Spanish word

chalé

Pronunciation

IPA/tʃaˈle/

Meaning

  • masculine noundetached house, chalet

Example

Vivimos en un chalé cerca de la playa.

We live in a detached house near the beach.

Illustration for chalé (detached house)

More examples

Buscamos comprar un chalé cerca de la costa.

We are looking to buy a detached house near the coast.

Core concept

A single-family detached house with garden space, frequently used either as the family's primary dwelling or as a secondary/vacation home.

Common phrases

  • vivir en un chalé

    live in a detached house

  • comprar un chalé

    buy a detached house

  • un chalé de lujo

    a luxury detached house

Similar words

casa: General dwelling or house where people live, from cottage-sized homes to larger family houses.
piso: Apartment unit in a multi-unit building, a single household's self-contained living space.

Definition in Spanish

Casa aislada destinada a una sola familia, con terreno alrededor; en el uso cotidiano puede aludir también a una segunda residencia.

Word origin

Loaned from French chalet, which meant an Alpine cottage, Spanish chalé denotes a standalone house and in everyday use can also mean a second residence.

Usage tips

  • English speakers expecting a small mountain 'chalet' should note that Spanish chalé commonly means an ordinary detached house, not specifically a mountain vacation cabin.

Other meanings

  • vacation homenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word