Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sin techo | /sin tet͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) | alternative form |
| sin hogar | /sin oɡaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| sintecho | /sintet͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) | |
| en situación de calle | /en sitwaˌθjon de ˈkaʝe/ | |
| sinhogar | /sinoɡaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
While sin techo is a common way to express this, sin hogar is often considered slightly more empathetic, as it refers to the lack of a home rather than just a roof.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sin techo literally means 'without roof', while sin hogar literally means 'without home'.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express this concept depending on the context. sintecho and sin techo (an alternative spelling) are common, while sinhogar is a single-word variation. For a more formal and euphemistic approach, particularly in news or social work, you can use en situación de calle, which translates to 'in street situation'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the term habitante de la calle is used to refer to someone who lives on the streets.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase sin techo can function as both an adjective and a noun (a homeless person).
How do you pronounce it?
/sin tetʃo/
Did you know?
- The word hogar is a distant relative of the English word 'foyer'. Both come from the Latin word focus, meaning 'hearth' or 'fireplace'.
Examples in context
- Él es un sin techo.He is homeless.This sentence is useful for identifying a person as being homeless.Tatoeba #1705454 by teskmon, translation #1647568 by CM
- Me dijeron que eran sin techo.They told me that they were homeless.This sentence is useful for reporting what someone said about others being homeless.Tatoeba #7917951 by fpp, translation #7444409 by CH
- ¿Cómo que se te cayó el cazo en la olla? ¿Ahora cómo vamos a servir a los sin techo?What do you mean you dropped the ladle in the pot? How are we going to serve the homeless now?This sentence is useful for discussing the service of food to the homeless.Tatoeba #840597 by Shishir, translation #830731 by papabear
- Durante la conferencia, se discutieron soluciones para ayudar a las personas sin hogar en nuestra ciudad.During the conference, solutions were discussed to help the homeless people in our city.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are discussing a local charity event.
- DanielQuiero ayudar a las personas sin techo.I want to help homeless people.
- ElenaEs una idea muy noble, Daniel.That is a very noble idea, Daniel.
- DanielPodemos donar mantas para los sin techo.We can donate blankets for the homeless.
- ElenaClaro, yo te ayudo a recolectarlas.Sure, I will help you collect them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “homeless” translations and entries sin techo, sintecho, en situación de calle, 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 en, en situación de calle, hogar, sin, sintecho, situación, techo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
