Inklingo

How to Say "cabin" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cabaña

nounA1general
Use 'cabaña' for a small, often wooden house, typically found in rural or natural settings like mountains or forests, often used for vacations.

Examples

Nos alojamos en una acogedora cabaña de madera junto al lago.

We stayed in a cozy wooden cabin by the lake.

cabina

/kah-BEE-nah//kaˈβina/

nounA2general
Use 'cabina' for a private compartment or room on a ship, airplane, or in a telephone booth.
A small, cozy ship cabin compartment featuring a circular porthole looking out onto the ocean, and a neatly made bunk bed.

Examples

El piloto se encuentra en la cabina del avión.

The pilot is in the airplane's cabin.

Nuestra cabina en el barco tenía vistas al mar.

Our cabin on the boat had sea views.

El piloto se comunicó con la torre de control desde la cabina.

The pilot communicated with the control tower from the cockpit.

Hay una cabina telefónica antigua justo en la esquina.

There is an old telephone booth right on the corner.

Feminine Noun Rule

'Cabina' is a feminine noun, so you must always use feminine articles ('la', 'una') and feminine adjectives with it: 'la cabina pequeña' (the small cabin).

Confusing Cockpit/Cabin

Mistake: “Using 'cabina' only for the pilot's area, when 'cabina' can also mean the main passenger area (cabin).”

Correction: To be specific about the pilot's area, use 'cabina de vuelo' or 'cabina del piloto'. For the passenger area, 'cabina' or 'cabina de pasajeros' works.

rancho

/rran-choh//ˈrantʃo/

nounA2informal
Use 'rancho' to describe a simple, rustic shelter, often made of basic materials, typically found in rural or agricultural settings.
A small, rustic hut with a thatched roof and a wooden door nestled in a forest clearing.

Examples

Los vaqueros dormían en un rancho sencillo durante el verano.

The cowboys slept in a simple ranch shelter during the summer.

Construyeron un rancho de paja y barro cerca de la playa.

They built a straw and mud hut near the beach.

El viejo vivía solo en su rancho, lejos del pueblo.

The old man lived alone in his shack, far from the town.

Cabaña vs. Cabina

Learners often confuse 'cabaña' and 'cabina'. Remember, 'cabaña' refers to a small house in nature, like a vacation home, while 'cabina' is for enclosed spaces within vehicles or structures like phone booths.

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