on it.
¿Hueles eso? Es el olor a coche nuevo.
Do you smell that? It's the new car smell.
Placement is Key: After the Noun
When 'nuevo' comes after the thing it describes (like 'coche nuevo'), it almost always means 'brand-new' or 'factory-fresh'.
Matching the Noun
Like most describing words in Spanish, 'nuevo' changes to match the thing it describes: 'nuevo' (masculine singular), 'nueva' (feminine singular), 'nuevos' (masculine plural), 'nuevas' (feminine plural).
Placement is Key: Before the Noun
When 'nuevo' comes before the thing it describes (like 'mi nuevo coche'), it means it's new to you or different from the one you had before. It could be brand-new, but it could also be used.
Brand-New vs. New-To-Me
Mistake: “Saying 'Tengo un nuevo coche' when you want to emphasize you just bought it from the factory.”
Correction: For a factory-fresh car, say 'Tengo un coche nuevo'. The position after the noun makes it clear it's brand-new. 'Un nuevo coche' just means it's a different car than you had before.
fresco
FRES-koh/ˈfɾesko/
Examples
Necesitamos información fresca para el proyecto.
We need new information for the project.
Compramos pescado fresco en el mercado.
We bought fresh fish at the market.
Ella siempre tiene ideas frescas para el trabajo.
She always has fresh ideas for work.
Using 'Estar' for Condition
When talking about the current state of food (is it fresh right now?), use the verb 'estar': 'La carne está fresca' (The meat is fresh).
reciente
reh-SYEN-teh/reˈsjen.te/
Examples
Este es el último modelo reciente.
This is the latest recent model.
El informe más reciente está en la mesa.
The most recent report is on the table.
Esta es la película más reciente del director.
This is the director's latest movie.
A causa de la reciente lluvia, el suelo está mojado.
Because of the recent rain, the ground is wet.
Gender is Easy!
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'reciente' always looks the same, whether you are describing a masculine thing (el coche reciente) or a feminine thing (la noticia reciente). It only changes to 'recientes' when plural.
Forgetting the Plural 's'
Mistake: “Vi las dos publicación reciente.”
Correction: Vi las dos publicaciones recientes. (Make sure to add the '-s' when describing more than one thing.)
moderno
moh-DEHR-noh/moˈðeɾ.no/
Examples
La casa tiene un diseño muy moderno.
The house has a very modern design.
Mi abuelo compró un teléfono muy moderno.
My grandfather bought a very modern phone.
La arquitectura de este edificio es muy moderna.
The architecture of this building is very modern.
No me gustan las ideas tan modernas sobre la educación.
I don't like such modern ideas about education.
Gender Agreement
As an adjective, 'moderno' must change its ending to match the noun it describes. For a feminine noun, use 'moderna' (una casa moderna). For plural nouns, add '-s' (los coches modernos).
Confusing Moderno and Nuevo
Mistake: “Using 'nuevo' when you mean 'moderno'.”
Correction: 'Nuevo' means 'brand new' or 'unseen before'. 'Moderno' means 'up-to-date' or 'contemporary.' A vintage car can be new to you (nuevo), but it is not modern (moderno).
novato
noh-VAH-toh/noˈβato/
Examples
Él es un programador novato en la empresa.
He is a new programmer at the company.
Ella tiene una actitud novata, pero aprende rápido.
She has an inexperienced attitude, but she learns fast.
Fue un error novato olvidar cargar la batería.
It was a rookie mistake to forget to charge the battery.
Matching the Noun
When 'novato' is used to describe something, it must match that thing in number and gender. If you describe a female player, it's 'jugadora novata' (novata ending in -a because 'jugadora' is feminine).
Nuevo vs. Novato
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.