The standard Spain abbreviation is ES, the two-letter country code, with ESP as the three-letter version. Both come from España, the country's name in Spanish, which is why neither one starts with S.
Which one you need depends on the box you are filling in. Shipping forms, web addresses and many apps want ES. Sports scoreboards, passports and some databases use ESP. In ordinary writing, most style guides prefer the full word Spain, and the older short form "Sp." is rare today.
Quick facts
Two-letter code
ESThree-letter code
ESPNumeric code
724Phone code
+34Web domain
.esCar plates
EOfficial name
Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España)Not to be confused with
ES as the language code for Spanish
The abbreviation for Spain in each setting
| Code | Type | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| ES | Two-letter country code | Mailing labels, online forms, the .es web ending |
| ESP | Three-letter country code | Passports, sports results, data tables |
| 724 | Numeric country code | Banking and statistics systems |
| E | Vehicle code | The blue strip on Spanish license plates |
| +34 | Calling code | Calls placed to Spain from other countries |
| Sp. | Traditional written short form | Older maps, atlases and reference lists |
The letter codes ES and ESP are part of an international standard used by governments, shippers and software. For codes from other countries, see the country abbreviations hub.
ES or ESP: picking the right Spain abbreviation
A simple rule works most of the time: if the field has room for two characters, type ES. If it asks for three, type ESP.
On an online checkout form: "Country (2 letters): ____." Enter ES for an address in Madrid or Seville. Typing SP or SPA will usually cause an error, because neither one is a real code for Spain.
Travel documents use the three-letter version. A Spanish passport shows ESP as the issuing country and nationality. Airline and border systems read those letters automatically, so they must match the standard exactly.
In running text, such as an essay or a news story, write the full name. "She studied in Spain" reads better than any code.
Spain on the scoreboard
International sports bodies use three letters on scoreboards and medal tables, and for Spain that is ESP. You will see it in soccer, basketball, tennis and the Olympic Games. A results line such as "ESP 2, ITA 1" means Spain beat Italy two to one.
Do not mix this up with ESP as extrasensory perception. Context makes it obvious: a flag and a score point to Spain, a story about mind reading points to the other meaning.
Language codes vs country codes
ES does double duty. As a country code it means Spain. As a language code it means the Spanish language, wherever it is spoken. That is why a language menu might show "ES" for Spanish even on a site run from Mexico or Colombia.
- es is the language code for Spanish.
- es-ES means Spanish as used in Spain.
- es-MX means Spanish as used in Mexico.
- Sp. or Span. are older dictionary style short forms for the language.
So a small ES button on a website usually means "switch to Spanish," not "you are in Spain."
Airport codes for Spanish cities
Flight bookings use three-letter airport codes, and these are separate from the country code.
| City | Airport code |
|---|---|
| Madrid | MAD |
| Barcelona | BCN |
| Málaga | AGP |
| Palma de Mallorca | PMI |
| Seville | SVQ |
| Valencia | VLC |
Some of these are easy to guess and others are not. AGP for Málaga and SVQ for Seville surprise many first time travelers. PMI on a boarding pass means Palma, not PMI in a mortgage.
Quick tips for writing Spain short
- Use ES with no period on forms and labels; codes never take periods.
- Use ESP for three-letter fields and sports results.
- Use the full word Spain in sentences and titles.
- Remember E alone on a car plate, not ES.
- For neighbors, compare the codes on the France abbreviation and Italy abbreviation pages.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for Spain?
The main abbreviation for Spain is ES, the two-letter country code. The three-letter code is ESP. Both come from España, the Spanish name for the country.
Why is Spain ES and not SP?
Country codes are often based on the country's own name. In Spanish, Spain is España, so the codes start with E and S.
What does ESP mean next to a player's name?
It shows the player represents Spain. Sports results use three-letter codes, and ESP is the code for Spain.
Which number do I dial to phone Spain?
Dial +34 before the Spanish phone number when calling from another country. From the United States, that usually means dialing 011, then 34, then the number.
Is ES the abbreviation for Spanish or for Spain?
Both, depending on the setting. In a country list ES is Spain. In a language menu ES means the Spanish language, used in many countries.