casa

/ˈka.sa/
house

Mi casa es pequeña pero acogedora.

My house is small but cozy.


general

A building where people live, especially a family.

Compré una casa en las afueras.

I bought a house in the outskirts.

Often used to refer to one's home or dwelling.

general

The people living in a house; household.

La casa está muy animada hoy.

The household is very lively today.

Common in phrases like 'la casa de los Smith' (the Smith household).

formal

A building or institution used for a specific purpose (e.g., opera house, publishing house).

El Teatro Real es una casa de ópera famosa.

Teatro Real is a famous opera house.

Often capitalized in such contexts (e.g., 'Casa de la Moneda').

Related Phrases

echar la casa por la ventanaidiom
to spare no expense; to go all out
ser de casaphrase
to be a local; to be familiar with the place

Pro Tip

Gender Agreement

The word 'casa' is feminine, so adjectives and articles must agree (e.g., 'una casa grande', 'la casa bonita').

Gold Rule

Literal vs. Figurative Use

'Casa' can mean both a physical building and the people living in it (e.g., 'la casa de Juan' = Juan's house or Juan's household). Context determines the meaning.

Word Origin

From Latin *casa* ('hut, cottage'), originally meaning a small dwelling.

Usage Notes

In Spanish, 'casa' is often used to refer to one's home or family in a broader sense (e.g., 'la casa de mis padres'). It can also denote a dynasty or lineage in historical contexts (e.g., 'la casa de Borbón').

Word Breakdown

cas-
dwelling or house
root
+
-a
feminine singular suffix
suffix
Diccionario Español-Inglés