cama
/kah-mah/
bed
Cama (Definition 1): A piece of furniture used for sleeping (bed).
📝 In Action
Todas las mañanas hago la cama.
A1Every morning I make the bed.
El niño ya está en la cama.
A1The child is already in bed.
Compramos una cama nueva para el dormitorio.
A2We bought a new bed for the bedroom.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though 'cama' doesn't end in '-o' or '-a' in a way that clearly signals gender, it's always a feminine word. So, you'll always say 'la cama' (the bed) or 'una cama' (a bed).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Making vs. Building
Mistake: "Quiero construir la cama antes de salir."
Correction: Quiero hacer la cama antes de salir. Use 'hacer la cama' for the daily task of tidying your sheets. Use 'construir' or 'montar' only if you are physically building the bed frame from parts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Going to Bed
The phrase 'ir a la cama' is the most natural and common way to say you're going to bed for the night. You can also use 'acostarse'.
Cama (Definition 2): A base or layer upon which something rests, such as a 'bed' of spinach or a riverbed.
cama(Noun)
bed
?a base or layer
truck bed
?the back of a pickup truck
,riverbed
?the bottom of a river
,layer
?in gardening or cooking
📝 In Action
Pusimos las herramientas en la cama de la camioneta.
B1We put the tools in the bed of the truck.
El chef preparó el salmón sobre una cama de espinacas.
B2The chef prepared the salmon on a bed of spinach.
Debido a la sequía, se puede ver la cama del río.
B2Due to the drought, you can see the riverbed.
⭐ Usage Tips
Thinking in Layers
This meaning is an extension of the first one. Think of it as the 'bed' or bottom layer that something else rests on, whether it's cargo in a truck, a river on its bed, or food on a plate.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cama
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cama' to mean something OTHER than a piece of furniture for sleeping?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'cama' and 'lecho'?
'Cama' is the everyday word for bed that you'll use 99% of the time. 'Lecho' also means bed, but it sounds much more formal or poetic. You might find 'lecho' in literature or in phrases like 'lecho de muerte' (deathbed) or 'lecho del río' (riverbed), where it's also a synonym for 'cama'.
Why do you say 'hacer la cama' and not 'hacer mi cama'?
Great question! While 'hacer mi cama' is understandable, it's much more common in Spanish to use 'la cama'. The 'la' works like 'the' but often replaces possessives like 'my' or 'your' when it's obvious whose item you're talking about. Since you're usually making your own bed, 'hacer la cama' is the most natural way to say it.