Spanish · Home, Clothes & Daily Life
"Key" in Spanish: llave
la llave
A key is la llave (YAH-beh). It is feminine. People often say las llaves for the set of keys you carry.
Leaving home
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How to pronounce llave
Say it
YAH-beh
/ˈʝa.be/
Two syllables: YAH-beh. Soft b. In Latin America, ll in llave sounds like y.
"Key" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| la llave | key One key for a door, lock, or car. | One key for a door, lock, or car. |
| las llaves | the keys The bunch of keys you take when leaving. | The bunch of keys you take when leaving. |
| la llave de la casa | the house key Naming which key you need. | Naming which key you need. |
| cerrar con llave | to lock Locking a door with a key. | Locking a door with a key. |
How to use llave in real life
- 1Leaving home
¿Trajiste la llave?
Did you bring the key?
A quick check before you go out.
- 2Looking around the apartment
No encuentro las llaves.
I can't find the keys.
Las llaves is the usual plural.
- 3At a hotel desk
Me dan la llave de la 210, por favor.
May I have the key for 210, please?
La llave de… names the room.
Mistakes English speakers make with llave
Incorrect: El llave no abre.
Correct: La llave no abre.
Llave is feminine. Say la llave.
Incorrect: Perdí el key.
Correct: Perdí la llave.
Use llave, not the English word key.
Good to know
Llave is a key. Llaves often means your whole keyring. In hotels you may still hear llave even when the card is plastic.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Locked out for a moment
ChatPal
¿Quién tiene la llave?
Who has the key?
You
Yo. La llave está en mi bolsillo.
Me. The key is in my pocket.
ChatPal
Menos mal. Abre rápido.
Thank goodness. Open quickly.
You
Listo. Pasen.
Done. Come in.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Key" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Key" in Spanish
Is llave masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la llave, unas llaves nuevas.
How do you pronounce ll in llave?
In most of Latin America, like y: YAH-beh.
Singular or plural for a keyring?
Often las llaves, even for one ring of keys.
Does llave mean faucet too?
In some countries, yes—a water tap. Context decides.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Y in Spanish AlphabetY in spanish alphabet. Learn how y works in the Spanish alphabet, from its names (ye and i griega) to its dual consonant and vowel pronunciation
- How to Practice Speaking Spanish with AI the Smart WayLearn how to practice speaking Spanish with AI using practical routines, realistic scenarios, and feedback loops that actually build real-world fluency.
