pensión
/pen-SYOHN/
pension
The word pensión can refer to a regular payment received after retirement, known as a pension.
📝 In Action
Mi abuela vive cómodamente con su pensión.
B1My grandmother lives comfortably with her pension.
Solicitaron la pensión de viudedad después de su fallecimiento.
B2They applied for the widow's pension after his passing.
💡 Grammar Points
Use of 'la'
Since 'pensión' is feminine, you almost always use the article 'la' or 'una' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'pensión' and 'jubilación'
Mistake: "Using 'jubilación' when you mean the money."
Correction: The money you receive is the 'pensión'; the act of retiring is 'la jubilación'.
In Spanish, pensión is commonly used to describe a boarding house or small, family-run inn.
pensión(noun)
boarding house
?small, often family-run accommodation
,guesthouse
?budget lodging
small inn
?simple accommodation
📝 In Action
Encontramos una pensión barata en el centro de la ciudad.
A2We found a cheap boarding house in the city center.
La pensión incluía desayuno y cena.
B1The board (lodging) included breakfast and dinner.
💡 Grammar Points
Travel Vocabulary
In Spanish tourism, 'pensión' often implies that meals are included. 'Media pensión' means breakfast and dinner; 'pensión completa' means all three meals.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Use
This meaning is very common in Spain and parts of Latin America, often referring to a place simpler than a full 'hotel'.
Pensión can also mean alimony, referring to money paid for spousal support after a separation.
pensión(noun)
alimony
?money paid to a former spouse
,child support
?money paid for child maintenance
maintenance payment
?legal financial support
📝 In Action
El padre debe pagar una pensión alimenticia mensual.
C1The father must pay a monthly child support payment.
La pensión compensatoria se determinó en el divorcio.
C2The compensatory alimony was determined in the divorce.
💡 Grammar Points
Specific Nouns
To specify which type of support you mean, you must add the adjective: 'pensión alimenticia' for children, and 'pensión compensatoria' for a former spouse.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pensión
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'pensión' is used in the phrase 'pedir la pensión completa'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'pensión' different from 'jubilación'?
'Jubilación' is the process of retiring—the state of being retired. 'Pensión' is the actual money you receive every month after you retire. You get a 'pensión' after achieving 'la jubilación'.
Why does 'pensión' mean both money and a place to stay?
Both meanings come from the core idea of a 'fixed payment.' In the past, when you stayed at a boarding house ('pensión'), you paid a fixed price that covered both the room and the meals, which is why the word stuck for that type of lodging.