To speak and understand the code to some basic things like cleaning (or not) in Spanish, is a great task, that you can get added to the things you speak. Whether visiting or living in a Spanish-speaking country or just interacting with Spanish speakers, learning vocabulary related to cleaning will help you improve your Spanish and find your way through some real-life situations. Cleaning isn’t exactly a glamorous topic, but it’s an essential aspect of everyday life — and having the right words makes it that much easier.
English | Spanish | Notes |
---|---|---|
Clean | Limpiar | General verb for cleaning. |
Wash | Lavar | Used when cleaning with water, e.g., washing clothes or dishes. |
Sweep | Barrer | Refers to sweeping with a broom. |
Mop | Trapear | Refers to mopping the floor. |
Dust | Quitar el polvo | Refers to removing dust from surfaces. |
Scrub | Fregar | Used for scrubbing surfaces like pots or floors. |
Sanitize | Desinfectar | Refers to disinfecting or sanitizing an area. |
Tidy | Ordenar | Refers to organizing or tidying up a space. |
Clean the table | Limpiar la mesa | Use “recoger la mesa” if referring to clearing it after a meal. |
Clean the room | Limpiar el cuarto | |
Clean the kitchen | Limpiar la cocina | |
Clean the bathroom | Limpiar el baño | |
Please clean | Por favor, limpia | Add “usted” for formal: “Por favor, limpie.” |
Dirty | Sucio | Opposite of clean. |
Hygienic | Higiénico | Indicates cleanliness and sanitation. |
In this lesson, we will study some vocabulary to clean words in Spanish such as verbs, nouns, adjectives and common phrases that will help you describe bedroom cleaning tasks. You’ll finish with a fully stocked toolbox of vocabulary, cultural tidbits and advice to help practice. Let’s dive in!
Cleaning Vocabulary in Spanish: Why Learn It?
For Spanish students, learning cleaning vocabulary may not seem like a particularly obvious area of focus, but it offers some solid benefits.
Practical Communication
Whether you’re living with your Spanish-speaking roommates, hiring a housekeeper, or traveling through a Spanish-speaking country, basic cleaning vocabulary is a must. Imagine getting an explanation of how to clean your bedroom or asking someone to pick up after you without the right words. It can also lead to confusion or ineffective communication. Color words like limpiar (to clean) or ordenar (to tidy up) are incredibly valuable in these scenarios.
Real-Life Applications
If you master cleaning-related words, it gives you the opportunity to practice Spanish in a real-life context. Because chores are part of everyone’s life, adding Spanish to them makes it easy to practice as part of your everyday routine. You can practice saying, for instance, Un ejemplo es la próxima vez que limpies el polvo o la aspiradora: Voy a aspirar la alfombra (I’m going to vacuum the carpet).
Improving Your Linguae Skills
Studying the vocabulary for cleaning also gives you a surprising opportunity to expand your Spanish.have It familiarizes you with verbs, nouns and adjectives that don’t necessarily come up in typical language lessons. And it allows you to understand better the culture and intricacies of Spanish-speaking communities.
Verbs for Cleaning the Bedroom in Spanish
First, the basics: verbs related to cleaning your bedroom. Verbs are words of action, and you’ll need to use them to detail what needs to occur.
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Key Cleaning Verbs
Some important cleaning verbs in Spanish, including their meanings:
Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
Limpiar | To clean | Voy a limpiar mi dormitorio. (I’m going to clean my bedroom.) |
Ordenar | To tidy up | Ordena tu ropa, por favor. (Organize your clothes, please.) |
Barrer | To sweep | Yo barro el suelo todos los días. (I sweep the floor every day.) |
Aspirar | To vacuum | Necesito aspirar la alfombra. (I need to vacuum the carpet.) |
Fregar | To scrub/mop | Friega el suelo con agua y jabón. (Scrub the floor with water and soap.) |
Informal & Formal way of Giving Instructions
In Spanish, commands vary according to how you’re speaking: formally (usted) or informally (tú). This is what these verbs look like in the imperative:
Informal:
- Limpia tu cuarto. (Clean your room.)
- Ordena la cama. (Tidy the bed.)
Formal:
- Clean up the bedroom, please. (Please clean the bedroom.)
- Ordene los muebles. (Organize the furniture.)
Essential Bedroom Cleaning Nouns
Now that you’ve got the verbs down, let’s do the objects and tools you’ll be cleaning. These nouns will be helpful for furniture, items and cleaning supplies.
Cleanable Furniture and Items
Here are some common nouns that are bedroom-related:
Spanish Word | English Translation | Example Sentence |
La cama | Bed | Haz la cama. (Make the bed.) |
El colchón | Mattress | Sacude el colchón. (Shake the mattress.) |
La sábana | Bedsheet | Cambia las sábanas. (Change the bedsheets.) |
El armario | Closet | Guarda la ropa en el armario. (Put the clothes in the closet.) |
La alfombra | Carpet | Aspira la alfombra. (Vacuum the carpet.) |
El escritorio | Desk | Limpia el escritorio. (Clean the desk.) |
Cleaning Supplies and Equipment
You need the right tools to clean. Here are some useful words:
El trapeador | Mop | Usa el trapeador para fregar el suelo. (Use the mop to scrub the floor.) |
La aspiradora | Vacuum cleaner | Necesito una aspiradora nueva. (I need a new vacuum cleaner.) |
El trapo | Cloth | Limpia la mesa con un trapo. (Clean the table with a cloth.) |
El plumero | Duster | Usa el plumero para quitar el polvo. (Use the duster to remove the dust.) |
Cleanliness Descriptive Words
Cleaning isn’t just a matter of what you do — it’s also a matter of what you achieve. The following adjectives can help you describe a clean room or a messy room.
Positive Adjectives
- Limpio/a (Clean): The bedroom is clean. (The bedroom is clean.)
- Ordenado/a (Tidy): Your desk is tidy. (Your desk is tidy.)
- Aseado/a (Neat): I like my room to be aseado. (I like my room to be neat.)
Negative Adjectives
- Sucio/a (Dirty): The carpet is dirty. (The carpet is dirty.)
- Desordenado/a (Messy): The closet is messy. (The closet is untidy.)
In Spanish, step-by-step instructions for cleaning your bedroom
STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS TEACH US HOW TO USE CLEANING VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Organizing the Room
- Poner en orden la ropa y guardar los sapatos en el guardaropa.
- (Take your clothes and put the shoes in your closet.)
Dusting and Sweeping
- Dust the furniture. (Dust the furniture.)
- Sweeping the floor with a broom. (Sweep the floor with a broom.)
Changing Bedsheets
- Change the sheets and shake out the pillows.
- (Change the linens and fluff the pillows.)
Vacuuming and Mopping
- Vacuum the carpet, and then mop the floor.
(Vacuum the carpet, mop the floor.)
Common Expressions for Providing Cleaning Directions
Article 6 Commands: Formal vs Informal
- Non-standard: Wash the window, will ya? (Clean the window, please.)
- Formal: Limpie la habitación antes de salir. (Clean your bedroom when you get out.)
Phrases for Teamwork
- We are going to clean the room together. (*Let’s clean the room
Conclusion
Whether you’re living with your Spanish-speaking roommates, hiring a housekeeper, or traveling through a Spanish-speaking country, basic cleaning vocabulary is a must. Imagine getting an explanation of how to clean your bedroom or asking someone to pick up after you without the right words. It can also lead to confusion or ineffective communication. Color words like limpiar (to clean) or ordenar (to tidy up) are incredibly valuable in these scenarios.
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