fianza
nounCEFR B1
What does “fianza” mean in English?
1.security deposit
security deposit (paid by tenant on signing a rental contract)
2.security deposit
security deposit (paid by tenant on signing a rental contract)
Example sentences
Antes de firmar el contrato, tuvimos que pagar dos meses de fianza y el primer mes de alquiler por adelantado.
Before signing the contract, we had to pay two months' deposit and the first month's rent in advance.
Cuando nos fuimos del piso, el casero tardó un mes en devolvernos la fianza porque decía que había que pintar.
When we left the flat, the landlord took a month to return our deposit because he said it needed painting.
La ley obliga al propietario a depositar la fianza en el organismo oficial correspondiente.
The law requires the landlord to lodge the deposit with the relevant official body.
How to use it
Fianza means 'security deposit' in a rental context — the amount paid upfront by the tenant and held by the landlord as insurance against damage or unpaid rent. Common patterns: pagar la fianza, dejar la fianza, devolver la fianza (to return the deposit). In Spain, the standard is one or two months' rent. Fianza also has legal uses (bail, surety) but the housing sense is the primary B1 meaning.
Common mistake
Fianza can mean 'bail' (legal) or 'guarantee' but in housing conversations it always means the security deposit. Don't confuse with entrada (down payment on a purchase) or señal (a booking deposit). The deposit is returned at the end of the tenancy if there is no damage.