Inklingo

How to Say "bench" in Spanish

English → Spanish

banco

/BAN-koh//ˈbaŋ.ko/

NounA1General
Use 'banco' for a long seat designed for multiple people, typically found outdoors in a park or garden.
A simple wooden park bench sitting on green grass under a clear sky.

Examples

Nos sentamos en un banco del parque a charlar.

We sat on a park bench to chat.

Este banco de madera es muy cómodo.

This wooden bench is very comfortable.

Pintaron de verde todos los bancos de la plaza.

They painted all the benches in the square green.

Also Masculine

Just like the financial institution, this 'banco' is also masculine. Remember to use 'el' or 'un', for example: 'el banco está ocupado' (the bench is taken).

Confusing 'banco' and 'banca'

Mistake: “Me senté en la banca del parque.”

Correction: Me senté en el banco del parque. While 'banca' can sometimes mean bench (especially in sports, like the players' bench), 'banco' is the most common and safest word for a park bench.

asiento

ah-SYEN-toh/aˈsjento/

nounA1General
Use 'asiento' when referring to a single, specific place to sit, like a seat in a theater, stadium, or even a chair.
A brightly colored, simple wooden chair with four legs and a backrest, sitting alone in a bright room.

Examples

¿Puedes guardar mi asiento por favor? Voy al baño.

Can you save my seat please? I’m going to the bathroom.

Todos los asientos del autobús estaban ocupados.

All the seats on the bus were taken.

Este asiento es muy cómodo, pero está un poco sucio.

This chair is very comfortable, but it is a bit dirty.

Gender Check

Since 'asiento' ends in -o, it is masculine. Use 'el asiento' or 'un asiento'.

estrado

ess-TRAH-doh/esˈtɾa.ðo/

nounB2Formal/Legal
Use 'estrado' exclusively for the raised platform or bench where a judge sits in a courtroom.
A sturdy wooden judge's bench elevated on a small platform in an empty courtroom setting.

Examples

El abogado se dirigió directamente al juez, que estaba sentado en el estrado.

The lawyer addressed the judge directly, who was seated on the bench.

Todos los ojos estaban fijos en el estrado esperando la sentencia.

All eyes were fixed on the court dais awaiting the sentence.

Masculine Noun

Estrado is always masculine, so it uses the articles 'el' (the) or 'un' (a). You would say 'el estrado' or 'un estrado grande'.

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “Using 'la estrado' instead of 'el estrado'.”

Correction: Since 'estrado' ends in -o, it is masculine: 'el estrado'. Remember this pattern for most Spanish nouns ending in -o.

Banco vs. Asiento

Learners often confuse 'banco' and 'asiento'. Remember that 'banco' is for a long seat meant for multiple people (like a park bench), while 'asiento' is for a single, designated place to sit (like a theater seat).

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