The letter k is an oddity in Spanish. Learn more about these words that have entered the Spanish language from other cultures.
Spanish students should find a list of words that begin with k in Spanish easy to master. There are actually very few such words in the language. In Spanish, the k sound is produced by the qu letter combination, in words like queso and quemada. The letter k, along with the letter w, does not occur naturally in the Spanish language. Words that begin with k in Spanish and even words that contain the letter k have their origins outside the Spanish-speaking world.
A List of Spanish Words Beginning With K
The following Spanish words begin with k. Each word is followed by its English translation. In addition, words that have an irregular plural form include this plural. Some of these words will be familiar to Spanish language learners because of their foreign roots. Paying attention to whether nouns are masculine or feminine and noting slight changes in spelling (e.g., kilometer – kilómetro) will help add these words to your working vocabulary.
el kaleidoscopio – kaleidoscope
el kamikaze – kamikaze
el kan – khan
kaput – kaput
el karate or el karate - karate
el/la karateka or el/la karateca – karate expert
el kárdex – file or filing cabinet
el kart (pl. los karts) – kart
el karting – karting (kart racing)
el kartódromo – karting track
la Kenia, la Kenya – Kenya
keniano(a) – Kenyan
el kepis (pl. los kepis) or el kepi – kepi
la kermesse or la kermes – charity fair or kermess
el ketchup – ketchup/catsup
el kilo – kilogram or kilo
la kilocaloria – kilocalorie
el kilogramo – kilogram
el kilometraje – mileage
kilométrico(a) – endless
el kilómetro – kilometer
el kilovatio – kilowatt
el kilovatio-hora – kilowatt-hour
el kimono – kimono
el kinder (pl. los kinders) or el kindergarten (pl. los kindergartens) – kindergarten
el kiosco or el kiosko –stand or kiosk
el kiosquero/la kiosquera – kiosk attendant
el kit (pl. los kits) – kit
el kiwi – kiwi or kiwifruit
knock-out (pl. knock-outs) - knockout
el koala – koala
el kuchen – tart
el Kurdistán – Kurdistan
kurdo(a) – Kurdish
el kurdo/la kurda – Kurd
el Kuwait – Kuwait
Kuwaití - Kuwaiti
Download this list of words that begin with k in Spanish to help you practice this new vocabulary or for some fun language trivia.
