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balneario

spa

noun bahl-neh-AH-rryoh Rare
Travel & Places Accommodation

Origin: From Latin balneum (bath).

Also means

seaside resort

Usage Note

Balneario originally described a therapeutic bathing establishment fed by mineral or thermal springs (aguas termales) — the classic European spa town. In many Latin American countries it has expanded to mean a beach resort or any bathing resort. In Spain the thermal-spring sense remains primary, so a balneario is closer to a hydrotherapy centre than a luxury day spa (centro de belleza).

Examples

"Pasamos el fin de semana en un balneario termal."

Natural Translation

We spent the weekend at a thermal spa.

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