What is the difference between silla and asiento?

Silla refers specifically to a chair as a piece of furniture, while asiento is a broader term meaning any seat, including on a bus, in a stadium, or on an airplane.

Is butaca used outside of theaters?

In some countries, butaca also refers to a comfortable armchair for the living room, but its most common use is for numbered seats in theaters and cinemas.

How do you say wheelchair in Spanish?

Wheelchair is silla de ruedas, literally chair of wheels. The phrase is standard across all Spanish-speaking countries.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Chair in Spanish: Silla, Sillón, and Other Seating Words

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Silla · noun (feminine) · SEE-yah

Silla is the standard Spanish word for a chair. For armchairs, use sillón; for theater or cinema seats, use butaca; and for any seat in general, use asiento.

SEE-yah

Acerca una silla a la mesa, por favor.

Pull a chair up to the table, please.

Chair in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for chair, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
silla	chair	SEE-yah	Default, widely understood
sillón	chair		armchair
butaca	chair		theater seat, armchair
asiento	chair		seat, general

How Native Speakers Use Silla

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

At the dinner table

Necesitamos otra silla; viene un invitado más.

We need another chair; one more guest is coming.

Preparing seating at home for dinner.

Living room furniture

Mi abuelo siempre se sienta en su sillón favorito.

My grandfather always sits in his favorite armchair.

Talking about a comfortable upholstered chair.

At the movies

Nuestras butacas están en la fila diez.

Our seats are in row ten.

Finding assigned seats inside a movie theater.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Silla

Silla vs. sillón

Incorrect: Me senté en la silla y me quedé dormido. (referring to a soft armchair)

Correct: Me senté en el sillón y me quedé dormido.

A silla is a simple chair without arms or cushioning. A plush, cushioned armchair is a sillón.

Gender confusion with sillón

Incorrect: la sillón

Correct: el sillón

Although silla is feminine, sillón is masculine. The augmentative suffix -ón changes the gender.

Lock in Chair Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Silla used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using silla in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Acerca una silla a la mesa, por favor. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Chair in Spanish

What is the difference between silla and asiento?: Silla refers specifically to a chair as a piece of furniture, while asiento is a broader term meaning any seat, including on a bus, in a stadium, or on an airplane.
Is butaca used outside of theaters?: In some countries, butaca also refers to a comfortable armchair for the living room, but its most common use is for numbered seats in theaters and cinemas.
How do you say wheelchair in Spanish?: Wheelchair is silla de ruedas, literally chair of wheels. The phrase is standard across all Spanish-speaking countries.