guardería
/ɡwaɾdeˈɾia/feminine
The Spanish word for nursery is guardería. Wiktionary also lists casa cuna.
Meaning: place where the pre-school children of working parents are supervised during the day (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| guardería | /ɡwaɾdeˈɾia/ | feminine |
| casa cuna | /ˌkasa ˈkuna/ | feminine |
A nursery refers to a place where the pre-school children of working parents are supervised during the day. While guardería is the standard term for a daycare center or nursery, other terms exist depending on the context and location.
Which one should you use?
guardería is the common term used for a nursery or daycare center. In contrast, casa cuna is another form used for a nursery.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, people often refer to a nursery as jardín maternal.
How does it change in a sentence?
guardería is a feminine noun, so it is preceded by the feminine article la (la guardería).
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡwaɾdeˈɾia/
Did you know?
- While guardería is used for childcare, the word jardín is also used for early education. This means 'garden' and reflects a philosophy of children growing like plants.
- While 'nursery' in English can sometimes refer to a place where plants are grown, the Spanish term guardería is strictly used for childcare.
- The word guardería is derived from the verb guardar, which means 'to guard', 'to keep', or 'to watch over'.
Examples in context
- María va a recoger a su hija a la guardería.Mary's going to pick up her daughter from nursery school.This sentence shows how to use guardería when talking about picking up a child.Tatoeba #12987693 by Alejandr0, translation #11235260 by sundown
- Quisiera inscribir a mi hijo en una guardería cercana al centro de la ciudad.I would like to enroll my child in a nursery near the city center.
- En ese jardín de infancia, los niños aprenden de forma lúdica y con enfoque en su desarrollo integral.In that nursery, children learn through play with a focus on their overall development.
- Mis hermanos me llevaron a la guardería mientras papá y mamá trabajaban.My siblings took me to the nursery while mom and dad were working.
- Me gustaría conseguir un cupo en un buen jardín infantil para mi hijo.I would like to secure a spot in a good nursery for my child.
- En el jardín maternal, nuestros pequeños reciben todo el amor y la atención que necesitan.In the nursery, our little ones receive all the love and attention they need.
- La guardería está muy cerca de mi oficina.The nursery is very close to my office.
- Busco una guardería que sea económica.I am looking for an affordable nursery.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing childcare options for their baby.
- Javier¿Sabes de alguna buena guardería por aquí?Do you know of any good nursery around here?
- LucíaSí, la guardería de la esquina es excelente.Yes, the nursery on the corner is excellent.
- JavierQué bien, ¿es muy cara la guardería?That's good, is the nursery very expensive?
- LucíaNo, el precio de esa guardería es justo.No, the price of that nursery is fair.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nursery” translations and entries guardería, casa cuna, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries casa, cuna, guardería, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
