palacio
/paˈlaθjo/masculine
The English word 'palace' is translated into Spanish as palacio.
A palacio is a large, lavish residence. While palacio is the most common and accepted word for a palace, other terms may be more precise depending on the building's style or size.
Meaning: large, lavish residence (noun)
Which one should you use?
Use palacio for a general palace. If you are describing a palace that has a fortress-like quality, use Alcázar. For a smaller or more modest palace that is similar to a mansion, use palacete.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word palacio is a masculine noun. The plural form is palacios.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈlaθjo/
Did you know?
- The term Alcázar comes from the Arabic word 'al-qasr'. This reflects the centuries of Moorish influence in Spain, where these fortress-palaces served as both royal residences and military strongholds.
- Spanish uses the term palacio for buildings that aren't residences at all. For example, a city hall is often called Palacio Municipal and a court of justice is a Palacio de Justicia.
- The word palacio is a linguistic relative of the Italian word palazzo, both stemming from the same Latin root referring to the Palatine Hill in Rome.
Examples in context
- Ella me guió al palacio.She guided me to the palace.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use palacio to indicate a destination.Tatoeba #1196323 by marcelostockle, translation #313178 by CM
- El palacio tiene una alta torre.The palace has a tall tower.This sentence shows palacio used to describe a feature of the building.Tatoeba #1196300 by marcelostockle, translation #19750 by CK
- En el palacio viven el rey y la reina.In the palace live the king and the queen.This sentence shows the use of palacio when describing where royalty lives.Tatoeba #1196299 by marcelostockle, translation #19749 by Swift
- El Palacio Real de Madrid es una de las principales atracciones turísticas de España.The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the main tourist attractions in Spain.
- El Alcázar de Segovia es un impresionante palacio del siglo XI.The Alcázar of Segovia is an impressive palace from the 11th century.
- Pedro ha comprado un casoplón con piscina y jardín. ¡Ahora se siente como un rey!Pedro bought a big mansion with a pool and a garden. Now he feels like a king!
- El Casino de la Exposición es un antiguo palacio que ahora alberga una exposición de arte.The Casino de la Exposición is a former palace that now houses an art exhibition.
- 30 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are visiting a historical city.
- SofíaMira, ¡qué palacio tan impresionante!Look, what an impressive palace!
- MateoEs verdad, es enorme y muy elegante.It's true, it is huge and very elegant.
- SofíaMe pregunto quién vivía en este palacio.I wonder who lived in this palace.
- MateoCreo que era la familia real.I think it was the royal family.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “palace” translations and entries palacio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries palacio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
