Inklingo

How to Say "room" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “room” is “habitación” — use this as the most general and common term for a room in a house or building, often implying a bedroom..

habitaciónA1

Use this as the most general and common term for a room in a house or building, often implying a bedroom.

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cuarto🔊A1

This is another very common and general term for a room within a building, interchangeable with 'habitación' in many contexts.

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pieza🔊A1

Use this term for a room in a house or apartment, often used when counting the total number of distinct spaces.

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lugar🔊A2

This word refers to available space or capacity, not a physical room for living.

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espacio🔊A1

Use this to talk about general space or capacity, especially when there isn't enough room for something.

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sitio🔊B1

This word also refers to available space or capacity, often used when asking if there's room for someone or something.

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sala🔊B1

This is used for a designated room in a public building or a specific functional room within a house, like a living room (sala de estar).

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margen🔊B2

Use this when 'room' refers to the allowance for error, flexibility, or time.

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celda🔊A2

This specifically refers to a small, private room, most commonly a prison cell or a monk's cell.

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cámaraB1

This term is typically used for a large, official, or grand room, such as in a palace or legislative building.

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estancia🔊C1

This refers to a specific chamber or room within a large, often historical, house or palace.

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English → Spanish

habitación

NounA1General
Use this as the most general and common term for a room in a house or building, often implying a bedroom.

Examples

Mi casa tiene tres habitaciones y dos baños.

My house has three rooms (bedrooms) and two bathrooms.

cuarto

/KWAR-toh//ˈkwaɾ.to/

NounA1General
This is another very common and general term for a room within a building, interchangeable with 'habitación' in many contexts.
A simple, cozy bedroom containing a bed, a window, and a small nightstand, illustrating a room within a house.

Examples

Mi cuarto está al final del pasillo.

My room is at the end of the hallway.

Necesitamos un hotel con dos cuartos.

We need a hotel with two rooms.

Voy a pintar mi cuarto de color azul.

I'm going to paint my bedroom blue.

pieza

pee-EH-sah/ˈpjeθa/

NounA1General
Use this term for a room in a house or apartment, often used when counting the total number of distinct spaces.
An interior view of a simple, cozy bedroom with a single bed and a large window, representing a room.

Examples

Mi casa tiene cinco piezas, incluyendo la cocina.

My house has five rooms, including the kitchen.

La pieza principal es muy luminosa.

The main room is very bright.

lugar

/loo-GAR//luˈɡaɾ/

NounA2General
This word refers to available space or capacity, not a physical room for living.
A person trying to fit one more bag into a car that is already completely full, illustrating the concept of available space.

Examples

¿Hay lugar para una persona más en el coche?

Is there room for one more person in the car?

Hazme un lugar en el sofá, por favor.

Make some room for me on the sofa, please.

No tengo lugar en mi agenda esta semana.

I don't have space/room in my schedule this week.

espacio

/es-PA-syo//esˈpa.sjo/

NounA1General
Use this to talk about general space or capacity, especially when there isn't enough room for something.
A small car trunk stuffed full of colorful suitcases, with one extra blue suitcase sitting on the ground beside the car, showing there is no room left.

Examples

No hay espacio en el coche para más maletas.

There's no space/room in the car for more suitcases.

Necesitamos más espacio para la mesa nueva.

We need more space for the new table.

Por favor, haz un poco de espacio para que pueda sentarme.

Please, make a little space so I can sit down.

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in 'o', it's good to remember that 'espacio' is always masculine. So, you'll always say 'el espacio' (the space) or 'un espacio' (a space).

'Space' vs. 'Room'

Mistake: “Quiero reservar un espacio en el hotel.”

Correction: Quiero reservar una habitación en el hotel. Use 'habitación' or 'cuarto' for a room in a building like a hotel or house. 'Espacio' refers to general, open area or capacity.

sitio

/SEE-tyoh//ˈsitjo/

NounB1General
This word also refers to available space or capacity, often used when asking if there's room for someone or something.
A brightly colored suitcase packed full of clothes, but with one small, clearly delineated, empty rectangular space remaining.

Examples

¿Hay sitio para uno más en el coche?

Is there room for one more in the car?

No tengo sitio en mi maleta para más cosas.

I don't have space in my suitcase for more things.

Por favor, hazme un sitio en el sofá.

Please, make room for me on the sofa.

Confusing with 'Habitación'

Mistake: “Using 'habitación' or 'cuarto' to mean 'available space'.”

Correction: 'Habitación' and 'cuarto' mean a physical room in a house (like a bedroom). Use 'sitio' or 'espacio' when you're talking about whether there's enough space for something or someone.

sala

/SAH-lah//ˈsala/

NounB1General/Formal
This is used for a designated room in a public building or a specific functional room within a house, like a living room (sala de estar).
A clean, orderly public waiting room with several rows of connected chairs and a closed door.

Examples

La conferencia será en la sala número cinco.

The conference will be in room number five.

Compramos boletos para la sala de conciertos.

We bought tickets for the concert hall.

El paciente fue trasladado a la sala de urgencias.

The patient was moved to the emergency room/ward.

margen

MAHR-hen/ˈmaɾxen/

NounB2Abstract/Formal
Use this when 'room' refers to the allowance for error, flexibility, or time.
A simple cartoon figure jumping a short distance. There is a vast amount of empty, safe ground surrounding the figure, symbolizing ample room for action or error.

Examples

No tenemos margen de tiempo para terminar el proyecto.

We don't have enough time (room of time) to finish the project.

El margen de error permitido es muy bajo.

The allowed margin of error is very low.

Dejaron un pequeño margen para negociar el precio final.

They left a small room (leeway) to negotiate the final price.

Using Prepositions

When talking about 'room for' something, Spanish usually uses the preposition 'de': 'margen de tiempo' (room of time) or 'margen de error' (room of error).

celda

SELL-dahˈsel.da

NounA2Specific/Formal
This specifically refers to a small, private room, most commonly a prison cell or a monk's cell.
A small, sparse prison room with concrete walls, a narrow cot, and a small window with thick vertical bars, illustrating a detention cell.

Examples

El ladrón fue encerrado en una celda de aislamiento.

The thief was locked in an isolation cell.

Cada monje tiene su propia celda pequeña para meditar.

Each monk has his own small cell for meditation.

Feminine Noun

Remember that 'celda' always takes feminine articles: 'la celda' (the cell) and 'una celda' (a cell).

cámara

NounB1Formal/Official
This term is typically used for a large, official, or grand room, such as in a palace or legislative building.

Examples

La Cámara de Representantes votará la nueva ley mañana.

The House of Representatives will vote on the new law tomorrow.

estancia

es-TAHN-syah/esˈtanθja/

NounC1Formal/Literary
This refers to a specific chamber or room within a large, often historical, house or palace.
A grand room in a mansion with a large fireplace, a comfortable armchair, and a rug.

Examples

El palacio tiene estancias decoradas con oro.

The palace has rooms decorated with gold.

General Rooms vs. Capacity

Learners often confuse general room terms like 'habitación' or 'cuarto' with words indicating capacity like 'lugar', 'espacio', or 'sitio'. Remember that 'habitación' and 'cuarto' refer to physical rooms, while 'lugar', 'espacio', and 'sitio' are about whether there is room *for* something or someone.

Related Translations

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