piso
Lemma Details
Translation: floor; apartment; flat; storey; level; story
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'pensum' meaning 'something weighed or measured out', which evolved to mean a flat surface. The meaning evolved to refer to a level of a building and later to an entire living unit on one level. The English cognate 'peso' (a unit of currency) shares the same Latin root, both relating to measurement. In Spanish, 'piso' retained the spatial dimension while in English the related concept focused on weight and value.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Mnemonics
- Think of 'piso' as the place where you 'pace' (walk) in your home.
- Imagine stepping on a 'piece-o' floor when walking in your apartment.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spain, 'piso' is the most common term for an apartment, while in Latin America 'apartamento' is more frequently used. Floor numbering differs between Spanish-speaking countries and English-speaking ones: in Spain, the ground floor is called 'planta baja' and the first floor up is 'primer piso', unlike the American system where the ground floor is the first floor.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Piso' refers to a floor or apartment, while 'peso' means weight or is the name of several currencies in Latin America.
Notes: Both words share Latin origins related to measurement, but evolved to have different meanings.
Mnemonic: 'Piso' has an 'i' like 'live in', while 'peso' has an 'e' like 'measure'.
Explanation: 'Piso' is a noun meaning floor or apartment, while 'paso' means step or passage.
Confused word:
Di un paso adelante.
I took a step forward.
Notes: 'Paso' relates to movement, while 'piso' relates to a physical space or structure.
Mnemonic: 'Paso' contains 'a' like in 'walk', while 'piso' contains 'i' like in 'live in'.