Buildings in Town (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Buildings in town
Learning to talk about buildings and places in Spanish towns is essential for everyday conversations. This topic covers the vocabulary you need to describe where places are located and explain where you're going.
Mastering building vocabulary is crucial for navigating Spanish-speaking countries and asking for directions. You'll use these terms constantly in real-life situations!
Key vocabulary: buildings and places
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el ayuntamiento | town hall |
| la comisaría | police station |
| la farmacia | pharmacy |
| la oficina de correos | post office |
| el banco | bank |
| el supermercado | supermarket |
| el hospital | hospital |
| la iglesia | church |
| la mezquita | mosque |
| el castillo | castle |
| la plaza mayor | main square |
| el estadio | stadium |
| la plaza de toros | bullring |
| el aparcamiento | car park |
| el casco antiguo | old quarter |
| el museo | museum |
| el parque | park |
| el zoo | zoo |
| el restaurante | restaurant |
| el teatro | theatre |
| la oficina de turismo | tourist office |
Example sentences:
- Voy al banco para sacar dinero. (I'm going to the bank to withdraw money.)
- La farmacia está en la plaza mayor. (The pharmacy is in the main square.)
- El castillo está en el casco antiguo. (The castle is in the old quarter.)
- Hay muchos restaurantes cerca del teatro. (There are many restaurants near the theatre.)
Grammar note: When talking about going somewhere, use "voy a" + el/la + place. The preposition "a" combines with "el" to make "al" (voy al banco), but stays separate with "la" (voy a la farmacia).
Expressing location with estar
When you want to say where something is located, you use the verb "estar" (to be) plus location words.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| al lado de | next to |
| cerca de | near/close to |
| lejos de | far from |
| delante de | in front of |
| detrás de | behind |
| entre | between |
| a la derecha | on the right |
| a la izquierda | on the left |
Example sentences:
- ¿Dónde está el banco? (Where is the bank?)
- Está al lado de la farmacia. (It's next to the pharmacy.)
- Los servicios están a la derecha. (The toilets are on the right.)
- El aparcamiento está detrás del supermercado. (The car park is behind the supermarket.)
Grammar note: "¿Dónde está?" means "Where is?" for asking about location. The answer uses "está + location": "Está en el centro" (It's in the centre).
Shop vocabulary and word formation
Many Spanish shop names follow patterns that help you remember them. Most shops end in "-ería" and come from root words.
| Shop | Root word | English |
|---|---|---|
| la peluquería | el pelo (hair) | hairdresser's |
| la lavandería | lavar (to wash) | laundrette |
| la ferretería | el ferretero (ironmonger) | hardware shop |
| la tintorería | la tinta (ink) | dry cleaner's |
| la panadería | el pan (bread) | bakery |
| la carnicería | la carne (meat) | butcher's |
Notice the pattern: root word + -ería = shop name. This makes it much easier to guess and remember shop vocabulary! For example, if you know "el libro" (book), you can guess that "la librería" means bookshop.
Example sentences:
- Mi madre va a la peluquería los viernes. (My mum goes to the hairdresser's on Fridays.)
- Necesito ir a la tintorería. (I need to go to the dry cleaner's.)
- La panadería abre muy temprano. (The bakery opens very early.)
Grammar note: All shop names with "-ería" are feminine, so they take "la". When saying you're going to a shop, use "voy a la" + shop name.
Famous buildings in Spain
Spain has many impressive historical buildings that reflect its rich cultural heritage.
La Alhambra (Granada, Andalusia) was originally a castle that later became a palace. It features courtyards, fountains, gardens and beautiful architecture showing Arabic influence in Spain.
La Mezquita de Córdoba (Córdoba, Andalusia) is a mosque built in the 10th century. During that period, Córdoba was the most important city in Europe due to its culture and science.
El Museo del Prado (Madrid) is an art museum containing paintings and sculptures by artists like Velázquez, Rubens, Goya and El Greco. It forms part of the 'golden triangle' of museums in Madrid.
Practice translations
Practice Exercise: Translation Challenge
Spanish to English:
- Voy al supermercado para comprar leche.
- La oficina de turismo está en la plaza mayor.
English to Spanish:
- I'm going to the pharmacy to buy medicine.
- The museum is next to the church.
Try these before checking the answers below!
Common errors and fixes
Watch out for these common mistakes:
-
Error: "Voy a el banco" ❌
Fix: "Voy al banco" ✅ (Remember: a + el = al) -
Error: "¿Dónde es el hospital?" ❌
Fix: "¿Dónde está el hospital?" ✅ (Use "estar" for location, not "ser") -
Error: "La banco está cerrado" ❌
Fix: "El banco está cerrado" ✅ (Remember: el banco is masculine)
Answers to translations
Translation Answers:
Spanish to English:
- I'm going to the supermarket to buy milk.
- The tourist office is in the main square.
English to Spanish:
- Voy a la farmacia para comprar medicina.
- El museo está al lado de la iglesia.
Key Points to Remember:
- Most building vocabulary uses "el" or "la" - learn them together as one unit
- Use "voy a" + place to say where you're going, remembering "al = a + el"
- "¿Dónde está?" asks for location, answered with "está + place"
- Shop names ending in "-ería" are feminine and often come from root words
- Spanish buildings reflect the country's diverse cultural history