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A simple illustration of a dimly lit, sparsely furnished basement room with gray concrete walls and a descending wooden staircase.

sótano

SOH-tah-noh

nounmA1
basement?The lowest floor of a building, usually below ground level.
Also:cellar?A room below ground, often used for storage or wine.

📝 In Action

Necesitamos bajar al sótano para encontrar las cajas de Navidad.

A1

We need to go down to the basement to find the Christmas boxes.

El sótano de la casa es muy frío y húmedo.

A2

The house's cellar is very cold and humid.

Convirtieron el antiguo sótano en un cine privado.

B1

They converted the old basement into a private cinema.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bodega (cellar (often for wine))
  • subsuelo (subsoil/underground)

Antonyms

  • ático (attic)
  • terraza (terrace/roof)

Common Collocations

  • bajar al sótano – to go down to the basement
  • un sótano oscuro – a dark basement

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'sótano' is always masculine, so you must use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) before it: 'el sótano'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Confusion

Mistake: "La sótana"

Correction: El sótano. Although it ends in '-o', beginners sometimes mistakenly assign the feminine article 'la'. Always use 'el' with this word.

⭐ Usage Tips

Distinguishing Sótano and Bodega

While both mean 'cellar' or 'basement,' 'bodega' often specifically refers to a wine cellar or a storage area, whereas 'sótano' is the general term for the lowest floor of a building.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: sótano

Question 1 of 2

If you are looking for a place to store old furniture below the main floor of your house, where do you go?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

subterráneo(subterranean/underground) - adjective
subsuelo(subsoil) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'sótano' the same as 'garaje' (garage)?

Not necessarily. While some houses might have a garage located in the basement, 'sótano' refers to the underground floor itself, which can be used for storage, living space, or parking. 'Garaje' just means the parking space or area where cars are kept.