Inklingo

How to Say "pay" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “pay” is “salario” — use 'salario' for the general term referring to the money a person earns from their job over a period of time, like monthly or yearly earnings..

salario🔊A1

Use 'salario' for the general term referring to the money a person earns from their job over a period of time, like monthly or yearly earnings.

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sueldo🔊A1

Use 'sueldo' as another general term for earnings from employment, often interchangeable with 'salario' but sometimes implying a fixed, regular payment.

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paga🔊A2

Use 'paga' specifically for wages or the amount of money paid to someone, often implying a smaller or more frequent payment than 'salario' or 'sueldo'.

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paguen🔊A2

Use 'paguen' when expressing a wish, order, or possibility related to 'them' or 'you all' (ustedes) performing the action of paying.

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cancelar🔊B1

Use 'cancelar' when the act of paying specifically refers to settling a bill, debt, or invoice.

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English → Spanish

salario

sah-LAH-ree-oh/saˈla.rjo/

nounA1general
Use 'salario' for the general term referring to the money a person earns from their job over a period of time, like monthly or yearly earnings.
A simple illustration showing a worker happily receiving a neat stack of currency bills from an employer's hand, representing a salary payment.

Examples

Mi salario me permite ahorrar un poco cada mes.

My salary allows me to save a little every month.

El gobierno subió el salario mínimo nacional.

The government raised the national minimum wage.

¿Cuál es el salario promedio en este sector?

What is the average salary in this sector?

It's Masculine!

Remember to always use the masculine article 'el' with this word: 'el salario' (the salary), even though it ends in '-a'.

Salario vs. Sueldo

Mistake: “Using 'sueldo' when referring to the legal/official minimum wage.”

Correction: 'Salario' is often preferred in official or legal contexts, especially when talking about the 'salario mínimo' (minimum wage). 'Sueldo' is more common for general monthly pay.

sueldo

SWEL-doh/ˈswel.do/

nounA1
Use 'sueldo' as another general term for earnings from employment, often interchangeable with 'salario' but sometimes implying a fixed, regular payment.
A drawing of a hand accepting a tidy stack of cash and coins, symbolizing a salary payment.

Examples

Mi sueldo es suficiente para pagar el alquiler.

My salary is enough to pay the rent.

¿Cuándo nos van a depositar el sueldo de este mes?

When are they going to deposit this month's pay?

La empresa anunció un aumento del 10% en todos los sueldos base.

The company announced a 10% increase in all base salaries.

Gender Rule

As a masculine noun, 'sueldo' always uses the masculine articles: 'el sueldo' (the salary) and 'un sueldo' (a salary).

Sueldo vs. Dinero

Mistake: “Using 'sueldo' when you mean money in general (dinero).”

Correction: Use 'sueldo' only for the money earned from a job. Use 'dinero' for cash or money generally. Example: 'Tengo dinero en mi cartera' (I have money in my wallet).

paga

PAH-gah/ˈpaɣa/

nounA2general
Use 'paga' specifically for wages or the amount of money paid to someone, often implying a smaller or more frequent payment than 'salario' or 'sueldo'.
A small neat stack of colorful paper money and several gold coins resting on a plain wooden table, representing earned salary or wages.

Examples

Mi paga mensual llega el día 25.

My monthly pay arrives on the 25th.

Les dieron una paga extra por el trabajo nocturno.

They gave them extra wages for the night work.

Gender Trap

Even though many financial terms are masculine, 'la paga' (pay/wages) is always feminine.

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Using 'el paga' to mean 'the pay'.”

Correction: The noun meaning 'pay' is always feminine: 'la paga'.

paguen

/PAH-ghen//ˈpaɣen/

verbA2general
Use 'paguen' when expressing a wish, order, or possibility related to 'them' or 'you all' (ustedes) performing the action of paying.
A person handing a stack of colorful bills to a shopkeeper over a counter.

Examples

Espero que ellos paguen la cena.

I hope they pay for dinner.

¡Paguen la cuenta ahora, por favor!

Pay the bill now, please!

Dudo que nos paguen hoy.

I doubt they will pay us today.

The Silent 'U'

The 'u' is added to keep the 'g' sounding hard, like 'goat'. Without the 'u', it would sound like a raspy 'h'.

Giving Group Commands

When you want to tell a group of people to 'pay' politely or formally, use 'paguen'.

Missing 'u'

Mistake: “pagen”

Correction: paguen

cancelar

/kahn-seh-LAHR//kan.seˈlaɾ/

verbB1formal
Use 'cancelar' when the act of paying specifically refers to settling a bill, debt, or invoice.
A close-up view of a hand placing a stack of paper currency and a few coins onto a small, folded paper bill, signifying payment.

Examples

Voy a cancelar la factura de luz antes de que corten el servicio.

I'm going to pay the electricity bill before they cut the service.

Ellos lograron cancelar todas sus deudas hipotecarias.

They managed to pay off all their mortgage debts.

Pagar vs. Cancelar

'Pagar' is the general word for paying. 'Cancelar' is often used when settling a specific, large bill or debt, giving it a slightly more formal or final feeling.

Earnings vs. Paying Bills

Learners often confuse the nouns for earnings ('salario', 'sueldo', 'paga') with verbs for making payments. Remember that 'salario', 'sueldo', and 'paga' refer to money received, while 'cancelar' (for bills) and the verb form of 'pagar' (like 'paguen') refer to money given.

Related Translations

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