ábaco
/ˈabako/masculine
The Spanish word for abacus is ábaco.
The word ábaco refers to a device for performing arithmetical calculations.
Meaning: device for performing arithmetical calculations (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ábaco is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈabako/
Did you know?
- The term ábaco also refers to the flat slab on top of a column capital in classical architecture, acting as a transition to the architrave.
- While ábaco is the standard term, Spanish speakers might use cuenta to refer to the individual beads on the device, as contar means both 'to count' and 'to tell a story'.
- The Spanish word ábaco derives from a Greek word describing a 'sand-covered board'.
Examples in context
- ¿Qué es un ábaco?What's an abacus?This sentence is useful for asking for a definition of ábaco.Tatoeba #9741331 by arh, translation #9730887 by CK
- ¿Cómo funciona el ábaco?How does the abacus work?This sentence is useful for asking about the mechanism of an ábaco.Tatoeba #974820 by Shishir, translation #10113807 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Sabes lo que es un ábaco?Do you know what an abacus is?This sentence is useful for checking someone's knowledge of an ábaco.Tatoeba #9704224 by Shishir, translation #9707743 by kremel
- El uso del ábaco es común en clases de matemáticas.The use of the abacus is common in math classes.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and María are looking at an old wooden object in a museum.
- JavierMira, este es un ábaco antiguo.Look, this is an old abacus.
- MaríaEs muy bonito, Javier.It is very beautiful, Javier.
- JavierEl ábaco servía para calcular rápidamente.The abacus was used to calculate quickly.
- MaríaQué interesante es la historia.History is so interesting.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “abacus” translations and entries ábaco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ábaco, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
