baño
/BAH-nyoh/
bathroom
This image shows 'el baño', the room in a house or public facility with a toilet and sink.
baño(Noun)
bathroom
?The room in a house with a toilet and sink.
,restroom
?The public facility.
,toilet
?Referring to the room, not just the fixture.
lavatory
?More formal, often seen on signs.
📝 In Action
¿Dónde está el baño, por favor?
A1Where is the bathroom, please?
El baño de la habitación es muy pequeño.
A1The room's bathroom is very small.
Tengo que ir al baño antes de salir.
A2I have to go to the bathroom before we leave.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Toilet'
Mistake: "Don't use the English word 'toilet' to mean the room. In Spanish, the word for the fixture itself is 'inodoro' or 'váter', but 'baño' is used for the whole room."
Correction: Say '¿Dónde está el baño?' for the room. You'll almost never need to ask for the 'inodoro'.
⭐ Usage Tips
The All-Purpose Word
'Baño' is your go-to word for this room in almost any situation, whether in a house, a restaurant, or a hotel. It's always understood and perfectly polite.
This illustrates 'darse un baño', the act of taking a bath.
📝 In Action
Me voy a dar un baño caliente.
A2I'm going to take a hot bath.
A los niños les encanta el baño con burbujas.
B1Kids love a bubble bath.
Un buen baño te relajará después de un día largo.
A2A good bath will relax you after a long day.
💡 Grammar Points
Taking a Bath: 'Dar' or 'Tomar'
To say 'take a bath', Spanish uses the expressions 'darse un baño' (literally 'to give oneself a bath') or 'tomar un baño'. Both are very common and mean the same thing.
⭐ Usage Tips
Bath vs. Shower
Remember that 'baño' is specifically for bathing in a tub. If you're washing under running water, that's a 'ducha' (shower).
Here, 'un baño' means a casual swim or dip in a body of water.
📝 In Action
El agua está perfecta para un baño.
B1The water is perfect for a swim.
¿Vamos a la playa a darnos el último baño del verano?
B1Should we go to the beach for the last swim of the summer?
Después de la caminata, nos dimos un baño en el río.
B2After the hike, we took a dip in the river.
⭐ Usage Tips
Recreational vs. Athletic Swimming
Use 'baño' for a casual swim or dip to cool off. The sport of swimming is called 'natación'. You 'tomas un baño' at the beach, but you 'haces natación' for exercise.
In a technical or culinary context, 'baño' refers to a coating or plating, such as a chocolate coating or gold plating.
baño(Noun)
coating
?A layer covering a surface, e.g., food.
,plating
?A thin layer of metal.
wash
?A thin layer of color in painting.
📝 In Action
El anillo tiene un baño de oro.
B2The ring has a gold plating.
Para el postre, preparé fresas con un baño de chocolate.
B1For dessert, I prepared strawberries with a chocolate coating.
La pieza de metal necesita un baño protector contra el óxido.
C1The metal part needs a protective coating against rust.
⭐ Usage Tips
Cooking with 'Baño María'
A very common and useful phrase is 'cocinar al baño maría', which means to cook something gently by placing its container in a larger pan of hot water. It's the Spanish term for a double boiler.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: baño
Question 1 of 2
If someone says 'El anillo tiene un baño de oro', what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'baño', 'aseo', and 'servicio'?
'Baño' is the most common, all-purpose word you can use anywhere. 'Aseo' often refers to a smaller bathroom, maybe just a toilet and sink (a half-bath). 'Servicios' is more formal and is usually seen on signs in public places like airports or bus stations. When in doubt, just use 'baño'!
Do I say 'tomar un baño' or 'darse un baño'?
Both are correct and mean the same thing: 'to take a bath'. You can use them interchangeably. 'Darse un baño' is slightly more common in some regions, but everyone will understand both.