Spanish Terms

BALCON – balcony;

BANO – bathroom;

BAJO (PISO) – ground floor;

BARRANCO – gully/river cutting;

BASURA – rubbish;

BODEGA – wine cellar;

BUZON – postbox;

CALEFACCION – heating;

CALENTADOR – boiler;

CASA – house;

CERRADURA – lock;

CHIMANEA – chimney;

CIUDAD – town;

COCINA – kitchen;

COMEDOR – dining room;

COMPRADOR – buyer;

CONTRATO PRIVADO DE COMPRAVENTA – contract of sale;

CORREO – post/letters;

CRISTAL – window pane/glass;

CUARTO – room;

DORMITORIO – bedroom;

DUCHA – shower;

DUPLEX – maisonette;

ESCALERA – stairs;

ESCRITURA – notarised deed of sale;

ESCRITURA DE PODER DE COMPRAVENTA – Power of Attorney;

FINCA – farm;

FACTURA – bill/invoice;

GASTOS – expenses;

GARAGE – garage;

GESTOR – general purpose consultant who acts as an intermediary between you and the various official bodies;

GRANJA – farm;

HIPOTECA – mortgage;

HONORARIAS – fees;

HORNO – oven;

HUERTO – orchard;

I.G.I.C – 5% + 0.75% stamp duty tax payable when purchasing a new property direct from the developer (equiv to VAT);

IMPUESTO -tax;

INMOBILIARIA – estate agent;

INQUILINO – tenant;

ITP – transfer tax of 6.5% payable when purchasing a property from a private owner;

IVA – VAT;

JARDIN – garden;

LAVADERO – utility room;

LAVADORA – washing machine;

LUZ – light;

LLAVE – key;

MADERA – wood;

MAR – sea;

MARMOL – marble;

MUEBLES – furniture;

NIE – tax registration number required for all foreign property owners in Spain;

NOTA SIMPLE – property registration information (confirms ownership and all land searches);

NOTARIO – notary (handles property conveyance);

ORILLA – border/bank/edge/shore;

OBRA – construction/work;

OFERTA – offer;

PARCELA – plot of land;

PIEDRA – stone;

PISCINA – swimming pool;

PISO – apartment/floor of building;

PLANTA – floor;

PLAYA – beach;

PLUS VALIA – land gains tax calculated annually on the increased value of the land since the previous sale (payable on transfer);

POZO – well;

PRECIO – price;

PRIMERA LINEA – front line(usually to the sea);

PROPIEDAD – property;

PUEBLO – village;

PUERTA – door;

REFORMADO – refurbished/modernised;

REGISTRO DE LA PROPIEDAD – Land Registry Office;

RINCON – corner;

RIO – river;

RUSTICA – rural/agriculture;

SALON – lounge/sitting room;

SE AQUILAR – for rent;

SE VENDE – for sale;

SOLANA – roof terrace;

SOTANO – basement;

SUELO – floor;

TENENCIA – tenure;

TERRANO – land;

TECHO – roof;

TRASTERO – storeroom;

URBANIZACION – housing development/estate;

VENDEDOR – seller;

VENTANA – window;

VESTIBULO – hall;

VISTA – view;

 YESO – plaster;