Inklingo

How to Say "property" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “property” is “propiedad” — use this for general land, buildings, or items owned, and also for abstract qualities or characteristics.

English → Spanish

propiedad

proh-pee-eh-DAHDpɾo.pjeˈðað

nounA2 / B2general
Use this for general land, buildings, or items owned, and also for abstract qualities or characteristics.
A simple red house with a chimney sitting on a green grassy hill, symbolizing real estate ownership.

Examples

Quiero comprar una propiedad pequeña cerca del mar.

I want to buy a small property near the sea.

Esa es nuestra propiedad; la compramos el año pasado.

That is our property; we bought it last year.

Necesitamos los documentos que confirmen la propiedad del coche.

We need the documents that confirm ownership of the car.

Una de las propiedades del agua es que hierve a 100 grados Celsius.

One of the properties of water is that it boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

Gender Check

Even though it ends in '-d', 'propiedad' is always a feminine word, so use 'la propiedad' or 'una propiedad'.

inmueble

in-MWE-blayinˈmweβle

nounB1real estate, legal
Choose this word specifically when talking about real estate, like a house, apartment, or commercial space you can buy, sell, or rent.
A charming two-story house with a small garden and a white picket fence.

Examples

Estamos buscando un inmueble para abrir nuestra oficina.

We are looking for a property to open our office.

El valor de los inmuebles en esta zona ha subido mucho.

The value of buildings in this area has gone up a lot.

Ella heredó un inmueble histórico en el centro de la ciudad.

She inherited a historic building in the city center.

Always Masculine

Even if the word refers to a house (la casa), 'inmueble' is always masculine. You must use 'el' or 'un'.

Physical vs Concept

Use 'inmueble' when talking about the physical building or structure, rather than just the abstract idea of ownership.

Don't confuse with furniture

Mistake: “Compré un inmueble para sentarme.”

Correction: Compré un mueble para sentarme. 'Inmueble' means a building that cannot move, while 'mueble' is furniture.

bienes

bee-EH-nessˈbjenes

nounB1legal, financial
Use this when referring to a collection of owned items, especially in a legal or financial context, such as assets or possessions that can be inherited or divided.
A colorful illustration showing a stack of various household goods, including a red book, a yellow teapot, a blue baseball bat, and a small green toy box.

Examples

Todos sus bienes fueron repartidos entre sus hijos.

All his goods (assets) were divided among his children.

La empresa debe declarar sus bienes anualmente.

The company must declare its assets annually.

Solo llevaba unos pocos bienes personales en la maleta.

He only carried a few personal possessions in the suitcase.

Always Plural for 'Assets'

Even though the singular 'bien' means 'goodness' or 'well,' when you talk about physical or financial assets, you almost always use the plural form, 'bienes'.

Confusing Bien and Bienes

Mistake: “Using 'tengo mucho bien' to mean 'I have a lot of stuff.'”

Correction: Use 'tengo muchos bienes' or 'tengo muchas cosas.' 'Bien' usually means 'well' (adverb) or 'the good' (abstract concept).

posesión

nounB1general
This term refers to a specific owned object or item, or a collection of belongings, emphasizing the act of possessing them.

Examples

Vendió todas sus posesiones para iniciar una nueva vida.

He sold all his belongings (possessions) to start a new life.

finca

FEEN-kahˈfiŋka

nounA2rural, real estate
Use this word for a rural property, like a farm, estate, or large piece of land, often with buildings.
A large white farmhouse with a red tile roof situated on a sprawling green field with trees in the background.

Examples

Mis abuelos viven en una finca en las montañas.

My grandparents live on a farm in the mountains.

Alquilamos una finca preciosa para celebrar la boda.

We rented a beautiful country estate to celebrate the wedding.

El administrador de fincas se encarga del mantenimiento del edificio.

The property manager takes care of the building's maintenance.

Always Feminine

Even though it doesn't describe a person, 'finca' is always feminine. You must use 'la' or 'una' and make any describing words end in 'a', like 'finca bonita'.

Finca vs. Casa

While a 'casa' is just the building, a 'finca' usually implies the house AND the land it sits on, especially in the countryside.

Using it for city flats

Mistake: “Vivo en una finca en el centro de Madrid.”

Correction: Vivo en un piso en el centro de Madrid.

General vs. Specific Property Terms

The most common confusion is using 'propiedad' for everything. While 'propiedad' can be general, remember to use 'inmueble' for real estate transactions and 'finca' specifically for rural estates or farms.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.