A large, friendly brick building with many windows and a playground where children are playing together in the yard.

orfanato

or-fa-NA-to

nounmB1

orphanage?a home for children whose parents have died or cannot care for them

Also:children's home?a more modern or general way to describe the institution

📝 In Action

El antiguo orfanato fue convertido en una escuela de música.

The old orphanage was converted into a music school.

Muchos niños en el orfanato esperan ser adoptados por una familia cariñosa.

Many children in the orphanage hope to be adopted by a loving family.

Word Connections

Synonyms

orfanatorio (orphanage (common in some Latin American countries))
hospicio (poorhouse or orphanage (older term))

Common Collocations

orfanato estatal – state-run orphanage
crecer en un orfanato – to grow up in an orphanage

💡 Grammar Points

Gender of the word

This word is masculine. You can remember this because it ends in '-o', so you should always use 'el' or 'un' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Place vs. Person

Mistake: "Calling a child an 'orfanato'."

Correction: An 'orfanato' is the building or place. The child is called a 'huérfano' (orphan).

⭐ Usage Tips

Modern usage

In many Spanish-speaking countries, the term 'centro de acogida' (shelter center) is now more common than 'orfanato' when talking about modern social services.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: orfanato

Question 1 of 1

Which word refers to the BUILDING where orphans live?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

huérfano(orphan) - noun

orfandad(orphanhood (the state of being an orphan)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'orfanato' a common word in daily life?

Not really. Unless you are discussing history, movies, or social work, you won't hear it every day. However, it is an essential word for reading books or watching news.

What is the feminine version of 'orfanato'?

There isn't one. Places/buildings in Spanish have one fixed gender, and 'orfanato' is always masculine.