cuartel
“cuartel” means “barracks” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
barracks, military base
Also: garrison, headquarters
📝 In Action
Los soldados deben regresar al cuartel antes de las seis.
A2The soldiers must return to the barracks before six o'clock.
El cuartel general se estableció en el centro de la ciudad.
B1The general headquarters were established in the center of the city.
Pasó tres años de servicio en un cuartel cerca de la frontera.
B2He spent three years of service in a military base near the border.
fire station
Also: police post
📝 In Action
El incendio estaba cerca, así que el cuartel de bomberos llegó en minutos.
B2The fire was nearby, so the fire station arrived in minutes.
Tuvimos que ir al cuartel para llenar el formulario de denuncia.
C1We had to go to the police post to fill out the complaint form.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "cuartel" in Spanish:
barracks→fire station→garrison→headquarters→military base→police post→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cuartel
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es el significado más común de 'cuartel'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Spanish word 'quartel', which itself is derived from the Latin *quartus*, meaning 'fourth'. It originally referred to a fourth part or section of a city or a military camp. This sense of a specific section or housing area evolved into the modern meaning of military housing.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cuartel' only used for the military?
No, while the military meaning (barracks) is the most common, 'cuartel' is also used in some regions to refer to a fire station ('cuartel de bomberos') or a small police post.
How is 'cuartel' related to 'cuarto'?
They share the same root related to 'four' or 'a quarter/section.' 'Cuarto' means a single room or the number four. 'Cuartel' historically meant a section of a camp, which evolved into a whole building for lodging, making it a much larger place than a simple 'cuarto'.