Hostels and shared flats in Spanish: the dorm, the kitchen and the housemates in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina
For a hostel bed and a room in a shared flat you need the same small set of Spanish: how to say which bed is yours, where your food goes, whose turn it is to clean, and how much you owe at the end of the month. The words change by country, starting with the word for the building itself. Below: checking into a hostel, living in a dorm, finding a room, moving in with strangers and the money that comes with it, in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina.
What the place is called
| Mexico | Spain | Colombia | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker hostel | el hostal | el hostel, el albergue | el hostal | el hostel |
| Flat, apartment | el departamento | el piso | el apartamento, el apto | el departamento, el depto |
| Shared flat | el departamento compartido | el piso compartido | el apartamento compartido | el departamento compartido |
| Room | el cuarto, la habitación | la habitación | la habitación, la pieza | la pieza, la habitación |
| Housemate | el roomie, el compañero de cuarto | el compañero de piso | el compañero de apartamento, el roomie | el compañero de departamento, el roommate |
In Spain, a hostal is not a hostel. It is a small, cheap guesthouse with private rooms, a step below a hotel, and the backpacker kind with bunks is un hostel or un albergue. Ask for un hostal in Madrid and you may be booked into a private room. In Mexico and Colombia hostal is the ordinary word for the backpacker place.
Roomie is normal Spanish in Mexico and Colombia, said the English way and written roomie. Argentines say roommate or compañero de departamento. Spaniards say compañero de piso, always, and roomie sounds imported.
Checking into a hostel
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I have a booking for two nights | Tengo una reserva para dos noches. | |
| A bed in a dorm | una cama en habitación compartida | Mexico: en cuarto compartido |
| A mixed dorm | habitación mixta | Women-only is solo para mujeres |
| A private room | una habitación privada | |
| How many beds are in the room? | ¿Cuántas camas hay en el cuarto? | |
| Which bed is mine? | ¿Cuál es mi cama? | |
| Is breakfast included? | ¿El desayuno está incluido? | |
| Are the sheets included? | ¿Las sábanas están incluidas? | Usually yes. A towel usually is not |
| Can I rent a towel? | ¿Puedo alquilar una toalla? | Mexico: rentar |
| Is there a locker? | ¿Hay locker? | Spain: ¿hay taquilla? Argentina and Colombia also casillero |
| Do I need a padlock? | ¿Necesito candado? | Bring one. Most hostels sell them at a markup |
| What time is check-out? | ¿A qué hora es la salida? | |
| Can I leave my bag after check-out? | ¿Puedo dejar la maleta después? | Argentina: la valija |
In the dorm
| Mexico | Spain | Colombia | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunk bed | la litera | la litera | el camarote, la litera | la cucheta, la litera |
| Top bunk | la cama de arriba | la de arriba | la de arriba | la de arriba |
| Bottom bunk | la cama de abajo | la de abajo | la de abajo | la de abajo |
| Locker | el locker | la taquilla | el locker, el casillero | el locker, el casillero |
| Blanket | la cobija | la manta | la cobija | la frazada |
| Plug socket | el enchufe, el contacto | el enchufe | el enchufe, la toma | el enchufe |
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Is the top bunk free? | ¿Está libre la de arriba? | |
| Sorry, is this bed taken? | Perdón, ¿esta cama está ocupada? | |
| Do you mind if I turn the light on? | ¿Te molesta si prendo la luz? | Spain: enciendo |
| I have an early flight | Tengo un vuelo temprano. | Warns the room about the alarm at five |
| Sorry about the noise this morning | Perdón por el ruido de la mañana. | |
| Can you keep it down? | ¿Pueden bajarle? | Mexico and Colombia. Spain: ¿podéis bajar la voz? Argentina: ¿pueden bajar un poco? |
| People are sleeping | Hay gente durmiendo. | Said in every dorm |
Earplugs are los tapones in Spain and los tapones para los oídos everywhere else. The mains in Spain run at 230 volts and in Argentina at 220, while in Mexico it is 127 and in Colombia 110. Read the voltage printed on a hairdryer before you plug it in, and carry the plug adapter for the country.
The kitchen and the shared rules
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Is this anyone’s? | ¿Esto es de alguien? | |
| That is mine | Eso es mío. | |
| I labelled it | Lo marqué con mi nombre. | |
| Can I use the fridge? | ¿Puedo usar el refrigerador? | Spain and Colombia: la nevera. Argentina: la heladera |
| I will wash up afterwards | Ahorita lavo los platos. | Mexico. Elsewhere ya lavo los platos or después lavo |
| The sink is full | El fregadero está lleno. | Colombia: el lavaplatos. Argentina: la pileta |
| Whose turn is it to take the bin out? | ¿A quién le toca sacar la basura? | |
| It is my turn to clean | Me toca limpiar. | Colombia: me toca hacer el aseo |
| Can we make a cleaning rota? | ¿Hacemos turnos de limpieza? | Understood in all four |
| Can I have people over? | ¿Puedo invitar gente? | |
| Can my friend stay the night? | ¿Se puede quedar un amigo a dormir? | Ask before, always |
| No smoking inside | Adentro no se fuma. | Spain: dentro no se fuma |
Cleaning is el aseo in Colombia. Hacer el aseo is to clean the flat, and la señora del aseo is the cleaner. Mexicans say hacer la limpieza, Spaniards and Argentines limpiar or hacer la limpieza.
The rubbish goes out on a schedule. In Spanish cities you carry it to a contenedor in the street at night. In Buenos Aires it goes in a raised basket or a bin at the kerb after eight. In Mexico City a lorry with a bell comes along the street and you take the bags out when you hear it. Ask a housemate ¿Cómo es lo de la basura acá?
Looking for a room
| Mexico | Spain | Colombia | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent, the money | la renta | el alquiler | el arriendo | el alquiler |
| To rent | rentar | alquilar | arrendar, alquilar | alquilar |
| Bills | los servicios | los gastos, la luz y el agua | los servicios | los servicios, las expensas |
| Deposit | el depósito | la fianza | el depósito | el depósito |
| Guarantor | el aval, el fiador | el aval | el codeudor, el fiador | el garante |
| Landlord | el casero, el arrendador | el casero, el propietario | el arrendador, el dueño | el propietario, el dueño |
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I am looking for a room | Busco habitación. | Mexico: busco cuarto. Argentina: busco pieza |
| Is the room still available? | ¿Sigue disponible la habitación? | How the first message starts |
| How much is the rent? | ¿Cuánto es el alquiler? | Mexico: la renta. Colombia: el arriendo |
| Do bills come on top? | ¿Los servicios van aparte? | |
| Is there a deposit? | ¿Hay depósito? | Spain: ¿hay fianza? |
| Do I need a guarantor? | ¿Necesito garante? | Argentina. Elsewhere aval, fiador, codeudor |
| How many people live there? | ¿Cuántas personas viven ahí? | |
| Is it furnished? | ¿Está amueblado? | Colombia and Argentina also amoblado |
| Is there a contract? | ¿Hay contrato? | |
| For how long? | ¿Por cuánto tiempo? | |
| Can I see it today? | ¿Puedo verlo hoy? | |
| Is it a quiet flat? | ¿Es un departamento tranquilo? |
In Argentina landlords ask for a garante, a property owner in the same city who signs for you, and a foreigner rarely has one. The way around it is el alquiler temporario, a furnished short lease priced by the month, or a room in a shared flat where the lease is someone else’s problem. Busco pieza en departamento compartido is how the ad is worded.
In Colombia bills are priced by estrato, a band from one to six assigned to the address, and the same flat costs different money to run depending on the band. Ask ¿De qué estrato es? Six is the most expensive.
In Spain and Mexico landlords ask for money up front, usually a month’s rent plus a fianza or depósito of one or two months. A room in a piso compartido in Spain is often let by the flatmates, not the owner, and the contract is a private agreement between you and them.
Splitting the money
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| How much do I owe? | ¿Cuánto te debo? | |
| What is my share? | ¿Cuánto me toca? | |
| Split equally | Va por partes iguales. | |
| I will transfer it to you | Te hago una transferencia. | Spain: te hago un Bizum |
| I paid the electricity | Pagué la luz. | Gas is el gas, water el agua, internet el internet |
| Can you send me the bill? | ¿Me pasas la factura? | Mexico: el recibo |
| I am not going to be here in August | En agosto no voy a estar. | Say it early. The rent still runs |
In Spain everyone uses Bizum, an instant transfer between phone numbers, to settle a share. Argentines split through Mercado Pago, Colombians through Nequi or a bank transfer, Mexicans through a plain transferencia between accounts. Money is la plata in Colombia and Argentina, la lana in Mexico and la pasta in Spain. You can say el dinero everywhere.
What people will say
¿Tenés la reserva a tu nombre? Is the booking in your name. (Argentina, vos)
Te toca la cucheta de arriba. You are on the top bunk. (Argentina)
El desayuno es de siete a diez, en la terraza. Breakfast is from seven to ten, on the roof terrace.
Si usás la cocina, lavá lo tuyo. If you use the kitchen, wash your own things. (Argentina, vos)
Cada quien compra lo suyo. Everyone buys their own food. (Mexico, Colombia)
El aseo lo hacemos por turnos. We clean in turns. (Colombia)
La fianza son dos meses y se devuelve al final. The deposit is two months and comes back at the end. (Spain)
Las expensas van aparte. The building charges are separate. (Argentina)
Después de las once bajamos la música. After eleven we turn the music down.
Ten sentences you can say tomorrow
- Tengo una reserva, una cama en habitación compartida. I have a booking, a bed in a dorm.
- ¿Hay locker? ¿Necesito candado? Is there a locker? Do I need a padlock?
- ¿Está libre la de arriba? Is the top bunk free?
- Hay gente durmiendo, ¿pueden bajarle? People are sleeping, can you keep it down? (Mexico, Colombia)
- ¿Esto es de alguien? Lo marqué con mi nombre. Is this anyone’s? I labelled mine.
- ¿A quién le toca sacar la basura? Whose turn is it to take the bin out?
- Busco pieza en departamento compartido. I am looking for a room in a shared flat. (Argentina)
- ¿Cuánto es el arriendo y los servicios van aparte? How much is the rent, and are bills on top? (Colombia)
- ¿Hay fianza? ¿De cuántos meses? Is there a deposit? How many months? (Spain)
- ¿Cuánto te debo? Te hago una transferencia. How much do I owe you? I will transfer it.
Questions people ask
Is a “hostal” a hostel? In Mexico and Colombia, yes. In Spain a hostal is a budget guesthouse with private rooms and the backpacker kind is un hostel or un albergue. Argentines use hostel, said the English way.
What do I call my flatmate? Compañero de piso in Spain, roomie or compañero de cuarto in Mexico, roomie or compañero de apartamento in Colombia, roommate or compañero de departamento in Argentina. All four understand compañero de casa.
Habitación, cuarto or pieza? Habitación is safe everywhere. Cuarto is the everyday word in Mexico and much of Colombia. Pieza is the Argentine word for a room in a flat and sounds odd in Spain.
What is a “garante”? The person who guarantees your rent in Argentina, normally a property owner in the same city. Without one you rent temporario or take a room in a flat someone else holds the lease on. In Spain and Mexico landlords ask for an aval or fiador and often accept a larger deposit instead.
How do I ask about noise politely? Name the fact, not the person. Say hay gente durmiendo or mañana trabajo temprano, and with ¿podemos bajarle después de las once? you set a rule without an argument.
Are bills included? Ask ¿Los servicios están incluidos? In Spain the answer involves los gastos de comunidad, the building’s own charges, and in Argentina las expensas, which can be a large monthly sum on top of the rent.
How do I split a bill with housemates? Va por partes iguales for an even split, ¿cuánto me toca? for your share. Money moves by Bizum in Spain, Mercado Pago in Argentina, Nequi or a bank transfer in Colombia and a transferencia in Mexico.
What do I say when I move out? Give notice in writing and ask about the deposit. Me voy a fin de mes. ¿Cómo hacemos con el depósito? In Spain it is la fianza, and one month of notice is the usual expectation.
Practise these words
cama, cuarto, compartir, limpiar, basura, cocina, llave, ruido, alquiler, depósito, deber, turno, vecino. Vozelu is a free website for practising Spanish, and it has each of these. You see a sentence with one word missing, you type the word, and a native voice reads the sentence back. Practise the words on this page.