Learning Spanish words that start with K can be helpful if you want to improve your vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, or word game skills. The letter K is not very common in Spanish, but you can still find many useful words like kilo, kiwi, karaoke, kárate, kimono, kiosco, and ketchup. In this article, we will provide easy Spanish K words with their English meanings, examples, phrases, and useful word lists so you can learn them step by step.
You can also use the table of contents below to explore the part of the topic you need most. Whether you are learning for school, teaching kids, writing content, or playing word games, this guide will help you find the right Spanish K words quickly.
Spanish Words that Start with K
Here are 100 common Spanish words that start with K and their English meanings.
ka — letter K | kas — plural of ka | kilo — kilo |
kilos — kilos | kilogramo — kilogram | kilogramos — kilograms |
kilómetro — kilometer | kilómetros — kilometers | kilométrico — kilometric |
kilométrica — kilometric | kilometraje — mileage | kilovatio — kilowatt |
kilovatios — kilowatts | kilowatt — kilowatt | kilowatts — kilowatts |
kilovoltio — kilovolt | kilovoltios — kilovolts | kilobyte — kilobyte |
kilobytes — kilobytes | kilobit — kilobit | kilobits — kilobits |
kilocaloría — kilocalorie | kilocalorías — kilocalories | kilojulio — kilojoule |
kilojulios — kilojoules | kilolitro — kiloliter | kilolitros — kiloliters |
kilopascal — kilopascal | kilopascales — kilopascals | kilotón — kiloton |
kilotones — kilotons | kilohertz — kilohertz | kilohercio — kilohertz unit |
kilohercios — kilohertz units | kárate — karate | karate — karate |
karateca — karate practitioner | karatecas — karate practitioners | karateka — karate practitioner |
karatekas — karate practitioners | karaoke — karaoke | karaokes — karaoke sessions |
kiwi — kiwi | kiwis — kiwis | kimono — kimono |
kimonos — kimonos | kiosco — kiosk | kioscos — kiosks |
kermés — fair | kermeses — fairs | kétchup — ketchup |
ketchup — ketchup | kebab — kebab | kebabs — kebabs |
kéfir — kefir | kefir — kefir | karma — karma |
kármico — karmic | kármica — karmic | koala — koala |
koalas — koalas | kayak — kayak | kayaks — kayaks |
kayakista — kayaker | kayakistas — kayakers | kitesurf — kitesurfing |
kitesurfista — kitesurfer | kitesurfistas — kitesurfers | kit — kit |
kits — kits | kitsch — kitsch | kosher — kosher |
kaki — khaki/persimmon | kakis — khakis/persimmons | kumquat — kumquat |
kumquats — kumquats | kale — kale | kombucha — kombucha |
kimchi — kimchi | konjac — konjac | kava — kava |
kepi — kepi cap | kepis — kepi caps | káiser — kaiser |
káiseres — kaisers | katiuska — rain boot | katiuskas — rain boots |
kanji — kanji | kanjis — kanjis | kamikaze — kamikaze |
kamikazes — kamikazes | kendo — kendo | kendoka — kendo practitioner |
kendokas — kendo practitioners | katana — katana | katanas — katanas |
kril — krill | kriles — krill | kriptón — krypton |
Basic Spanish Words that Start with K with Examples
Kilo means “kilo.”
Example: Compré un kilo de arroz.
Meaning: I bought a kilo of rice.
Kiwi means “kiwi.”
Example: El kiwi está maduro.
Meaning: The kiwi is ripe.
Karaoke means “karaoke.”
Example: Cantamos karaoke el sábado.
Meaning: We sang karaoke on Saturday.
Kárate means “karate.”
Example: Mi hermano practica kárate.
Meaning: My brother practices karate.
Kimono means “kimono.”
Example: Ella lleva un kimono azul.
Meaning: She is wearing a blue kimono.
Kiosco means “kiosk” or “newsstand.”
Example: Compré una revista en el kiosco.
Meaning: I bought a magazine at the kiosk.
Ketchup means “ketchup.”
Example: Quiero ketchup con las papas.
Meaning: I want ketchup with the fries.
Koala means “koala.”
Example: El koala duerme muchas horas.
Meaning: The koala sleeps many hours.
Kayak means “kayak.”
Example: Alquilamos un kayak en el lago.
Meaning: We rented a kayak on the lake.
Karma means “karma.”
Example: Mucha gente cree en el karma.
Meaning: Many people believe in karma.
Spanish Phrases Starts with K with Meanings
Phrase & Meaning | Phrase & Meaning |
|---|---|
Kilo de arroz — kilo of rice | Kilo de manzanas — kilo of apples |
Kilo y medio — one and a half kilos | Kilómetro cero — kilometer zero |
Kilómetros por hora — kilometers per hour | Kilovatio hora — kilowatt-hour |
Kilocalorías diarias — daily kilocalories | Kilos de más — extra kilos |
Kilos perdidos — lost kilos | Karaoke con amigos — karaoke with friends |
Karaoke en casa — karaoke at home | Kárate para niños — karate for kids |
Kimono tradicional — traditional kimono | Kiosco de prensa — newsstand |
Ketchup con papas — ketchup with fries | Kiwi fresco — fresh kiwi |
Kayak en el río — kayak on the river | Kitesurf en la playa — kitesurfing at the beach |
Kit de emergencia — emergency kit | Kit escolar — school kit |
Karma positivo — positive karma | Karma negativo — negative karma |
Koala australiano — Australian koala | Kéfir natural — natural kefir |
Kebab casero — homemade kebab | Kermés escolar — school fair |
Katiuska de lluvia — rain boot | Kombucha fría — cold kombucha |
3 Letter Spanish Words that Start with K
Spanish Word | English Meaning |
|---|---|
kas | plural of ka, the letter K |
kit | kit; set of tools or items |
kif | cannabis resin; also used for a state of pleasure or relaxation |
koi | koi fish; ornamental carp |
4 Letter Spanish Words that Start with K
kilo | kiwi | kaki | kava |
kepi | kuna | kola | koan |
koto | kril | kilt | kuru |
5 Letter Spanish Words that Start with K
karma | koala | kayak | kefir |
kéfir | kebab | kendo | kappa |
kilos | kiwis | kepis | kakis |
kaqui | krill | kurdo | kurda |
6 Letter Spanish Words that Start with K
karate | kárate | kiosco | kimono |
kermés | kosher | kaftán | koalas |
kazajo | kazaja | kurdos | kurdas |
káiser | kebabs | kriles | kitsch |
7 Letter Spanish Words that Start with K
karaoke | ketchup | kétchup | keniano |
keniana | keniata | kilates | kinesia |
kimonos | kioscos | kumquat | kármico |
kármica | kirguís | kárates | kayakista |
Spanish Verbs Starting with K
Standard Spanish has very few established verbs beginning with K. Many are informal, technical, or borrowed from sports and internet language.
Verb & Meaning | Verb & Meaning |
|---|---|
kayakear — to kayak, informal | kitesurfear — to kitesurf |
killear — to defeat in games, slang | karatear — to practice karate, colloquial |
kitear — to kite in games, slang | kilometrar — to measure by kilometers |
kikear — to kick/remove online, slang | kafkianizar — to make Kafkaesque |
List of Spanish Nouns Starting with K
Noun & Meaning | Noun & Meaning |
|---|---|
kilo — kilo | kilogramo — kilogram |
kilómetro — kilometer | kilovatio — kilowatt |
kilobyte — kilobyte | karaoke — karaoke |
kárate — karate | karateca — karate practitioner |
kiwi — kiwi | kimono — kimono |
kiosco — kiosk | kermés — fair |
kétchup — ketchup | kebab — kebab |
kéfir — kefir | karma — karma |
koala — koala | kayak — kayak |
kit — kit | katiuska — rain boot |
kanji — kanji | katana — katana |
kril — krill | kriptón — krypton |
keniano — Kenyan person | kurdo — Kurdish person |
kosovar — Kosovar person | kazajo — Kazakh person |
Spanish Adjectives Starting with K
Adjective & Meaning | Adjective & Meaning |
|---|---|
kármico — karmic | kármica — karmic |
kilométrico — kilometric | kilométrica — kilometric |
kafkiano — Kafkaesque | kafkiana — Kafkaesque |
kantiano — Kantian | kantiana — Kantian |
keynesiano — Keynesian | keynesiana — Keynesian |
kitsch — kitsch/tacky | kosher — kosher |
kárstico — karstic | kárstica — karstic |
keniano — Kenyan | keniana — Kenyan |
kurdo — Kurdish | kurda — Kurdish |
kazajo — Kazakh | kazaja — Kazakh |
kuwaití — Kuwaiti | kosovar — Kosovar |
kirguís — Kyrgyz | kirguisa — Kyrgyz |
Fruits, Vegetables, and Food Names Starting with K in Spanish
Food & Meaning | Food & Meaning |
|---|---|
kiwi — kiwi | kaki — persimmon/khaki fruit |
kaqui — persimmon | kumquat — kumquat |
kale — kale | kétchup — ketchup |
ketchup — ketchup | kebab — kebab |
kéfir — kefir | kefir — kefir |
kimchi — kimchi | kombucha — kombucha |
konjac — konjac | kava — kava |
kosher — kosher food | katsu — Japanese cutlet |
korma — korma curry | kulfi — Indian ice cream |
kuchen — cake | kasha — buckwheat dish |
kobe — Kobe-style beef | kirsch — cherry liqueur |
kimchi — fermented cabbage | kebabs — kebabs |
Positive Spanish Words Starting with K
Positive Word & Meaning | Positive Word & Meaning |
|---|---|
kawaii — cute, adorable | kudos — praise |
kintsugi — beautiful repair | karma — moral balance |
kármico — related to karma | kéfir — healthy fermented drink |
kiwi — nutritious fruit | koala — gentle animal |
kermés — community fair | karaoke — fun singing activity |
kit — helpful set | kosher — proper/acceptable |
kayak — outdoor recreation | kitesurf — adventure sport |
kale — leafy green | kombucha — fermented drink |
Negative Spanish Words Starting with K
Negative Word & Meaning | Negative Word & Meaning |
|---|---|
kamikaze — reckless person/action | kitsch — tacky style |
kafkiano — absurdly oppressive | kafkiana — absurdly oppressive |
karma negativo — bad karma | kriptonita — personal weakness |
kilos de más — extra weight | KO — knockout |
k.o. — knockout | kafkianismo — Kafkaesque condition |
kamikazes — reckless people | kitschismo — tacky tendency |
Short Spanish Words Starting with K
ka | kas | kit | kif |
koi | kilo | kiwi | kaki |
kava | kepi | kuna | kola |
koan | koto | kril | kilt |
kuru | karma | koala | kayak |
kefir | kéfir | kebab | kendo |
Long Spanish Words Starting with K with Meanings
Long Word & Meaning | Long Word & Meaning |
|---|---|
kinesioterapéutico — physiotherapeutic | kinesioterapéutica — physiotherapeutic |
kinesioterapia — kinesiotherapy/physical therapy | kinesiología — kinesiology |
kinesiológico — kinesiological | kinesiológica — kinesiological |
kiloelectronvoltio — kiloelectronvolt | kiloelectronvoltios — kiloelectronvolts |
kilocalorimetría — kilocalorimetry | kilovatio-hora — kilowatt-hour |
kilovatio-horas — kilowatt-hours | kilopondímetro — kilopond-meter |
kilométricamente — kilometrically | kilometraje — mileage |
keynesianismo — Keynesianism | keynesianista — Keynesian supporter |
kafkianamente — Kafkaesquely | karstificación — karstification |
kurdistaníes — Kurdistanis | kuwaitíes — Kuwaitis |
Science Words in Spanish that Start with K
Science Word & Meaning | Science Word & Meaning |
|---|---|
kelvin — kelvin | kelvins — kelvins |
kilómetro — kilometer | kilogramo — kilogram |
kilovatio — kilowatt | kilovoltio — kilovolt |
kilojulio — kilojoule | kilopascal — kilopascal |
kilohertz — kilohertz | kilohercio — kilohertz unit |
kilocaloría — kilocalorie | kilolitro — kiloliter |
kilobase — kilobase | kilobases — kilobases |
kilodalton — kilodalton | kilodaltones — kilodaltons |
kilomol — kilomole | kiloparsec — kiloparsec |
kaón — kaon | kaones — kaons |
kárstico — karstic | karst — karst |
karstificación — karstification | kriptón — krypton |
kinesiología — kinesiology | kinesioterapia — kinesiotherapy |
kinésica — kinesics | kinésico — kinesic |
kril — krill | kriles — krill |
kilocalorimetría — kilocalorimetry | kiloelectronvoltio — kiloelectronvolt |
Academic Words in Spanish that Start with K
Academic Word & Meaning | Academic Word & Meaning |
|---|---|
kantiano — Kantian | kantiana — Kantian |
kantismo — Kantianism | kafkiano — Kafkaesque |
kafkiana — Kafkaesque | kafkianismo — Kafkaesque quality |
keynesiano — Keynesian | keynesiana — Keynesian |
keynesianismo — Keynesianism | keynesianista — Keynesian supporter |
krausismo — Krausism | krausista — Krausist |
koiné — common dialect | kinésica — kinesics |
kinésico — kinesic | kerigma — proclamation |
kinesiología — kinesiology | kinesiológico — kinesiological |
kárstico — karstic | kurdología — Kurdish studies |
kurdólogo — Kurdish-studies scholar | kurdóloga — Kurdish-studies scholar |
kulturkampf — cultural struggle | koinonía — communion/fellowship |
Unique Spanish Words Starting with K with Meanings
Unique Word & Meaning | Unique Word & Meaning |
|---|---|
kermés — charity fair | katiuska — rain boot |
kintsugi — golden repair art | koiné — common language |
kerigma — religious proclamation | káiser — emperor/kaiser |
kibutz — collective settlement | koljós — collective farm |
klezmer — Jewish folk music | kanji — Japanese character |
katakana — Japanese syllabary | kamikaze — reckless person |
kril — small marine crustacean | kriptón — chemical element |
kriptonita — fictional weakness | kumquat — small citrus |
konjac — Asian plant food | kombucha — fermented drink |
kintsukuroi — golden repair art | kurdistaní — from Kurdistan |
kuwaití — from Kuwait | kosovar — from Kosovo |
kirguís — Kyrgyz | kazajo — Kazakh |
Words in Spanish Beginning with K for Kids with Meanings and Examples
Kiwi means a green fruit.
Example: Me gusta comer kiwi.
Meaning: I like eating kiwi.
Koala means koala.
Example: El koala vive en Australia.
Meaning: The koala lives in Australia.
Kilo means kilo.
Example: Compramos un kilo de naranjas.
Meaning: We bought one kilo of oranges.
Karaoke means karaoke.
Example: Cantamos karaoke en la fiesta.
Meaning: We sang karaoke at the party.
Kárate means karate.
Example: Ana aprende kárate.
Meaning: Ana learns karate.
Kayak means kayak.
Example: Vimos un kayak rojo.
Meaning: We saw a red kayak.
Kimono means kimono.
Example: El kimono es bonito.
Meaning: The kimono is beautiful.
Ketchup means ketchup.
Example: Pongo ketchup en las papas.
Meaning: I put ketchup on the fries.
Kit means kit.
Example: Tengo un kit de colores.
Meaning: I have a color kit.
Kiosco means kiosk.
Example: Compré agua en el kiosco.
Meaning: I bought water at the kiosk.
High-Scoring Scrabble Spanish Words Starting with K
These point values use a Spanish Scrabble style where K is playable and worth 8 points. Accents are ignored.
Word & Points | Word & Points |
|---|---|
kayak — 22 points | katiuska — 22 points |
karaoke — 21 points | kétchup — 20 points |
ketchup — 20 points | kilogramo — 19 points |
kriptonita — 19 points | kiwi — 18 points |
kilómetro — 18 points | kitsch — 17 points |
kebab — 16 points | kosher — 16 points |
kimono — 15 points | kermés — 15 points |
karma — 14 points | kiosco — 14 points |
kárate — 13 points | koala — 12 points |
kilo — 11 points | ka — 9 points |
Notes on Usage
K is not one of the most common letters in Spanish. Many Spanish K words are borrowed from other languages, especially in food, sports, science, technology, culture, and geography. That is why learners often see words like kilo, kiwi, karaoke, kárate, kimono, kiosco, and ketchup.
You can use these words when talking about shopping, food, travel, school, sports, science, technology, and everyday objects. For example, kilo is useful at markets, kilómetro is useful for distance, kiwi is useful for food vocabulary, and karaoke is useful for entertainment.
The benefit of learning K words is that they help students recognize international vocabulary in Spanish. These words also make pronunciation easier because K usually has a clear sound. They are especially helpful for kids, beginner learners, spelling practice, and word games.
Pronunciation Guide on K Spanish Words
In Spanish, the letter K usually sounds like the English k in “kite,” “key,” or “kangaroo.” It is a hard sound.
Ka sounds like kah.
Example: ka
Ke sounds like keh.
Example: kermés
Ki sounds like kee.
Example: kilo, kiwi, kimono
Ko sounds like koh.
Example: koala, kosher
Ku sounds like koo.
Example: kurdo, kuwaití
In many Spanish words, the same /k/ sound is written with c before a, o, u, and with qu before e, i. However, K remains in many borrowed words and international terms.
FAQs about Spanish K Words
Spanish K words include kilo, kiwi, karaoke, kárate, kimono, kiosco, kéfir, karma, koala, and kayak in everyday learning contexts today.
The most common K word is kilo, used daily for weight, shopping, cooking, transport, science, sports, and informal conversation everywhere.
Spanish uses K mainly in loanwords, international terms, scientific units, brandlike spellings, and words preserving foreign origins or transliterations today.
Yes, kárate, kiwi, kilo, karaoke, kimono, kiosco, kéfir, karma, and koala are commonly recognized by many Spanish speakers worldwide today.
Very few exist. Ka names the letter K, while kas is its plural form in Spanish alphabet discussions and spelling lessons.
Spanish phrases starting with K often begin with kilo, karaoke, kárate, kit, kiwi, ketchup, or kilómetro in practical everyday contexts.
K usually sounds like English k, as in kilo, karma, karaoke, and kimono, with a clear hard sound every time.
Kids can learn kiwi, kilo, koala, karaoke, kimono, kayak, ketchup, and karate because they are visual, simple, and memorable words.
Most K words are borrowed from other languages, so native Spanish vocabulary usually prefers c or qu spellings for similar sounds.
