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How to Say "armchair" in Spanish

English → Spanish

sillón

nounA1home furniture
Use 'sillón' for a large, comfortable, single-seat chair with armrests, often found in a living room for relaxation or napping.

Examples

Mi abuelo siempre duerme la siesta en el sillón.

My grandfather always takes a nap in the armchair.

butaca

boo-TAH-kahbuˈtaka

nounA1home furniture
Use 'butaca' for a comfortable chair with armrests, often found in a living room, or for a seat in a theater or cinema.
A cozy, plush armchair with rounded armrests and a soft cushion.

Examples

Me gusta sentarme en la butaca para ver la televisión.

I like to sit in the armchair to watch television.

Nuestras butacas están en la quinta fila del cine.

Our seats are in the fifth row of the cinema.

La obra fue un éxito y no quedaba ni una butaca libre.

The play was a success and there wasn't a single seat left.

A feminine word

Even though it doesn't refer to a person, this word is feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it: 'la butaca'.

Plural forms

To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' at the end: 'las butacas'.

Butaca vs. Silla

Mistake:Using 'silla' for a theater seat.

Correction: Use 'butaca' for comfortable, padded seats in theaters or at home. 'Silla' is usually for simpler, harder dining chairs.

Sillón vs. Butaca

Learners often confuse 'sillón' and 'butaca'. While both can mean armchair, 'sillón' is more specifically a large, plush, single-person chair for lounging. 'Butaca' is broader and can also refer to theater seats, though it's also used for living room armchairs.

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