Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Brick in Spanish: Ladrillo
Ladrillo · noun · lah-DREE-yoh
A brick is 'ladrillo' in Spanish, a masculine noun referring to the rectangular clay block used in construction. The word derives from Latin 'laterellus' (small brick). In Mexico, 'tabique' specifically refers to thinner construction bricks, while 'ladrillo' is the universal term understood everywhere. Figuratively, a 'ladrillo' can describe a very thick, boring book.
Say 'ladrillo' as lah-DREE-yoh. The double 'l' (ll) produces a 'y' sound in most dialects or a 'sh/zh' sound in Argentine Spanish. Stress falls on the second syllable.
La casa está construida con ladrillos rojos.
The house is built with red bricks.
Brick in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for brick, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ladrillo | brick | lah-DREE-yoh | Default, widely understood |
| tabique | brick | Mexico, a thinner type of brick |
How Native Speakers Use Ladrillo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Construction
Necesitamos quinientos ladrillos para terminar la pared.
We need five hundred bricks to finish the wall.
Construction project vocabulary.
Architecture
El edificio de ladrillos tiene más de cien años.
The brick building is over a hundred years old.
Describing architectural features.
Figurative use
Ese libro es un ladrillo, tiene mil páginas.
That book is a brick, it has a thousand pages.
Colloquial usage for something heavy/dense.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ladrillo
Feminine article
Incorrect: Necesito comprar la ladrillo.
Correct: Necesito comprar el ladrillo.
The noun 'ladrillo' is masculine despite not obviously looking like any particular gender; it requires the masculine article 'el' and masculine adjective agreement.
Confusing with 'bloque'
Incorrect: La pared es de ladrillos de cemento.
Correct: La pared es de bloques de cemento.
Cement/cinder blocks are called 'bloques,' not 'ladrillos.' A 'ladrillo' specifically refers to fired clay bricks, while 'bloque' denotes larger concrete masonry units.
Lock in Brick Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
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See Ladrillo used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Brick in Spanish
- What is the difference between 'ladrillo' and 'tabique' in Mexico?
- In Mexican construction terminology, 'tabique' refers to a standard-sized thin clay brick used in everyday residential building, while 'ladrillo' can refer to larger or specialty bricks. Outside Mexico, 'ladrillo' covers all brick types without this size distinction.
- How do I say 'brick wall' in Spanish?
- A brick wall is 'pared de ladrillos' or 'muro de ladrillos.' The first option (pared) refers to interior walls or thinner exterior walls, while 'muro' suggests a thicker, more structural or freestanding wall like a retaining wall or fortress wall.
- Can 'ladrillo' be used figuratively in Spanish?
- Spanish speakers commonly use 'ladrillo' figuratively to describe anything excessively heavy, dense, or boring—particularly thick books, lengthy documents, or tedious presentations. Saying 'ese informe es un ladrillo' means the report is painfully long and dull to read.