gotera
/ɡoˈteɾa/
The Spanish word for leak is gotera. Wiktionary also lists agujero and rotura.
Meaning: crack, crevice, fissure, or hole which admits water or other fluid, or lets it escape (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| gotera | /ɡoˈteɾa/ | |
| agujero | /aɡuˈxeɾo/ | |
| rotura | /roˈtuɾa/ | feminine |
| vía | /ˈbia/ | feminine |
gotera specifically describes a leak that drips, most commonly from a ceiling or a roof. If you are talking about the physical hole itself rather than the dripping liquid, use agujero. To describe the action of a leak dripping, you would use the verb gotear.
Which one should you use?
While gotera focuses on the dripping action from above, agujero refers to the physical hole. You might also encounter the feminine nouns rotura or vía. Related verbs include perder, chorrear, percolar and filtrarse.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun gotera is feminine, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it, such as una gotera or la gotera.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡoˈteɾa/
Did you know?
- In nautical contexts, a leak in a ship's hull is called vía, which is the same word Spanish speakers use for a 'road' or 'way'.
- The word agujero for a hole or leak literally comes from the word aguja, which means 'needle'.
- Spanish uses the verb perder for leaks in pipes, which literally means 'to lose', as in 'losing' water.
Examples in context
- ¡Tape usted esa gotera!Plug up that leak!This sentence is useful for practicing a command regarding a gotera.Tatoeba #2267662 by cueyayotl, translation #2267661 by _undertoad
- Tapa esa gotera.Plug up that leak.This sentence is a standard command to address a gotera.Tatoeba #7881256 by Seael, translation #7765063 by CK
- Yo reparé una pequeña gotera en el techo de su cobertizo.I fixed a small leak in the roof of her shed.This sentence shows how to describe repairing a gotera in a specific location.Tatoeba #5144909 by albrusgher, translation #3624775 by vvv123
- Hay una fuga de agua en el bañoThere is a water leak in the bathroom
- La filtración del tejado ha dañado el pisoThe leak from the roof has damaged the floor
- ¡Cuidado, hay una fuga en el techo!Be careful, there's a leak in the roof!
- Creo que tengo una filtración en el agua calienteI think I have a leak in the hot water
- La tubería tiene una fisuraThe pipe has a leak
- El techo de mi casa tiene una fuga de agua. ¿Puedes llamar a un fontanero?The roof of my house has a water leak. Can you call a plumber?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are in the living room during a rainstorm.
- MaríaJavier, hay una gotera en el techo.Javier, there is a leak in the ceiling.
- JavierDéjame ver dónde está la gotera.Let me see where the leak is.
- MaríaEstá justo encima del sofá.It is right above the sofa.
- JavierVoy a buscar un cubo ahora mismo.I will go look for a bucket right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “leak” translations and entries gotera, agujero, rotura, vía, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agujero, gotera, rotura, vía, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
