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How to Say "building" in Spanish

English → Spanish

edificio

/e-di-FI-sio//e.ðiˈfi.sjo/

nounA1general
Use 'edificio' for any standalone structure with walls and a roof, such as a house, office block, or school.
A tall, colorful storybook illustration of a red brick apartment building with many windows, representing a structure.

Examples

La oficina está en un edificio moderno.

The office is in a modern building.

Trabajo en el edificio más alto de la ciudad.

I work in the tallest building in the city.

Mi apartamento está en un edificio antiguo.

My apartment is in an old building.

La construcción del nuevo edificio de oficinas tomará dos años.

The construction of the new office building will take two years.

Always Masculine

Like most Spanish words ending in '-o', 'edificio' is a masculine word. This means you'll always use masculine articles like 'el' (the) and 'un' (a/an) with it. For example, 'el edificio' or 'un edificio grande'.

'Edificio' vs. 'Casa'

Mistake: “Vivo en un edificio con mi familia.”

Correction: This is okay if you live in an apartment, but if you mean a 'house', the word is 'casa'. Use 'casa' for a house and 'edificio' for a larger building, often with multiple units or offices.

construcción

nounA2general
Use 'construcción' to refer to the finished physical structure or edifice, often implying a significant or complex project.

Examples

La construcción del museo fue un gran proyecto.

The construction of the museum was a big project.

construyendo

/kons-tru-YEN-doh//konstɾuˈʝendo/

verb form (gerund)A2general
Use 'construyendo' when describing the ongoing action or process of building something.
A construction worker wearing a hard hat and safety vest places a single red brick onto a partially built wall, symbolizing physical construction.

Examples

Están construyendo un nuevo centro comercial.

They are building a new shopping center.

Están construyendo un nuevo puente sobre el río.

They are building a new bridge over the river.

Mi padre ha estado construyendo una casa en el campo durante años.

My father has been constructing a house in the countryside for years.

Si seguimos construyendo con ladrillos, terminaremos pronto.

If we keep building with bricks, we will finish soon.

The Gerund's Main Job

The word 'construyendo' is the '-ing' form in Spanish. Its main use is to show an action happening right now, usually by pairing it with a form of the verb 'estar' (to be). Example: 'Estamos construyendo' (We are building).

The 'Y' Spelling Rule

The base verb 'construir' has an 'i' right before the '-endo' ending. When this happens, Spanish often changes the 'i' to a 'y' to make the sound flow better: 'construiendo' becomes 'construyendo'.

Dropping the 'Y'

Mistake: “Estamos construiendo.”

Correction: Estamos construyendo. The 'y' is essential here because the vowel sound is strong.

finca

nounB1colloquial (Spain)
In Spain, use 'finca' to specifically refer to an apartment block or a building containing multiple residences.

Examples

Vivo en una finca antigua en el centro.

I live in an old apartment building in the center.

Edificio vs. Construcción

Learners often confuse 'edificio' and 'construcción'. Remember that 'edificio' refers to the completed structure (like a house or office), while 'construcción' can mean the finished structure (especially a large one) or the process of building.

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