Measurement vocabulary is essential for describing size, travel, and physical dimensions in Spanish. This short guide covers common units and useful expressions.
Vocabulary
Familiarize yourself with key terms for length and distance so you can ask about and state measurements clearly.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| la longitud | length | |
| la distancia | distance | |
| la medida | measurement | |
| una regla | a ruler | |
| una cinta métrica | a tape measure |
The ruler is on the table.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 🌳 El árbol está lejos. | The tree is far away. | |
| 🏠 La casa está cerca. | The house is nearby. | |
| 🚶 Caminamos una distancia larga. | We walked a long distance. | |
| 🧍 Está a poca distancia. | It is a short distance away. | |
| 🗺️ Medimos la distancia en el mapa. | We measured the distance on the map. |
Units
Learn the standard units for everyday use as well as larger and smaller measures so you can interpret and give precise amounts.
| Spanish Unit | English Unit | |
|---|---|---|
| el kilómetro | the kilometer | |
| el metro | the meter | |
| el centímetro | the centimeter | |
| el milímetro | the millimeter | |
| la milla | the mile | |
| la pulgada | the inch | |
| el pie | the foot |
| Spanish Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 📏 La regla mide treinta centímetros. | The ruler measures thirty centimeters. | |
| 🧴 La botella tiene un litro de agua. | The bottle has a liter of water. | |
| 🏃 Corrió cinco kilómetros. | He ran five kilometers. | |
| 🌐 La distancia entre ciudades es de cientos de kilómetros. | The distance between cities is hundreds of kilometers. | |
| 🏫 La escuela está a doscientos metros. | The school is two hundred meters away. |
Expressions
Common phrases for asking about size and stating length will help you communicate measurements in real situations like shopping or giving directions.
| Spanish Expression | English Expression | |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto mide? | How long is it? | |
| Mide un metro. | It measures one meter. | |
| ¿Cuál es la distancia? | What is the distance? | |
| Está a dos kilómetros. | It is two kilometers away. |
| Spanish Word(s) | English Translation(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 🧭 ¿Qué tan lejos está...? | How far is...? | |
| 📍 Está a tres cuadras. | It’s three blocks away. | |
| ⏱️ Toma veinte minutos caminar allí. | It takes twenty minutes to walk there. | |
| 🗳️ Ponlo a dos metros de la esquina. | Put it two meters from the corner. | |
| 🔄 Dimos la vuelta a la manzana. | We walked around the block. |
Summary
Length and distance vocabulary centers on a few key units and straightforward expressions for asking and telling measurements. Practice these terms to describe size and travel accurately.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025