servicios públicos
/seɾbiθjos publikos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "utilities" is translated into Spanish as servicios públicos.
When discussing specific household utilities, you might also use the term servicios básicos (basic services). Common examples of these utilities include electricidad (electricity), gas (gas), agua (water), teléfono (telephone), internet (internet), calefacción (heating) and televisión por cable (cable TV).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase servicios públicos is composed of servicios, meaning "services" and públicos, meaning "public".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term servicios is a commonly used way to refer to utilities.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is masculine and must agree in number. Use the singular servicio público if you are referring to a single utility.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the phrase los servicios can be a polite euphemism for the restroom or toilets, rather than referring to electricity or water.
- In some regions, the term luz (light) is used as a synecdoche to represent the entire electrical utility system, such as saying no hay luz to mean the power is out.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, failing to pay servicios públicos can lead to a 'corte', where a physical seal is placed on the meter to signify the service has been legally severed.
Examples in context
- Los servicios públicos incluyen la electricidad, el agua y el gas.Utilities include electricity, water and gas.
- Me mudé a una nueva casa y necesito instalar los servicios básicos.I moved to a new house and I need to install the basic services.
- Los servicios públicos son muy caros.The utilities are very expensive.
- Tengo que pagar los servicios públicos hoy.I have to pay the utilities today.
- El precio de los servicios públicos subió.The price of the utilities went up.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are discussing their new apartment budget.
- DanielSofía, ¿cuánto cuestan los servicios públicos?Sofía, how much are the utilities?
- SofíaCuestan unos cien euros al mes, Daniel.They cost about one hundred euros a month, Daniel.
- DanielEs más de lo que yo pensaba.That is more than I thought.
- SofíaSí, pero el edificio es muy moderno.Yes, but the building is very modern.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
