chimenea
/chee-meh-NEH-ah/
fireplace
The most common meaning of chimenea is 'fireplace,' the indoor structure designed to hold a fire.
chimenea(noun)
fireplace
?The indoor structure where a fire is built
hearth
?The floor of the fireplace
📝 In Action
Pusimos los calcetines sobre la chimenea para Santa.
A1We put the stockings over the fireplace for Santa.
Me encanta el olor a leña quemada que sale de la chimenea.
A2I love the smell of burning wood coming from the fireplace.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Alert
Remember that 'chimenea' is always feminine, so you must use 'la chimenea' or 'una chimenea'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong article
Mistake: "El chimenea"
Correction: La chimenea. Even though it ends in -a, always check the gender of new nouns.
⭐ Usage Tips
Cozy Context
Use this meaning when describing a cozy winter scene or the interior of a house.
Chimenea also means 'chimney,' the vertical pipe structure found on the roof.
chimenea(noun)
chimney
?The vertical pipe on the roof
smokestack
?Industrial or ship chimney
,flue
?The passage for smoke
📝 In Action
El deshollinador subió al tejado para limpiar la chimenea.
B1The chimney sweep climbed onto the roof to clean the chimney.
Las chimeneas de la fábrica emitían mucho vapor.
B2The factory smokestacks were emitting a lot of steam.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
The meaning is usually clear from context: if you're talking about the roof or a factory, it means the vertical pipe; if you're talking about sitting nearby, it means the indoor structure.
⭐ Usage Tips
Industrial Use
When referring to the tall stacks on ships or factories, 'chimenea' is the correct term, often translated as 'smokestack'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: chimenea
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'chimenea' to mean the outdoor part of the structure?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'chimenea' refer to the inside or the outside part?
It refers to both! In Spanish, 'chimenea' is the general term for the whole structure. If you are talking about the part inside the house, it's the 'fireplace' (Def. 1). If you are talking about the tall pipe on the roof, it's the 'chimney' (Def. 2). Context makes it clear.
What is the difference between 'chimenea' and 'hogar'?
'Chimenea' usually refers to the entire physical structure (the brickwork, the mantel, the flue). 'Hogar' means 'hearth' or 'home/residence' and often emphasizes the cozy, central spot where the fire is, or is used figuratively to mean 'home'.