Inklingo
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patio

/PAH-tee-oh/

courtyard

A peaceful, sunlit courtyard surrounded by high, white stucco walls of a house. The center of the open space features a small stone fountain and potted green plants.

A patio can be an enclosed courtyard within a building or home.

patio(noun)

mA1

courtyard

?

An open area surrounded by walls, often inside a building complex.

,

backyard

?

The garden or paved area behind a house (especially in American Spanish).

Also:

patio

?

Used in English, especially for a paved outdoor seating area.

📝 In Action

Necesito limpiar el patio antes de la fiesta.

A1

I need to clean the courtyard/backyard before the party.

En las casas antiguas de Sevilla, el patio central es muy hermoso.

A2

In the old houses of Seville, the central courtyard is very beautiful.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • traspatio (backyard)
  • corral (yard/pen (often for animals))

Common Collocations

  • patio interior – inner courtyard
  • patio trasero – backyard

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Remember that 'patio' is masculine, so it always uses 'el' or 'un' (el patio, un patio). This is important even though the space itself is often 'la terraza' (feminine).

⭐ Usage Tips

Regional Differences

In Spain, 'patio' often refers to the internal courtyard of a building. In many parts of Latin America, 'patio' is the most common word for the backyard or garden area behind a house.

A vibrant school playground featuring a bright red slide, a set of yellow swings, and a basketball hoop, where two small children are happily playing.

In some contexts, patio refers to a school playground or recreational yard.

patio(noun)

mA2

playground

?

The outdoor area where children play at school.

,

schoolyard

?

The open space attached to a school building.

📝 In Action

Los alumnos salen al patio durante el recreo.

A2

The students go out to the playground during recess.

Construyeron un nuevo muro alrededor del patio de la escuela.

B1

They built a new wall around the schoolyard.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • recreo (recess/break (the time))

Common Collocations

  • patio de recreo – playground
  • patio escolar – school playground
A perspective view from a theater stage looking out over numerous rows of empty red velvet seats that comprise the main floor seating area.

The main floor seating area in a theater, or the orchestra stalls, is also known as the patio.

patio(noun)

mB2

orchestra stalls

?

The main floor seating area in a theater, closest to the stage.

Also:

floor (of a theater)

?

The ground level area of a venue.

📝 In Action

Nuestros asientos están en el patio de butacas, justo en el centro.

B2

Our seats are in the orchestra stalls, right in the center.

El patio del teatro se llenó rápidamente.

C1

The floor of the theater filled up quickly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • platea (stalls/orchestra)

Antonyms

  • palco (box (private seating area))

Common Collocations

  • patio de butacas – orchestra stalls (literally: courtyard of armchairs)

💡 Grammar Points

Context is Key

When you see 'patio de butacas' (courtyard of armchairs), you know immediately the sentence is talking about theater seating, not a house.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: patio

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'patio' to mean the seating area of a theater?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

patiecito(small courtyard (diminutive)) - noun
patio interior(inner courtyard) - phrase

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'patio' the same as 'terraza'?

Not exactly. 'Patio' usually implies a ground-level, often enclosed space, like a backyard or inner courtyard. 'Terraza' (terrace) usually refers to an elevated area, like a balcony or rooftop deck, or sometimes a paved area immediately adjacent to a house, especially one used for dining.

How do I make 'patio' sound smaller and cuter?

You can add the diminutive ending '-cito' to make it 'patiecito.' This is used to talk about a small or cozy courtyard.