instalación
nounCEFR B2
What does “instalación” mean in English?
facility, installation
facility, installation (a place equipped for a specific purpose; instalaciones deportivas; instalación eléctrica)
Example sentences
Las instalaciones deportivas del nuevo complejo municipal han sido diseñadas para ser accesibles a personas con movilidad reducida.
The sports facilities of the new municipal complex have been designed to be accessible to people with reduced mobility.
La instalación del sistema de paneles solares en el tejado del edificio se completó en tres días.
The installation of the solar panel system on the building's roof was completed in three days.
Las instalaciones nucleares están sujetas a controles internacionales periódicos para verificar su uso pacífico.
Nuclear installations are subject to regular international inspections to verify their peaceful use.
How to use it
La instalación (noun, feminine) has two core B2 senses: (1) 'facility, installation' — a physical equipped space (instalaciones deportivas/industriales); (2) 'the act of installing' — setting up a system (la instalación del software). At B2, sense (1) dominates in civic and professional discourse. Core collocations: instalaciones deportivas/sanitarias/militares; instalación de la red; instalación eléctrica. The verb is instalar(se). Distinguish from facilidad (ease/aptitude — unrelated false friend) and equipamiento (equipment/furnishings — what fills the installation).
Common mistake
Note that facility in English can mean 'ease' (= facilidad) or 'physical installation' (= instalación) — never use facilidad for the physical sense. 'Facilities' in the sense of physical spaces = las instalaciones (plural almost always). 'IT installation' = instalación informática; 'utility installation' = instalación de suministros.