50 Spanish Riddles for Learners of Every Level [+ FREE PDF]
If you’re looking for a fun way to learn Spanish, explore Hispanic culture, and get your brain moving, these 50 Spanish riddles are perfect for you!
For some of us, it’s challenging to learn Spanish the traditional way. Repeating words and phrases in a classroom is not for everyone.
Instead, search for alternatives like listening to fun and clean Spanish songs, reading a book, or practicing funny Mexican Spanish quotes with English translations.
Adivinanzas (riddles) are short, mysterious sentences with clues. These 50 Spanish riddles are for adults and for kids. They’re divided into sections for every level from beginner to advanced with answers at the end of the article.
As the level of difficulty increases, clues and translations will start to disappear. Watch out for sound clues, llama riddles, and logic tricks.
Let’s learn some Spanish riddles!
Table of Contents:
- Spanish Riddles For Beginners With English Translation
- Intermediate Spanish Riddles
- Advanced Spanish Riddles
- Keep Learning With Spanish Riddles and Other Fun Methods
Spanish Riddles For Beginners With English Translation
These Spanish riddles for beginners are perfect for everyone, from elementary school kids to grown-ups. Read carefully and do not jump the gun!
In Latin America we love phrases, idioms, and riddles that have to do with food and animals. They are funny and still teach us a lesson.
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Spanish Riddles About Animals
1. ¿Cuántos animales tengo en casa sabiendo que todos son perros menos dos, todos son gatos menos dos, y que todos son loros menos dos?
How many animals do I have, knowing that they are all dogs except two, all cats except two, and all birds except two?
2. Salta y salta, y la colita le falta.
It jumps and jumps, and has no tail.
3. Orejas largas, rabo cortito. Corro y salto muy ligerito.
Long ears, short tail. I run and jump lightly.
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Answer Key
1. 3
2. Una rana. A frog
3. Un conejo. A rabbit
Spanish Riddles About Food
4. Tengo capa sobre capa. Si me las quitan, de llorar nadie se escapa.
I have layer upon layer. If you take them off, you will cry.
5. Con cuatro patas no puedo correr. Tengo comida y no puedo comer.
I have four legs and I can’t run. I have food and I can’t eat.
6. Oro parece, plata no es. ¡El que no adivine, qué lento es!
It looks like gold, it’s not silver. If you can’t guess it, you’re really slow!
7. Blanca por dentro, verde por fuera. Si no sabes que es, espera.
White on the inside, green on the outside. If you can’t guess it, wait.
Answer Key
4. Una cebolla. An onion
5. Un comedor. A dining table
6. Plátano. Plantain.
7. Pera. Pear.
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Easy Spanish Riddles
Have you ever felt that something is so easy it becomes difficult? I hope that doesn’t happen to you with this category of Spanish riddles.
8. Te sirven para escribir, dibujar, señalar y sentir.
They are useful for writing, drawing, pointing, and feeling.
9. Tiene hojas y no es árbol, tiene piel y no es animal.
It rustles but has no leaves. It has skin, but it’s not an animal.
10. Tengo agujas y no sé coser, tengo números y no sé leer.
I have needles, and I can’t knit. I have numbers, and I can’t read.
11. Grande, muy grande, mayor que la Tierra. Arde y no se quema, quema y no es candela.
Big, so big, bigger than the Earth. It’s aflame but not burning; it burns and it’s not a candle.
12. ¿Quién es aquella que cuanto más se moja, más te seca?
What’s the thing that the wetter it gets, the drier you get?
13. Este banco está ocupado por un padre y por un hijo: El padre se llama Juan y el hijo ya te lo he dicho.
This stool is occupied by father and son. The father’s name is Juan and the son, I already told you.
Answer key
8. Los dedos. Fingers
9. Un libro. A book
10. Un reloj. A clock
11. El sol. The sun
12. Una toalla. A towel
13. Esteban
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Quick Spanish Riddles
In this section of Spanish riddles, one resembles the “1 grandma 2 moms table riddle,” as well as some that involve logic. Try to stay open minded and be patient because nothing is worse than failing only to later discover how easy the answers were!
14. Alto vive y alto mora, en él se cree, pero no se adora.
It lives up high and it stays there. People believe it, but they don’t worship it.
15. Todo el mundo lo lleva, todo el mundo lo tiene, porque a todos les dan uno en cuanto al mundo vienen.
Everyone carries one, everyone has one, because everyone gets one when they come to this world.
16. Si lo tienes, quieres compartirlo. Si lo compartes, ya no lo tienes. ¿Qué es?
If you have it you want to share it. If you share it, you no longer have it. What is it?
17. En un auto iban dos madres y dos hijas, pero en el auto solo había tres pasajeras. ¿Cómo es esto posible?
In a car, there were two mothers and two daughters, but only three passengers. How is this possible?
18. Algunos meses tienen 31 días, otros solo 30. ¿Cuantos tienen 28 días?
Some months have 31 days, some only 30. How many have 28 days?
19. Si soy joven, joven quedo. Si soy viejo, viejo quedo. Tengo boca y no te hablo. Tengo ojos y no te veo.
If I’m young, I stay young. If I’m old, I stay old. I have a mouth, but I can’t speak. I have eyes, but I can’t see.
20. ¿Qué es algo que siempre cae, y nunca se rompe?
What’s something that always falls but never breaks?
Answer Key
14. Torre de reloj. Clock tower
15. Nombre. Name
16. Un secreto. A secret
17. Una abuela, una madre y una hija. A grandma, a mom, and a daughter
18. Todos. All of them
19. Un retrato. A portrait
20. Una cascada. A waterfall
Intermediate Spanish Riddles
A couple of these Spanish riddles are Mexican. In Mexico, we have a tradition of asking kids questions like these and saying how close they are when they answer. It’s a fun way to activate their minds!
Brain Teasers For Everyone
21. ¿Por qué los pájaros vuelan al sur en invierno?
Why do birds fly south in winter?
22. Un niño y un pato nacieron el mismo día. Al cabo de un año, ¿cuál de los dos es el mayor?
A boy and a duck were born on the same day. Which one is older after a year?
23. Imaginemos que estamos en un barco que se está hundiendo. Tratas de saltar pero en el mar hay tiburones hambrientos. ¿Cómo sales de esto?
Let’s imagine we are in a sinking ship. You try to jump but there are hungry sharks in the sea. How do you get out of this one?
24. Un prisionero debe entrar sí o sí en una de estas tres habitaciones. En la primera hay tanto fuego que parece el infierno. En la segunda hay explosivos que se detonarán en cuanto el prisionero abra la puerta. Y en la tercera hay leones que llevan años sin probar bocado. ¿Qué habitación debe escoger para sobrevivir?
A prisoner must enter one of these three rooms. In the first, there is so much fire it looks like hell. In the second one there are explosives that will detonate as soon as the door opens. In the third door, there are lions that haven’t tasted food in years. Which room must he choose to survive?
Answer key
21. Porque caminando llegan más lento. Because by walking they take more time.
22. El pato porque tiene un año y pico. The duck because it has a year and a “beak.” (In Spanish, the phrase “y pico” means “something,” in relation to age, as in: How old is he? He’s 20-something.)
23. Dejando de imaginar. By ceasing to imagine.
24. La tercera. The third one (the idea is that if the lions go years without having food, they’re definitely dead at the time the prisoner is choosing a room).
Funny Intermediate Spanish Riddles
25. ¿De qué color son las mangas del chaleco de Napoleón?
What color are the sleeves of Napoleon’s vest?
26. Dime algo que nunca puedes comerte en las mañanas.
Tell me something you can never eat in the morning.
27. De todos los océanos, ¿cuál es el más tranquilo?
Of all oceans, which one is the most peaceful one?
28. ¿Qué hay en el centro de París?
What can you find in the center of Paris?
29. Hay una planta que no da frutos ni flores pero sí olores. ¿Cuál es?
There is a plant with no fruits or flowers but it has a scent. Which is it?
30. ¿En dónde el jueves va siempre antes que el miércoles?
Where does Thursday always come before Wednesday?
Answer Key
25. Los chalecos no tienen mangas. Vests don’t have sleeves.
26. La cena. Dinner
27. El Pacífico. The Pacific
28. Una R. An “r.”
29. La planta del pie. The sole of the foot.
30. En el diccionario. In the dictionary.
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Advanced Spanish Riddles
Here come the challenging Spanish riddles. Are you ready to have your knowledge tested? This section includes lateral thinking adivinanzas, as well as funny and complicated ones!
Riddles about Animals
31. ¿Qué es tan grande como un elefante pero no pesa absolutamente nada?
32. ¿Qué pez escogerías para clavar un clavo?
33. ¿Cuántos gatos puedes meter en una caja vacía?
34. Tengo cinco patos metidos en el congelador, ¿cuántos me quedan?
35. ¿Cuándo es más probable que un gato negro entre en tu casa?
Answer key
31. Su sombra. Its shadow.
32. El tiburón martillo. The hammerhead shark.
33. Sólo uno. Just one (After you put one in, it’s no longer empty).
34. Tres (The word metidos can be separated into metí dos or “I put two”).
35. Cuando tengas la puerta abierta. When you have your door open.
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Hard But Funny Riddles
36. ¿Por qué de repente el televisor dejó de comer?
37. ¿Por qué una caja se apuntó al gimnasio?
38. ¿Por qué a los peores criminales los entierran en las fosas más profundas?
39. Habían dos monjas que se querían mucho, pero fueron a misiones distintas. A una la mandaron a África y a otra a Oceanía. ¿Cómo se llamaban las monjas?
Answer key
36. Porque quería tener la pantalla plana. Because it wanted a flat screen.
37. Porque quiere ser una caja fuerte. Because it wanted to be a “strong box,” meaning a safe.
38. Porque en el fondo son buenas personas. Because deep down they are good people.
39. Por teléfono. On the phone.
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Math and Number Riddles
40. ¿Cuántos segundos hay en un año?
41. Hay un número que nunca está a la venta, ¿cuál es?
42. Tengo dos cabezas, siete pies, tres manos y cinco ojos. ¿Qué soy?
43. ¿Qué número vale menos si lo pones al revés?
44. El padre de Miguel tiene cuatro hijos. El primero se llama Pedro, el segundo Esteban, el tercero Juan ¿cómo se llama el cuarto?
45. ¿Por qué están tristes los libros de matemáticas?
Answer key
40. 12: segundo de enero, de febrero, de marzo… 12: second of January, of February, of March…
41. 90 (noventa). If you separate noventa into no venta it means “no sale.”
42. Un mentiroso. A liar.
43. 9.
44. Miguel.
45. Porque tienen muchos problemas. Because they have a lot of problems.
Lateral Thinking
You’d better think outside the box to crack open these lateral thinking Spanish riddles!
46. ¿De qué lado tiene la oreja una taza?
47. Fui por él y nunca lo traje. ¿Qué es?
48. ¿Qué hay entre playa y mar?
49. Veinte patos caminaban, todos al mismo compás, y los 20 caminaban con una pata no más. ¿Cuántos patos había?
50. ¿De qué se alimenta un león muerto de hambre?
Answer key
46. Del lado de afuera. On the outside.
47. El camino. The path.
48. La letra Y. The letter “y.”
49. 21.
50. De nada, está muerto. Of nothing it is dead.
Keep Learning With Spanish Riddles and Other Fun Methods
Were you able to translate and crack the last Spanish riddles? If so, congratulations—you’re a pro! If not, don’t worry, you’ll get there in no time.
The adivinanzas are an awesome form of entertainment for people of all ages. Have a great time with your family and friends while trying to solve these brain puzzles.
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