Nautical/Sailing vocabulary and most used expressions related to sailing in Spanish
Master Nautical Spanish: Essential Vocabulary for Sailors
Whether you’re sailing the Mediterranean, exploring the Caribbean, or taking Spanish lessons with a nautical twist, knowing sailing terms in Spanish is crucial for safety and smooth communication on the water.
🚀 Quick Challenge!
Before diving into the vocabulary, or after stdying the terms, you can test your knowledge with our interactive Spanish Sailing Quiz below the page. It only takes 3 minutes…
⛵ Ready to begin? Let’s start with the fundamentals…
Basic Sailing Terms in Spanish
1. Parts of a Boat (Partes del Barco)
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Bow | Proa |
| Stern | Popa |
| Mast | Mástil |
| Sail | Vela |
| Rudder | Timón |
| Anchor | Ancla |
| Deck | Cubierta |
| Hull | Casco |
2. Sailing Directions (Direcciones de Navegación)
- ¡Izquierda! – “Port!” (left side)
- ¡Estribor! – “Starboard!” (right side)
- ¡Proa al viento! – “Head to wind!”
- ¡Virar! – “Tack!” (change direction)
- ¡Ciña! – “Close haul!” (sail close to the wind)
Common Sailing Commands in Spanish
- ¡Prepararse para zarpar! – “Prepare to set sail!”
- ¡Soltar las velas! – “Release the sails!”
- ¡Recoger el ancla! – “Weigh anchor!”
- ¡Hombre al agua! – “Man overboard!”
- ¡Todo a babor/estribor! – “Hard to port/starboard!”
Weather & Sea Conditions (Tiempo y Estado del Mar)
- Olas altas – “High waves”
- Viento a favor – “Tailwind”
- Viento en contra – “Headwind”
- Marea baja/alta – “Low/high tide”
- Tormenta – “Storm”
Useful Nautical Expressions
- Estar a flote – “To stay afloat”
- Navegar a vela – “To sail”
- Ponerse en marcha – “To set off”
- Perder el rumbo – “To lose course”
- Atracar en puerto – “To dock in port”
Practice Exercise: Test Your Knowledge!
- How do you say “anchor” in Spanish?
- What command means “man overboard”?
- Translate: “The wind is against us.”
(Answers: 1. Ancla, 2. ¡Hombre al agua!, 3. El viento está en contra.)
Final Tips for Learning Sailing Spanish
✔ Listen to Spanish sailing podcasts (e.g., “Navegantes”)
✔ Label boat parts in Spanish for memorization
✔ Practice with a Spanish-speaking sailor
Ready to set sail with confidence? Bookmark this guide for your next voyage! 🌊
1. ¡Buen viento! – Good Wind: Wishing someone good wind is a common expression, invoking favorable conditions for their maritime endeavors.
2. A toda vela – At Full Sail: This phrase describes a boat sailing at its maximum speed, capturing the exhilarating feeling of wind-filled sails.
3. Echar el ancla – To Drop Anchor: When a boat stops and secures in one place, this expression is used, symbolizing a pause in the journey.
4. Aguas Tranquilas – Smooth Waters: Used to describe calm or tranquil seas, this expression is a reassurance of peaceful sailing conditions.
5. Costa a la Vista – Land in Sight: Announcing the sight of land on the horizon, this expression signals the end of a sea journey.
6. Navegar a Ojo – To Navigate by Sight: Sailing without the aid of navigation instruments, relying on visual cues, is described by this expression.
7. Navegar contra Corriente – To Sail Against the Current: Metaphorically, this expression is used to describe facing challenges or going against the prevailing trend.
8. Hacerse a la Mar – To Set Sail: Initiating a journey or leaving port is captured by this phrase, marking the beginning of an adventure.
9. Marea Alta / Marea Baja – High Tide / Low Tide: These expressions describe the state of the tide, essential information for navigation.
10. A Bordo – On Board: Used to indicate being on the boat, this phrase is fundamental in maritime communication.
11. Capitán de Mar y Guerra – Sea Captain: A formal term for a ship’s captain, evoking images of leadership and authority.
12. Naufragio – Shipwreck: Referring to the sinking or destruction of a ship, this expression carries a sense of tragedy.
13. Tomar el Timón – To Take the Helm: Metaphorically, this expression means assuming control or responsibility.
14. Estar a la Deriva – To Be Adrift: Floating without control or direction is captured by this phrase, describing a state of uncertainty.
15. Mar en Calma, No Hace Buen Marinero – A Calm Sea Does Not Make a Skilled Sailor: Expressing that challenges are necessary for growth and skill development.
16. Varar – To Run Aground: When a vessel is stranded or stuck on the ground, this expression is used.
17. Cabo Suelto – Loose End: Refers to a loose piece of rope or an unresolved issue.
18. Dar una Vuelta de Campana – To Capsize: Describing the overturning of a boat, this expression is linked to a dramatic event on the water.
19. Bajel Pirata que Llaman – Pirate Ship They Call: A line from the Spanish national anthem, often used in a playful manner.
20. A Flote – Afloat: Describing a vessel that is floating on the water, this phrase denotes seaworthiness.
Types of Boats in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
| catamaran | el catamarán |
| cutter | el cúter |
| cruiser | el yate crucero |
| dinghy | el chinchorro |
| fishing boat | el pesquero |
| ketch | el queche |
| lifeboat | el bote calvarias |
| monohull | el monocasco |
| multihull | el multicasco |
| schooner | la goleta |
| sloop | la balandra |
Parts of the Boat and sailing vocabulary in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
| backstay | el estay de popa |
| batten | el sable |
| beam | la manga |
| block | la polea |
| boom | la botavara |
| bow | la proa |
| cabin | el camarote |
| cleat | la cornamusa |
| clew | el puño de escota |
| cockpit | la banera |
| coil | el cabo adujado |
| deck | la cubierta |
| draft | el calado |
| fenders | las defensas |
| foot | el pujamen |
| forestay | el estay de proa |
| halyard | la driza |
| hatch | la escotilla |
| head of the sail | el puño de driza |
| hull | el casco |
| jamming cleat | la mordaza |
| jib | el foque |
| keel | la quilla |
| leach | el balumen |
| luff | el grátil |
| mainsail | la vela mayor |
| mast | el mástil |
| points (of a sail) | las aristas |
| port | el babor |
| pulpit | el púlpito de proa |
| reef | el rizo |
| reef point | los tomadores de rizo |
| reef point | los tomadores de rizo |
| rope | el cabo |
| rudder | el timón |
| shackle | el grillete |
| sheet | la escota |
| shroud | el obenque |
| spinnaker | el espinaquer |
| starboard | el estribor |
| stern | la popa |
| tack | el puño de amura |
| tackle | el aparejo |
| telltales | las lanitas |
| tiller | la caña del timón |
| topping lift | el amantillo |
⛵ Spanish Sailing Vocabulary Quiz
Test your nautical knowledge with 15 multiple-choice questions. Instant feedback provided!
