Spanish word

rascacielos

Pronunciation

IPA/raskaˈθjelos/

Meaning

  • masculine nounskyscraper

Example

Desde el hotel se veían rascacielos iluminados.

From the hotel, illuminated skyscrapers were visible.

Illustration for rascacielos (skyscraper)

More examples

Viven en un rascacielos en el centro.

They live in a skyscraper in the city center.

Core concept

A multi-storey city building that rises well above the surrounding skyline.

Common phrases

  • los rascacielos del centro

    downtown skyscrapers

  • el rascacielos de oficinas

    office skyscraper

Similar words

edificio: General-purpose building with several floors for living, working, or shops.
torre: Tower-like structure, often narrow and free-standing, rising above its surroundings.

Definition in Spanish

Construcción muy alta en la ciudad, formada por numerosos pisos y visible desde lejos.

Word origin

Formed from rascar 'to scrape' and cielo 'sky', rascacielos is a modern Spanish coinage modeled on English skyscraper to label buildings of great height.

Usage tips

  • The singular form un rascacielos is used but the word often appears in plural when referring to city skylines, and the word has no accent mark.

Opposites

  • vivienda unifamiliarsingle-family housenoun

Word lists with this word