How to use colons in Spanish
Guide Spanish colons (:)
Colons (dos puntos) are used to introduce lists or explanations, but also to express the time, as a mathematical symbol and in direct speech.
After a colon, use a space and begin the next word with a lowercase letter. If direct speech follows, however, this is capitalised.
Read on to learn about Spanish colons rules with Lingolia.
Contents
Direct speech
In direct speech, a colon marks the beginning of a quotation, which is written in quotation marks (note: English uses a comma in this instance).
- Example:
- Lo primero que me preguntó el entrevistador fue: «¿Qué puedes hacer tú que no pueda hacer otra persona?»The first thing the interviewer asked me was, ”What can you do that no one else can?“
Modern plays use a colon to introduce the characters’ lines. In old plays you can still find a full stop followed by an em dash for the same purpose.
- Example:
- Helena: Acuérdate de mí cuando estés solo.Helena.— Remember me when you are alone.
- Old plays → Helena.— Acuérdate de mí cuando estés solo.
Greetings
Use a colon (not a comma!) after the opening greeting of an email, letter or postcard.
- Examples:
- Querida Fátima:Dear Fátima,
- Estimada señora Méndez:Dear Ms Méndez,
The next line always begin with a capital letter.
- Example:
- Querida Fátima:
- Te escribo esta carta después de casi dos años sin saber nada la una de la otra.Dear Fátima,
I am writing this letter after almost two years without hearing from you.
Explanations
Explanations, examples, or conclusions within a sentence are introduced with a colon.
- Examples:
- Este fin de semana nos visitarán mis padres: quieren ayudarnos a preparar la habitación del bebé antes de que nazca.My parents are visiting us this weekend: they want to help us prepare the baby’s room before the baby is born.
- Estaba claro: Clara ha conseguido el trabajo.It was clear: Clara got the job.
Use a colon after the following phrases: a sabernamely, esto esthat is to say, dicho de otro modoput another way, en otras palabrasin other words, más aúnmoreover, por ejemplopor ejemplo.
- Examples:
- Ya se conocen los ganadores; a saber: Ana González y Zaira Vallés.The winners have been announced: Ana González and Zaira Vallés.
- No es verdad que Diana llegue siempre tarde. Por ejemplo: ayer llegó la primera.It’s not true that Diana is always late. She was the first to arrive yesterday, for example.
Lists
Lists are introduced by a colon.
- Examples:
- Rellena este formulario con tu información personal: nombre, apellidos, fecha de nacimiento, lugar de nacimiento y lugar de residencia.Fill out this form with your personal details: first name, surname, date of birth, place of birth and place of residence.
- Vengo del mercado de la plaza; he comprado: fresas, aguacates, tomates, queso y mermelada casera.I’ve just come back from the market in the square; I bought strawberries, avocados, tomatoes, cheese and homemade jam.
The time
The time is written by separating the hours from the minutes with a colon.
- Example:
- Son exactamente las 12:26 h.It is exactly 12:26 pm.
Learn more about telling the time in Spanish.
Mathematical sign
In mathematics, the colon is the sign for division. You can also use a slash (/). It is read as entre.
- Example:
- 100 : 4 = 25
- 100 / 4 = 25
Do not use a colon after:
- the word comosuch us, including or prepositions.
- Examples:
- He vivido en varias ciudades de Europa, como Madrid, La Laguna, Tolosa, Durham, Múnich, Bruselas, entre otras.I have lived in several cities in Europe, including Madrid, La Laguna, Toulouse, Durham, Munich, and Brussels, among others.
- He vivido en Madrid, La Laguna, Tolosa, Durham, Múnich, Bruselas y Lipsia.I have lived in Madrid, La Laguna, Tolouse, Durham, Munich, Brussels and Leipzig.
