Spanish Conversation · Level 91
59 words
Spanish word
chabola
Pronunciation
IPA/tʃaˈβola/
Meaning
- feminine nounshack
Example
La familia vive en una chabola al lado de la estación.
The family lives in a shack next to the station.
More examples
Muchas familias todavía viven en chabolas en las afueras de la ciudad.
Many families still live in shacks on the outskirts of the city.
Core concept
Makeshift shelter of scrap wood and tarps.
Common phrases
vivir en una chabola
live in a shack
asentamiento de chabolas
shantytown
Similar words
casucha: Run-down tiny house that is old and uncomfortable to live in.
barraca: Rudimentary makeshift shack erected rapidly from boards, metal sheets, or canvas.
choza: Rustic hut made of wood, thatch, or mud with a basic rural appearance.
Definition in Spanish
Casa muy humilde y provisional, aplicada a construcciones rústicas o improvisadas donde viven personas con pocos recursos.
Word origin
Chabola derives from Basque txabola 'small hut' and denotes provisional, humble dwellings occupied by low-income families.
Usage tips
- The noun is feminine (la chabola) and in news reporting it often labels slums or informal settlements, so it frequently carries a pejorative tone in everyday speech.