radiocasetera
/radjokaseteɾa/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English word 'boombox' is translated into Spanish as radiocasetera. Wiktionary also lists boombox (búmboks) and radiograbador.
Meaning: portable audio system (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| radiocasetera | /radjokaseteɾa/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| boombox (búmboks) | masculine | |
| radiograbador | /radjoɡɾabadoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| radiorreceptor portátil | /radjoreθebtoɾ poɾtatil/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /radjoresebtoɾ poɾtatil/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
All these terms refer to a portable audio system.
What does it mean word for word?
The word radiocasetera is a compound consisting of 'radio', 'cassette' and the suffix '-era', which identifies it as a device for playing radio and cassettes.
Which one should you use?
Use radiocasetera to refer to a standard, often older, portable device. In contrast, use boombox (búmboks) when you want to specifically evoke the larger, more powerful and culturally iconic street-style devices.
How does it change in a sentence?
radiocasetera is a feminine noun and requires feminine articles such as la or una. In contrast, radiograbador is a masculine noun and requires masculine articles like el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/radjokaseteɾa/
Did you know?
- The suffix -era in radiocasetera is also used to describe professions, such as panadera for a female baker, linking the device to the tool-user pattern in Spanish.
- While English speakers use 'boombox' as a standard term, a Spanish speaker in many Latin American countries might simply call it 'un equipo' if it is large and powerful.
- While radiocasetera refers to the machine, the act of recording a song from the radio to a tape was often called grabar un cassette, a phrase that remains a nostalgic cultural marker for Gen X Spanish speakers.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué bien suena la música que sale de ese radiocasete!The music coming from that boombox sounds great!
- Traje una radiocasetera para la playa.I brought a boombox for the beach.
- Esa radiocasetera tiene un sonido muy fuerte.That boombox has a very loud sound.
- ¿Dónde pusiste la radiocasetera vieja?Where did you put the old boombox?
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are organizing music for a street event.
- ElenaMateo, ¿tienes una radiocasetera para hoy?Mateo, do you have a boombox for today?
- MateoSí, tengo una en mi habitación.Yes, I have one in my room.
- ElenaPerfecto, trae la radiocasetera al parque.Perfect, bring the boombox to the park.
- MateoEstá bien, voy por ella ahora.All right, I'll go get it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boombox” translations and entries radiograbador, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
