Vocabulario de la casa en español

Does “ático” mean attic in Spanish?

Ático looks like the English word “attic,” but it is a false friend. In Spain it does not mean a dusty storage space under the roof. An ático is the flat on the top floor of a building, often a desirable one with an outdoor terrace and good views — closer to a “penthouse.” The dark storage room you picture as an “attic” is a buhardilla or a desván instead.

So vivo en un ático means “I live in a top-floor flat,” and it usually sounds nice, not poor. Keep the pair straight: ático = top-floor home; buhardilla / desván = the small space under the roof for old boxes.