How to Say "note" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “note” is “nota” — use 'nota' for a brief, informal written message, like a reminder left for someone, or a short memo.
nota
NOH-tahˈno.ta
Examples
Dejé una nota a mi compañero de piso antes de salir.
I left a note for my roommate before leaving.
El director tomó nota de todos nuestros comentarios.
The director made a note of all our comments.
El piano tocó la nota más alta de la melodía.
The piano played the highest note of the melody.
Hay una nota de tristeza en su voz.
There is a note of sadness in his voice.
'Tomar nota'
The fixed phrase 'tomar nota' means 'to write something down' or 'to pay attention to something so you remember it later.' Do not use 'hacer' (to make) a note.
Figurative Use
Like in English, 'nota' can be used figuratively to mean 'a hint,' 'a touch,' or 'a feeling' within a situation, emotion, or piece of art (e.g., 'una nota de ironía').
Using 'hacer' with notes
Mistake: “Hice una nota.”
Correction: Escribí una nota (I wrote a note) or Tomé una nota (I took a note).
mensaje
men-SA-hehmenˈsa.xe
Examples
Te envié un mensaje esta mañana. ¿Lo viste?
I sent you a message this morning. Did you see it?
Por favor, déjale un mensaje a tu hermana de mi parte.
Please, leave a message for your sister from me.
Recibí un mensaje de voz de un número desconocido.
I received a voicemail message from an unknown number.
Always Masculine: 'el mensaje'
Even though it ends in '-e', 'mensaje' is a masculine word. A helpful trick: nearly all Spanish nouns that end in '-aje' are masculine, like 'el viaje' (the trip) and 'el garaje' (the garage).
Don't Mix Up with 'Masaje'
Mistake: “Quiero un mensaje, por favor.”
Correction: Quiero un masaje, por favor. 'Masaje' means 'massage'. They sound similar but mean very different things!
apunte
ah-POON-tehaˈpunte
Examples
No entiendo este apunte que escribí ayer.
I don't understand this note I wrote yesterday.
Perdí mis apuntes de la clase de historia.
I lost my history class notes.
Toma un apunte rápido antes de que se te olvide.
Take a quick note before you forget.
The Plural Power
While 'apunte' is the singular note, you'll almost always hear it in the plural 'apuntes' when referring to class or study notes, much like how we say 'notes' in English.
Gender Consistency
This word is always masculine. Even if you are a girl taking notes, they are 'los apuntes'.
Notes vs. Grades
Mistake: “Usar 'apunte' para decir 'I got a good grade'.”
Correction: Use 'nota' for grades. 'Apunte' is only for the words you write down to study.
tono
TOH-nohˈtono
Examples
El piano necesita afinación, el tono está un poco bajo.
The piano needs tuning, the tone is a little flat.
Su voz tiene un tono muy grave y resonante.
His voice has a very deep and resonant pitch.
El tono de llamada de mi móvil es una melodía clásica.
My cell phone ringtone is a classical melody.
Masculine Noun Rule
Remember that 'tono' is a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it, and any describing words (adjectives) must also end in -o (e.g., 'el tono fuerte').
anotación
Examples
Hice una anotación rápida en mi cuaderno para no olvidar la cita.
I made a quick note in my notebook so I wouldn't forget the appointment.
advertencia
ahd-vehr-TEHN-syahað.βeɾˈten.sja
Examples
La novela comenzaba con una advertencia sobre el contenido sensible.
The novel began with a disclaimer about the sensitive content.
Por favor, lea la advertencia legal antes de usar el software.
Please read the legal notice before using the software.
observación
Examples
El profesor hizo una observación muy pertinente sobre mi tesis.
The professor made a very relevant comment about my thesis.
nota
Examples
El piano tocó la nota más alta de la melodía.
The piano played the highest note of the melody.
Nota vs. Apunte vs. Mensaje
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