galería
/ɡaleˈɾia/feminine
The English phrase "arcade" (referring to a covered passage) translates to Spanish as galería. Wiktionary also lists galería comercial.
Meaning: covered passage, usually with shops on both sides (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| galería | /ɡaleˈɾia/ | feminine |
| galería comercial | /ɡaleɾia komeɾθjal/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /ɡaleɾia komeɾsjal/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
The term refers to a covered passage, which usually features shops located on both sides.
Which one should you use?
While galería can refer to a simple passage, galería comercial is the more precise term for a shopping arcade or a small indoor shopping mall.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of galería is galerías. Both galería and galería comercial are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡaleˈɾia/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use galería to refer to a video game arcade. This is a false friend. In Spanish, a place containing video games is called a salón de juegos or maquinitas.
Did you know?
- The word galería comes from the Latin galilaea, which referred to the region of Galilee.
- The word galería is used in Spanish to describe the underground tunnels used by miners to extract ore.
- In many Spanish cities, a galería is also a glass-enclosed balcony that protects the home from rain and wind.
Examples in context
- Durante nuestra estadía en Madrid, visitamos una impresionante sala de juegos.During our stay in Madrid, we visited an impressive arcade.
- La galería tiene muchas tiendas de ropa.The arcade has many clothing stores.
- Caminamos por la galería para evitar la lluvia.We walked through the arcade to avoid the rain.
- Esa galería es muy antigua y elegante.That arcade is very old and elegant.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are walking through a shopping passage downtown.
- Elena¡Mira qué bonita es esta galería, Alejandro!Look how beautiful this arcade is, Alejandro!
- AlejandroEs verdad, es un lugar muy agradable.It is true, it is a very pleasant place.
- Elena¿Quieres entrar a ver las tiendas?Do you want to go inside to see the shops?
- AlejandroSí, vamos a dar un paseo.Yes, let's go for a stroll.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “arcade” translations and entries galería, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comercial, galería, CC BY-SA 4.0.
