How you say “language” in Spanish is dependent on how you are using the word. Usually, if you’re talking about the official language of a country, you would use el idioma. But the Spanish words la lengua and el lenguaje are also translations of the word “language” that work in specific contexts. These Spanish words for “language” are all related but interchangeable in only a few cases. Learn when to use the Spanish words idioma, lengua, and lenguaje the right ways.
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When to use idioma to mean ‘language’ in Spanish
The word idioma in Spanish refers to the specific languages that people speak, such as an official language of a country or the name of the language someone is learning. This word for “language” in Spanish often has a specific name, such as el inglés (English) or el italiano (Italian). For example, Rosetta Stone offers courses in 25 idiomas.
- Este cartel está en muchos idiomas. = This sign is in many languages.
- ¿Cuántos idiomas hablas? = How many languages do you speak?
- Yo hablo tres idiomas: inglés, español, y árabe. = I speak three languages: English, Spanish, and Arabic.
- ¿Qué idioma está hablando él? = What language is he speaking?
When to use lengua for ‘language’
The word lengua (language) can literally mean “tongue” in English. It can also mean “language” in different contexts. It is common in many set phrases in Spanish. You can use Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion methods to learn la lengua española (the Spanish language) as a segunda lengua (second language).
In some cases, idioma would work just as well. As you compare the use of idioma vs lengua, note that idioma is a masculine word in Spanish, while lengua is feminine, so adjectives will change form to follow Spanish gender rules.
| Spanish | English |
| Inglés como Lengua Extranjera | English as a foreign language |
| inglés como segunda lenguainglés como segundo idioma | English as a second language |
| una lengua clásica | a classical language like Latin |
| la lengua de señas/signos británica | British sign language |
| la lengua de signos americana | American sign language |
| la lengua escrita | written language |
| la lengua españolael idioma español | the Spanish language |
| una lengua extranjeraun idioma extranjero | a foreign language |
| una lengua materna | a first language or “mother tongue” |
| una lengua muerta | a dead language like Latin |
| una lengua romance | a Romance language |
| lengua y literatura | Language Arts (language and literature) |
| una lengua viva | a living language |
>> Spot the differences between una and la when you understand definite and indefinite articles in Spanish.
When to use lenguaje to mean ‘language’ in Spanish
While similar to lengua, the term lenguaje is a bit more specific. It’s used in linguistics to refer to a system of communication or the concept of a language. It might also refer to a specific type of language someone is using. With Rosetta Stone, you can learn lenguaje estándar (standard language), and expert tutors can help you learn some lenguaje informal (informal language) that might be popular in a specific region or Spanish dialect.
The Real Academia Español defines lenguaje as the ability of human beings to express themselves and communicate with others through sound or signs. Another definition is a specific type or register of language, best defined as the manera (way) in which someone uses language to express themselves. It is usually used with a descriptive adjective.
| Spanish | English |
| lenguaje callejero | street language/slang |
| lenguaje coloquial | colloquial language |
| lenguaje corporal | body language |
| lenguaje culto | educated/intellectual language |
| lenguaje de ordenadores/lenguaje informático | computer language |
| lenguaje de programación | programming language |
| lenguaje figurado | figurative language |
| lenguaje grosero | crude/rude language |
| lenguaje jurídico | legal jargon |
| lenguaje literario | literary language |
| lenguaje periodístico | journalistic language |
| lenguaje sencillo | simple language |
| lenguaje técnico | technical language |
| lenguaje vulgar/obsceno | vulgar/obscene language |
There is some crossover between the terms idioma vs lenguaje and lengua vs lenguaje. Truly mastering the differences is an advanced part of adquisición de lenguaje (language acquisition) or aprendizaje de lenguas (language learning).
Success in learning any idioma is to be able to use the correct lenguaje to express yourself appropriately.
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