Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| techo | /ˈtet͡ʃo/ | masculine |
| tejado | /teˈxado/ | |
| techado | /teˈt͡ʃado/ | masculine |
| techumbre | /teˈt͡ʃumbɾe/ | masculine |
| cubrición | /kubɾiˈθjon/ /kubɾiˈsjon/ |
feminine |
| tejadillo | /texaˈdiʝo/ | masculine |
| sotechado | /sotet͡ʃado/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
The term refers to the cover at the top of a building.
Which one should you use?
While techo is a general term for any roof structure, tejado specifically refers to a roof covered in tiles. In common usage, although techo can mean the exterior roof, it is the standard word used for the interior ceiling of a room. For technical contexts, techado refers to the actual roofing structure or the act of roofing. The word tejadillo is the diminutive of tejado and is used to describe a small tiled roof or a single small tile.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain and some Latin American countries, the word azotea is used to describe a flat and often accessible roof that is used as an outdoor space.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun techo is masculine, cubrición is feminine, techado is masculine, techumbre is masculine, tejado is masculine, tejadillo is masculine and sotechado is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtetʃo/
Did you know?
- The phrase tener techo can be used figuratively to describe having a limit or a maximum potential in a professional or personal context.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the azotea is not just a roof but a vital social space used for drying laundry, gardening or gathering.
- The Spanish word techo shares the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'tile' and the Latin 'tegula'.
Examples in context
- Estaré en el tejado.I'll be up on the roof.This sentence is useful for saying you will be located on the tejado.Tatoeba #5566202 by swyter, translation #2546714 by CK
- Ella bajó del tejado.She climbed down from the roof.This sentence shows how to describe someone climbing down from the tejado.Tatoeba #2471972 by marcelostockle, translation #312729 by CK
- El techo brilla al sol.The roof is shining in the sun.This sentence describes the techo shining in the sun.Tatoeba #638168 by Leono, translation #25573 by Luornu
- El techo de la casa es de tejas.The roof of the house is made of tiles.
- El automóvil tiene un techo panorámico.The car has a panoramic roof.
- La cubierta de la edificación es de hormigón.The roof of the building is made of concrete.
- Vamos a reparar el tejado antes de que llegue la temporada de lluvias.Let's repair the roof before the rainy season arrives.
- La techumbre de la cabaña es de paja.The roof of the cabin is made of straw.
- Vamos a disfrutar del atardecer en la azotea.Let's enjoy the sunset on the rooftop.
- 120 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Mateo are looking at a house for sale.
- María¿Viste el techo de la casa?Did you see the roof of the house?
- MateoSí, el techo es de madera.Yes, the roof is made of wood.
- MaríaEs un techo muy bonito.It is a very beautiful roof.
- MateoPero el techo parece viejo.But the roof looks old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roof” translations and entries techo, tejado, techado, techumbre, cubrición, tejadillo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries techo, techumbre, tejado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
