Housing Vocabulary in Spanish
Learn Spanish housing-related terms and expand your vocabulary. Ideal for beginners who want to learn Spanish in a practical way.
pagar (el recibo de) el teléfono
pay (the receipt) the phone
The Spanish phrase 'pagar (el recibo de) el teléfono' translates to 'pay (the receipt of) the phone' in English. It is usually used in a context where one is required to pay a bill, particularly a phone bill. The word 'pagar' means to 'pay', 'el recibo de' translates to 'the receipt of', and 'el teléfono' translates to 'the phone'. Thus, when you say 'pagar el recibo de el teléfono', it means you are making a payment for your phone's receipt or bill.
pagar (el recibo de) la comunidad
pay (the receipt of) community
The Spanish phrase 'pagar (el recibo de) la comunidad' translates to 'pay (the receipt of) community' in English. It typically refers to the practice of paying communal fees or bills, often in the context of apartment block or neighborhood payments. These might cover costs like utilities, maintenance, and administrative services. The phrase demonstrates the subjunctive verb form 'pagar', which means 'to pay' and the use of the preposition 'de' to indicate possession ('of'). It's a common phrase in contexts where shared costs are involved.
pagar (el recibo de) la luz
pay the lighting bill
The Spanish phrase 'pagar (el recibo de) la luz' translates to 'pay the lighting bill' in English. It denotes the action of paying for the electricity usage in a given period. The word 'pagar' means 'to pay', 'el recibo de' means 'the receipt of', and 'luz' means 'light'. Put together, this phrase is commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries to refer to the routine task of settling the electricity bill.
pagar el alquiler
pay rent
The phrase 'pagar el alquiler' in Spanish refers to the act of providing monetary compensation for borrowed space, typically a housing unit like an apartment or house. In English, this is referred to as 'paying the rent'. This is a common term used in financial, personal, and legal contexts.
pagar el recibo del agua
pay the water bill
The Spanish phrase 'pagar el recibo del agua' translates to 'pay the water bill' in English. It is typically used in the context of personal finances and household chores. It may refer to the action of making a payment for the water service provided to a home or business. For example, you may use it in a sentence like 'Necesito pagar el recibo del agua', which means 'I need to pay the water bill'.
pagar impuestos
pay taxes
The Spanish phrase 'pagar impuestos' translates to 'pay taxes' in English. It is a verb phrase typically used in the context of monetary transactions, specifically relating to the mandatory contributions to state revenue that individuals, businesses, or other entities are required to make according to their income or the value of goods and services they've bought or sold. The term is widely used in both business and casual conversations.
Example sentences with pagar impuestos →pagar la factura de la luz
pay the light bill
The Spanish phrase 'pagar la factura de la luz' translates to 'pay the light bill' in English. This is commonly used in everyday conversations when discussing monthly utilities or expenses related to electricity usage.
pagar la factura del agua
pay the water bill
The Spanish phrase 'pagar la factura del agua' translates to 'pay the water bill' in English. It is often used in the context of everyday life, where utilities such as water are billed to residents or businesses. The verb 'pagar' means 'to pay', 'la factura' means 'the bill', and 'del agua' means 'of the water'. Therefore, when put together, it signifies the action of making a payment for the water bill.
pagar la hipoteca
pay the mortgage
The Spanish phrase 'pagar la hipoteca' translates to 'pay the mortgage' in English. This phrase is often used in financial contexts and it refers to the act of making regular payments to reduce or eliminate a debt that is secured by a mortgage, which is a type of legal agreement. The process of 'pagar la hipoteca' typically involves paying both the principal amount loaned and the interest accrued on that loan over a set period.
pagar una hipoteca
pay a mortgage
The Spanish phrase 'pagar una hipoteca' translates to 'pay a mortgage' in English. This phrase is commonly used in the financial sector. If you own a property, you would 'pagar una hipoteca' to the bank or financial institution until you repaid the loan that you borrowed to buy the property. The term 'hipoteca' refers to a legal agreement by which a bank, building society, etc. lends money at interest in exchange for taking title of the debtor's property, with the condition that the conveyance of title becomes void upon the payment of the debt. Both 'pagar' and 'hipoteca' are common words used in financial and everyday conversations in the Spanish language.
palacete
palace
The term 'palacete' in Spanish refers to a small palace or a very luxurious house, often in reference to a large, impressive, grandeur residential home that can be quite ornate and aesthetically pleasing. While it literally translates to 'little palace' in English, it doesn't necessarily denote a royal or imperial residence but rather a very opulent house often associated with wealth and extravagance.
parador
hostel
The Spanish word 'parador' translates to 'hostel' in English. The term is commonly used in Spain and refers to a kind of luxury hotel, often located in a historic building such as a monastery or castle, which provides accommodation to travelers. Although it uses the same term, a 'parador' is not the same as a hostel in the context of budget accommodations for backpackers. Rather, it typically offers high-end services and is part of a state-run chain.
Example sentences with parador →pared
wall
The Spanish word for 'wall', 'pared', is used in a same way as in English. It refers to a vertical structure, often made of stone or brick, that divides or surrounds an area. However, it's important to note that 'pared' is generally used for interior walls. For referring to an exterior wall or a wall of a building, you'd often use the word 'muro'.
Example sentences with pared →pasillo
corridor
The word 'pasillo' in Spanish translates to 'corridor' in English. It is a noun that denotes a long, narrow passage in a building, typically with rooms that open into it. Corridors or 'pasillos' are common in buildings such as schools, hospitals, hotels, and offices. They can be inside a building, leading between different rooms, or outside providing a covered pathway.
patrimonio
heritage
The Spanish word 'patrimonio' translates to 'heritage' in English. It is a masculine noun used to describe something that is inherited from past generations. This can include, but is not limited to, tangible objects like property and money, or intangible concepts such as cultural traditions, values, and beliefs. The word 'patrimonio' can also be used in a broader sense to describe something that is considered to be a part of a certain place or people's rich cultural history.
pedir el libro de reclamaciones
order the claim book
The Spanish phrase 'pedir el libro de reclamaciones' generally translates to 'order the claim book' in English. In a commercial context, particularly in a consumer and business relationship, it is a formal request by a customer for a complaints book. This is a standard method of documenting dissatisfaction with a service or product in certain territories. Though the phrase can literally refer to the act of ordering a physical claim book, it is more widely understood and used as an invocation of consumer rights in a situation of dispute or dissatisfaction with a service or product.
pedir una ampliación de hipoteca
ask for a mortgage extension
The Spanish phrase 'pedir una ampliación de hipoteca' translates to 'ask for a mortgage extension' in English, which is often a request made by mortgage borrowers to their lenders to extend the term of their mortgage loan agreement. This action is typically taken when the borrower has difficulties in meeting the originally agreed mortgage payment schedule and it can be due to various reasons - such like financial hardship, difficulty finding employment, or major unexpected expenses. Thus, by asking for a mortgage extension, the borrower can gain more time to repay their loan, thereby reducing their monthly mortgage payments to a more manageable level.
pedir una cancelación de hipoteca
order a mortgage cancellation
The Spanish phrase 'pedir una cancelación de hipoteca' translates into English as 'order a mortgage cancellation'. This phrase is typically used in legal and financial contexts where a person requests a financial institution to cancel their mortgage. The verb 'pedir' means 'to ask for' or 'request'. 'Una cancelación' translates directly as 'a cancellation'. 'De hipoteca' is a prepositional phrase that means 'of mortgage'. Therefore, when assembled, 'pedir una cancelación de hipoteca' means 'to request a cancellation of mortgage' or 'order a mortgage cancellation'.
pensión
lodging
The Spanish word 'pensión' translates to 'lodging' in English. It is commonly used to refer to an establishment that provides accommodation and meals, especially for tourists, on a commercial basis. This can be a board in a private house paid for by arrangement, a guest house, or a small inexpensive hotel. 'Pensión' can also be used to refer to a regular payment made during a person's retirement from an investment fund they have contributed to during their working life. However, in this context, it is used with the meaning of lodging.
Example sentences with pensión →pensión completa
full board
The Spanish term 'pensión completa' translates to 'full board' in English. This is often used in reference to hospitality services, like hotels or bed and breakfasts, where the cost of the room also includes all three daily meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's a term often seen in travel and accommodation packages. Hence, if you see 'pensión completa' while booking your stay, you can expect your meals to be covered in the overall price.
Example sentences with pensión completa →piso de [número cardinal] habitaciones
floor of [ cardinal number] rooms
The Spanish 'piso de [número cardinal] habitaciones' translates to 'floor of [cardinal number] rooms' in English. It denotes a specific floor that has a certain number of rooms. The cardinal number (número cardinal) is used to define the precise quantity of rooms. For instance, 'piso de tres habitaciones' translates to 'floor of three rooms'. This phrase can be used in a variety of contexts such as describing a building layout, planning interior design, or in real estate.
piso de estudiantes
student apartment
The term 'piso de estudiantes' in Spanish translates to 'student apartment' in English. This is a type of housing particularly intended for students who are enrolled in an institution of higher learning, such as a college or university. Student apartments are often located in close proximity to campus, feature amenities and services tailored to the lifestyle and needs of students, and have lease terms that align with the academic calendar.
piso de nueva construcción
new construction floor
The Spanish phrase 'piso de nueva construcción' translates to 'new construction floor' in English. It is a term commonly used in the real estate and construction industries to describe a floor or level in a building that has recently been built or is in the process of being completed. It can also refer to an individual residence within a new building. Each word in the phrase can be broken down: 'piso' means floor or level, 'de' is a preposition equivalent to 'of' or 'from', 'nueva' is the feminine form of 'new', and 'construcción' means construction.
piso exterior
exterior
The Spanish term 'piso exterior' refers to an outdoor floor or exterior floor in English. This phrase is commonly used in real estate to refer to an apartment that has windows or rooms facing towards the street or outdoor environment, instead of an interior courtyard. Therefore, it's not precisely equivalent to 'exterior', but rather a specific term implying certain characteristics of a building or apartment.
piso interior
interior
The word 'piso interior' in Spanish refers to an 'interior floor' or more specifically, it can be used to denote the interior part of a building or structure. It's often used to talk about the inside of a home or an apartment. While 'piso' can refer to a floor or level of a building, 'interior' directly translates to 'interior' in English. Therefore, 'piso interior' doesn't strictly mean 'interior', but rather it is used in context to refer to something within the inside or inner part of a structure.
piso luminoso
bright apartment
The Spanish term 'piso luminoso' directly translates to 'bright apartment' in English. It is used to describe a living space, often an apartment or flat, which receives a lot of natural light or is well illuminated. An apartment that is 'luminoso' generally suggests that the space is cheerfully lit, possibly enhanced with features such as large windows or a favorable orientation towards the sun. The word 'piso' denotes a level in a building, correlated to an apartment or a floor in English.
piso soleado
sunny floor
The Spanish term 'piso soleado' translates to 'sunny floor' in English. 'Piso' is the Spanish word for 'floor', commonly used to refer to the surface of a room or compartment on which one stands or the lower enclosing surface of any compartment. 'Soleado' is the Spanish word for 'sunny', frequently used to describe a location or item that is receiving or filled with sunlight. Thus, 'piso soleado' refers to a floor receiving or filled with sunlight.
poner moqueta
put on carpet
The Spanish phrase 'poner moqueta' translates to 'put on carpet' in English. It is a phrase often used in the context of interior design and home renovation where 'poner' means 'to put on' and 'moqueta' refers to 'carpet'. This consists of laying a carpet on a floor or surface to improve its aesthetic appeal or for comfort and warmth. It's particularly common in colder climates or posh interior designs where a carpeted floor can provide a cozy and luxurious feel.
poner una reclamación
put a claim
The Spanish phrase 'poner una reclamación' translates to 'put a claim' in English. In a more practical, everyday usage, it refers to the process of making a formal complaint or reporting an issue to an authority or an organization, which is expected to take action or provide a resolution. This may be done in various contexts such as insurance, customer service, or law enforcement.
portero
doorman
The Spanish word 'portero' translates to 'doorman' in English. A doorman is an employee of a building (often a residential building or hotel) who stands at the door, greets residents and guests, and may perform services such as receiving mail or luggage. Similarly, a 'portero' performs the same duties in Spanish-speaking countries.