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habitación

A2 noun #1,000 most common 11 min read

habitación

Top 1,000

At the A1 beginner level, the word habitación is introduced as one of the most basic and essential nouns for describing a house and navigating simple travel situations. You learn that it means room, and very often, specifically a bedroom. At this stage, the focus is on memorizing the gender of the word. Because it ends in -ción, it is feminine, so you must always use la or una with it. You learn to combine it with simple adjectives to describe the space, such as grande (big), pequeña (small), limpia (clean), or sucia (dirty). You also learn how to state possession using basic pronouns, like mi habitación (my room) or tu habitación (your room). In practical terms, A1 learners practice using this word to book a hotel room, learning phrases like 'Quiero una habitación' (I want a room). You also learn the verb hay (there is/there are) to describe what is inside the room: 'En mi habitación hay una cama y una mesa' (In my room there is a bed and a table). The plural form, habitaciones, is introduced, teaching you to drop the accent mark. Overall, at this level, the word is a building block for basic survival communication regarding shelter and accommodation.

At the A2 elementary level, your understanding and usage of the word habitación expand significantly to include more detailed descriptions and a wider variety of contexts. You move beyond simple adjectives and begin using prepositions of place to describe exactly where the room is located within a house or hotel, such as 'La habitación está al final del pasillo' (The room is at the end of the hall) or 'Mi habitación está en el segundo piso' (My room is on the second floor). You also start learning specific types of rooms in a hotel context, which is crucial for traveling. Vocabulary like habitación individual (single room), habitación doble (double room), and habitación con baño privado (room with a private bathroom) become part of your active vocabulary. Furthermore, you begin to use verbs of daily routine and chores associated with the room. You learn how to say 'Tengo que limpiar mi habitación' (I have to clean my room), 'Voy a ordenar la habitación' (I am going to tidy the room), and 'Comparto la habitación con mi hermano' (I share the room with my brother). The distinction between habitación and other parts of the house like la cocina (kitchen) and el baño (bathroom) becomes clearer as you learn to describe an entire floor plan.

At the B1 intermediate level, you begin to use the word habitación in more complex grammatical structures and in broader, more abstract contexts such as real estate and long-term renting. You learn how to read and understand housing advertisements, where the word is used to indicate the number of bedrooms a property has. You can comfortably say and understand sentences like 'Busco un piso de tres habitaciones' (I am looking for a three-bedroom apartment). At this level, you also start discussing the conditions and features of the room using more advanced vocabulary, such as discussing natural light (una habitación luminosa), ventilation, and heating. You practice using the word in conditional sentences and negotiations, such as 'Si la habitación fuera más grande, la alquilaría' (If the room were bigger, I would rent it). Additionally, you become aware of regional synonyms. You learn that while habitación is universally understood, people in Latin America might frequently use cuarto or recámara, and you begin to recognize these terms in spoken Spanish. You also start using compound nouns with the preposition de, such as habitación de invitados (guest room) or servicio de habitaciones (room service), showing a deeper grasp of how the noun interacts with other words to create specific meanings.

At the B2 upper-intermediate level, your mastery of the word habitación allows you to use it effortlessly in fast-paced conversations, detailed narratives, and professional contexts. You can describe the interior design, atmosphere, and architectural details of a room with precision. You use advanced adjectives and descriptive phrases, such as 'una habitación acogedora' (a cozy room), 'una habitación lúgubre' (a gloomy room), or 'una habitación insonorizada' (a soundproof room). In professional contexts, particularly in tourism and hospitality management, you can discuss room occupancy rates, room upgrades, and customer complaints regarding their accommodations. You might say, 'El cliente solicitó un cambio de habitación debido al ruido de la calle' (The client requested a room change due to street noise). At this stage, you also begin to understand metaphorical or idiomatic extensions of the concept of a room, even if the word itself isn't always used in idioms. You can discuss the psychological impact of a space, such as feeling claustrophobic in a small room, using complex subjunctive structures: 'No creo que esta habitación tenga suficiente ventilación para tantas personas' (I don't think this room has enough ventilation for so many people). Your vocabulary is rich enough to distinguish subtle differences between habitación, cuarto, alcoba, and dormitorio based on the register and tone of the conversation.

At the C1 advanced level, the word habitación is fully integrated into your extensive vocabulary, and you use it with the nuance and cultural awareness of a native speaker. You encounter the word in classic and contemporary Spanish literature, where it is often used to establish mood, setting, and psychological depth. You can analyze texts where the description of a room reflects the internal state of a character. You understand and use highly specific and literary adjectives to describe spaces, such as 'una habitación diáfana' (an open-plan, airy room) or 'una habitación abuhardillada' (a room with a sloped ceiling/attic room). In academic or formal discussions regarding architecture, urban planning, or sociology, you can debate the concept of living spaces, discussing the minimum requirements for a 'habitación habitable' (habitable room) according to housing laws. You are completely comfortable with the regional variations across the Spanish-speaking world, knowing exactly when to use recámara in Mexico to sound natural, or when alcoba adds a necessary touch of historical or poetic elegance to your speech. You also effortlessly navigate complex grammatical structures involving the word, such as passive voice or impersonal constructions: 'Se ha habilitado una nueva habitación para los refugiados' (A new room has been prepared for the refugees).

At the C2 mastery level, your understanding of the word habitación transcends literal translation; you grasp its historical etymology, its socio-cultural implications, and its precise legal definitions in various Spanish-speaking jurisdictions. You know that the word derives from the Latin 'habitatio', related to dwelling and inhabiting, which informs its formal use in legal documents regarding tenancy and property rights. You can read and draft complex legal contracts or architectural specifications where the exact dimensions, ventilation requirements, and legal status of a 'habitación' are defined. In literary analysis, you can deconstruct the symbolism of the room in works by authors like Gabriel García Márquez or Julio Cortázar, where the 'habitación' often represents isolation, memory, or a boundary between reality and the supernatural. You are adept at using the word in highly rhetorical or poetic speech, manipulating its connotations to evoke specific emotional responses. Furthermore, you possess a flawless command of the subtle phonetic and prosodic shifts when the word is spoken in different regional dialects, from the aspirated 's' in the plural 'habitaciones' in Andalusia or the Caribbean, to the precise articulation in Bogotá. Your usage is indistinguishable from a highly educated native speaker, adapting seamlessly to any register, from a casual chat about a messy bedroom to a formal dissertation on domestic architecture.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

habitación in 30 Seconds

A general word for any room inside a building.
The most common formal word for a bedroom.
The specific term used for a hotel room.
A feminine noun ending in -ción.

The Spanish word habitación is a fundamental vocabulary item that every learner must master early in their language journey. At its most basic level, it translates to the English word room, but its usage carries specific nuances depending on the context, the region, and the situation in which it is spoken. When you enter a house, any enclosed space separated by walls and a door can technically be called a habitación, although in everyday speech, people often use it specifically to refer to a bedroom. This dual meaning—both any room in a house and specifically the room where you sleep—makes it an incredibly versatile noun.

General Room: Any enclosed space within a building or house, regardless of its specific function.

La casa tiene una habitación secreta en el sótano.

Beyond the residential context, the word is universally understood and heavily used in the hospitality industry. When you travel to a Spanish-speaking country and check into a hotel, a hostel, or a bed and breakfast, the space you rent for the night is always referred to as a habitación. You will encounter terms like habitación individual for a single room, habitación doble for a double room, and habitación con vistas for a room with a view.

Hotel Context: The specific unit of accommodation rented to guests in a commercial lodging establishment.

Quiero reservar una habitación para dos noches, por favor.

In many parts of Spain, if you ask someone to show you their habitación, they will immediately assume you mean their bedroom. In Latin America, while habitación is perfectly understood as bedroom, you might also hear words like cuarto, recámara, or alcoba used interchangeably depending on the specific country. However, habitación remains the most standard, universally recognized, and formal term across all Spanish-speaking regions.

Bedroom Meaning: The private space in a home dedicated to sleeping and personal storage.

Voy a mi habitación a dormir porque estoy muy cansado.

When describing a house for sale or rent, real estate agents will list the number of habitaciones to indicate the number of bedrooms, not the total number of rooms including the kitchen and living room. This is a crucial distinction for English speakers, who might assume a five-room house means something different than una casa de cinco habitaciones.

Buscamos un apartamento de tres habitaciones en el centro.

Ultimately, mastering this word opens up your ability to navigate daily life, travel, and housing conversations with ease.

Mi habitación favorita es la biblioteca.

Using the word habitación correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of Spanish gender and number agreement. Because the word ends in the suffix -ción, it is a feminine noun. This means that any articles, adjectives, or pronouns associated with it must also be in the feminine form. You must say la habitación, una habitación, esta habitación, and esa habitación.

Singular Agreement: All modifiers must be feminine singular: la, una, pequeña, limpia, oscura.

La habitación es muy luminosa y espaciosa.

When you want to talk about multiple rooms, you must pluralize the word. To make a word ending in a consonant plural in Spanish, you add -es. However, notice that the singular word has an accent mark on the final letter o (habitación). When you add the -es to make it plural, the natural stress of the word falls on the correct syllable automatically according to Spanish pronunciation rules, so the written accent mark is dropped. Therefore, the plural is habitaciones, without the accent mark.

Plural Formation: Add -es and remove the accent mark: las habitaciones, unas habitaciones, grandes.

Las habitaciones del hotel están todas ocupadas.

In sentences, this noun frequently functions as the direct object of verbs related to cleaning, organizing, renting, or decorating. Common verb pairings include limpiar la habitación (to clean the room), ordenar la habitación (to tidy the room), pintar la habitación (to paint the room), and alquilar una habitación (to rent a room).

Common Verbs: Verbs of action frequently take this word as their direct object in daily chores and real estate.

Tengo que limpiar mi habitación antes de salir.

It is also very common to use prepositions of place with this word to describe where things are located. You will often say en la habitación (in the room), fuera de la habitación (outside the room), or al lado de la habitación (next to the room).

Dejé mis llaves en la habitación sobre la cama.

Finally, when describing the purpose of the room, you can use the preposition de followed by a noun, such as habitación de invitados (guest room) or habitación de matrimonio (master bedroom).

Preparamos la habitación de invitados para tu visita.

The word habitación is ubiquitous in the Spanish-speaking world, and you will encounter it in a wide variety of everyday situations. One of the most common places you will hear it is in the context of travel and tourism. When you walk up to the reception desk of a hotel in Madrid, Buenos Aires, or Mexico City, the receptionist will inevitably ask you about your reservation and the type of room you need. You will hear phrases like el número de su habitación (your room number), el servicio de habitaciones (room service), and la llave de la habitación (the room key).

Tourism and Hospitality: The primary domain where this word is used formally to denote a rented sleeping space.

Por favor, envíe el desayuno a la habitación trescientos cuatro.

Another major area where this word dominates is in real estate and housing. If you are browsing property listings online or speaking with a real estate agent (un agente inmobiliario), the size and value of a property are largely determined by the number of bedrooms it has. In this context, the word is almost exclusively used to mean bedroom rather than just any room.

Real Estate Listings: Used to quantify the sleeping capacity of a house or apartment for sale or rent.

Se alquila piso luminoso de cuatro habitaciones y dos baños.

In domestic family life, parents frequently use this word when speaking to their children. It is the standard term used when telling a child to go to their room as a punishment, or when instructing them to clean up their personal space.

Family Dynamics: Used by parents to refer to a child's personal bedroom space for chores or discipline.

¡Vete a tu habitación ahora mismo y piensa en lo que hiciste!

You will also hear it in hospitals. A hospital room is called a habitación de hospital. When visiting a sick relative or friend, you will need to ask the nurses for the room number.

El paciente fue trasladado a una habitación privada en el tercer piso.

Finally, in literature and movies, the word is used to set the scene, describing the physical environment where the action takes place, emphasizing the atmosphere of the enclosed space.

La habitación estaba oscura y olía a humedad antigua.

When English speakers learn the word habitación, they often make a few predictable mistakes related to grammar, spelling, and semantic scope. The most frequent grammatical error is incorrect gender assignment. Because the word translates to room, which has no gender in English, and because it does not end in the typical feminine -a, many beginners mistakenly assume it is masculine and say el habitación or un habitación. This is strictly incorrect. All Spanish nouns ending in -ción are feminine without exception.

Gender Error: Using masculine articles or adjectives with this feminine noun.

Incorrecto: El habitación es pequeño. Correcto: La habitación es pequeña.

Another major stumbling block is the spelling, specifically regarding the accent mark. In the singular form, the word must have a tilde over the final o (habitación). Forgetting this accent mark is a common spelling mistake. However, an equally common mistake occurs when pluralizing the word. Learners often keep the accent mark and write habitaciónes, which violates Spanish orthographic rules regarding stress on the penultimate syllable of words ending in -s.

Plural Spelling Error: Retaining the written accent mark in the plural form.

Incorrecto: Dos habitaciónes. Correcto: Dos habitaciones.

Semantically, English speakers often overuse the word habitación to translate every instance of the English word room. For example, in English, we say living room, dining room, and bathroom. A learner might try to say habitación de vivir, habitación de cenar, or habitación de baño. While habitación de baño is sometimes understood, the correct terms are la sala (living room), el comedor (dining room), and el baño or el cuarto de baño (bathroom).

Translation Overreach: Using this word as a direct translation for compound English words ending in room.

Incorrecto: Estamos en la habitación de estar. Correcto: Estamos en la sala de estar.

Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse habitación with espacio (space) or lugar (place). If you want to say there is no room in the car, you cannot say no hay habitación en el coche. You must say no hay espacio or no hay sitio.

No hay sitio para una persona más, no es una cuestión de habitación.

By avoiding these common pitfalls, your Spanish will sound much more natural and precise.

Asegúrate de reservar la habitación correcta para evitar problemas.

The Spanish language is incredibly rich when it comes to vocabulary describing parts of a house, and there are several synonyms and regional alternatives for the word habitación. The most common and direct synonym is el cuarto. Cuarto literally translates to fourth, but as a noun, it is used extensively to mean room. In many Latin American countries, cuarto is actually preferred over habitación in casual, everyday conversation when referring to a bedroom. You will frequently hear phrases like limpia tu cuarto instead of limpia tu habitación.

El Cuarto: A very common, slightly more informal synonym for room or bedroom, widely used in Latin America.

Mi hermano está durmiendo en su cuarto ahora mismo.

Another highly specific alternative is el dormitorio. This word is derived from the verb dormir (to sleep) and translates perfectly to the English word bedroom or dormitory. While habitación can mean any room, dormitorio strictly means a room designed for sleeping. It is often used in formal contexts, architectural plans, and furniture store catalogs (e.g., muebles de dormitorio).

El Dormitorio: Specifically means bedroom, leaving no ambiguity about the room's purpose.

Compramos una cama nueva para el dormitorio principal.

In Mexico, a very common and culturally specific word for bedroom is la recámara. If you are watching a Mexican telenovela or speaking with someone from Mexico, you will hear this word constantly. It is the standard term for bedroom in that specific country, though it might sound slightly formal or archaic to a Spaniard.

La Recámara: The standard Mexican Spanish term for a bedroom.

La recámara de los niños está pintada de azul.

Another beautiful, somewhat poetic or older term is la alcoba. This word, which has Arabic origins, originally referred to a specific recessed section of a room used for a bed, but evolved to mean the bedroom itself. Today, it is mostly used in literature, formal speech, or in certain regions of Colombia and Spain to add a touch of elegance.

Los reyes se retiraron a su alcoba para descansar en privado.

Finally, do not confuse these words with la sala, which specifically means the living room or a large hall, never a bedroom.

Pasamos toda la tarde charlando en la sala, no en la habitación.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"El hotel dispone de una habitación adaptada para personas con movilidad reducida."

Neutral

"Mi habitación está en el segundo piso."

Informal

"Ordena tu habitación ya, que es un desastre."

Child friendly

"Vamos a pintar tu habitación de color rosa."

Slang

"Me quedo en mi cuarto, no tengo ganas de salir. (Using 'cuarto' instead of 'habitación' is more common in slang/casual speech)."

Fun Fact

Because it shares the root 'habere' (to have), the word 'habitación' is distantly related to the English words 'habit', 'habitat', and even 'have'. A room is essentially a space that you 'have' or 'hold' as your own.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.bi.taˈθjon/

US /a.bi.taˈsjon/

The stress falls on the last syllable: ha-bi-ta-CIÓN. This is indicated by the written accent mark on the 'o'.

Rhymes With

nación canción emoción estación lección opción acción corazón

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'h' like an English 'h'. It must be completely silent.
Placing the stress on the wrong syllable, like ha-BI-ta-cion.
Failing to blend the 'i' and 'o' into a single diphthong syllable at the end.
Pronouncing the 'b' too hard; it should be a soft, continuous sound between vowels.
Forgetting to drop the accent mark in pronunciation when plural (ha-bi-ta-CIO-nes).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Very easy to recognize, especially in hotel or real estate contexts.

Writing 4/5

Requires remembering the accent mark in singular and dropping it in plural.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but remembering it is feminine can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

A long, distinct word that is easy to catch in spoken Spanish.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

casa cama puerta ventana dormir

Learn Next

baño cocina sala comedor pasillo

Advanced

alojamiento inmueble arrendamiento huésped hospedaje

Grammar to Know

Nouns ending in -ción are feminine.

La habitación, la canción, la nación.

Pluralizing words ending in -n requires adding -es and dropping the accent mark if the stress remains on the penultimate syllable.

Habitación -> Habitaciones.

Adjective agreement: Adjectives must match the noun in gender and number.

Habitación pequeña -> Habitaciones pequeñas.

Using 'hay' for existence vs 'está' for location.

Hay una cama en la habitación. La habitación está arriba.

Prepositions of place are often used with rooms.

Dentro de la habitación, fuera de la habitación.

Examples by Level

Mi habitación es muy grande.

My room is very big.

Uses the feminine singular article 'mi' and adjective 'grande'.

La habitación tiene una cama.

The room has a bed.

Uses the verb 'tener' (to have) in the third person singular.

Quiero una habitación, por favor.

I want a room, please.

Basic phrase for booking a hotel room using 'querer'.

La habitación está limpia.

The room is clean.

Uses 'estar' for temporary states and feminine adjective 'limpia'.

Hay dos sillas en la habitación.

There are two chairs in the room.

Uses 'hay' (there is/are) to describe existence.

¿Dónde está mi habitación?

Where is my room?

Question formulation using 'dónde está'.

Es una habitación bonita.

It is a pretty room.

Adjective 'bonita' agrees with the feminine noun.

Las habitaciones son pequeñas.

The rooms are small.

Plural form 'habitaciones' loses the accent mark.

Reservé una habitación doble para el fin de semana.

I booked a double room for the weekend.

Uses past tense 'reservé' and specific vocabulary 'habitación doble'.

Tengo que limpiar mi habitación hoy.

I have to clean my room today.

Uses obligation structure 'tener que' + infinitive.

La habitación está en el segundo piso.

The room is on the second floor.

Prepositional phrase indicating location.

Comparto la habitación con mi hermana.

I share the room with my sister.

Uses the verb 'compartir' (to share).

¿Cuánto cuesta la habitación por noche?

How much does the room cost per night?

Asking for price using 'cuánto cuesta'.

La habitación tiene baño privado y televisión.

The room has a private bathroom and television.

Listing amenities using conjunction 'y'.

No me gusta el color de esta habitación.

I don't like the color of this room.

Using 'gustar' with a specific attribute of the noun.

Las llaves de la habitación están en la mesa.

The room keys are on the table.

Possessive construction 'de la habitación'.

Buscamos un apartamento que tenga tres habitaciones.

We are looking for an apartment that has three bedrooms.

Uses the subjunctive 'tenga' in an adjective clause describing an unknown antecedent.

El servicio de habitaciones funciona las veinticuatro horas.

Room service operates twenty-four hours a day.

Introduces the compound concept 'servicio de habitaciones'.

Pintaron la habitación de un color muy relajante.

They painted the room a very relaxing color.

Uses the preterite tense and an advanced adjective 'relajante'.

Si la habitación fuera más barata, me quedaría más tiempo.

If the room were cheaper, I would stay longer.

Second conditional using imperfect subjunctive 'fuera' and conditional 'quedaría'.

La habitación de invitados ya está preparada para tu llegada.

The guest room is already prepared for your arrival.

Uses passive state 'está preparada' and specific term 'habitación de invitados'.

Me asignaron una habitación con vistas al mar.

They assigned me a room with an ocean view.

Common tourism phrase 'con vistas al mar'.

El anuncio dice que se alquila una habitación amueblada.

The ad says that a furnished room is for rent.

Uses the passive 'se alquila' and adjective 'amueblada'.

Prefiero una habitación interior porque hay menos ruido.

I prefer an interior room because there is less noise.

Contrasting 'interior' vs 'exterior' rooms in a city context.

La falta de ventilación hace que la habitación resulte asfixiante.

The lack of ventilation makes the room feel suffocating.

Uses causative structure 'hace que' + subjunctive 'resulte'.

Exigimos que nos cambien de habitación inmediatamente debido a la humedad.

We demand that they change our room immediately due to the dampness.

Subjunctive triggered by verb of demand 'exigimos que'.

Es una habitación abuhardillada con mucho encanto pero poco espacio.

It is an attic room with a lot of charm but little space.

Advanced architectural adjective 'abuhardillada'.

El hotel dispone de habitaciones insonorizadas para garantizar el descanso.

The hotel has soundproof rooms to guarantee rest.

Formal verb 'disponer de' and advanced adjective 'insonorizadas'.

Transformó la antigua habitación de los trastos en un despacho moderno.

He transformed the old junk room into a modern office.

Uses 'habitación de los trastos' (junk room/storage room).

Apenas entré en la habitación, noté un ambiente tenso.

As soon as I entered the room, I noticed a tense atmosphere.

Time clause 'Apenas' + preterite indicating immediate sequence.

La decoración de la habitación refleja perfectamente la personalidad del artista.

The room's decoration perfectly reflects the artist's personality.

Abstract usage connecting physical space to personal traits.

Se alojaron en la suite principal, la habitación más lujosa del edificio.

They stayed in the master suite, the most luxurious room in the building.

Apposition explaining the noun phrase.

El protagonista se recluye en su habitación, huyendo del bullicio de la metrópoli.

The protagonist secludes himself in his room, fleeing the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

Literary context using reflexive verb 'recluirse' and gerund 'huyendo'.

La normativa vigente estipula las dimensiones mínimas que debe tener una habitación habitable.

Current regulations stipulate the minimum dimensions a habitable room must have.

Formal legal/architectural register with 'normativa vigente' and 'estipula'.

Era una habitación diáfana, desprovista de cualquier ornamento superfluo.

It was an open-plan room, devoid of any superfluous ornament.

Advanced descriptive vocabulary: 'diáfana', 'desprovista', 'superfluo'.

El eco de sus pasos resonaba en la vasta habitación vacía, acentuando su soledad.

The echo of his footsteps resonated in the vast empty room, accentuating his loneliness.

Poetic imagery using 'resonaba' and 'acentuando'.

Se rumorea que aquella habitación contigua al salón principal esconde pasadizos secretos.

Rumor has it that the room adjacent to the main hall hides secret passages.

Impersonal 'se rumorea' and advanced adjective 'contigua'.

El diseño de interiores contemporáneo tiende a fusionar la cocina y la habitación de estar.

Contemporary interior design tends to merge the kitchen and the living room.

Discussion of trends using 'tiende a fusionar'.

La penumbra de la habitación apenas permitía vislumbrar los contornos de los muebles antiguos.

The gloom of the room barely allowed one to glimpse the outlines of the antique furniture.

High-level vocabulary 'penumbra' and 'vislumbrar'.

Tras la remodelación, la habitación quedó dotada de las últimas innovaciones domóticas.

After the remodeling, the room was equipped with the latest home automation innovations.

Passive construction 'quedó dotada' and technical term 'domóticas'.

La habitación, otrora un santuario de paz, se había erigido en el epicentro de sus desvelos.

The room, formerly a sanctuary of peace, had become the epicenter of his sleepless nights.

Highly literary syntax using 'otrora' and 'erigido en'.

El contrato de arrendamiento especifica el usufructo exclusivo de dicha habitación por parte del inquilino.

The lease agreement specifies the exclusive right of use of said room by the tenant.

Strict legal terminology: 'arrendamiento', 'usufructo', 'dicha'.

Borges a menudo utilizaba la imagen de la habitación cerrada como metáfora del laberinto mental.

Borges often used the image of the closed room as a metaphor for the mental labyrinth.

Literary analysis context discussing metaphors and authors.

La acústica de la habitación reverbera con una frecuencia que distorsiona las frecuencias graves.

The room's acoustics reverberate with a frequency that distorts bass frequencies.

Technical, scientific description of physical properties.

Confinado en aquella habitación lúgubre, el prisionero fue perdiendo paulatinamente la noción del tiempo.

Confined in that gloomy room, the prisoner gradually lost track of time.

Narrative past using 'fue perdiendo' to show gradual progression.

La disposición espacial de la habitación obedece a los principios ancestrales del Feng Shui.

The spatial arrangement of the room obeys the ancestral principles of Feng Shui.

Academic/cultural analysis using 'disposición espacial' and 'obedece a'.

Es imperativo que la habitación se someta a un proceso de desinfección exhaustivo tras el alta médica.

It is imperative that the room undergo an exhaustive disinfection process after medical discharge.

Formal medical protocol using 'es imperativo que' + subjunctive 'se someta'.

El concepto burgués de la habitación propia surgió como una necesidad de intimidad frente a la vida comunal.

The bourgeois concept of a room of one's own emerged as a need for intimacy against communal life.

Sociological and historical discourse.

Common Collocations

habitación doble

habitación individual

limpiar la habitación

servicio de habitaciones

habitación de invitados

habitación con vistas

alquilar una habitación

llave de la habitación

compañero de habitación

habitación principal

Common Phrases

Recoger la habitación

Estar en su habitación

Cambio de habitación

Habitación compartida

Número de habitación

Habitación libre

Habitación ocupada

Salir de la habitación

Entrar en la habitación

Decorar la habitación

Often Confused With

habitación vs cuarto

'Cuarto' is a synonym but is often more informal and heavily used in Latin America for 'bedroom'.

habitación vs sala

'Sala' means living room, not bedroom. Do not use 'habitación' to refer to the living room.

habitación vs espacio

'Espacio' means physical volume or room to fit something. 'Habitación' is only an architectural room.

Idioms & Expressions

"El elefante en la habitación"

A direct translation of the English idiom 'the elephant in the room', meaning an obvious problem that no one wants to discuss.

Todos sabían del problema financiero, pero era el elefante en la habitación.

Informal/Calque

"Estar de habitación en habitación"

To wander aimlessly around the house from room to room, often out of boredom or anxiety.

Lleva toda la tarde yendo de habitación en habitación sin hacer nada.

Neutral

"Encerrarse en su habitación"

To lock oneself in one's room, often to isolate oneself due to anger or sadness.

Después de la discusión, el adolescente se encerró en su habitación.

Neutral

"No salir de su habitación"

To never leave one's room, implying someone is a hermit or very sick.

Está tan deprimido que no sale de su habitación en todo el día.

Neutral

"Habitación del pánico"

A panic room or safe room in a house designed for security.

La mansión del millonario cuenta con una habitación del pánico oculta.

Formal

"Compañero de habitación"

Roommate. While literal, it functions as a set phrase for someone you share living space with.

Mi compañero de habitación ronca muy fuerte por las noches.

Neutral

"Servicio de habitaciones"

Room service. A set phrase in the hospitality industry.

Pedimos champán al servicio de habitaciones para celebrar.

Formal

"Habitación con derecho a cocina"

A room for rent that includes the right to use the shared kitchen.

Busco una habitación con derecho a cocina cerca de la universidad.

Neutral/Housing

"Habitación de matrimonio"

Master bedroom or a room with a double bed intended for a couple.

La casa tiene una habitación de matrimonio y dos individuales.

Neutral

"Habitación de los trastos"

The junk room or storage room where unused items are kept.

Guarda esas cajas viejas en la habitación de los trastos.

Informal

Easily Confused

habitación vs espacio

English uses 'room' to mean both a bedroom and available space (e.g., 'make room').

'Habitación' is an enclosed room with walls. 'Espacio' is available volume or area.

No hay espacio en el coche (Not: No hay habitación en el coche).

habitación vs sitio

Similar to 'espacio', 'sitio' means place or room for someone to sit/stand.

Use 'sitio' for a spot or place. Use 'habitación' for a room in a house.

Guárdame un sitio en el sofá.

habitación vs sala

English speakers might think 'sala' means any room.

'Sala' specifically refers to a living room, waiting room, or large hall. 'Habitación' is usually a bedroom.

La televisión está en la sala.

habitación vs dormitorio

Both mean bedroom.

'Dormitorio' strictly means bedroom. 'Habitación' can mean any room, though it usually implies bedroom.

El dormitorio tiene una cama grande.

habitación vs cuarto

Both are used interchangeably for room/bedroom.

'Cuarto' is slightly more informal and extremely common in Latin America. 'Habitación' is standard and formal.

Limpia tu cuarto.

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] + tener + [Number] + habitación(es).

La casa tiene tres habitaciones.

Mi habitación es + [Adjective].

Mi habitación es grande.

Quiero reservar una habitación + [Type].

Quiero reservar una habitación doble.

Tener que limpiar + la habitación.

Tengo que limpiar la habitación.

Buscar una habitación para + [Verb infinitive].

Busco una habitación para alquilar.

Habitación con + [Noun].

Habitación con vistas al mar.

Pedir un cambio de habitación por + [Reason].

Pedimos un cambio de habitación por el ruido.

Una habitación dotada de + [Noun].

Una habitación dotada de tecnología moderna.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Top 1000 words in Spanish.

Common Mistakes

El habitación → La habitación
Learners often use the masculine article because the word doesn't end in 'a'. However, all '-ción' words are feminine.
Habitaciónes → Habitaciones
Learners keep the accent mark when pluralizing. Spanish spelling rules dictate dropping it because the natural stress shifts.
No hay habitación en el coche. → No hay espacio en el coche.
Translating the English concept of 'room' (meaning space) directly. 'Habitación' only means a physical room with walls.
La habitación de estar → La sala de estar
Translating 'living room' word-for-word. 'Habitación' is generally for bedrooms; 'sala' is for living rooms.
Un habitación pequeño → Una habitación pequeña
Failing to make both the article and the adjective feminine to agree with the noun.

Tips

Feminine Ending

Memorize the rule: words ending in -ción are feminine. La habitación, la estación, la nación.

Drop the Accent

When writing the plural, always drop the accent mark: habitaciones. This is a common test question!

Hotel Survival

If you only learn one phrase for travel, learn 'Quiero una habitación'. It will save you in any hotel.

Not for Space

Never use this word to mean 'empty space'. Use 'espacio' instead.

Latin American Alternatives

If you are traveling to Mexico, practice saying 'recámara'. If in South America, 'cuarto' is very common.

Preposition 'en'

Use 'en' to say 'in the room': Estoy en la habitación.

Match the Gender

Always double-check your adjectives. Habitación bonitA, no bonitO.

Chores Vocabulary

Pair this word with 'limpiar' (clean) and 'ordenar' (tidy) to talk about daily chores.

Counting Bedrooms

In housing ads, '3 habitaciones' means 3 bedrooms, not 3 total rooms in the house.

Silent H

Never pronounce the H. Pretend the word starts with the letter A.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you have a HABIT of taking ACTION in your ROOM. HABIT-ACTION = Habitación.

Visual Association

Picture a giant letter 'H' acting as the door to a very cozy bedroom. When you open the 'H' (which is silent), you step into the 'habitación'.

Word Web

habitación cuarto dormitorio cama hotel dormir casa puerta

Challenge

Walk around your house. Every time you cross a threshold into a new room, touch the doorframe and say 'Esta es una habitación'. When you enter your bedroom, say 'Esta es mi habitación'.

Word Origin

The word 'habitación' comes from the Latin word 'habitatio', which means 'dwelling' or 'residence'. This Latin word is derived from the verb 'habitare', meaning 'to dwell, to live, or to inhabit'. 'Habitare' itself is a frequentative form of 'habere', meaning 'to have or to hold'. The suffix '-ción' is added to denote the action or effect of the verb, thus literally meaning 'the act of dwelling' or 'the place where one dwells'.

Original meaning: Originally, it referred broadly to the act of living somewhere or the entire dwelling place itself, rather than just a single room within a house.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Ibero-Romance > Spanish

Cultural Context

There are no major cultural sensitivities regarding this word, but be aware that asking to see someone's 'habitación' implies asking to see their private bedroom, which can be seen as intrusive if you are not close friends.

English speakers use 'room' as a suffix (bedroom, bathroom). In Spanish, 'habitación' is mostly a standalone word for bedroom or hotel room, not a suffix.

The famous essay 'A Room of One's Own' by Virginia Woolf is translated as 'Una habitación propia' in Spanish. The movie 'Panic Room' is translated as 'La habitación del pánico'. The song 'Habitación 309' is a popular track by several Latin artists.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Booking a hotel

Quiero reservar una habitación.
¿Cuánto cuesta la habitación?
La llave de la habitación, por favor.
Habitación doble o individual.

Describing a house

La casa tiene tres habitaciones.
Mi habitación es muy luminosa.
La habitación principal tiene baño.
Es una habitación muy pequeña.

Doing chores

Tengo que limpiar la habitación.
Ordena tu habitación.
Hacer la cama de la habitación.
Barrer la habitación.

Renting an apartment

Busco alquilar una habitación.
Se alquila habitación amueblada.
Compañero de habitación.
Gastos incluidos en la habitación.

Hospital visits

¿En qué habitación está el paciente?
Es una habitación compartida.
La habitación del hospital.
Llamar a la enfermera a la habitación.

Conversation Starters

"¿Cómo está decorada tu habitación ideal?"

"¿Prefieres una habitación de hotel con vistas al mar o a la ciudad?"

"¿Alguna vez has tenido que compartir habitación con alguien muy desordenado?"

"¿De qué color están pintadas las paredes de tu habitación?"

"¿Qué es lo más importante para ti en una habitación de hotel?"

Journal Prompts

Describe tu habitación favorita de la infancia con todo detalle.

Escribe sobre la peor habitación de hotel en la que te has alojado.

Imagina la habitación de tus sueños. ¿Qué muebles y colores tendría?

¿Por qué crees que nuestra habitación refleja nuestra personalidad?

Escribe una historia corta que ocurra enteramente dentro de una sola habitación.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is feminine. All Spanish nouns ending in the suffix '-ción' are feminine. Therefore, you must say 'la habitación', 'una habitación', and use feminine adjectives like 'pequeña' or 'limpia'.

Technically, it means any enclosed room in a building. However, in everyday conversation, it is most commonly used to mean a bedroom or a hotel room. If you want to specify a living room, use 'sala'.

In Spanish, words ending in '-n' or '-s' are naturally stressed on the second-to-last syllable. 'Habitación' needs an accent mark to force the stress on the last syllable. When you add '-es' to make it plural, the stress naturally falls on the 'o' (ha-bi-ta-CIO-nes), so the written accent is no longer needed.

No. This is a common English speaker mistake. In Spanish, 'habitación' only refers to an architectural room. To say 'there is no room' in the sense of space, you must use 'espacio' or 'sitio' (No hay espacio en el coche).

They are synonyms and often used interchangeably to mean bedroom. 'Habitación' is slightly more formal and is the standard word used in hotels worldwide. 'Cuarto' is more informal and very popular in daily speech in Latin America.

The standard phrase is 'servicio de habitaciones'. Notice that 'habitaciones' is in the plural form in this set phrase.

In a hotel context, a 'habitación doble' is a double room, meaning it is designed for two people. It usually has either one large double bed or two single beds.

It is always 'la habitación'. Do not let the lack of an '-a' ending confuse you; the '-ción' ending guarantees it is feminine.

This translates to 'guest room'. It is the room in a house specifically kept for visitors to sleep in.

Yes, it is understood perfectly, especially in hotels. However, for a bedroom in a house, Mexicans overwhelmingly prefer the word 'recámara'.

Test Yourself 200 questions

writing

Write a short sentence describing your bedroom using 'habitación' and two adjectives.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Ensure 'habitación' is treated as feminine.