Inklingo

How to Say "sort" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “sort” is “tipo” — use 'tipo' when asking about or specifying a general category or class of something, like food or music.

English → Spanish

tipo

tee-pohˈtipo

NounA1general
Use 'tipo' when asking about or specifying a general category or class of something, like food or music.
A collection of different types of fruits like an apple, a banana, and an orange, organized in separate groups.

Examples

¿Qué tipo de comida te gusta?

What type of food do you like?

No me gusta este tipo de película.

I don't like this kind of movie.

Hay muchos tipos de animales en la selva.

There are many types of animals in the jungle.

Using 'Tipo de'

To ask 'what kind of...?', you say '¿qué tipo de...?'. The word after 'de' usually doesn't need 'un' or 'una'. For example, 'un tipo de coche' (a type of car).

clase

KLAH-sehˈklase

NounB1general
Use 'clase' to refer to a variety or a specific category, often implying a more defined group or genre.
Three distinct, clearly separated piles of objects: one pile of red apples, one pile of yellow bananas, and one pile of green limes, illustrating different kinds or types of fruit.

Examples

¿Qué clase de música te gusta?

What kind of music do you like?

Este restaurante tiene toda clase de comida.

This restaurant has all kinds of food.

Nunca he visto un animal de esa clase.

I have never seen an animal of that type.

Confusing with 'Tipo'

Mistake: “Thinking 'clase' and 'tipo' are perfectly interchangeable.”

Correction: They are very close! 'Tipo' is a bit more common in casual speech ('¿Qué tipo de...'). 'Clase' can sound slightly more formal but is perfectly fine and understood everywhere. You can use either in most cases.

especie

es-PEH-syehesˈpe.sje

NounA2general
Use 'especie' to refer to a particular kind or variety, often used when observing or identifying something specific within a broader group.
Three distinct groups of colored shapes (circles, squares, triangles) separated into different piles, illustrating categorization.

Examples

En el parque vi una especie de pájaro que no conocía.

In the park I saw a kind of bird I didn't know.

Siento una especie de alegría y nervios al mismo tiempo.

I feel a sort of joy and nervousness at the same time.

¿Qué especie de problemas tienes?

What kind of problems do you have?

Always Feminine: 'La Especie'

No matter what you're talking about, the word 'especie' itself is always feminine. So, you'll always say 'una especie de...' or 'la especie', never 'un especie'.

'Especie' vs. 'Especia'

Mistake: “Me encanta la comida con muchas especies.”

Correction: Me encanta la comida con muchas especias. 'Especie' means kind/type, while 'especia' (usually plural, 'especias') means 'spice'.

suerte

SWER-tehˈsweɾ.te

NounB2formal
Use 'suerte' to describe a manner or way in which something is done, similar to 'in this way' or 'thus'.
An illustration showing several distinct types of stylized objects neatly organized in separate, clearly defined groups, indicating different manners or sorts.

Examples

De esta suerte, conseguimos resolver el conflicto pacíficamente.

In this manner, we managed to resolve the conflict peacefully.

El autor describe toda suerte de personajes en su novela.

The author describes all sorts of characters in his novel.

índole

NounB2formal
Use 'índole' to describe the specific nature or character of something, often in more formal contexts.

Examples

Es un asunto de índole privada.

It is a matter of a private nature.

Tipo vs. Clase vs. Especie

Learners often confuse 'tipo', 'clase', and 'especie' because they all relate to categories. Remember that 'tipo' is the most general, 'clase' implies a slightly more defined variety, and 'especie' is best for identifying a specific kind of thing you've encountered.

Related Translations

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