Vocabulary Guide to Book Genres and Literature in Spanish
This vocabulary guide to literature and book genres in Spanish will help you level up your Spanish reading!
Being able to talk about different genres of books in Spanish not only aids in your Spanish comprehension abilities but also gets you closer to becoming a fluent speaker!
This guide provides plenty of resources to help get you started with reading in Spanish. Master book genres and literature in Spanish by studying each vocabulary section and its corresponding example sentences.
Stay until the end of the guide for a list of Spanish book recommendations for readers of all ages!
Ready, set, READ!
The Importance of Reading in Spanish
Knowing literary terms and book genres in Spanish opens the door to Spanish reading!
Reading is an essential part of language learning. It helps improve your listening, speaking, and writing by teaching you new vocabulary, sentence structure, and slang.
Books are also a great way to practice your second language on the go. You can take them with you anywhere for a quick word lesson.
Here are some helpful guides to improving your Spanish reading skills:
- 12 Proven Methods for Reading Better In Spanish
- Tips for Reading in Spanish
- B2 Reading Practice: Intermediate Spanish Reading Comprehension
Book Genre and Literature Vocabulary Guide
It’s time to dive into Spanish literature vocabulary!
This guide breaks down the Spanish literary and book terms into easy-to-follow categories.
Be sure to test your new knowledge with the example sentences.
Parts of the Book in Spanish
You can’t learn about literary genres in Spanish without books!
Books are the core of literature. They give us knowledge, escape, and entertainment.
Here are the most important parts of these paper bundles of joy.
Parts of the Book in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
| back cover | la contraportada |
| chapter | el capítulo |
| characters | los personajes |
| contents | el contenido |
| dialogue | el diálogo |
| front cover | la portada |
| illustrations | las ilustraciones |
| index | el índice |
| plot | el argumento / la trama |
| setting | el escenario |
| story | la historia |
| title | el título |
Example Sentences
La portada del libro destacaba en la estantería.
The front cover of the book stood out on the shelf.
¡La historia terminó en un final de suspenso!
The story ended on a cliffhanger!
El libro tenía una trama apasionante.
The book had an exciting plot.
Different Book Genres in Spanish
Whether you’re interested in nonfiction or fiction genres, Spanish literature has every type imaginable! This list of reading genres in Spanish has all of the most popular literature styles.
These book genres in Spanish are what bookstores use to label each section of their shelves. Everyone has a specific type that they gravitate towards.
Explore all of the book genres in Spanish and see if you can recognize your favorite!
Book Genres in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
| action | la acción |
| adventure | la aventura |
| comedy | la comedia |
| essay | el ensayo |
| fable | la fábula |
| fantasy | la fantasía |
| fiction | la ficción |
| horror | el terror |
| non fiction | la no ficción |
| play | el drama |
| poetry | la poesía |
| prose fiction | la narrativa |
| romance | el romance |
| science fiction | la ciencia ficción |
Example Sentences
Le encantan los libros de acción.
She loves action books.
Sólo lee no ficción.
He only reads nonfiction.
El libro de romance era malo.
The romance book was bad.
Types of Books in Spanish
Not only are there different book genres in Spanish, but there are also different types of books!
Not everyone enjoys a classic paper or hardback tale. Some prefer to browse magazines, comic books, or even listen to their stories through headphones.
Whatever your storytelling preference, this list of Spanish vocabulary book types is sure to have it.
Book Types in Spanish
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| audiobook | el audio libro |
| best seller | el best seller |
| comic books | los cómics |
| e-book | el libro electrónico |
| hardback | la tapa dura |
| magazine | la revista |
| novel | la novela |
| paperback | la tapa blanda |
| tale/story | el cuento |
Example Sentences
Escuchó un audiolibro en el tren.
He listened to an audiobook on the train.
Los libros electrónicos son muy populares ahora.
E-books are very popular now.
Tiene todos los cómics de Spiderman.
She has all of the Spiderman comic books.
Literary Terms
Literary terms and devices are tools that authors use to create amazing writing. They help tell the story by adding emphasis, creating meaning, or establishing a theme.
All of the book genres in Spanish use these devices! They are versatile tools that make the words on the page flow to life.
Learn how to say these terms in Spanish so that you can make your own amazing works of literature!
Spanish Literary Terms
| English | Spanish |
| alliteration | la aliteración |
| climax | el clímax |
| figures of speech | las figuras retóricas |
| hyperbole | la hipérbole |
| metaphor | la metáfora |
| narrator | el narrador |
| personification | la personificación |
| scene | la escena |
| simile | el símil |
| speech / discourse | el discurso |
| symbolism | el simbolismo |
| theme | el tema |
Example Sentences
El autor utilizó una rosa como simbolismo.
The author used a rose for symbolism.
La hipérbole subrayó la importancia de la decisión.
The hyperbole emphasized the importance of the decision.
La historia tenía un tema importante.
The story had an important theme.
People in Literature
People are an important part of Spanish literature!
They are the inspiration and creators behind your favorite works. Here are the different types of artists that take part in designing pieces of literature.
People in Literature
| English | Spanish |
| author | el/la autor/a |
| illustrator | el/la ilustrador/a |
| novelist | el/la novelista |
| poet | el poeta / la poetisa |
| reader | el/la lector/a |
Example Sentences
El autor escribió un libro en 6 meses.
The author wrote a book in 6 months.
El poeta hizo que cada línea rimara.
The poet made every line rhyme!
El ilustrador hizo que los personajes cobraran vida.
The illustrator made the characters come to life.
Reading Recommendations
Now that you know the types of book genres in Spanish, you can pick out the perfect story!
Think about what you like to read in English. Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction? Action or drama? Comedy or adventure?
Spanish stories come in all shapes and sizes. No matter your reading preference, there is an exciting tale awaiting you!
Here are some great Spanish resources to get you started!
- 20 Free Spanish Books
- 20 Fascinating Spanish Books for Adult Beginners
- Significant Works of 21st Century Spanish Literature
- Top 7 Best Books To Learn Spanish for Kids
- 6 Storybooks in Spanish Your Kids Will Love
Practice Your Spanish Reading Skills With a Free Class
Reading different book genres in Spanish can help you not only improve your cognition and decision-making abilities, but also earn more money! Picking up a second language is a sure way to invest in your future.
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– Erica P. Parent of 1
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