Last Updated on June 22, 2026 by I Love Spanish Club
Did you know that knowing geometric shapes in Spanish is incredibly useful — not just for math class but for everyday conversations too? Describing a room, giving directions, or talking about design all require shape vocabulary. In this guide you’ll learn all the geometric figures in Spanish — 2D and 3D — with pronunciation tips, example sentences, and a quiz to test yourself. ¡Vamos a aprender!
🔷 Geometric Figures in Spanish — Visual Guide
Study these vocabulary cards to learn the shapes in Spanish:
📐 2D Shapes in Spanish — Figuras Geométricas Planas
These are the flat, two-dimensional shapes you’ll use most often in Spanish:
| Spanish | English | Description |
|---|---|---|
| El triángulo | Triangle | 3 sides and 3 angles |
| El cuadrado | Square | 4 equal sides, 4 right angles (90°) |
| El rectángulo | Rectangle | 4 sides, 2 pairs of equal lengths, right angles |
| El círculo | Circle | Curved, no sides or angles |
| El óvalo / La elipse | Oval / Ellipse | Egg-shaped, elongated circle |
| El pentágono | Pentagon | 5 sides and 5 angles |
| El hexágono | Hexagon | 6 sides and 6 angles |
| El heptágono | Heptagon | 7 sides and 7 angles |
| El octágono | Octagon | 8 sides and 8 angles |
| El nonágono | Nonagon | 9 sides and 9 angles |
| El decágono | Decagon | 10 sides and 10 angles |
| El rombo | Rhombus / Diamond | 4 equal sides, no right angles |
| El romboide | Rhomboid | 4 sides, 2 pairs, no right angles |
| El trapecio | Trapezoid | 4 sides, at least 2 parallel |
| La estrella | Star | 5 or more points |
| El corazón | Heart | Heart-shaped |
💡 Pronunciation tip: Most Spanish shape names are cognates — they sound similar to English! Triángulo, rectángulo, hexágono, octágono — you already know these! The main difference is the stress and the Spanish vowel sounds.
🧊 3D Shapes in Spanish — Figuras Geométricas Tridimensionales
| Spanish | English | Description |
|---|---|---|
| El cubo | Cube | 6 square faces |
| El prisma | Prism | 2 parallel bases, rectangular lateral faces |
| La pirámide | Pyramid | Polygonal base, triangular lateral faces |
| La esfera | Sphere | Perfectly round, no sides or angles |
| El cilindro | Cylinder | 2 circular bases, curved lateral face |
| El cono | Cone | Circular base, curved face ending in a point |
💬 Using Shapes in Real Spanish Conversations
| La mesa tiene forma de rectángulo. | The table is rectangular in shape. |
| El logo es un círculo naranja. | The logo is an orange circle. |
| ¿Cuántos lados tiene un hexágono? | How many sides does a hexagon have? |
| La pirámide tiene una base cuadrada. | The pyramid has a square base. |
| Dibuja un triángulo en el cuaderno. | Draw a triangle in the notebook. |
| El balón de fútbol tiene forma de esfera. | The football has the shape of a sphere. |
Shape vocabulary might seem basic, but it’s surprisingly useful for describing objects, art, design, and even directions (“turn where the street forms a triangle”). A native tutor on Italki can turn this into a fun “describe the object” game, which is a great low-pressure way to build descriptive vocabulary.
🎯 Quick Practice Quiz
Translate these into Spanish:
- The table is rectangular.
- How many sides does a pentagon have?
- Draw a circle.
- The pyramid has a square base.
- A cube has six faces.
✅ Show Answers
- La mesa tiene forma de rectángulo.
- ¿Cuántos lados tiene un pentágono?
- Dibuja un círculo.
- La pirámide tiene una base cuadrada.
- Un cubo tiene seis caras.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many Spanish shape names look like English words?
Most geometric terms in both languages come from Latin and Greek roots (tri-, hexa-, octa-, -gono from “gonia” meaning angle). That’s why triángulo, hexágono and octágono are so recognizable — they’re cognates, words that share the same origin in both languages.
What’s the difference between “rombo” and “romboide”?
El rombo (rhombus) has 4 equal sides but no right angles — like a diamond shape. El romboide (rhomboid) has 4 sides in 2 pairs of different lengths, also with no right angles — like a “leaning” rectangle. They’re easy to confuse but visually quite different.
How do I describe an object’s shape in Spanish?
Use tiene forma de + shape (it has the shape of) or es + shape + -ado/ada (when there’s an adjective form): la mesa es redonda (the table is round), el espejo tiene forma ovalada (the mirror has an oval shape). Watching design or architecture content on LingoPie is a great way to hear shapes described naturally in context.