Word for Swimming Pool

Question

Does anyone know if "piscina" the most common translation for "swimming pool"? And do you pronounce the "c" as a hard c like piskina? Thanks!

Answer 1

Here's a quick note about pronunciation that will help you when trying to determine whether to use the "hard" sound or the "soft" sound:

• A, O and U are HARD vowels.. This means that any letter that comes before these vowels will be pronounced with a hard sound.
• E and I are SOFT vowels. This means that any letter that comes before these vowels will be pronounced with a soft sound.

These "vowel rules" mainly affect the pronunciation of the letters "c" and "g" -

C

Before a hard vowel (a, o, or u), "c" is pronounced with a hard sound: caber, coser, cumpleaños, etc.

Before a soft vowel (e or i), "c" is pronounced with a soft sound: cebolla, ciudad, etc.

And here are some words that incorporate the hard and soft sound: conocer (the first c is hard because it is paired with the hard vowel o, the second is soft because it is paired with the soft vowel e).

cicatriz (the first c is soft because it is paired with the soft vowel i, the second is hard because it is paired with the hard vowel a).

G

Before a hard vowel (a, o, or u), "g" is pronounced with a hard sound: llegar, tengo, gustar, etc.

Before a soft vowel (e or i), "g" is pronounced with a soft sound: gente, ginebra, etc. And here are some words that incorporate the hard and soft sound:

gigante (the first g is soft because it is paired with the soft vowel i, the second is hard because it is paired with the hard vowel a). **

These "vowel rules" also explain the orthographic spelling changes that occur with -car and -gar verbs in the yo form of the preterit and present subjunctive forms. (llegué instead of llegé, busques instead of busces, etc.)

Answer 2

Alberca or Piscina (not a hard c)

Like the zodiac sign "Pisces"

Answer 3

I've seen both 'alberca' and 'piscina' in Mexico.

Answer 4

I have been in Spain and heard this word used for swimming pool often. Although it may be a regional thing... perhaps wait for further comment. And as for pronunciation, there is a handy tool on this website where you can here the words you look up being pronounced, that may better answer your question than me attempting to type out the word phonetically... but it is a soft c sound.

Type 'piscina' into the translate toolbar and click on the microphone button and make sure you have you sound on!

I have heard another regional term for swimming pool but I cannot remember it for the life of me :) - sunshinzmommie, DIC 30, 2009

That's partly why I was asking - I remember hearing something else for it in Mexico, but now can't remember. Thanks for pronunciation tip as well. - angbrown, DIC 30, 2009

Answer 5

this is the common term in Spain "piscina" pronounced "pis-thee-nah"; in the americas would be pronounced "pis-see-nah". In Argentina they use the word "pileta" for swimming pool. "Pileta" means sink in Spain, however.

Answer 6

piscina [pis-thee’-nah]

We must note that the pronunciation of the soft c in 'piscina' is also a regional thing!! - wallpaper, DIC 30, 2009