Inklingo

How to Say "seat" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “seat” is “asiento” — use 'asiento' for a general place to sit, like a chair, bench, or spot on a bus or train.

asiento🔊A1

Use 'asiento' for a general place to sit, like a chair, bench, or spot on a bus or train.

Learn more →
silla🔊A1

Use 'silla' to refer specifically to a chair, a common piece of furniture designed for one person to sit on.

Learn more →
lugar🔊A2

Use 'lugar' when referring to an available spot or space, often implying room for someone to sit or stand.

Learn more →
butaca🔊A1

Use 'butaca' for a comfortable, often upholstered chair, like an armchair or a seat in a theater or cinema.

Learn more →
sillón🔊A1

Use 'sillón' for a large, comfortable armchair, often emphasizing its size and plushness.

Learn more →
localidad🔊B1

Use 'localidad' to refer to a specific seat or ticket for an event like a concert, play, or sporting match.

Learn more →
sede🔊B1

Use 'sede' to mean the headquarters or central location of an organization, company, or government body.

Learn more →
catedral🔊A2

Use 'catedral' metaphorically to refer to the main center or most important part of something, not a physical seat.

Learn more →
escaño🔊B2

Use 'escaño' specifically for a seat in a parliament, congress, or other legislative body.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

asiento

ah-SYEN-tohaˈsjento

nounA1general
Use 'asiento' for a general place to sit, like a chair, bench, or spot on a bus or train.
A brightly colored, simple wooden chair with four legs and a backrest, sitting alone in a bright room.

Examples

¿Puedes guardar mi asiento por favor? Voy al baño.

Can you save my seat please? I’m going to the bathroom.

Todos los asientos del autobús estaban ocupados.

All the seats on the bus were taken.

Este asiento es muy cómodo, pero está un poco sucio.

This chair is very comfortable, but it is a bit dirty.

Gender Check

Since 'asiento' ends in -o, it is masculine. Use 'el asiento' or 'un asiento'.

silla

see-yahˈsiʝa

nounA1general
Use 'silla' to refer specifically to a chair, a common piece of furniture designed for one person to sit on.
A simple, empty wooden chair with a high back, standing alone on a flat surface.

Examples

Por favor, toma una silla y siéntate.

Please, grab a chair and sit down.

Compramos seis sillas nuevas para el comedor.

We bought six new chairs for the dining room.

Necesito una silla más ergonómica para trabajar todo el día.

I need a more ergonomic chair to work all day.

Feminine Noun

Remember that 'silla' is always feminine. Use 'la' before it, and if you use an adjective, it must end in '-a' (e.g., 'la silla roja', the red chair).

Using the wrong size word

Mistake: “Using 'sillón' when you mean a standard 'chair'.”

Correction: 'Sillón' means a large, comfy armchair. 'Silla' is the standard four-legged chair you sit on at a table.

lugar

loo-GARluˈɡaɾ

nounA2general
Use 'lugar' when referring to an available spot or space, often implying room for someone to sit or stand.
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.

butaca

boo-TAH-kahbuˈtaka

nounA1general
Use 'butaca' for a comfortable, often upholstered chair, like an armchair or a seat in a theater or cinema.
A cozy, plush armchair with rounded armrests and a soft cushion.

Examples

Me gusta sentarme en la butaca para ver la televisión.

I like to sit in the armchair to watch television.

Nuestras butacas están en la quinta fila del cine.

Our seats are in the fifth row of the cinema.

La obra fue un éxito y no quedaba ni una butaca libre.

The play was a success and there wasn't a single seat left.

A feminine word

Even though it doesn't refer to a person, this word is feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it: 'la butaca'.

Plural forms

To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' at the end: 'las butacas'.

Butaca vs. Silla

Mistake: “Using 'silla' for a theater seat.”

Correction: Use 'butaca' for comfortable, padded seats in theaters or at home. 'Silla' is usually for simpler, harder dining chairs.

sillón

see-YOHNsiˈʝon

nounA1general
Use 'sillón' for a large, comfortable armchair, often emphasizing its size and plushness.
A cozy, plush green armchair with thick armrests and a soft cushion.

Examples

Mi abuelo siempre duerme la siesta en el sillón.

My grandfather always takes a nap in the armchair.

Compramos un sillón de cuero para la sala.

We bought a leather armchair for the living room.

El escritor ocupa un sillón en la Real Academia.

The writer holds a seat in the Royal Academy.

The 'Big' Ending

The ending '-ón' is often added to words to make them bigger. Since a 'silla' is a chair, a 'sillón' is literally a 'big chair' or armchair.

Gender Clue

Words ending in '-ón' are almost always masculine, so you should use 'el' or 'un' with them.

Sillón vs. Sofá

Mistake: “Using 'sillón' for a couch.”

Correction: Use 'sillón' for a seat for one person; use 'sofá' for a seat that fits two or more people.

localidad

lo-kah-lee-DAHDloka.liˈðað

nounB1event/ticketing
Use 'localidad' to refer to a specific seat or ticket for an event like a concert, play, or sporting match.
A single red velvet theater seat standing alone in a spotlight.

Examples

¿Quedan localidades para el concierto de mañana?

Are there any seats/tickets left for tomorrow's concert?

Compré dos localidades en la fila cinco.

I bought two seats in row five.

El teatro agotó todas sus localidades en una hora.

The theater sold out all its seats in an hour.

Plural for Tickets

When you want to buy tickets for a group, you usually use the plural form 'localidades'.

Ticket vs. Seat

Mistake: “Using 'silla' (chair) to talk about a theater booking.”

Correction: Say 'localidad' or 'asiento' when referring to your reserved spot at a show, not 'silla'.

sede

SAY-dayˈseðe

nounB1formal/organizational
Use 'sede' to mean the headquarters or central location of an organization, company, or government body.
A large, modern building with many glass windows and a prominent entrance, standing as a central hub in a clean city environment.

Examples

La sede principal de la empresa está en Madrid.

The company's main headquarters is in Madrid.

Ginebra es la sede de muchas organizaciones internacionales.

Geneva is the seat of many international organizations.

Gender Alert

Even though it ends in 'e', this word is feminine. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Don't confuse with 'sed'

Mistake: “Tengo sede.”

Correction: Tengo sed.

catedral

kah-teh-DRAHLkateˈðɾal

nounA2figurative
Use 'catedral' metaphorically to refer to the main center or most important part of something, not a physical seat.
A large, beautiful stone cathedral with tall spires and stained glass windows under a clear sky.

Examples

La catedral de Barcelona es muy antigua.

Barcelona's cathedral is very old.

Mucha gente visita la plaza de la catedral los domingos.

Many people visit the cathedral square on Sundays.

Para que una iglesia sea una catedral, debe ser la sede de un obispo.

For a church to be a cathedral, it must be the seat of a bishop.

Identifying the Gender

Even though 'catedral' ends in 'l', it is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Capitalization Rules

When you are talking about a specific building like 'la Catedral de Burgos', you capitalize it. If you are just talking about cathedrals in general, use lowercase.

Gender confusion

Mistake: “el catedral”

Correction: la catedral. Words ending in -ad, -ed, or -al are often feminine, and this one definitely is!

Church vs. Cathedral

Mistake: “Using 'iglesia' for everything.”

Correction: While a cathedral is a type of church (iglesia), calling a massive cathedral just an 'iglesia' can sound like you are downplaying its importance.

escaño

es-KAH-nyohesˈkaɲo

nounB2political/formal
Use 'escaño' specifically for a seat in a parliament, congress, or other legislative body.
A high-quality illustration of a single grand wooden chair with a high back and red velvet upholstery, typically found in a parliament chamber.

Examples

El partido obtuvo cincuenta escaños en las últimas elecciones.

The party won fifty seats in the last elections.

Muchos políticos luchan por mantener su escaño en el Congreso.

Many politicians fight to keep their seat in Congress.

El reparto de escaños se decide mediante un sistema proporcional.

The distribution of seats is decided through a proportional system.

It's always masculine

Even though it refers to a position that a man or woman can hold, the word itself is always masculine: 'el escaño' or 'un escaño'.

Abstract vs. Physical

In a political context, this word refers more to the 'right to represent' or the 'official spot' rather than just the physical chair.

Using 'silla' for politics

Mistake: “El político ganó una silla.”

Correction: El político ganó un escaño.

General Seats vs. Specific Seats

The most common confusion is between 'asiento' (general place to sit) and 'localidad' (a specific ticketed seat for an event). While 'asiento' can sometimes work for events, 'localidad' is more precise when referring to a purchased ticket for a specific spot.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.