Instruments

Spanish musical instrument vocabulary that covers common instrument names across categories, helping you talk about music in Spanish.

Spanish has specific words for different musical instruments. This guide introduces the most common instrument names across categories like strings, winds, percussion, and keyboards.

String Instruments

String instruments produce sound by plucking, bowing, or strumming strings.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Spanish Example	English Example
guitarra	guitarras	guitar	guitars	Toco la guitarra por la noche.	I play the guitar at night.
violín	violines	violin	violins	El violín suena muy alto.	The violin sounds very loud.
violonchelo	violonchelos	cello	cellos	El violonchelo es grande.	The cello is large.
contrabajo	contrabajos	double bass	double basses	El contrabajo tiene cuerdas gruesas.	The double bass has thick strings.
arpa	arpas	harp	harps	El arpa es un instrumento antiguo.	The harp is an ancient instrument.

El ___ suena muy alto.

What is the Spanish word for 'violin'?

violonchelo

violín

contrabajo

trompeta

violín

The Spanish word for 'violin' is 'violín'. The sentence means 'The violin sounds very loud.'

Wind Instruments

Wind instruments produce sound by blowing air into them.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Spanish Example	English Example
flauta	flautas	flute	flutes	La flauta es muy melodiosa.	The flute is very melodious.
clarinete	clarinetes	clarinet	clarinets	Toco el clarinete en la banda.	I play the clarinet in the band.
saxofón	saxofones	saxophone	saxophones	El saxofón tiene un sonido suave.	The saxophone has a smooth sound.
trompeta	trompetas	trumpet	trumpets	La trompeta es potente.	The trumpet is powerful.
trombón	trombones	trombone	trombones	El trombón es más grande que la trompeta.	The trombone is bigger than the trumpet.

La ___ es potente.

What is the Spanish word for 'trumpet'?

trombón

trompeta

saxofón

flauta

trompeta

The Spanish word for 'trumpet' is 'trompeta'. The sentence means 'The trumpet is powerful.'

Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments produce sound when struck, shaken, or scraped.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Spanish Example	English Example
tambor	tambores	drum	drums	El tambor marca el ritmo.	The drum keeps the beat.
batería	baterías	drum set	drum sets	La batería es mi instrumento favorito.	The drum set is my favorite instrument.
conga	congas	conga	congas	Las congas son populares en la música latina.	Congas are popular in Latin music.
triángulo	triángulos	triangle	triangles	El triángulo suena muy alto.	The triangle sounds very high.
maracas	maracas	maracas	maracas	Las maracas acompañan la canción.	The maracas accompany the song.

Keyboard Instruments

Keyboard instruments produce sound when keys are pressed.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Spanish Example	English Example
piano	pianos	piano	pianos	Ella toca el piano clásicamente.	She plays the piano classically.
teclado	teclados	keyboard	keyboards	Uso el teclado electrónico.	I use the electronic keyboard.
órgano	órganos	organ	organs	El órgano suena en la iglesia.	The organ plays in the church.

Ella toca el ___ clásicamente.

What is the Spanish word for 'piano'?

teclado

piano

órgano

guitarra

piano

The Spanish word for 'piano' is 'piano'. The sentence means 'She plays the piano classically.'

Other Instruments

Here are some additional instrument names that don’t fit into the main categories.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Spanish Example	English Example
acordeón	acordeones	accordion	accordions	El acordeón es popular en Norteamérica.	The accordion is popular in North America.
guitarra eléctrica	guitarras eléctricas	electric guitar	electric guitars	La guitarra eléctrica tiene mucho volumen.	The electric guitar has a lot of volume.
ukelele	ukeleles	ukulele	ukuleles	El ukelele es pequeño y fácil de tocar.	The ukulele is small and easy to play.
xilófono	xilófonos	xylophone	xylophones	El xilófono tiene barras de madera.	The xylophone has wooden bars.

This vocabulary will help you name common instruments in Spanish, whether you’re talking about a band, orchestra, or solo performance.

English Singular: guitar
English Plural: guitars
English Example: I play the guitar at night.

Spanish