cuartos
“cuartos” means “rooms” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
rooms
Also: bedrooms
📝 In Action
Mi apartamento tiene dos cuartos y una sala grande.
A1My apartment has two rooms and a large living room.
Necesitamos limpiar todos los cuartos antes de que lleguen los invitados.
A2We need to clean all the rooms before the guests arrive.
money
Also: cash, dough
📝 In Action
No tengo cuartos para comprar esa bicicleta.
B1I don't have the money to buy that bicycle.
¿Tienes suficientes cuartos para el taxi?
B2Do you have enough cash for the taxi?
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cuartos
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cuartos' to mean 'money'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin 'quartus,' meaning 'fourth.' This origin explains why 'cuarto' can mean both a 'quarter' (a fourth part of something) and a 'room' (a divided, fourth part of a house). The meaning 'money' likely evolved from referring to small coin denominations, like a quarter of a larger unit.
First recorded: 13th century (as 'cuarto')
Cognates (Related words)
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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.