fontanería
/fontaneˈɾia/
The Spanish word for plumbing is fontanería.
fontanería refers to the system of pipes and fixtures, but it is also used to refer to the trade or profession of plumbing.
Meaning: pipes, etc, of a water/gas/sewage system in a building (noun)
Which one should you use?
To refer to the person who performs the work (a plumber), use the masculine noun fontanero. To refer to a female plumber, use the feminine noun fontanera.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some South American countries, plomería is used as an alternative to fontanería.
How do you pronounce it?
/fontaneˈɾia/
Did you know?
- The term plomería is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'plumbing'. Both trace back to the Latin word plumbum meaning 'lead', which is also why the chemical symbol for lead is Pb.
- The word fontanero shares a root with the English word 'fountain'. Both derive from the Latin fontana, which refers to a natural spring of water.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, the trade is split into two separate professions: fontaneros for water systems and gasistas for gas lines.
Examples in context
- Necesito un especialista en fontanería para arreglar una fuga.I need a plumbing specialist to fix a leak.
- Los problemas de fontanería pueden requerir una solución inmediata.Plumbing issues may require an immediate solution.
- ¿Conoces algún servicio de fontanería confiable?Do you know any reliable plumbing service?
- La cañería de mi casa está dañada y necesito ayuda para arreglarla.The plumbing in my house is damaged, and I need help fixing it.
- Siempre tengo problemas con la cañería de mi baño.I always have problems with the plumbing in my bathroom.
- Hay un problema con la fontanería de la casa.There is a problem with the house's plumbing.
- La fontanería de esta casa es muy vieja.The plumbing in this house is very old.
- Hay un problema con la fontanería del baño.There is a problem with the bathroom plumbing.
- Necesitamos reparar la fontanería de la cocina.We need to repair the kitchen plumbing.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing a maintenance issue in their new apartment.
- María¿Escuchaste ese ruido en la pared?Did you hear that noise in the wall?
- AlejandroSí, creo que es la fontanería.Yes, I think it is the plumbing.
- MaríaDeberías llamar a un técnico pronto.You should call a technician soon.
- AlejandroTienes razón, lo haré ahora mismo.You are right, I will do it right now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry fontanería, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
