How to Say Payment and Money Terms in Spanish
Common Spanish Words for Payment and Money
Pago is the Spanish word for payment. When you see it on a bill, a bank statement, or a landlord's notice, it means the money you owe or the money that has been paid. Dinero means money in general. Pagar is the verb — it means to pay. So "voy a pagar" means "I am going to pay."
If you are reading a bill or a letter from a creditor, you will see these words often. Adeudo means an amount owed or a debt. Saldo means balance — the amount left on an account. Factura is an invoice or bill. Recibo is a receipt, the proof that you paid.
When money moves out of your account automatically, that is a débito automático or transferencia automática — an automatic debit or automatic transfer. When you owe money and have not paid yet, you are atrasado or en atraso — behind or in arrears.
Key Takeaways
- Pago means payment; pagar means to pay; dinero means money.
- Adeudo is a debt or amount owed; saldo is the balance remaining on an account.
- Factura is a bill or invoice; recibo is a receipt proving payment was made.
- Débito automático or transferencia automática refers to money that leaves your account on a schedule without you having to act each time.
- Atrasado or en atraso means you are behind on a payment or in arrears.
Banking and Account Terms in Spanish
When you open a bank account or read a statement, the bank will use specific terms. Your account is a cuenta. A cuenta corriente is a checking account. A cuenta de ahorros is a savings account. The money you put in is a depósito. The money you take out is a retiro.
Your bank statement is an estado de cuenta. The interest you earn is interés. A fee the bank charges is a comisión or cargo. If you do not have enough money in your account and you try to withdraw or pay more than you have, that is sobregiro — an overdraft.
When you borrow money from a bank, that loan is a préstamo. The tasa de interés is the interest rate — the percentage the bank charges you to borrow. Plazo means the term or length of time you have to repay the loan.
Credit and Debt Words in Spanish
Crédito means credit — the ability to borrow money or buy now and pay later. A tarjeta de crédito is a credit card. Your límite de crédito is your credit limit, the maximum you can charge. The saldo de la tarjeta is the balance on your card — how much you owe.
When you do not pay on time, you are moroso or en mora — delinquent or in default. A mora is also a late fee or penalty. If you owe money to many creditors and cannot pay, you are insolvente — insolvent. Quiebra or bancarrota means bankruptcy.
Your credit history is your historial de crédito. Your credit score is your puntuación de crédito or score de crédito. Creditors and lenders check this to decide whether to lend you money. If you have missed payments or owe a lot, your score is bajo — low. If you pay on time and owe little, your score is alto — high.
Utility and Rent Payment Terms in Spanish
Your rent is renta or alquiler. Your landlord is casero or propietario. When you sign a lease, you are signing a contrato de arrendamiento or contrato de alquiler. The depósito de seguridad is the security deposit — money you give upfront that the landlord holds.
Utilities are servicios. Your electric bill is the factura de electricidad or recibo de luz. Your water bill is the factura de agua. Your gas bill is the factura de gas. Internet is internet or servicio de internet. Phone service is servicio telefónico.
When a utility company shuts off your service because you did not pay, that is a corte de servicio — a service cutoff or disconnection. To turn it back on, you must pay the adeudo (amount owed) plus any cargo por reconexión (reconnection fee).
Payment Method Terms in Spanish
You can pay with efectivo — cash. You can pay with a cheque or chequera — a check or checkbook. You can pay with a tarjeta de débito — a debit card that pulls money directly from your account. You can pay with a tarjeta de crédito — a credit card that you pay back later.
Online or by phone, you might pay by transferencia bancaria — a bank transfer. You might set up a pago automático — an automatic payment that happens on the same day each month. Some companies accept dinero móvil or billetera digital — mobile money or digital wallet payments through apps.
When you send money to someone else, that is a envío de dinero or remesa. A giro is a money order. A transferencia is a wire transfer or bank transfer. The número de referencia or número de confirmación is the confirmation number — proof the payment was sent.
Late Payment and Collection Terms in Spanish
When a payment is late, it is vencido or atrasado. The fecha de vencimiento is the due date — when the payment must arrive. If you miss the due date, you owe a cargo por mora or multa por atraso — a late fee or penalty.
If you do not pay for a long time, a agencia de cobros or cobrador — a collection agency or debt collector — may contact you. They send a aviso de cobro — a collection notice. If you still do not pay, they may file a demanda — a lawsuit. A sentencia is a court judgment against you.
If a creditor wins a judgment, they can place a gravamen — a lien — on your property. They can also garnish your salario — your wages — meaning money is taken directly from your paycheck. A embargo is a seizure of property to pay a debt.
Government and Assistance Payment Terms in Spanish
Beneficio means a benefit — money or help from a government program. Subsidio is a subsidy or grant. Ayuda means help or assistance. Programa de asistencia is an assistance program. Elegibilidad refers to whether you meet the requirements.
Ingreso means income — the money you earn. Ingresos brutos are gross income (before taxes). Ingresos netos are net income (after taxes). Nivel de pobreza is the poverty level — the income threshold used to decide who can receive help. Porcentaje del ingreso is the percentage of income — often used to calculate how much help you receive.
Solicitud means an application. Documentación means the documents you must provide. Aprobación means approval. Denegación or rechazo means denial or rejection of your request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pago and pagar?
Pago is a noun — it means the payment itself or the act of paying. Pagar is a verb — it means to pay. You might say "El pago es debido" (The payment is due) or "Voy a pagar mañana" (I am going to pay tomorrow).
How do I say I am behind on my rent in Spanish?
You can say "Estoy atrasado con la renta" or "Tengo un adeudo de renta" or "Debo renta." All three mean you owe rent and have not paid it on time. If you want to be more specific, you might say "Estoy dos meses atrasado" (I am two months behind).
What does débito automático mean on my bank statement?
Débito automático means an automatic debit — money that leaves your account on a schedule without you having to authorize it each time. It is often used for bills like utilities, rent, or loan payments that happen the same day every month.
Is there a difference between tarjeta de crédito and tarjeta de débito?
Yes. A tarjeta de crédito (credit card) lets you borrow money and pay it back later. A tarjeta de débito (debit card) pulls money directly from your bank account right away. With a debit card, you can only spend money you already have.
What should I do if I receive a notice from a cobrador?
A cobrador (debt collector) is trying to collect money you owe. You have rights — you can ask them to stop calling, request proof of the debt, or dispute it if you do not believe you owe it. Write to them in Spanish or English, keep copies, and consider talking to a legal aid office or consumer protection agency in your area.