fábrica
/FAH-bree-kah/
factory
An illustration of a fábrica (factory).
fábrica(noun)
factory
?industrial building
,plant
?manufacturing facility
mill
?e.g., paper or steel mill
📝 In Action
Mi tío trabaja en una fábrica de coches muy grande.
A1My uncle works in a very large car factory.
La fábrica cerró el año pasado y mucha gente perdió su empleo.
A2The plant closed last year and many people lost their jobs.
Visité la fábrica para ver cómo hacen los chocolates.
A2I visited the factory to see how they make the chocolates.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Since 'fábrica' is a feminine word, it always uses 'la' before it (la fábrica) and any describing words (adjectives) must also be feminine, such as 'la fábrica moderna' (the modern factory).
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Cognate Alert
Mistake: "Using 'fábrica' when you mean the material 'fabric'."
Correction: The Spanish word for cloth or material is 'tela'. Remember: 'Fábrica' is the building, 'tela' is the material.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing the Output
To specify what is made, use 'fábrica de' + the product (e.g., 'fábrica de zapatos' = shoe factory).
An illustration representing the fábrica (construction or act of building) of a structure.
fábrica(noun)
construction
?the act or process of building
structure
?the built entity itself
,upkeep/works
?organization responsible for maintenance (especially of churches)
📝 In Action
La fábrica de la catedral duró más de dos siglos.
B2The construction of the cathedral lasted more than two centuries.
El arquitecto supervisó la fábrica de las nuevas viviendas.
C1The architect supervised the building (process) of the new houses.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Context
This meaning is often found in academic or historical texts. In everyday conversation, use 'construcción' instead.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fábrica
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish word means the material used for clothing, NOT the building where things are made?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fábrica' the only word for 'factory' in Spanish?
No, you will also hear 'planta' or 'factoría,' but 'fábrica' is the most common and general term used across all Spanish-speaking regions.
How do I say 'manufacturer'?
The word 'fabricante' (the maker) is the standard term. For example, 'el fabricante de coches' (the car manufacturer).