What's the difference between "el muro" and "la pared"?
I know they both mean wall, but can they be used interchangeably?
7 Answers
Hello, Aflinders. This is a commonly asked question here. There was a thorough examination of this very subject just a few days ago, which you can read through this link.
You may always use the Search feature of the site to find answers that have been likely posted previously, in order to avoid the need to place a question and wait for its answer.
Here in Guatemala:
Pared = indoors
Muro = outdoors
Chileno's answer is interesting to me because I always thought "pared" was preferred for the wall of a house, for instance, whereas a stone wall, or a figurative wall such as "un muro de ignorancia" would be muro. We live and learn...
Without having looked at the dictionary, I would use "pared" at home for example.
Pusimos un cuadro en la pared. (I wouldn't use muro)
Remember Berlin, it was always referred to as "el muro de Berlín" never "pared". Trump quiere constrtuir un muro ( never pared)
"Muro" could be something that divides? Also in generalit seems there is no ceiling or roof on it.Maybe pared is more for an enclosed area with ceiling For example :
Alrededor de la mansión de la embajada de Chuchulandia hay un muro. Also when like a fence surrounds a house we could call it a "murito" but not a "parecita".
As for spiritual divisions you use more "muro" than " pared" but the latter could also be used.
La discriminación es un muro que corroe al mundo.
I came back because I remembered something else.
The Great Wall in China is called. La Gran Muralla China..
The invisible "wall" that existed between West Europe and East Europe (Soviet Union and its satellites) was called la "Cortina de Hierro".
Jeremías:
Although what you say is basically correct, but there some instances in which those are used in the same way.
Just look at the RAE definitions for:
Muro Pared Muralla
In Chile muralla and pared are de same aand the are used mainly for indoor definitions but.... 
I would say, yes.
Chileno fails to look into the rae definition of "pared": Vertical building work that encloses or limits an space. Sheet, plate of whatever material that divides or limits an space. ...
Whereas "muro" refers to synonyms: Pared o tapia --- note o as or and "tapia" as garden wall ... Muralla --- what castles have on the outer perimeter, also the chinese have a famous long one.
Which means that you can refer to muro or pared without (much) distinction as long is outdoors (for a patio for example) and not very different in construction from what you will find in the house. A house has a "pared" or "paredes" in plural.
Although you may find slighly variations to what qualifies as a muro depending on local customs or local slangs... You are safe with Mariana guide: outdoors (no roof) muro, indoors (roof) pared.
Regards!
