Banco in Spanish: bank or bench by context

The idea

Banco is masculine: el banco, plural los bancos. It can name a financial institution or a bench. The surrounding words indicate which sense is intended.

Examples

• El banco abre a las nueve.The bank opens at nine.
• Voy al banco para sacar dinero.I am going to the bank to withdraw money.
• Nos sentamos en un banco del parque.We sit on a bench in the park.
• Hay dos bancos junto al río.There are two benches beside the river.
• El banco está cerrado hoy.The bank is closed today.
• Ese banco de madera es cómodo.That wooden bench is comfortable.

Watch out

Sacar dinero points to a bank, while sentarse en un banco del parque points to a bench.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the place for withdrawing money: Voy al ___ para sacar dinero. (banco / parque)

   Show answer or example answer

   banco

   Banco is the financial institution where money is withdrawn.

2. Choose the seat in the park: Nos sentamos en un ___ del parque. (banco / billete)

   Show answer or example answer

   banco

   Banco is the seat in the park in this context.

3. Choose the plural after dos: Hay dos ___ junto al río. (bancos / banco)

   Show answer or example answer

   bancos

   Bancos is plural after the number dos.

Use it today

Describe a bank’s opening time and say where there is a park bench.