Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gasolinera | /ɡasoliˈneɾa/ | feminine |
| bencinera | /benθiˈneɾa/ /bensiˈneɾa/ |
Chile, feminine |
| bomba | /ˈbomba/ | Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, feminine |
| gasolinería | /ɡasolineˈɾia/ | Mexico, feminine |
| grifo | /ˈɡɾifo/ | Peru, masculine |
A gas station is an establishment that sells gasoline to be pumped directly into a vehicle. While gasolinera is a widely recognized term throughout the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in Latin America, you can also use the general term estación de servicio to refer to a gas station.
What does it mean word for word?
The word gasolinera is formed from gasolina (gasoline) and the suffix -era, which denotes a place or a container for something.
Which one should you use?
The word gasolinera is a feminine noun. In contrast, the Peruvian term grifo is a masculine noun. Other regional variations include the feminine gasolinería used in Mexico and the feminine bencinera used in Chile.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Regional terms for a gas station include: * gasolinera or estación de servicio in Spain. * estación de servicio in Argentina. * gasolinería in Mexico. * bencinera in Chile. * bomba in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela. * grifo in Peru.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡasoliˈneɾa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you may find that the 'gas station' is not self-service, and you must tell an attendant how much fuel you want.
- In Peru, the word for a gas station is grifo, which is also the common word for a water tap or faucet.
- The term bomba used for gas stations in several countries like Colombia and Venezuela derives from the Latin word bombus, meaning 'noise'.
Examples in context
- ¿Hay una gasolinera por aquí?Is there a gas station around here?This sentence is useful for asking if there is a gas station nearby using gasolinera.Tatoeba #2456447 by marcelostockle, translation #57202 by CK
- De camino, pasamos por la gasolinera.We passed by the gas station on the way.This sentence is useful for describing passing by a gas station using gasolinera.Tatoeba #8314783 by arh, translation #9949602 by DJ_Saidez
- Busquemos una gasolinera. Nos quedamos sin combustible.Let's find a gas station, we've run out of fuel.This sentence is useful for expressing the need to find a gas station because you have run out of fuel using gasolinera.Tatoeba #2456449 by marcelostockle, translation #63712 by mcq
- ¿Dónde puedo encontrar una estación de servicio cercana?Where can I find a nearby gas station?
- Necesito llenar el tanque de gasolina en la gasolinera.I need to fill up the gas tank at the gas station.
- ¿Hay alguna gasolinería cerca de aquí?Is there a gas station nearby?
- Tenemos que parar en la bomba de gasolina antes de continuar.We need to stop at the gas station before continuing.
- ¿Dónde está la gasolinera más cercana?Where is the nearest gas station?
- ¿Dónde se encuentra la estación de servicio más cercana?Where is the closest gas station?
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are driving and notice the fuel light is on.
- SofíaMateo, el tanque está casi vacío.Mateo, the tank is almost empty.
- MateoVeo una gasolinera en la siguiente calle.I see a gas station on the next street.
- SofíaPerfecto, gira a la derecha entonces.Perfect, turn right then.
- MateoVale, entro ahora en la gasolinera.Okay, I'm entering the gas station now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gas station” translations and entries gasolinera, bencinera, bomba, gasolinería, grifo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bencinera, bomba, gasolinera, gasolinería, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
