Looking for the best Spanish-English dictionary? There are many different options on the market. Certain Spanish-to-English dictionaries are more suitable for translators and advanced foreign language learners. Others are perfect for beginners and intermediate users. What’s the best choice for you? Read on for our take on the best Spanish-English bilingual dictionaries in book format, to suit a wide range of language needs.
How do I choose a bilingual dictionary?
With so many English-Spanish dictionaries to choose between, you may struggle to figure out which is best for you. Ask yourself these questions when you select your bilingual dictionary:
- When was the latest edition published? Languages evolve and new words are coined all the time. That means the more recent the Spanish language information the better.
- How many words does it contain? If you’re a translator or advanced language learner, you’ll want as many Spanish words and English translations to be included as possible. For younger foreign language learners, having to wade through too many words in a multilingual dictionary may be demotivating. Smaller dictionaries cost less and are more user friendly.
- What bonuses does the dictionary include? Do you need Spanish verb conjugations? Are you interested in Spanish punctuation help? Are their audio recordings or a dictionary app that will come in handy?
- How will it complement your favourite online Spanish dictionary? With so much available online, it’s worth thinking about how you plan to use this physical addition to your collection. For instance, if you plan to carry it around with you, size matters. If you’re sitting an exam or want to avoid the information overload you get when searching in online Spanish dictionaries, a more comprehensive physical dictionary will be just the ticket.
One thing that confused us when researching these dictionaries is that the name is often simply Spanish Dictionary rather than Spanish-English. Don’t let that worry you. All the dictionaries mentioned here are bilingual.
We’ve have a good look online and at Amazon to see which Spanish-English dictionaries we’d buy this year. If you want to complement your favourite online Spanish dictionary with a physical copy of the best Spanish-English dictionary in 2024, scroll down for all the help you’ll need.
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Our top pick for the best Spanish-English dictionary in 2024
It’s a good idea to read this complete article for detailed information on each of the bilingual dictionaries researched. But if you want your Spanish language bilingual dictionary and you want it now, here’s what we recommend.
Best choice for professional translators and university students
Collins Spanish Dictionary Complete and Unabridged. In terms of comprehensiveness, this dictionary is similar to Oxford. But since the latest edition came out in 2016 (compared to 2008 for Oxford), this is our choice.
Best choice for learning Spanish at beginner or intermediate level
In the USA: Webster’s New Explorer Spanish-English Dictionary, Third Edition.
Updated in 2014 and with 80,000 words in Latin American Spanish, this is a well-priced choice for speakers of US English.
In the UK: Oxford Learner’s Spanish Dictionary.
This recently updated dictionary includes content designed to help school students doing their GCSE exams. It’s a manageable size and less is more when it comes to the vast challenge of learning Spanish at beginner and intermediate level.
Which is the best Spanish-English dictionary in 2024? Check out our top picks! #translation #spanish Click To TweetCollins Spanish Dictionary Complete and Unabridged
Latest edition: 2016
First published in 1971, this is the tenth edition of what Collins claims is the world’s leading Spanish-to-English and English-to-Spanish bilingual dictionary. Its user-friendly layout includes extensive coverage of contemporary Spanish and English, along with plenty of idioms and examples.
Features
- Contains 310,000 words, meanings and phrases and 442,000 translations.
- Thousands of the latest words from a wide range of areas.
- Examples and idioms based on evidence from a multimillion-word corpus of real Spanish and English.
- European and Latin American Spanish.
- Notes on language, grammar and culture.
- Supplement on language in use.
- Help with typical translation issues.
- Eng to Spanish and Spanish to Eng.
Pricing
This is a comprehensive and weighty tome. So, it’s one of the more expensive options on the market.
Bottom line
If you’re a professional translator or an advanced student of Spanish, this is a worthwhile investment. You’ll get a detailed and comprehensive dictionary you can use in your home or office.
Oxford Spanish Dictionary
Latest edition: 2008
This internationally acclaimed dictionary is a hot contender for the best bilingual dictionary for language professionals and anyone learning the Spanish language. It has been described as the most authoritative Spanish bilingual dictionary available, with all the words you’ll need.
Features
- Contains over 300,000 words and phrases.
- Half a million translations.
- Thousands of new words and updated translations.
- A clear colour layout and a new menu help you to navigate longer entries.
- Accessible and easy to use.
- New and updated cultural notes.
- Notes on subjects from politics and industry to technology and ecology.
Pricing
As a comprehensive English-Spanish dictionary, this is at the higher end of the pricing scale. However, like with the Collins, the price is reasonable for such a good dictionary.
Bottom line
This thorough bilingual Spanish-English dictionary provides stiff competition for the best option for language users. Its main disadvantage when compared to the Collins is that the latest edition is less recent.
Check out the Oxford Spanish Dictionary.
A Frequency Dictionary of Spanish: Core Vocabulary for Learners
Latest edition: 2017
This dictionary was developed using an online corpus containing more than 2 billion words collected from 21 Spanish-speaking countries. It offers expansive and up-to-date guidelines on Spanish vocabulary to give a boost to your language learning.
Features
- Contains the top 5,000 most frequently used Spanish words.
- Each entry is accompanied by example sentences and a full English translation.
- Entries arranged alphabetically and by frequency.
- A separate CD version provides the full text for digital viewing.
- Available for Kindle.
Pricing
The price of this dictionary is at the top end for dictionaries of the same size, but the focus on frequently used words could be a useful tool for lower-level learners of Spanish.
Bottom line
You might not have considered a frequency dictionary before, but this English-Spanish dictionary could be a good addition to your library of resources, whether you’re a translator or a language student.
Webster’s New Explorer Spanish-English Dictionary, Third Edition
Latest edition: 2014
This dictionary was revised and updated in 2014. It deals with American English and Latin American Spanish.
Features
- Contains 80,000 words and 100,000 translations.
- Fully revised and updated.
- Up-to-date coverage of essential vocabulary and everyday language from American English and Latin American Spanish.
- Clear definitions for efficient language learning.
- Thousands of words and phrases in context.
- Sections on Spanish grammar, irregular English verbs and conjugation of Spanish verbs.
Pricing
This is well priced for its size and what it offers.
Bottom line
This affordable, mid-range dictionary is a good option for American translators and students, or anyone with an interest in Latin American Spanish.
Merriam Webster’s Pocket Spanish-English Dictionary
Latest edition: 2002
This is a pocket dictionary containing essential Spanish and English words and common phrases. A great tool for language learning.
Features
- Contains 45,000 words.
- English pronunciations given in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
- Bidirectional structure: English to Spanish and Spanish to English.
- Flexi paperback binding.
- Sections include conjugation of Spanish verbs, common Spanish abbreviations, irregular English verbs, and English and Spanish numbers.
Pricing
At under 500 pages, this is not an expensive, weighty tome. It’s a reasonably priced pocket dictionary.
Bottom line
This is a portable option for students of Spanish or for holiday-makers who want to quickly check a word or phrase on the go. Do note, though, that the latest version was published 20 years ago.
Oxford Learner’s Spanish Dictionary
Latest edition: 2017
Fully revised to offer up-to-date vocabulary and wide-ranging coverage for English speakers learning Spanish at GCSE and beyond.
Features
- Contains 35,000 words with translations.
- Includes all current exam board vocabulary.
- Curriculum words are flagged with a key symbol.
- Word tips with information on common grammatical errors and confusable words.
- Culture boxes with interesting cultural information.
- Full verb tables, including English translations of the different tenses, to help with translating to and from Spanish.
Pricing
If you’re studying for exams in Spanish, this mid-range dictionary is an affordable option.
Bottom line
An essential tool for beginner and intermediate students of Spanish, at a reasonable price.
Collins Beginner’s Spanish Dictionary, Seventh Edition
Latest edition: 2015
Now in its seventh edition, the Collins Beginner’s Spanish Dictionary has been fully revised and updated. It’s designed to help beginner language students learn Spanish.
Features
- Contains 79,000 words.
- Easy to read, easy to use and easy to understand.
- Comprehensive entries that highlight key translations and vocabulary.
- Set expressions with clear, helpful examples.
- Games, English verbs, Spanish verbs, numbers, dates, times and English phonetics.
- Full-colour supplement includes sections on relationships and feelings, in town, at home, jobs and hobbies.
Pricing
This is at the top end of the pricing scale for dictionaries of its size, but its thorough nature makes the investment worthwhile.
Bottom line
This is a good option for anyone starting to learn Spanish. A great, portable dictionary that you can use at home or take with you to your Spanish class.
Larousse Concise Dictionary: Spanish-English / English-Spanish
Latest edition: 2009
Although this is a concise dictionary, it’s more comprehensive than the Larousse pocket and mini versions. It’s a good dictionary for learners of Spanish who want something more portable than an unabridged dictionary.
Features
- Contains 230,000 words, expressions and translations.
- General and professional Spanish and Latin American terms and word usage.
- Supplemental information on life and culture in Latin America.
- Weighs in at 1.19 kg.
Pricing
The fact that this is a concise dictionary is reflected in the price, making it a more affordable option than a more comprehensive dictionary.
Bottom line
This is an affordable option for anyone working with Spanish or learning the language. It represents good value for money, though the latest edition came out over 10 years ago.
Check out the Larousse Concise Dictionary.
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Thanks for this great article. The one I’m interested in is Webster’s New Explorer Spanish-English Dictionary, Third Edition, from 2014. Today’s date is 2/1/2024, and it’s out of print, available only for exorbitant prices on used book sites. Do you know if they are coming out with a new edition? Maybe they put one out every ten years? Thanks for all the work you put into this.
Hi Rebecca, thanks for reading and commenting. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about a new edition, which is a shame. I see what you mean about the price. Now you’ve pointed it out, I’m going to remove it from the recommendations for now. Perhaps the Merriam-Webster pocket dictionary mentioned would be suitable, though I appreciate it isn’t as comprehensive.
Thanks for the reply, Gwenydd. The pocket edition is the one I currently have. I keep looking up words in the Latin American songs I’m listening to, and it’s almost always a dud. I’m planning on eventually putting in a real effort to learn the language beyond just fun songs. I’ll keep researching. Some of my favorite recent songs are “Los Angeles” by Aitana, “COCO LOCO” by Maluma, “El Merengue” by Marshmello & Manuel Turizo, “LAS 12” by Ana Mena, Belinda, “No_se_ve.mp3” by LUDMILLA & Zecca & Emilia, “MAMIII” by Becky G & KAROL G. If you need some dancing tunes. 🙂 Have a good one and thanks again.