litera
/liˈteɾa/feminine
The Spanish phrase for bunk bed is litera.
litera is a feminine noun used to describe two or more beds that are fixed on top of one another. If you want to specify which part of the bed you are talking about, you can use the phrase la litera de arriba for the top bunk and la litera de abajo for the bottom bunk.
Meaning: two or more beds fixed on top of one another (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, a regional variation for bunk bed is los camarotes.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of litera is literas.
How do you pronounce it?
/liˈteɾa/
Did you know?
- In historical contexts, litera could refer to a litter, which was a portable bed used to carry people, before it came to mean a stacked bed.
- The Spanish word litera was actually borrowed from Catalan llitera rather than evolving directly from Latin within Castilian Spanish.
- In some Spanish-speaking households, the top bunk is jokingly referred to as el piso de arriba meaning 'the upstairs floor'.
Examples in context
- Ella se cayó desde la litera más alta.She fell from the top of the bunk bed.This sentence is useful for describing a fall from the top of the litera.Tatoeba #5202101 by albrusgher, translation #2342645 by Hybrid
- Le llevó a Tom varias horas ensamblar una cama litera que las instruccciones decían que lleva menos de una hora de montaje.It took Tom several hours to assemble a bunk bed that the instructions said would take less than an hour to assemble.This sentence is useful for discussing the assembly of a litera.Tatoeba #5202107 by albrusgher, translation #3388976 by patgfisher
- Necesito comprar una cama litera para mis hijos.I need to buy a bunk bed for my kids.
- ¿Dónde puedo encontrar una litera en este mercado?Where can I find a bunk bed in this market?
- En la tienda tienen una oferta de camarotes.The store has a bunk bed offer.
- La litera es perfecta para su habitación pequeña.The bunk bed is perfect for her small bedroom.
Example conversation
Daniel and María are discussing their new bedroom furniture.
- DanielMira María, compré una litera para los niños.Look María, I bought a bunk bed for the children.
- MaríaEs muy bonita, Daniel. ¿Dónde la ponemos?It is very pretty, Daniel. Where do we put it?
- DanielLa pondremos junto a la ventana.We will put it next to the window.
- MaríaPerfecto, así tienen más espacio en el cuarto.Perfect, that way they have more space in the room.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bunk bed” translations and entries litera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries litera, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
