Spanish word

sótano

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈsotano/

Meaning

  • masculine nounbasement

Example

¿Dónde está el sótano?

Where is the basement?

Illustration for sótano (basement)

More examples

Esta tarde voy a limpiar el sótano.

This afternoon I'm going to clean the basement.

Core concept

An underground level of a building, typically with low ceilings and little natural light, used for storing goods or housing building systems.

Common phrases

  • guardar cosas en el sótano

    store things in the basement

  • limpiar el sótano

    clean the basement

  • subir del sótano

    come up from the basement

Similar words

trastero: Personal lockable storage room in a multiunit building for excess household items.
garaje: Covered area inside or attached to a building intended for parking one or more cars.
bodega: Cellar-like room primarily used to store preserved food and beverages.

Definition in Spanish

Zona o estancia situada bajo la planta principal de una casa o edificio, con frecuencia de techo bajo y poca luz natural, destinada al almacenaje, a instalaciones o a garaje.

Word origin

Derived from Medieval Latin subtaneum, formed with Latin sub- 'under' to indicate the underpart of a house or building.

Usage tips

  • If a lower-level room has windows or partial daylight, speakers often call it a semisótano (half-basement) rather than a sótano.

Other meanings

  • cellarnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word