How to Say "bed" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “bed” is “cama” — use 'cama' when referring to the piece of furniture you sleep on, or the act of making it. It can also refer to the flat surface of a truck or similar vehicle..
cama
/kah-mah//ˈka.ma/
Examples
Todas las mañanas hago la cama.
Every morning I make the bed.
El niño ya está en la cama.
The child is already in bed.
Compramos una cama nueva para el dormitorio.
We bought a new bed for the bedroom.
Pusimos las herramientas en la cama de la camioneta.
We put the tools in the bed of the truck.
Always Feminine
Even though 'cama' doesn't end in '-o' or '-a' in a way that clearly signals gender, it's always a feminine word. So, you'll always say 'la cama' (the bed) or 'una cama' (a bed).
Making vs. Building
Mistake: “Quiero construir la cama antes de salir.”
Correction: Quiero hacer la cama antes de salir. Use 'hacer la cama' for the daily task of tidying your sheets. Use 'construir' or 'montar' only if you are physically building the bed frame from parts.
cama
/kah-mah//ˈka.ma/
Examples
Pusimos las herramientas en la cama de la camioneta.
We put the tools in the bed of the truck.
Todas las mañanas hago la cama.
Every morning I make the bed.
El niño ya está en la cama.
The child is already in bed.
Compramos una cama nueva para el dormitorio.
We bought a new bed for the bedroom.
Always Feminine
Even though 'cama' doesn't end in '-o' or '-a' in a way that clearly signals gender, it's always a feminine word. So, you'll always say 'la cama' (the bed) or 'una cama' (a bed).
Making vs. Building
Mistake: “Quiero construir la cama antes de salir.”
Correction: Quiero hacer la cama antes de salir. Use 'hacer la cama' for the daily task of tidying your sheets. Use 'construir' or 'montar' only if you are physically building the bed frame from parts.
lecho
/LE-cho//ˈletʃo/
Examples
El guerrero descansaba en su lecho de piedra.
The warrior rested on his stone bed.
El anciano se despidió de su familia en su lecho de muerte.
The old man said goodbye to his family on his deathbed.
El lecho del río estaba cubierto de piedras lisas.
The riverbed was covered with smooth stones.
Muchos tesoros se esconden en el lecho marino.
Many treasures are hidden on the seabed.
When to use 'Lecho' vs 'Cama'
Use 'cama' for the physical piece of furniture in your house. Use 'lecho' when you want to sound poetic, very formal, or when talking about historical or tragic contexts.
Avoid using 'lecho' for daily chores
Mistake: “Voy a hacer el lecho.”
Correction: Voy a hacer la cama.
lecho
/LE-cho//ˈletʃo/
Examples
El lecho del río estaba cubierto de piedras lisas.
The riverbed was covered with smooth stones.
El guerrero descansaba en su lecho de piedra.
The warrior rested on his stone bed.
El anciano se despidió de su familia en su lecho de muerte.
The old man said goodbye to his family on his deathbed.
Muchos tesoros se esconden en el lecho marino.
Many treasures are hidden on the seabed.
When to use 'Lecho' vs 'Cama'
Use 'cama' for the physical piece of furniture in your house. Use 'lecho' when you want to sound poetic, very formal, or when talking about historical or tragic contexts.
Avoid using 'lecho' for daily chores
Mistake: “Voy a hacer el lecho.”
Correction: Voy a hacer la cama.
lecho
/LE-cho//ˈletʃo/
Examples
Sirve el pescado sobre un lecho de verduras.
Serve the fish on a bed of vegetables.
El guerrero descansaba en su lecho de piedra.
The warrior rested on his stone bed.
El anciano se despidió de su familia en su lecho de muerte.
The old man said goodbye to his family on his deathbed.
El lecho del río estaba cubierto de piedras lisas.
The riverbed was covered with smooth stones.
When to use 'Lecho' vs 'Cama'
Use 'cama' for the physical piece of furniture in your house. Use 'lecho' when you want to sound poetic, very formal, or when talking about historical or tragic contexts.
Avoid using 'lecho' for daily chores
Mistake: “Voy a hacer el lecho.”
Correction: Voy a hacer la cama.
Choosing Between 'Cama' and 'Lecho'
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