A guide to useful Spanish words, terms and phrases relating to building a house or apartment in Spain.

Know the English, need the Spanish word?

Here is a guide to some handy terminology and words used in context with building, DIY, home renovation and property in Spain...

Building and renovation words and terms are listed alphabetically in English.

Click the letter to go to that section of the alphabet: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P Q R S T U V W Z Top

EnglishSpanish
A 
Acacia Falsa acacia (f)
Acidproof Inatacable por los acidos
Acceptance Recepción de la obra (m)
Accident Accidente (m)
Abstract of title Extracto del registro de la propiedad (m)
Adhesive Adherente, adhesivo
Adobe Arcilla (m), barro (m)
Aged Envejecido
Air compressor Compresor de aire (m)
Air condition Aire acondicionado (m)
Air film Cámara de aire (f)
Alarm Alarma (m)
Aluminium Aluminio (m)
Aluminous cement Cemento aluminoso (m)
Aluminium foil Lámina de aluminio (m)
Anchor Ancla (m)
Anchorage Anclaje (m)
Anchor bolt Perno de anclaje (m), barra de anclaje (m)
Angle grinder Amoladora (f)
Anhydrite screed Pavimento de anhídrido
Apertura Abertura (f)
Asbestos Amianto (m)
Arch Apeo (m) (construcción), arco (m)
Arch falsework Encofrado del arco (m)
Arrears of rent Alquiler atrasado (m)
Artificial resin Resina artificial (f)
Ash Fresno (m)
Asphalt Asfalto (m)
Assail Derrumbar
Axe Hacha (f)
Axis Eje (m)

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B 
Backer Promotor de un negocio (m)
Band saw Sierra continua (f), Sierra de cinta (f)
Beam Viga (f)
Bearer Portador (m), soporte (m)
Bearing capacity Capacidad de carga (f)
Bending moment Momento flector (m)
Bevel Biselar
Birch Abedul (m)
Bitumen Betún (m)
Block concrete Bloque de hormigón (m)
Blow lamp Lámpara de soldar (f)
Boiler Caldera (f)
Bolt Perno (m)
Bore to Perforar
Brick Ladrillo (m)
Brick work Mampostería (f)
Brim Borde (m)
Brush Cepillo (m)
Builder Constructor (m)
Built in cupboard Armario (f) empotrado
Building Construcción (f)
Building licence Licencia de obra (f)
Building owner Propietario (m)
Building lot Obra (f)
Building regulations Normativa constructiva (f)
Building site Solar (m)
Building surveyor Perito (m)

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C 
Cable Cable (m)
Carcass Cuerpo del edificio (m)
Carpenter Carpintero (m)
Carport Garage (m)
Casement window Ventana abatible (f)
Cast Gips
Ceiling Techo (m)
Ceiling borrad Losa del techo (m)
Cellar Sótano (m)
Cement Cemento (m)
Cement mortar Mortero de cemento (m)
Cement plaster Enfoscado de cemento (m)
Cement screed Pavimento de cemento (m)
Center Centro (m)
Ceramics Productos cerámicos (m)
Certified Homologado
Cesspit Pozo negro (m), sumidero (m)
Chipboard Tabla de madera aglomerada (f)
Clay Barro (m)
Collapse Desplome (m)
Column Pilar (m)
Concrete Hormigón (m)
Concrete pump Bomba de hormigón (f)
Concrete wall Muro de hormigón (m)
Copper pipe Tubos de cobre (m)
Cornice Moldura del techo (f)
Corrosion Corrosión (f)
Crack Grieta (f)
Custom made Hecho al encargo
Chlor Cloro (m)

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D 
Damp Vapor (m)
Day work Trabajo por jornada (m)
Working days Días laborables (f)
Discount Descuento (m)
DIY Bricolage (m)
Door finge Bisagra de puerta (f)
Doorcasing Marco de puerta (m)
Door handel Pomo de puerta (m)
Dormer window Buhardilla (f)
Double glazing Acristalamiento doble (m)
Drain pipe Desagüe (m)
Draughtiness Corrientes de aire (f)
Dry rot Moho (m)

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E 
Earth plug Clavija de tierra (f)
Eaves gutter Gotera (m)
Electric meter Contador de la luz (m)
Electricity supply Distribución de energía (m)
Estimate Presupuesto (m)
Expansion joint Junta flexible (f)

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F 
False ceiling Falso techo (m)
Fanlight Claro (m)
Feed valve Válvula de alimentación (f)
Fence Valla (f)
Fencing wire mesh Alambrada (f)
Fibre glass Fibra de vidrio (f)
Fir Abeto rojo (m)
Fire extinguisher Extintor de fuego (m)
Fire Proof Inflamable
First floor Primera planta (f)
Fit out Amueblar
Fix Arreglar, apañar
Fixed glazing Acristalamiento fijo (m)
Fixed price Precio fijo (m)
Flat Piso (m)
Floating screed Pavimento flotante (m)
Floor Piso (m)
Foreman Encargado (m)
Formwork Encofrado (m)
Formwork for floor slab Encofrado del forjado (m)
Foundation Cimentación (f)
Frame Marco (m)
French window Puerta del balcón (f)
Furniture Muebles (m)
Fuse Fusible (m)

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G 
Gable roof Tejado a dos aguas (m)
Gasket Anillo de junta (m)
Gas meter Contador de gas (m)
Glass blocks Pavés, ladrillo de vidrio (m)
Glass door Puerta acristalada (f)
Gravel Grava (m)
Gloss Brilliante
Glue Adhesivo (m)
Ground floor Planta baja (f)
Ground plan Plano (m)
Groundwater Agua subterránea (m)
Gunite Gunita (f)
Gutter Canalón (m)

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H 
Hacksaw Sierra para metales (f)
Hammer Martillo (m)
Handle Mango (m)
Handrail Pasamanos (m), barandilla (f)
Hardboard Tabla de fibra dura (f)
Hard wood Madera dura (f)
Heating Calefacción (f)
Heat protection Protección contra el calor (f)
Hedge Seto (m)
Hinge Bisagra (m)
Hire Alquiler (m)
Hose pipe Mangera de riego (m)
Hob Encimera (f)
Housing estate Urbanización (f)

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I 
Improved land Suelo urbanizado (m)
Income tax Impuesto sobre la renta (m)
In-situ concrete Hormigón in situ (m)
Installation engineering La técnica de la instalación (f)
In stock Disponible
Insulation Aislamiento (m)
Interior design Interiorismo (m)
Interior fittings Terminación interior (f)
Invoice Factura (f)
Iron Hierro (m)
Iron monger Ferretería (f)
Irrigation Riego (m)

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J 
Jigsaw Sierra de contornear (f)
Joiner Carpintero (m)
Joint Junta (f)
Joist Viga (f)
Junction box (electrical) Caja de derivación (f)

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K 
Key hole Ranura de llave (f)
Key project Llave en mano (f)
Kilogram Kilogramo (m)
Knifing filler Masilla (f)
Knob Pomo (m)

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L 
Labour cost Costes laborales (m)
Ladder Escala (f)
Lag Encofrado, revestimiento
Land register Catastro (m)
Land registry Registro (m)
Landscaping Arquitectura de jardines (f)
Lasting Vida útil (f)
Layer Capa (f)
Lawn Césped (m)
Lead Plomo (m)
Leak Fuga (f)
Lease Arrendamiento (m)
Letter box Buzon (m)
Level Nivel (m)
(Not) level No plano (m)
Level to Nivelar (m)
License Licencia (f)
Light bulb Bombilla (f)
Lighting Iluminación (f)
Lime Cal (f)
Lime plaster Enlucido de cal (m)
Lintel Dintel (m)
Liter Litro (m)
Live load Sobrecarga (f)
Living area Superficie habitable (f)
Load-bearing beam Viga maestra (f)
Load-bearing wall Muro de carga (m)
Local council Administración municipal (f)
Lumber Madera de construcción (f)

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M 
Mailing Barandilla (f)
Maintenance Mantenimiento (m)
Mains (water) Conducción de agua (f)
Manhole Registro de hombre (m)
Manhole cover Tapa de canalización (f)
Manually A mano
Moisture barrier Barrera de humedad (f)
Marble Mármol (m)
Margin of safety Margen de seguridad (m)
Mason Albañil
Masonry Mampostería (f)
Mass concrete Hormigón en masa (m)
Mastic Masilla (f)
Measurement Medición (f)
Mete to Medir
Mildew Mildeu (m)
Mineral wool Fibra mineral (f)
Mockup Maqueta (m)
Mortgage Hipoteca (f)
Mortar Mortero (m)
Mould Moho (m)
Multi-storey building Edificio (m)
Municipality Administración municipal (f)

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N 
Nail Clavo (m)
To drive in a nail Clavar un clavo
To take out a nail Arrancar un clavo
Non-slip Antiadherente
Natural gas Gas natural
Natural stone cladding Revestimiento con piedra natural (m)
Notch Ranura (f)
Nut Tuerca (f)

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O 
One-family house Vivienda unifamiliar (f)
Outskirts Periferia (f)
Overall thickness Grosor total (m)
Overhanging roof Tejado con voladizo (m)

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P 
Padlock Candado (m)
Painter Pintor (m)
Partition wall Tabique (m), muro divisorio (m)
Partitioning Tabiquería (f)
Patio Patio (m)
Paving Pavimento, revestimiento (m)
Pelme Cortina (f)
Permanent formwork Encofrado perdido (m)
Pine Pino (m)
Pipe Tubo, conducto (m)
Plane Cepillo de carpintero (m)
Plank Tablón (m)
Plaster Yeso (m)
Plaster to Enlucir
Plasterboard Balda de yeso (f)
Plasterer estuquista (m)
Plate Chapa (f)
Pliers Pinza (f)
Plug Enchufe, taco (m)
Pluma to Aplomar
Plumber Fontanero (m)
Plumbing work Instalación sanitaria (f)
Ply wood Madera contrachapada (f)
Porch Porche (m)
Post Poste (m)
Power supply Alimentación, toma de corriente (f)
Prefab house Casa prefabricada (f)
Preservative Conservante (m)
Prop Soporte (Andamio) (m)
Property Inmueble (m), finca (f)
Property Law Derecho inmobiliario (m)
Property management Administración de finca (f)
Putty Masilla (f)

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Q 
Quality control Control de calidad (m)

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R 
Rafter roof Cabrio (m)
Reinforced Reforzado
Reinforced concrete Hormigón armado (m)
Reinforced concrete floor Forjado de hormigón armado (m)
Reinforcement Armadura (f)
Reinforcement bars Barras de armadura (f)
Reinforcement cage Cesta de armadura (f)
Removal Mudanza (f)
Render Enfoscado (m)
Repair to Reparar
Replacement Repuesto (m)
Restoration Restauración (f)
Retaining wall Muro de contención (m)
Ridge Cumbrera (f)
Ring beam Zuncho (m)
Roof Techo (m)
Roof arch Bóveda (f)
Roofed area Superficie ocupada (f)
Roof tile Teja (f)
Room Habitación (f)
Round Redondo
Rust Óxido (m)
Rust free Inoxidable

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S 
Sampling Coger probetas (f)
Sand Arena (f)
Sand paper Papel de lija (m)
Safety fence Valla de seguridad (f)
Sandwich-type plaster borrad Placas de cartón y yeso (f)
Saw Sierra (f)
Scaffold Andamio (m)
Scarp Barranco (m)
Scraper Espátula (f)
Screed Pavimento (m)
Screw Tornillo (m)
Screwdriver Atornillador (m)
Semi-detached building Vivienda unifamiliar pareada (f)
Septic tank Fosa séptica (f)
Set to Fraguar
Setting time Tiempo de fraguación (m)
Sewage Aguas cloacales (f)
Sewage treatment Tratamientos de las aguas cloacales (m)
Sewer worker (person) Pocero (m)
Sheet of fabric Mallazo (m)
Shingle Teja (f)
Shore up to Apuntalar, apoyar
Short circuit Cortocircuito (m)
Shovel Pala (f)
Shut off valve Válvula de cierre, válvula de detención (f)
Shutter Contraventa (f)
Sill (door) Umbral (f)
Sill (window) Repisa (f)
Site agent Aparejador (m)
Sink (kitchen) Fregadero (m)
Sink: bathroom basin Lavabo (m)
Skidding joint Junta de dilatación (f)
Skirting board Rodapié (m)
Slate Pizarra (f)
sliding door Puerta corredera(f)
Smudge to Manchar
Soak-away Excavación para drenaje de aguas (f)
Slope Inclinación (f)
Socket Enchufe (m)
Soft underfoot conditions Suelo blando (m)
Soil Suelo, terreno (m)
Soil investigation Estudio geotécnico (m)
Solar heating Calefacción solar (f)
Solder to Soldar (f)
Sole plate Losa de cimentación (f)
Solid Macizo
Sound proof Insonorizado
Sound insulation Aislamiento acústico
Spacer Separadores (m)
Span Anchura (f)
Spiral stair Escalera de caracol (f)
Spirit level Nivel de aguaa (m)
Splayed Biselado
Spotlight Foco (m)
Spray gun Pistola pulverizadora (f)
Stainless steel Acero inoxidable (m)
Stair Escalón, peldaño (m)
Stairs Escalera (f)
Standstill Parada (f)
Steel Acero (m)
Steel structure Estructura metálica (f)
Steel joist Viga de acero (f)
Stepping foundation Cimentación con desniveles (f)
Stone Piedra (f)
stop valve Grifo de parada (m)
Storage Almacenaje (m)
Storey Piso (m), planta (f)
Store Chimenea (f), estufa (f)
Strip foundation Cimentación corrida (f)
Stucco Estuco (m)
Supervisor Inspector (m)
Survey of land Medición del suelo (f)
Supplier Proveedor (m)
Suspended ceiling Falso techo (m)
Swing door Puerta de vaivén (f)
Switch Interruptor (m)

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T 
Tank Depósito (m)
Water tank Depósito de agua (m)
Tap Grifo (m)
Tar Alquitrán (m)
Tear down Demoler
Telephone line Línea telefónica (f)
Telltale Contador de gas (m)
Terrace house Casa adosada (f)
Tile (floor) Baldosa (f)
Tile (wall) Azulejo (m)
Tile (roof) Teja (f)
Timber Madera para trabajar (f)
Total charges Coste total (m)
Tread Peldaño (m)
Trellis work Enrejado
Turnkey Con la llave en mano

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U 
Uncover Descubrir
Under floor heating Calefacción de suelo (f)
Undercoat Capa de fondo (f)
Unfurnished No amueblado
Uninhabited No habitado
Urban Planning Law Derecho urbanistico (m)

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V 
Valve Válvula (f)
VAT IVA (m)
Ventilation Ventilación (f)

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W 
Wall Muro (m)
Wall thickness Grosor del muro (m)
Wall lamp Lampara en la pared (f)
Waste Desperdicios, residuos (m)
Water meter Contador de agua (m)
Water supply Toma de agua (m)
White lime Lechada de cal (m)
Welding rod Soldadura (f)
Wheel barrow Carretilla (f)
Width Anchura (f)
Wholesaler Vendedor al por mayor (m)
Window Ventana (f)
Window grill Rejas de la ventana (f)
Window sill Repisa (f)
Wood Madera (f)
Wood casing Moldura de mader(f)
Worm eaten Carcomido
Wrench Llave de tuercas (f)
Wrought iron Hierro forjado (m)

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Z 
Zoning ordinance Plan de Urbanización (m)
Zoning plan Plan para el aprovechamiento del suelo (m)
Zoning restrictions Restricciones del planeamiento de la zona (f)

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For a guide to words related to building property, construction and DIY see our Property words and phrases.