How to Say "ownership" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “ownership” is “propiedad” — use 'propiedad' when referring to the right to possess something or a specific piece of property you own, like a house or land.
propiedad
proh-pee-eh-DAHDpɾo.pjeˈðað
Examples
Quiero comprar una propiedad pequeña cerca del mar.
I want to buy a small property near the sea.
Esa es nuestra propiedad; la compramos el año pasado.
That is our property; we bought it last year.
Necesitamos los documentos que confirmen la propiedad del coche.
We need the documents that confirm ownership of the car.
Gender Check
Even though it ends in '-d', 'propiedad' is always a feminine word, so use 'la propiedad' or 'una propiedad'.
posesión
Examples
La posesión de esa tierra ha sido disputada por años.
The possession of that land has been disputed for years.
pertenencia
per-te-nen-syahpeɾteˈnensja
Examples
La pertenencia de estas tierras ha sido debatida por años.
The ownership of these lands has been debated for years.
El museo reclama la pertenencia del cuadro.
The museum claims ownership of the painting.
Se debe verificar la pertenencia de los objetos encontrados.
The ownership of the found objects must be verified.
Abstract vs. Concrete
In the singular, 'pertenencia' refers to the concept of owning. If you want to talk about your physical things (keys, phone, etc.), you must use the plural 'pertenencias'.
Singular vs. Plural
Mistake: “Recogí mi pertenencia.”
Correction: Recogí mis pertenencias. (When referring to physical items you own, use the plural form.)
Ownership vs. Possession
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.