Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Fireplace in Spanish: Chimenea

Chimenea · noun (feminine) · chee-meh-NEH-ah

Fireplace in Spanish is chimenea, a feminine noun that also covers the chimney structure itself. The word hogar can mean fireplace in literary contexts but more commonly means home.

Chimenea is pronounced chee-meh-NEH-ah, with four syllables and stress on the third.

Encendimos la chimenea porque hacía mucho frío.

We lit the fireplace because it was very cold.

Fireplace in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

SpanishEnglishPronunciationRegion / Register
chimeneafireplacechee-meh-NEH-ahDefault, widely understood
hogarfireplaceliterary, also means home

How Native Speakers Use Chimenea

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

Winter evening

No hay nada mejor que leer junto a la chimenea en invierno.

There's nothing better than reading by the fireplace in winter.

Cozy winter scene.

Home feature

La casa tiene una chimenea de piedra en la sala principal.

The house has a stone fireplace in the main living room.

Describing home features.

Chimney reference

Papá Noel baja por la chimenea en Nochebuena.

Santa Claus comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve.

Chimenea also means chimney.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Chimenea

Confusing chimenea with chimney only

Incorrect: Necesitamos limpiar la chimenea (meaning only the flue).

Correct: Chimenea covers both the fireplace and chimney.

Unlike English, which separates fireplace from chimney, chimenea encompasses the entire structure.

Using hogar for fireplace in casual speech

Incorrect: Enciende el hogar, hace frío.

Correct: Enciende la chimenea, hace frío.

While hogar can mean hearth/fireplace, it sounds literary — chimenea is the everyday word.

Lock in Fireplace 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 Chimenea used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using chimenea in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Encendimos la chimenea porque hacía mucho frío. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

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Common Questions About Fireplace in Spanish

How do you say fireplace in Spanish?
The Spanish word for fireplace is chimenea (chee-meh-NEH-ah), which refers to both the fireplace opening and the chimney structure above it.
Does chimenea mean chimney or fireplace?
Chimenea covers both meanings — the indoor fireplace where you build a fire and the external chimney or smokestack, with context making the distinction clear.
What is a chimenea in the garden context?
A chimenea (sometimes spelled chiminea in English) is a freestanding outdoor fireplace or fire pit, originally a Mexican design made of clay or cast iron, used for warmth and cooking outdoors.