Spanish word

portal

Pronunciation

IPA/poɾˈtal/

Meaning

  • masculine nounentrance

Example

¿Dónde está el portal de la casa?

Where is the entrance to the house?

Illustration for portal (entrance)

More examples

El portal de acceso tiene un timbre.

The building entrance has a doorbell.

Core concept

Shared entrance hall or vestibule of an apartment building.

Common phrases

  • portal de acceso

    building entrance

  • portal de la vivienda

    home entrance

Similar words

entrada: Entrance to a building, room, or enclosed area used to go inside.
puerta: Movable door or barrier that opens and closes to allow or block passage.

Definition in Spanish

Espacio o estructura que constituye la entrada principal de un edificio, especialmente en fachadas o en viviendas colectivas.

Word origin

Derived from Latin porta 'door' through medieval Latin portalis, entering Spanish as the term for a gateway or vestibule in residential buildings.

Usage tips

  • Speakers often use 'el portal' as the place to wait for visitors or taxis in multiunit buildings, so 'esperar en el portal' is a common everyday phrase.

Other meanings

  • gatenoun
  • web portalnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word