Every time you ask how to say “password” in Spanish, the most common and correct translation is la contraseña. Here's the thing — it is pronounced approximately kon-trah-SEN-yah in Latin American Spanish, while in Spain it is often pronounced closer to kon-thah-SEN-yah because the letter s before certain sounds can become th. Whether you are setting up an account, logging in, helping a friend, or learning everyday Spanish, contraseña is the word you will hear most often.
Quick note before moving on.
Introduction to “Password” in Spanish
Let's talk about the English word password can be translated into Spanish in a few different ways depending on the situation, but the standard term is contraseña. In digital contexts, such as websites, apps, computers, email accounts, and bank portals, contraseña means the secret word or phrase used to access an account.
For example:
- Password: password
- Spanish: la contraseña
- Pronunciation: kon-trah-SEN-yah
- Gender: feminine noun
- Plural: las contraseñas
The word contraseña is used broadly in Spanish-speaking countries, so it is the safest translation to use in almost every situation.
The Correct Translation: “La Contraseña”
The most direct answer to “How do you say password in Spanish?” is:
Password = la contraseña
The article la is important because contraseña is a feminine noun in Spanish. You say la contraseña, not el contraseña.
Examples:
-
My password is strong.
Mi contraseña es fuerte. -
I forgot my password.
Olvidé mi contraseña. -
Please enter your password.
Por favor, ingrese su contraseña. -
Change your password.
Cambie su contraseña.
In many online forms, you may see the word contraseña by itself without la. For example:
Usuario: username
Contraseña: password
This is common in login forms.
Pronunciation of “Contraseña” in Spanish
To say contraseña correctly, break it into syllables:
con-tra-se-ña
The stress falls on the syllable se:
con-tra-SEN-ña
A simple pronunciation guide is:
kon-trah-SEN-yah
Don't overlook let's talk about the spanish ñ. It sounds like the ny in the English word canyon. Even so, it carries more weight than people think. So the end of the word is not just “na”; it is more like nyah.
In Spain, the s in contraseña may sound like th, especially in Castilian Spanish:
kon-thah-SEN-tha
In most of Latin America, the s keeps its normal “s” sound:
kon-trah-SEN-yah
Both pronunciations are correct.
“Contraseña” vs. “Clave” in Spanish
Another word you may hear is clave. It can mean key, code, or password, depending on context. Even so, clave is not always the best translation for “password,” especially when talking about online accounts Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Common uses of clave
Clave can mean:
- Key
- Code
- Clue
- Password, in some contexts
Examples:
- La clave de la puerta = the key to the door
- La clave del teléfono = the phone PIN
- La clave del Wi-Fi = the Wi-Fi password
- La clave para abrir el archivo = the code/password to open the file
In some digital systems, especially older ones or technical contexts, you may see clave used instead of contraseña. For example:
Usuario: user
Clave: password
On the flip side, for learners, contraseña is clearer and more widely recognized as the direct translation of “password.”
Common Password Phrases in Spanish
Here are useful Spanish phrases related to passwords.
How do you say password in Spanish?
¿Cómo se dice “password” en español?
Answer:
Password se dice “contraseña” en español.
What is your password?
¿Cuál es tu contraseña?
This is grammatically correct, but in real life, it is usually not appropriate to ask someone directly for their password. Passwords are private.
I forgot my password.
Olvidé mi contraseña.
This is one of the most common phrases you will need online.
I forgot my password. Formal version
Olvidé mi contraseña.
The verb olvidar works the same in formal and informal speech here because the subject is still “I.”
Change your password.
Informal:
Cambia tu contraseña.
Formal:
Cambie su contraseña.
Create a password.
Crea una contraseña.
Formal:
Cree una contraseña.
Enter your password.
Informal:
Escribe tu contraseña.
Formal or professional:
Ingrese su contraseña.
The password is incorrect.
La contraseña es incorrecta.
The password is wrong.
La contraseña está mal.
Strong password.
Contraseña fuerte
Secure password.
Contraseña segura
Reset my password.
Restablecer mi contraseña
You may also hear:
Cambiar mi contraseña = change my password
Username vs. Password in Spanish
It is helpful to know the difference between username and password in Spanish Took long enough..
Username
Username can be translated as:
- usuario
- **
