An overview of Spanish genre vocabulary across literature, music, film, and more, helping learners master key terms for diverse creative categories.
Spanish genres span a wide range of categories across literature, music, film, and other arts. Understanding these genre names in Spanish helps learners talk about their favorite types of stories, songs, and movies with greater precision and confidence. Below, we explore essential genre vocabulary from multiple domains.
Spanish literary genres cover the various forms of written storytelling, from poetry to novels to plays. These terms appear in libraries, bookstores, and academic settings.
| Spanish Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| novela / novelas | novel / novels | Estoy leyendo una novela de misterio. | I'm reading a mystery novel. |
| cuento / cuentos | short story / short stories | Me gusta escribir cuentos de terror. | I like writing horror short stories. |
| poesía / poesías | poetry / poems | La poesía de Pablo Neruda es hermosa. | Pablo Neruda's poetry is beautiful. |
| ensayo / ensayos | essay / essays | Debemos entregar un ensayo sobre historia. | We must submit an essay on history. |
| drama / dramas | drama / dramas | Estudio drama en la universidad. | I study drama at university. |
La ___ de Pablo Neruda es hermosa.
Which Spanish genre refers to 'poetry'?
poesía
'Poesía' is the Spanish word for poetry. 'Novela' is novel, 'ensayo' is essay, and 'drama' is drama.
Spanish music genres reflect the rich diversity of sound across the Spanish-speaking world. These terms are common in conversations about favorite artists and concert choices.
| Spanish Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pop | pop (unchanged) | Escucho música pop todos los días. | I listen to pop music every day. |
| rock | rock (unchanged) | Mi hermano toca en una banda de rock. | My brother plays in a rock band. |
| salsa | salsa (unchanged) | Bailamos salsa en la fiesta. | We danced salsa at the party. |
| reguetón | reggaeton (unchanged) | El reguetón es muy popular entre jóvenes. | Reggaeton is very popular among young people. |
| flamenco | flamenco (unchanged) | El flamenco es un baile tradicional español. | Flamenco is a traditional Spanish dance. |
Spanish film and TV genres help describe the many types of shows and movies available on streaming platforms and in theaters.
| Spanish Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| comedia / comedias | comedy / comedies | Ves muchas comedias románticas. | You watch a lot of romantic comedies. |
| drama / dramas | drama / dramas | La serie es un drama sobre la política. | The series is a drama about politics. |
| terror / terrores | horror / horrors | No me gustan las películas de terror. | I don't like horror movies. |
| suspenso / suspensos | thriller / thrillers | El suspenso mantiene al público en tensión. | The thriller keeps the audience tense. |
| documental / documentales | documentary / documentaries | Vi un documental sobre el océano. | I watched a documentary about the ocean. |
These genres describe different forms of artistic expression and live performance, from painting styles to theatrical categories.
| Spanish Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pintura / pinturas | painting / paintings | Me encanta la pintura impresionista. | I love Impressionist painting. |
| escultura / esculturas | sculpture / sculptures | La escultura está hecha de mármol. | The sculpture is made of marble. |
| teatro / teatros | theater / theaters | Vamos al teatro esta noche. | We're going to the theater tonight. |
| danza / danzas | dance / dances | Estudio danza clásica. | I study classical dance. |
| ópera / óperas | opera / operas | La ópera fue espectacular. | The opera was spectacular. |
These additional genres appear in broader cultural contexts, including journalism, comics, and folklore.
| Spanish Singular/Plural | English Singular/Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| noticia / noticias | news / news (pl.) | Leí las noticias en internet. | I read the news online. |
| cómic / cómics | comic / comics | Mi hijo colecciona cómics de superhéroes. | My son collects superhero comics. |
| leyenda / leyendas | legend / legends | La leyenda cuenta la historia del lago. | The legend tells the story of the lake. |
| biografía / biografías | biography / biographies | Leí la biografía de Frida Kahlo. | I read the biography of Frida Kahlo. |
| ensayo / ensayos | essay / essays | Escribí un ensayo sobre el cambio climático. | I wrote an essay on climate change. |
La ___ cuenta la historia del lago.
What is the Spanish word for 'legend'?
leyenda
'Leyenda' means legend in Spanish. 'Biografía' is biography, 'noticia' is news, and 'ensayo' is essay.
Mastering Spanish genre vocabulary opens doors to richer conversations about culture, entertainment, and the arts. Whether you're recommending a book, describing a song, or discussing a film, these terms help you express yourself with greater confidence and nuance.
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- English Singular/Plural: novel / novels
- English Example: I'm reading a mystery novel.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
