pisos
/pee-sos/
apartments
In many Spanish-speaking regions, 'pisos' refers to apartments or flats, which are individual dwelling units inside a larger building.
pisos(noun)
apartments
?Dwelling units (common in Spain)
,flats
?Dwelling units (UK English)
homes
?General term for residences
📝 In Action
Estamos buscando pisos más grandes para la familia.
A1We are looking for bigger apartments for the family.
En Madrid, los pisos en el centro son muy caros.
B1In Madrid, the flats in the center are very expensive.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Form
This is the plural form of the masculine noun 'piso.' Since it ends in a vowel ('o'), you just add '-s' to make it plural.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Regional Confusion
Mistake: "Using 'pisos' when speaking in Latin America to mean apartments."
Correction: In most of Latin America, use 'apartamentos' or 'departamentos' instead. 'Piso' usually just means 'floor' or 'ground' there.
⭐ Usage Tips
Spain vs. LATAM
If you are talking about where someone lives in Spain, 'piso' is the word you need. If you are in Mexico, Chile, or Argentina, stick to 'departamento'.
'Pisos' can also mean the physical floors or levels of a building, like the first floor, second floor, and so on.
pisos(noun)
floors
?Levels of a building
,stories
?Levels of a building
ground surfaces
?Physical surfaces you walk on (plural of 'piso')
📝 In Action
Subimos por las escaleras hasta los últimos pisos.
A2We went up the stairs to the top floors.
Hay que limpiar todos los pisos de la casa antes de la fiesta.
A1We have to clean all the floors of the house before the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Counting Levels
When counting the levels of a building, 'pisos' (or the singular 'piso') is the standard word across all Spanish-speaking regions. Remember that the ground floor is usually called 'la planta baja'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pisos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pisos' to mean 'apartment'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'piso' the same as 'suelo'?
They are related but different! 'Piso' usually refers to the interior surface or the level of a building (like 'wooden floor' or 'second floor'). 'Suelo' is more general, referring to the ground, the earth, or the material covering the ground outside.
How do I know if 'pisos' means 'apartments' or 'floors'?
Context is key, but the biggest clue is the region. If you are in Spain, it almost certainly means 'apartments.' If you are talking about the height of a building (e.g., '30 pisos'), it means 'floors' everywhere.