Moving to Fuerteventura » learning Spanish

Spanish Words Around The House

Elle — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:00:52 +0000

Further to our earlier posts about learning Spanish in Fuerteventura, here is a list of some translated words for around your house – very handy if dealing with workmen, or if going to a DIY shop, or furniture shop. Enjoy!Apartment = El Apartamento
Attic = El Ático, El Desván, El Entretecho
Basement = El Sótano
Bathroom = El Baño, El Cuarto De Baño, El Retrete
Bathtub = Bañera
Bed = Cama
Bedroom = El Dormitorio
Blanket = Manta
Blender = La Licuadora
Ceiling = El Techo
Chair = La Silla
Chest Of Drawers = La Cómoda
Closet, Wardrobe: El Armario, El Ropero
Courtyard = El Patio
Cupboard = El Armario, La Despensa
Desk = Escritorio
Dining Room = Cuarto De Cenar, El Comedor
Dishwasher = El Lavavajillas, El Lavaplatos, El Friegaplatos
Door = El Puerto, La Puerta
Drier (For Clothes) = La Secadora
Electrical Socket = El Enchufe (De Pared)
Entryway = La Entrada
Family Room = La Estancia, El Cuarto De Estar
Floor = El Suelo (Floor That Is Walked On), El Piso (Level Of A Building)
Garage = El Garaje, La Cochera
Hallway = Vestíbulo
House = La Casa
Iron = La Plancha
Kitchen = La Cocina
Kitchen Counter = El Mostrador (De Cocina), La Encimera
Lamp = La Lámpara
Light = La Luz, La Lámpara, La Lámpara De Techo (Ceiling Light), El Plafón (Ceiling Light)
Living Room = La Sala
Microwave = Microonda
Mirror = El Espejo
Oven = El Horno (El Horno Microondas, Or Simply El Microondas, Microwave Oven)
Radio = El Rádio
Refrigerator = La Refrijedora
Roof = Azotea, El Tejado
Room = El Cuarto
Rubbish Bin = La Basura
Shower = Ducha
Sink = El Fregadero El Fregadero De Cocina (Kitchen Sink), El Fregadero De Baño (Bathroom Sink)
Sofa = Sofá
Stairs = Escaleras
Stove = Estufa
Study Room = El Estudio
Table = La Mesa
Tap = El Grifo
Television = Televisión
Toaster = El Tostador, La Tostadora
Toilet = La Asseo
Vacuum Cleaner = La Aspiradora
Wall = La Pared (Inside), El Muro (Outside)
Washer (For Clothes) = La Lavadora
Window = La Ventana
Yard = La Yarda

Spanish Building Terms

Elle — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:54 +0000

If you are looking to enlist the services of a Spanish Building Company in Fuerteventura, there are many terms which may leave you a little baffled – even if you are just nipping around to your local hardware store for some DIY. Benjamin Ritter from Denia in Spain, has very kindly donated the following translations which may help you get through the language barrier. Thanks Benjamin!

English	Spanish
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
J
Jigsaw	Sierra de contornear (f)
Joiner	Carpintero (m)
Joint	Junta (f)
Joist	Viga (f)
Junction box (electrical)	Caja de derivación (f)
K
Key hole	Ranura de llave (f)
Key project	Llave en mano (f)
Kilogram	Kilogramo (m)
Knifing filler	Masilla (f)
Knob	Pomo (m)
L
Labor 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)
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)
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)
O
One-family house	Vivienda unifamiliar (f)
Outskirts	Periferia (f)
Overall thickness	Grosor total (m)
Overhanging roof	Tejado con voladizo (m)
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)
Q
Quality control	Control de calidad (m)
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
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)
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
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)
V
Valve	Válvula (f)
VAT	IVA (m)
Ventilation	Ventilación (f)
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)
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)

Information very kindly prepared by Benjamin Ritter von Linprun
Architect COACV Inscrito en el Colegio de Arquitectos de la Comunidad Valenciana COACV con el nº 7410 (Diploma of the University Stuttgart, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning)
Calle Marqués de Campos 11 1ª planta 03700 Denia España

Tel/Fax: 966 426 090 / e-Mail
Copyright © 2005 Benjamin Ritter von Linprun Architect All Rights Reserved

Spanish words for your Fuerteventura kitchen

Elle — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:21:17 +0000

Shopping for ingredients in Fuerteventura can be a nightmare if you don’t know the Spanish words for what you are trying to buy.

We’ll try to add to this as time goes by for you – but in the meantime… here’s a few translations to help you when buying ingredients for your culinary delights!

English	Spanish translation
Basil	Albahaca
Bay leaves	Laurel
Bread	Pan
Cinnamon	Canela
Coriander	Cilantro
Cumin	Comino
Fine mixed herbs	Finas hierbas
Garlic	Ajo
Milk	Leche
Mint	Menta
Olive oil	Aceite de oliva
Parsley	Perejil
Pepper	Pimenton
Potatoes	Patata
Rosemary	Romero
Sage	Salvia
Tarragon	Estragón
Thyme	Tomillo

Conversational Spanish

Elle — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:51:45 +0000

A list of a few useful Spanish phrases that you won’t find in your schoolbooks!

¡Soy la leche!
I rock. I am the coolest thing.
Pretty informal – the kind of thing you would tell your friends (if they don’t know it already!) It literally means “I am the milk”.

Me tienes frito
I’m exhausted by you
Frito means fried. You’d use this for an exhausting boyfriend or a pestering child, when you’ve had enough

¡Eres un pesado!
You are a total pain!
Best kept for family and close friends!

El baño me ha sabido a gloria
That swim was wonderful.
Saber a gloria – when something is delightful. Also used with la siesta… la comida… el paseo…

¡Mecachis en la mar!
Damn it!
Mild swearword – for when you need to swear in front of the in-laws!

¡Qué piropo me has echado!
That’s a hell of a compliment you have just given me!
Sometimes you might hear ‘piropazo’ – an even bigger compliment!

¡Qué mandón eres!
You are really bossy!
Wife to husband… sister to brother… you get the picture!

Feliz año nuevo
Happy New Year
Heard from just about everyone at that time of year.

Esta película es un tostón
Meaning: This film is really boring/slow (literal translation: this film is a big toast!)
Lots more really boring things can be a tostón: a meeting (esta reunión es un tostón), a party (esta fiesta es un tostón), a person (este tío es un tostón), or a really dull book (este libro es un tostón).

Kindly donated by Ben and Marina from Notes in Spanish in Madrid.