A simple illustration showing smooth white bed sheets pulled taut over a mattress, ready for use.

sábanas

SAH-bah-nahs

nounfA1

bed sheets?The fabric coverings for a mattress.

Also:sheets?General term, often understood as bed coverings.

📝 In Action

Necesito comprar sábanas nuevas para la cama grande.

I need to buy new sheets for the big bed.

¿Puedes ayudarme a cambiar las sábanas hoy?

Can you help me change the sheets today?

Las sábanas de algodón son muy suaves.

Cotton sheets are very soft.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

cambiar las sábanas – to change the sheets
sábanas limpias – clean sheets
juego de sábanas – set of sheets

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

The singular form ('sábana') is feminine, so even in the plural, you must use feminine words with it: 'las sábanas blancas' (the white sheets).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Singular vs. Plural

Mistake: "Using 'sábana' when you mean the whole set of sheets (like in English 'sheets')."

Correction: In Spanish, we usually refer to the pair or set, so 'sábanas' (plural) is much more common than 'sábana' (singular sheet).

⭐ Usage Tips

The Set

If you are buying a complete set (flat sheet, fitted sheet, pillowcases), use the phrase 'un juego de sábanas'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sábanas

Question 1 of 2

Which phrase correctly describes the action of putting clean sheets on the bed?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

sábana(sheet (singular)) - noun

sabanilla(small sheet / linen cloth) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'sábanas' used for sheets other than bed sheets?

Not usually. In Spanish, 'sábanas' refers almost exclusively to the fabric used on mattresses. If you mean a sheet of paper, you would use 'hoja', and if you mean a sheet of metal, you would use 'plancha' or 'lámina'.

How do I specify if I mean the top sheet or the fitted sheet?

You can say 'sábana de arriba' (top/flat sheet) or 'sábana bajera' (fitted sheet). However, in everyday conversation, most people just use 'sábanas' for the whole set.