Bueno, está en la piscina.
Well, they're at the pool.
In summer, if someone doesn't pick up the phone, they're probably in the water: está en la piscina.
From Un romance peligroso · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "pool" in Spanish
la piscina
nounfeminineplural: las piscinas
"Pool" in Spanish is la piscina, the word used in Spain and understood everywhere. In Mexico people say la alberca, and in Argentina and Uruguay la pileta. All three are feminine.
Hear "piscina" in real scenes
Two scenes where someone says it. Each video starts and stops on that line.
¿La piscina está en buenas condiciones?
Is the pool in good condition?
The guest's first question before anyone jumps in is whether the water is okay, and estar describes the state of the pool.
From Suits · Spanish audio
Piscina, alberca or pileta?
Same pool, different country. Use the word people say where you are.
| Word | Where you'll hear it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| la piscina | Spain, and understood everywhere | The standard word in Spain. |
| la alberca | Mexico | In Spain, an alberca is a water tank on a farm. |
| la pileta | Argentina, Uruguay | The same word can also mean a sink. |
| el billar | Everywhere | Pool the game. Many people also say el pool. |
Tip: To swim is nadar: Nado en la piscina. (I swim in the pool.)
Grammar: la piscina, las piscinas
Four points for talking about pools.
It's feminine
la piscina, una piscina, las piscinas. Alberca and pileta are feminine too.There's a pool: hay una
After hay, use una, never la: En el patio hay una piscina.Where is it: está
For a pool you already know about, use estar: La piscina está muy lejos.Say it right
In Latin America the sc sounds like one s: pee-SEE-nah. In most of Spain you hear s and then th: pees-THEE-nah.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
En mi barrio hay una piscina.
There's a pool in my neighborhood.
Hay una piscina y muchas bicicletas.
There's a pool and lots of bikes.
¿Y está lejos la piscina?
And is the pool far?
La piscina está muy lejos.
The pool is very far away.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗Hay la piscina
✓Hay una piscina
After hay, use una or no article at all.
✗Voy en la piscina (going there)
✓Voy a la piscina
Use a for where you're going and en for where you are: Estoy en la piscina.
✗pisina
✓piscina
It's spelled with sc, even where it sounds like a single s.
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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1 of 3 · Watch and choose
What do you hear in the video?
The other 27 exercises on this topic are in the app.
How to remember it
Piscina sounds a bit like Pisces, the fish sign. Picture a fish swimming laps in your pool.
Questions about "pool" in Spanish
How do you say pool in Spanish?
La piscina. In Mexico you'll hear la alberca, and in Argentina and Uruguay la pileta.
Is piscina masculine or feminine?
Feminine: la piscina, las piscinas. Adjectives agree with it: una piscina grande (a big pool).
How do you say "swimming pool" in Spanish?
Just la piscina. Spanish doesn't add a word for swimming.
How do you say "I'm going to the pool" in Spanish?
Voy a la piscina. Once you're there, say Estoy en la piscina.
