Inklingo

How to Say "heater" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “heater” is “calefacción” — use 'calefacción' when referring to the general system or concept of heating a space, like central heating in a house..

English → Spanish

calefacción

nounA1general
Use 'calefacción' when referring to the general system or concept of heating a space, like central heating in a house.

Examples

En invierno siempre encendemos la calefacción.

In winter, we always turn on the heating.

estufa

/es-TOO-fah//esˈtufa/

nounA2general
Use 'estufa' when referring to a specific, often portable, device used to heat a particular room.
A portable electric space heater glowing with orange warmth.

Examples

Hace mucho frío, ¿puedes prender la estufa?

It's very cold, can you turn on the heater?

Nos sentamos frente a la estufa de leña.

We sat in front of the wood-burning stove.

Esa estufa eléctrica consume mucha energía.

That electric heater uses a lot of energy.

Functional Naming

Spanish often uses the same word for different objects that provide heat. The context (kitchen vs. living room) tells you which one is meant.

Air vs. Water Heaters

Mistake: “No hay agua caliente porque la estufa no funciona.”

Correction: No hay agua caliente porque el calentador no funciona.

General System vs. Specific Device

The most common mistake is using 'estufa' when you mean the overall heating system of a building. Remember, 'calefacción' refers to the general concept or system, while 'estufa' is a physical appliance.

Related Translations

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