pila
/ˈpila/feminine
The English word stack can be translated into Spanish as pila. Wiktionary also lists montón and hacina.
Meaning: pile of identical objects (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pila | /ˈpila/ | feminine |
| montón | /monˈton/ | masculine |
| hacina | /aˈθina/ /aˈsina/ |
feminine |
| almiar | /alˈmjaɾ/ | masculine |
| rimero | /riˈmeɾo/ | masculine |
These words refer to a pile or stack of objects. If you want to describe the action of creating a stack, use the verb apilar.
Which one should you use?
Use pila when objects are neatly arranged one on top of another. In contrast, use montón to describe a disorganized heap or to emphasize a large quantity. While pila refers to a structured stack, montón is used for a messy pile or a heap.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Canary Islands, Spain, the term porro is used to refer to a stack.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of the feminine pila is pilas. The masculine montón becomes montones in its plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpila/
When do people say it?
The phrase un montón de is frequently used idiomatically to mean 'a lot of' or 'many', even if the objects are not physically in a pile.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word pila has a double meaning and can refer to both a stack of objects and an electric battery.
- The word hacina comes from haz, meaning 'bundle', which is related to the Latin word fascis that gave English the word 'fascism'.
Examples in context
- Había una pila de platos sucios en la pila.There was a stack of dirty dishes in the sink.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use pila when referring to a stack of dishes.Tatoeba #11835267 by Seael, translation #11172780 by CK
- Había una pila de periódicos en la esquina de la pieza.There was a stack of newspapers in the corner of the room.This sentence shows the use of pila for a stack of newspapers.Tatoeba #1901423 by marcelostockle, translation #1898175 by CK
- Tengo una pila de papeles encima de la mesa con órdenes de trabajo.I have a stack of papers on my desk with work orders.This sentence demonstrates how to describe a stack of papers using pila.
- Por favor, coloca los libros en una pila ordenadaPlease, stack the books in an orderly pile
- Hicimos una torre con los vasos de plásticoWe made a stack with the plastic cups
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Javier are cleaning the living room.
- María¿Puedes mover esa pila de libros?Can you move that stack of books?
- JavierSí, la moveré ahora mismo.Yes, I will move it right now.
- MaríaGracias, Javier.Thanks, Javier.
- JavierDe nada, María.You're welcome, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stack” translations and entries pila, montón, hacina, almiar, rimero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries almiar, hacina, montón, pila, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
