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, interchangeable with 'habitación' in many everyday contexts.

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pieza🔊A1

Use this term for a room within a house or apartment, especially when counting the total number of spaces.

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lugar🔊A2

Use this when referring to available space or capacity for people or things, not a physical room in a building.

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espacio🔊A1

This word refers to general space, capacity, or area, rather than a specific, defined room.

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sala🔊B1

Use this for a specific type of room, often a common area like a living room or a designated room in a public building.

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sitio🔊B1

This term indicates available space or a spot, often used when asking if there's room for someone or something.

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cámaraB1

This word typically refers to a large, official, or formal room, such as in a palace or for legislative bodies.

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aposento🔊B2

Use this for a more formal or private living space, often suggesting a chamber or lodging, especially in older or more formal contexts.

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dependencia🔊B2

This refers to a specific area or an auxiliary room/outbuilding within a larger property, often for staff.

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margen🔊B2

This is used metaphorically to mean 'leeway' or 'scope', such as room for error or time.

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estancia🔊C1

This term denotes a specific, often grand, chamber or room within a large house or palace.

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celda🔊A2

Use this specifically for a small, private room, most commonly a cell in a monastery or prison.

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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-tohˈkwaɾ.to

NounA1General
This is another very common and general term for a room, interchangeable with 'habitación' in many everyday 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-sahˈpjeθa

NounA1General
Use this term for a room within a house or apartment, especially when counting the total number of 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-GARluˈɡaɾ

NounA2General
Use this when referring to available space or capacity for people or things, not a physical room in a building.
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-syoesˈpa.sjo

NounA1General
This word refers to general space, capacity, or area, rather than a specific, defined room.
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.

sala

SAH-lahˈsala

NounB1General/Public
Use this for a specific type of room, often a common area like a living room or a designated room in a public building.
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.

sitio

SEE-tyohˈsitjo

NounB1General
This term indicates available space or a spot, 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.

cámara

NounB1Formal/Official
This word typically refers to a large, official, or formal room, such as in a palace or for legislative bodies.

Examples

La Cámara de Representantes votará la nueva ley mañana.

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

aposento

ah-poh-SEHN-toha.poˈsen.to

NounB2Formal
Use this for a more formal or private living space, often suggesting a chamber or lodging, especially in older or more formal contexts.
A cozy, sunlit room with a large comfortable bed, a wooden dresser, and a soft rug.

Examples

El caballero se retiró a su aposento para descansar.

The knight retired to his chamber to rest.

Los criados prepararon los aposentos reales antes de la llegada del rey.

The servants prepared the royal quarters before the king's arrival.

En los aposentos de la planta alta no se oye el ruido de la calle.

In the upper-floor rooms, you can't hear the noise from the street.

Masculine Noun Ending

Since it ends in -o, it follows the standard pattern of being a masculine word. Always use 'el' or 'un'.

Formal Usage

Think of this as a fancy version of 'habitación.' You wouldn't use it for your laundry room, but you might use it for a grand bedroom in a palace.

Using it for 'Apartment'

Mistake: “Vivo en un aposento pequeño.”

Correction: Vivo en un apartamento pequeño. 'Aposento' refers to a specific room or lodging, not an entire modern apartment unit.

dependencia

deh-pehn-DEN-syahdepenˈdenθja

NounB2Formal/Specific
This refers to a specific area or an auxiliary room/outbuilding within a larger property, often for staff.
A professional service counter in a large building lobby where a person is waiting to help visitors.

Examples

Esta casa tiene varias dependencias para el servicio.

This house has several rooms/outbuildings for the staff.

Tiene que ir a una dependencia municipal para renovar el carnet.

You have to go to a municipal office to renew your ID card.

Limpiaron todas las dependencias del palacio.

They cleaned all the rooms and sections of the palace.

Often plural

When referring to parts of a building or house, we almost always use the plural form: 'las dependencias'.

Don't confuse with 'apartamento'

Mistake: “Vivo en una dependencia pequeña.”

Correction: Vivo en un apartamento pequeño.

margen

MAHR-henˈmaɾxen

NounB2Figurative
This is used metaphorically to mean 'leeway' or 'scope', such as room for error 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).

estancia

es-TAHN-syahesˈtanθja

NounC1Formal/Literary
This term denotes a specific, often grand, chamber or room within a large 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.

celda

SELL-dahˈsel.da

NounA2Specific/Formal
Use this specifically for a small, private room, most commonly a cell in a monastery or prison.
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).

General Rooms vs. Specific Contexts

The most common mistake is using a general term like 'habitación' or 'cuarto' when a more specific word is required by context. For instance, using 'habitación' for a conference room ('sala') or metaphorical space ('lugar', 'espacio') will sound incorrect to a native speaker.

Related Translations

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