Now that you know the rooms, let's fill them with furniture! In this lesson, you'll learn to name common furniture and household items, and importantly, you'll master the difference between 'hay' (there is/there are) and 'estar' (to be located). This is one of the trickiest points for English speakers, since English uses the same verb for both.
Learning tips
- Think of 'hay' as answering 'Does it exist?' and 'está' as answering 'Where exactly is it?'
- In Colombia, 'la nevera' is the standard word for fridge — in Spain, you'll hear 'el frigorífico.'
- 'Poner' is irregular in the yo form: 'pongo.' It's one of the '-go' verbs like 'tener' (tengo), 'salir' (salgo).
- Walk through your own home and name each piece of furniture in Spanish.
Warm-up & Active Recall
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| la cocina | the kitchen |
| el baño | the bathroom |
| la sala | the living room |
| el cuarto | the bedroom |
| el comedor | the dining room |
| el balcón | the balcony |
| la puerta | the door |
| la ventana | the window |
| entrar | to enter |
| salir | to go out |
Dialog
Andrés has just moved into a new apartment and describes his furniture to Valentina. Pay attention to the difference between 'hay' and 'estar': Andrés says 'Hay una cama grande' (There is a big bed — announcing its existence) vs. 'La mesa está en la cocina' (The table is in the kitchen — specifying its location). When something is introduced for the first time, use 'hay'; when referring to something already known, use 'está/están.'
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| la cama | /ˈka.ma/ | the bed | Feminine — la cama |
| la mesa | /ˈme.sa/ | the table | Used for dining table, desk table, etc. |
| la silla | /ˈsi.ʝa/ | the chair | Feminine — la silla; a small stool is 'el taburete' |
| el sofá | /so.ˈfa/ | the sofa, the couch | Masculine despite ending in -á |
| el armario | /aɾ.ˈma.ɾjo/ | the wardrobe, the closet | In Colombia, also 'el clóset' (borrowed from English) |
| la nevera | /ne.ˈβe.ɾa/ | the fridge, the refrigerator | Colombian word; in Spain: 'el frigorífico' |
| la estufa | /es.ˈtu.fa/ | the stove | In Colombia, 'estufa' is the standard word for stove/cooktop |
| la lámpara | /ˈlam.pa.ɾa/ | the lamp | Note the accent: LÁM-pa-ra (proparoxytone word) |
| poner | /po.ˈneɾ/ | to put, to place | Irregular: yo pongo, tú pones, él pone |
| hay | /ˈai/ | there is, there are | Invariable form — same for singular and plural |
Passive words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| el escritorio | /es.kɾi.ˈto.ɾjo/ | the desk | |
| la estantería | /es.tan.te.ˈɾi.a/ | the bookshelf | |
| el colchón | /kol.ˈtʃon/ | the mattress | |
| la almohada | /al.mo.ˈa.ða/ | the pillow | |
| el microondas | /mi.kɾo.ˈon.das/ | the microwave | |
| la lavadora | /la.βa.ˈðo.ɾa/ | the washing machine |
Useful chunks
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| hay una mesa | there is a table |
| la mesa está en | the table is in (location) |
Grammar: 'Hay' vs. 'estar' — existence vs. specific location
| Use | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Something exists (indefinite) | hay | Hay una mesa en el comedor. |
| Something exists (plural) | hay | Hay tres sillas en la sala. |
| Specific item's location | está/están | La mesa está en la cocina. |
| Asking about existence | ¿hay…? | ¿Hay una nevera? |
| Asking about location | ¿dónde está…? | ¿Dónde está la cama? |
One of the most common mistakes is confusing hay and estar when talking about things in a house.
Hay (there is / there are) is used to express existence — that something exists in a place. It's used with indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas) or numbers:
- Hay una mesa en el comedor. (There is a table in the dining room.)
- Hay tres sillas. (There are three chairs.)
Está/Están is used to express the specific location of something already known or definite:
- La mesa está en la cocina. (The table is in the kitchen.)
- Las sillas están en el comedor. (The chairs are in the dining room.)
Key test: If you can replace with 'there is/are,' use hay. If you're saying 'the [specific thing] is at [location],' use está/están.
- ¿Hay una nevera? (Is there a fridge?) — asking about existence
- ¿Dónde está la nevera? (Where is the fridge?) — asking about location of a known item
Note: Hay never changes form — it's the same for singular and plural.
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct furniture word or verb.
- Duermo en .(where you sleep)
- Nos sentamos en para ver televisión.(comfortable seating in the living room)
- La comida está en .(where you keep food cold)
- Voy a los platos en la mesa.(to place or set down)
- cuatro sillas en el comedor.(there is/there are)
Grammar Application
Choose between 'hay' and 'está/están' to complete each sentence correctly.
- una nevera en la cocina. (hay / está)(announcing existence — indefinite 'una')
- La cama en el cuarto. (hay / está)(specific location — 'la cama')
- tres lámparas en la sala. (hay / están)(announcing existence — number 'tres')
- El sofá al lado de la ventana. (hay / está)(specific location — 'el sofá')
- ¿ un armario en tu cuarto? (hay / está)(asking about existence — indefinite 'un')
Translation (English → Spanish)
Translate each sentence into Spanish.
- There is a big bed in the bedroom.
- The fridge is in the kitchen.
- I'm going to put the lamp on the table.
- Is there a sofa in the living room?
- The wardrobe is next to the bed.
Creative Construction
Describe the furniture in different rooms of a home. Use 'hay' for new items and 'está/están' for specific locations.
Takeaway
Use 'hay' to say something exists (Hay una mesa) and 'está/están' to say where a specific thing is located (La mesa está en la cocina). 'Hay' never changes form — it works for both singular and plural.