en la cama
/en la ˈkama/
The Spanish phrase for "in bed" is en la cama.
en la cama is used to describe the state of lying on one's bed.
Meaning: lying on one's bed (prep_phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase translates literally as in the bed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Caribbean and some Central American countries, you may hear the phrase en el catre used to mean "in bed".
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, which can omit the article in "in bed", Spanish requires the definite article la before cama.
How do you pronounce it?
/en la ˈkama/
Did you know?
- The word cama is often used in the phrase hacer la cama, which can mean not only making the bed but also tricking or manipulating someone.
- The word cama may not have come from Latin, as some linguists believe it was borrowed from a Paleo-Hispanic language spoken in the Iberian Peninsula before Roman arrival.
- In Spanish, you can use cama to describe the 'bed' of a river, known as el lecho or la cama del río, referring to the bottom channel.
Examples in context
- No fumes en la cama.Don't smoke in bed.This sentence is useful for expressing a prohibition regarding smoking using en la cama.Tatoeba #3183410 by hayastan, translation #3039923 by CK
- Tom murió en la cama.Tom died in bed.This sentence is useful for describing a death occurring en la cama.Tatoeba #3190659 by Shishir, translation #2956614 by CK
- Todavía está en la cama.He is still in bed.This sentence is useful for describing someone who is still en la cama.Tatoeba #865266 by Rafp, translation #292838 by kebukebu
- El paciente debe pasar la próxima semana en la cama.The patient should spend the next week in bed.
- Pasé todo el día en la cama viendo películas.I spent the whole day in bed watching movies.
- Cuando era joven, dormía en el catre de mi abuela.When I was young, I slept on my grandmother's cot.
- 86 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena enters the bedroom to wake up Alejandro.
- ElenaAlejandro, ¡despierta!Alejandro, wake up!
- AlejandroNo puedo, quiero seguir en la cama.I can't, I want to stay in bed.
- ElenaPero ya es muy tarde para estar en la cama.But it is already too late to be in bed.
- AlejandroEstá bien, me levanto ahora.Alright, I'm getting up now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry en la cama, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cama, en, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
