Literal Meaning

A division or administrative unit within an organization or government.

Actual Meaning

Apartment — Mexican term. Spain uses 'piso' or 'apartamento', Argentina uses 'departamento' too.

Context

Used when discussing housing options in urban settings in Mexico.

Examples

• "Ella se mudó a un nuevo departamento en la ciudad. (She moved to a new apartment in the city.)"
• "El departamento que alquilamos tiene dos habitaciones y una vista hermosa. (The apartment we rented has two bedrooms and a beautiful view.)"
• "Voy a visitar a mi amigo en su departamento el sábado. (I'm going to visit my friend in their apartment on Saturday.)"

Tips

• In Mexico, 'departamento' is the common term for what English speakers would call 'apartment.'
• Understanding the context can help you recognize when people refer to a living space: they may say 'departamento' if it's a rented or smaller dwelling.
• When discussing housing, using 'departamento' might imply a more urban setting compared to the more broad term 'casa' (house).

Literal Meaning

Department

Actual Meaning

Apartment — used in most of South America. Spain prefers 'piso'.

Context

Regional term in Southamerica Spanish

Examples

• "Voy a visitar a mi amigo en su departamento este fin de semana."
• "Necesitamos encontrar un departamento más grande porque estamos esperando un bebé."
• "El departamento que alquilé tiene una vista hermosa del río."

Tips

• If you're in a real estate context in South America, knowing 'departamento' will help you understand the type of property being discussed.
• When discussing living arrangements, you might hear 'departamento' used in casual conversations, especially among friends planning to meet.
• In Argentina and Chile, 'departamento' is commonly used, so if you hear someone mention it, they're likely talking about their living space.