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cuartos

/KWAHR-tohs/

rooms

A storybook illustration showing an interior view of a hallway with three open doorways, each leading into a distinct room.

Cuartos means rooms, like the separate areas visible through these doorways.

cuartos(noun)

mA1

rooms

?

areas within a building

Also:

bedrooms

?

sleeping areas (often implied in some contexts)

📝 In Action

Mi apartamento tiene dos cuartos y una sala grande.

A1

My apartment has two rooms and a large living room.

Necesitamos limpiar todos los cuartos antes de que lleguen los invitados.

A2

We need to clean all the rooms before the guests arrive.

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Form

'Cuartos' is the plural of 'cuarto' (room). Since 'cuarto' ends in a vowel, you just add an '-s' to make it plural.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La cuartos (using the feminine article 'la')."

Correction: Use the masculine article: 'Los cuartos'. Remember, the word 'cuarto' is always masculine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'Cuarto' vs 'Habitación'

'Cuarto' is a very common, general word for 'room.' 'Habitación' is often used specifically for 'bedroom' or in hotels, but 'cuarto' is perfectly fine for 'bedroom' too.

A storybook illustration featuring a small, neat pile of paper banknotes topped with a stack of shiny gold coins.

Cuartos can also mean money or funds.

cuartos(noun)

mB1

money

?

general term for cash/funds (used only in plural)

Also:

cash

?

physical currency

,

dough

?

informal slang equivalent

📝 In Action

No tengo cuartos para comprar esa bicicleta.

B1

I don't have the money to buy that bicycle.

¿Tienes suficientes cuartos para el taxi?

B2

Do you have enough cash for the taxi?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dinero (money)
  • plata (money (informal, often Latin America))

Common Collocations

  • ganar cuartos – to earn money
  • pedir cuartos – to ask for money

💡 Grammar Points

Always Plural

When used to mean 'money,' this word is almost always used in its plural form, 'cuartos,' even though it refers to a general concept like 'dinero' (which is singular).

⭐ Usage Tips

Informal Contexts

Use 'cuartos' only in casual conversations with friends and family. In formal settings or business, always use 'dinero' or 'fondos' (funds).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cuartos

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'cuartos' to mean 'money'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'cuartos' mean both 'rooms' and 'money'?

Both meanings come from the idea of division or a 'quarter.' 'Rooms' are divisions of a building. The slang meaning of 'money' likely started by referring to small coins, like a 'quarter' of a larger currency unit, and grew into a general term for cash.

If I want to talk about money, should I use 'cuartos' or 'dinero'?

Always use 'dinero' (money) in formal situations. Use 'cuartos' when you are speaking casually with friends. It’s a bit like using 'dough' or 'cash' instead of 'funds' in English.