What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of superficie (surface/area), en (in) and pies cuadrados (square feet).
Which one should you use?
superficie en pies cuadrados is used when specifically discussing measurements in the imperial system. In contrast, metros cuadrados is the standard way to express square footage in most Spanish-speaking regions. You can also use superficie en metros cuadrados to be more specific and emphasize the area explicitly. Additionally, pies cuadrados can be used on its own to refer to the unit of measurement itself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of Latin America, you may use pies cuadrados or pies al cuadrado to denote square footage.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Spanish-speaking regions, a comma serves as the decimal separator when writing measurements, such as in 100,5 metros cuadrados.
Did you know?
- Although pies cuadrados is understood, using it in a Spanish-speaking country that uses the metric system can sometimes signal that a property is being marketed specifically to US investors.
- The word superficie is also used in Spanish to refer to the 'surface' of a planet or a liquid, whereas English often distinguishes between 'area' for floor space and 'surface' for geography.
- The word pies in pies cuadrados shares a common ancestor with the English word 'foot', but in Spanish, it is also the name for the 'feet' of an animal or human.
Examples in context
- La casa tiene 150 metros cuadrados de superficie.The house measures 150 square meters.
- El departamento cuenta con una superficie de 80 metros cuadrados.The apartment has a square footage of 80 square meters.
- El departamento tiene un metraje de 100 metros cuadrados.The apartment has a square footage of 100 square meters.
- El cuarto tiene un tamaño de 200 pies cuadrados.The room has a square footage of 200 square feet.
- La casa tiene una superficie de mil pies cuadrados.The house has a square footage of one thousand square feet.
- Necesito saber la superficie en pies cuadrados.I need to know the square footage.
- La superficie en pies cuadrados es muy grande.The square footage is very large.
- ¿Cuál es la superficie en pies cuadrados del apartamento?What is the square footage of the apartment?
Example conversation
Daniel and María are looking at a real estate listing.
- DanielMira este apartamento, María. ¡Es muy espacioso!Look at this apartment, María. It is very spacious!
- MaríaTienes razón, Daniel. ¿Cuál es la superficie en pies cuadrados?You are right, Daniel. What is the square footage?
- DanielDice que tiene mil pies cuadrados.It says it has one thousand square feet.
- MaríaEso es perfecto para nosotros.That is perfect for us.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
