alcantarilla
/alkantaˈɾiʝa/feminine
The Spanish word for sewer is alcantarilla. Wiktionary also lists cloaca and alcantarillado.
Meaning: pipes used to remove human waste and to provide drainage (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| alcantarilla | /alkantaˈɾiʝa/ | feminine |
| cloaca | /kloˈaka/ | feminine |
| alcantarillado | /alkantaɾiˈʝado/ | masculine |
| albañal | /albaˈɲal/ | masculine |
| desagüe | /deˈsaɡwe/ | masculine |
| albollón | /alboʝon/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| albañar | /albaˈɲaɾ/ | masculine |
Spanish uses different words depending on whether you are talking about a specific drain, the whole infrastructure or the physical opening.
Which one should you use?
alcantarilla refers specifically to the physical sewer opening or the structure itself. In contrast, alcantarillado refers to the collective network or the infrastructure of the entire sewer system. If you are talking about a smaller, more specific drainage outlet, use desagüe. For a more technical or visceral description of a large main sewer or a waste outlet, use cloaca.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and Colombia, alcantarilla is the term used to refer to a storm drain.
How do you pronounce it?
/alkantaˈɾiʝa/
Did you know?
- The word cloaca is derived from the Latin cluō, meaning 'cleanse'.
- In Spanish, cloaca is often used metaphorically to describe a place of deep moral corruption or a 'cesspool' of filth.
- While alcantarilla describes a sewer, the root alcántara is still used as a proper name for several towns and bridges in Spain.
Examples in context
- ¿Ves un búho comiendo una deliciosa rata de alcantarilla por allí? Ese soy yo.Can you see an owl eating a delicious sewer rat over there? That's me.This sentence uses alcantarilla to describe a sewer rat.Tatoeba #1283191 by marcelostockle, translation #1283194 by marcelostockle
- El sistema de aguas residuales requiere un mantenimiento regular.The sewer system requires regular maintenance.
- El agua está atascada en las cañerías de mi casa.The water is blocked in the sewer pipes of my house.
- La alcantarilla está obstruida después de la fuerte lluvia.The storm drain is blocked after the heavy rain.
- La basura bloqueó la alcantarilla de la calle.The trash blocked the street sewer.
- Hay un olor fuerte saliendo de la alcantarilla.There is a strong smell coming from the sewer.
Example conversation
María and Daniel are walking down a street during a rainstorm.
- MaríaMira, el agua no baja por la alcantarilla.Look, the water isn't going down the sewer.
- DanielParece que hay mucha basura ahí.It looks like there is a lot of trash in there.
- MaríaTenemos que llamar al ayuntamiento ahora.We have to call the city council now.
- DanielTienes razón, Daniel lo hará pronto.You are right, Daniel will do it soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sewer” translations and entries alcantarilla, cloaca, alcantarillado, albañal, desagüe, albañar, 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 albañal, alcantarilla, alcantarillado, cloaca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
