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How to Say "stack" in Spanish

English → Spanish

montón

/mon-TON//monˈton/

nounA2general
Use 'montón' for a large, often messy or unorganized pile of things, like a heap.
A massive, unstable, and towering pile of multicolored clean laundry stacked haphazardly in the middle of a bright room.

Examples

Hay un montón de ropa sucia en el suelo.

There is a pile of dirty clothes on the floor.

El niño hizo un montón de arena en la playa.

The child made a heap of sand on the beach.

Always Masculine

'Montón' is a masculine word, so always use 'un' or 'el' with it, like 'un montón de libros' (a pile of books).

pila

PEE-lah/ˈpi.la/

nounA2general
Use 'pila' when referring to a neat, organized stack of objects placed one on top of another.
A tall, colorful stack of rectangular books forming a neat, high pile.

Examples

Tengo una pila enorme de ropa sucia que lavar.

I have an enormous pile of dirty clothes to wash.

Por favor, haz una pila con los platos limpios.

Please make a stack with the clean dishes.

Use with 'De'

To specify what is in the pile, you always use the word 'de' (of/from). Example: 'una pila de periódicos' (a pile of newspapers).

Messy vs. Neat Piles

The most common mistake is using 'montón' for any stack, even neat ones. Remember, 'montón' implies a less organized heap, while 'pila' suggests items are deliberately stacked.

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