The Curious Case of “K” in Spanish
If you’re learning Spanish, you might notice something odd: there aren’t many Spanish words that start with the letter “K.” In fact, most of the words you do find with a “K” are actually borrowed from other languages.
That makes learning these words a great opportunity. Spotting a word with “K” in Spanish is often a quick way to recognize its origin and add it to your vocabulary.
This article will explore some common Spanish words with “K,” where they come from, and how they’re used. We’ll also touch on why the letter “K” isn’t as common in Spanish as it is in other languages.
The Letter “K” in Spanish
The letter “K” is called “ka” in Spanish, pronounced pretty much the same way we say “ka” in English.
However, you won’t see the letter “K” used very often in native Spanish words. It’s mostly used in loanwords—words borrowed from other languages, such as “kilo” (kilogram) or “kiosko” (kiosk).
So, what do Spanish speakers usually do to make a “k” sound?
They use the letters “qu.” For example, the word for cheese is “queso,” which sounds like “keh-so.” You’ll see “qu” all over the place in Spanish, doing the job that “k” does in English!
Spanish nouns that begin with “K”
You’ll notice that Spanish words beginning with “K” are pretty rare. That’s because Spanish doesn’t natively include the letter “K” in its alphabet, so most “K” words are borrowed from another language.
Here are a few common Spanish nouns that start with “K.”
Common nouns
- Kiosco
- Definition: Small outdoor booth or pavilion
- Example sentence: “Compré un periódico en el kiosco” (I bought a newspaper at the kiosk.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kiosco)
- Kárate
- Definition: Karate
- Example sentence: “Mi hijo practica kárate dos veces por semana” (My son practices karate twice a week.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kárate)
- Kilogramo
- Definition: Kilogram
- Example sentence: “Necesito un kilogramo de arroz” (I need a kilogram of rice.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kilogramo)
- Kilómetro
- Definition: Kilometer
- Example sentence: “La ciudad está a cinco kilómetros de aquí” (The city is five kilometers from here.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kilómetro)
- Kilometraje
- Definition: Mileage
- Example sentence: “El kilometraje de mi coche es alto” (The mileage of my car is high.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kilometraje)
- Kilovatio
- Definition: Kilowatt
- Example sentence: “Esta estufa consume muchos kilovatios” (This stove consumes many kilowatts.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kilovatio)
- Koala
- Definition: Koala
- Example sentence: “Vi un koala en el zoológico” (I saw a koala at the zoo.)
- Gender: Masculine (el koala)
- Kiwi
- Definition: Kiwi (fruit)
- Example sentence: “Me gusta comer kiwi en el desayuno” (I like to eat kiwi for breakfast.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kiwi)
- Kit
- Definition: Kit
- Example sentence: “Compré un kit de herramientas” (I bought a tool kit.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kit)
- Kiosquero
- Definition: Kiosk vendor
- Example sentence: “El kiosquero me vendió un caramelo” (The kiosk vendor sold me a candy.)
- Gender: Masculine (el kiosquero)
Importance of gender and articles
When you’re learning Spanish, it’s important to remember that every noun has a gender (masculine or feminine), and that gender determines which article (el, la, un, una) you’ll use with that noun. The article you use affects the sentence structure and meaning, so be sure to pay attention to the gender of each word as you learn it.
Spanish Adjectives That Begin With “K”
Okay, so Spanish doesn’t exactly overflow with “K” words, but there are a few, mostly adjectives, that you might encounter. Let’s take a look:
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Kafkiano/Kafkiana (Kafkaesque)
Meaning something absurd, nightmarish, or reminiscent of Franz Kafka’s writings. Remember, Spanish adjectives have to agree in gender! So, kafkiano is masculine, and kafkiana is feminine.
Example: “La situación era kafkiana.” (The situation was Kafkaesque.)
-
Kantiano/Kantiana (Kantian)
Relating to the philosophy of Immanuel Kant.
Example: “Su filosofía es kantiana.” (His philosophy is Kantian.)
-
Kárstico/Kárstica (Karstic)
Describing a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone.
Example: “El paisaje es kárstico.” (The landscape is karstic.)
-
Kinesiológico/Kinesiológica (Kinesiological)
Related to kinesiology, the study of human movement.
Example: “El estudio es kinesiológico.” (The study is kinesiological.)
-
Kinesiterápico/Kinesiterápica (Kinesiotherapeutic)
Relating to kinesiotherapy, treatment using movement and exercise.
Example: “El tratamiento es kinesiterápico.” (The treatment is kinesiotherapeutic.)
As you can see, these are fairly specialized terms. You probably won’t use them every day, but it’s good to know they exist!
Spanish Verbs That Begin With “K”
Okay, let’s be real, you’re not going to find a ton of Spanish verbs that start with “K.” Spanish just doesn’t roll that way. But there’s at least one I can think of:
Kilometrar
Definition: To record mileage.
Example sentence: “Debemos kilometrar el recorrido.” (We need to record the mileage of the route.)
Conjugation Snippet: For example, I record mileage is “yo kilometro” and you record mileage is “tú kilometras.” You get the idea!
So, yeah, not a huge list. But hey, you asked for it! Now you can impress your friends with your obscure Spanish vocabulary.
Where do these words come from? Loanwords and language influence
As we’ve seen, Spanish doesn’t have a ton of native words that start with the letter “K.” The majority of Spanish words beginning with “K” are loanwords, meaning they were borrowed from other languages. English has had a big influence on the Spanish language, but so have other languages like German, French, and even some Indigenous languages.
Here are a couple of examples:
- Kayak: This word comes from the Inuit language.
- Kermés: This word, meaning “carnival” or “fair,” comes from Dutch.
Sometimes, when a word is borrowed, it’s adapted to fit the sounds and spelling patterns of Spanish. You might see slight variations in how these words are written or pronounced, depending on where you are. For example, a word borrowed from English might be spelled slightly differently in Spain versus Mexico.
When you’re learning Spanish, it’s important to pay attention to the context in which these loanwords are used. Also, keep in mind that some loanwords might be more common in certain regions than others. Being aware of these nuances will help you understand and use these words correctly.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, Spanish words that start with “k” are something of a rarity. Most of them are loanwords, words borrowed from other languages. When you encounter them, it’s important to remember that, like all Spanish nouns, they have a gender and require an article.
Even though you won’t find a “k” in every Spanish sentence, it pays to expand your vocabulary and explore the nuances of this beautiful language. The more you learn, the more you’ll appreciate its history and complexity.