- 18 Feb, 2024
- 0 Comments
- 5 Mins Read
Uppercase letters are called “mayúsculas” in Spanish. In Spanish, the first Word in a Sentence, countries, Cities, Institutions, Other Proper Nouns, Holidays, and Titles of multimedia are written with capital letters. Capitalization rules in Spanish are different from those in English. In Spanish, the first letter of every sentence and all proper nouns should be capitalized.
Table of Contents
What are Capitalization Rules in Spanish?
There are seven major rules for using capital letters in Spanish.
- The first letter of a sentence
- National and religious holidays
- Countries
- Cities
- Institutions
- Other Proper Nouns
- Titles of multimedia
1. The first letter of a sentence
Just like in English, the first Word of a sentence in Spanish should always be capitalized.
For example:
- Las primeras palabras son importantes. (First words are important.)
2. National and religious holidays
National and religious holidays must be capitalized according to Spanish capitalization rules.
For example:
- El Día del Árbol es el 21 de marzo. – Arbor Day is March 21st.
3. Countries
When referring to countries, the names should be capitalized in Spanish.
For instance:
- Voy a vivir en Alemania el próximo año. (I am going to live in Germany next year.)
- Mi país favorito es Jamaica. (My favorite country is Jamaica.
4. Cities
Similarly, the names of cities should be capitalized in Spanish.
For example:
- Mis botas nuevas son de Madrid. (My new boots are from Madrid.)
- Su familia vive en Barcelona. (Her family lives in Barcelona.)
5. Institutions
Institutions like universities and hospitals should have their names capitalized in Spanish.
Here are some examples:
- La Universidad de Harvard es una institución prestigiosa. (Harvard University is a prestigious institution.)
- El Hospital Médica Sur es uno de los mejores hospitales en México. (The Médica Sur Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Mexico.)
6. Other Proper Nouns
Any other proper nouns, including names of people, places, geographic features, and brands, should be capitalized in Spanish.
For example:
- Mi tía Angela es mi tía favorita. (My Aunt Angela is my favorite aunt.)
- Me gusta jugar juegos en mi Nintendo. (I like to play games on my Nintendo.)
- Visitamos el puente Golden Gate en San Francisco. (We visited the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.)
- Nosotras viajamos en canoa por el río Amazonas. (We traveled by canoe on the Amazon River.)
In Spanish, the type of geographic or manmade feature (river, mountain, bridge, etc.) is not capitalized, unlike in English.
7. Titles of multimedia
Titles of books, movies, and other works of art are capitalized, but only the first Word and any proper nouns.
- Su libro favorito es Cien años de soledad. – His favorite book is One Hundred Years of Solitude.
What are Words Not to Capitalize in Spanish?
Small letters in Spanish are called “minúsculas”. In Spanish, months, days of the week, religions, languages, Places, Personal Titles, Nationalities, and Personal nouns (yo) are written in lowercase letters.
Words not to capitalize in Spanish listed bellow.
- Months
- Days of the week
- Religions
- Languages
- Nationalities
- Personal noun(yo)
- Places
- Personal Titles
1. Months
In Spanish, the names of the months should not be capitalized unless they appear as the first Word in a sentence.
For example:
- Diciembre es cuando comienzo mi nuevo trabajo. (December is when I start my new job.)
- Mi nuevo trabajo comienza en diciembre. (My new job begins in December.)
2. Days of the Week
Similarly, the names of the days of the week should not be capitalized except when they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
For example:
- El miércoles es mi día favorito de la semana. (Wednesday is my favorite day of the week.)
- Mi día favorito de la semana es el miércoles. (My favorite day of the week is Wednesday.)
3. Religions
In Spanish, names of religions are not capitalized, except when they appear at the beginning of a sentence. Here are a few examples:
- La mayoría de los indios asiáticos practican el hinduismo. (The majority of Asian Indians practice Hinduism.)
- Fui a una hermosa iglesia católica en Madrid. (I went to a beautiful Catholic church in Madrid.)
4. Languages
Names of languages should not be capitalized in Spanish.
Consider the following examples:
- El español es un idioma fácil de aprender. (Spanish is an easy language to learn.)
- Yo hablo español con mi familia. (I speak Spanish with my family.)
5. Nationalities
While the names of countries and cities are capitalized in Spanish, the corresponding nationality words derived from them should remain lowercase.
For example:
- Yo soy colombiano(a). (I am Colombian.)
- ¡El café colombiano es el mejor del mundo! (Colombian coffee is the best in the world!)
6. Personal noun (yo)
In Spanish, the personal pronoun “yo” (I) should not be capitalized unless it begins a sentence. This differs from English, where “I” is capitalized regardless of position.
Consider the following examples:
- Yo estoy feliz. (I am happy.)
- Luisa y yo fuimos de compras ayer. (Luisa and I went shopping yesterday.)
7. Places
In Spanish, the type of place or feature is not capitalized, unlike in English. Only the proper name of the place or feature should be capitalized.
Consider the following examples:
- Fuimos a ver la Torre Eiffel en París. (We went to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris.)
- Nosotras estamos nadando en el océano Atlántico. (We are swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.)
8. Personal Titles
Personal titles, such as señora (Mrs.), señor (Mr.), and señorita (Miss), should not be capitalized in Spanish, except when they are used as abbreviations.
Let’s see some examples:
- El señor Fuentes es un buen hombre. (Mr. Fuentes is a good man.)
- Usted es un buen hombre, señor Fuentes. (You are a good man, Mr. Fuentes.)
Mastering the rules of capitalization in Spanish will improve your written language proficiency. Using capital letters forms the basis of the spelling rules of a language. To further develop your understanding of Spanish capitalization, consider reading Spanish texts, watching Spanish movies, and conversing with native speakers. The more exposure you have to the language, the more comfortable you will become with the rules.
Practical Tips for Remembering Capitalization Rules
Developing mnemonics can be a fun and effective way to remember specific capitalization rules. Creating memorable phrases or acronyms associated with each rule can make them easier to recall in writing situations. Regular writing practice that incorporates capitalization rules is essential for reinforcing correct usage. Whether through journaling, essays, or crafting short sentences, consistent practice contributes to a better understanding of the rules.
Flashcards can be a valuable tool in your learning process. Creating flashcards with examples of words or situations that require capitalization and regularly quizzing yourself can help reinforce your memory. Focusing on common pitfalls, such as proper nouns, titles, and the beginnings of sentences, is crucial. By paying extra attention to these areas, you can reduce common mistakes. Style guides, like The Chicago Manual of Style or The Associated Press Stylebook, offer comprehensive rules on capitalization and serve as helpful references for writers.
