condensador
/kondensaˈdoɾ/masculine
The English word "capacitor" is translated into Spanish as condensador or capacitor.
Meaning: electronic component (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| condensador | /kondensaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| capacitor | /kapaθiˈtoɾ/ /kapasiˈtoɾ/ |
masculine |
Both terms refer to an electronic component.
Which one should you use?
condensador is the more traditional and widely accepted term, especially in academic and formal Spanish contexts. In contrast, capacitor is a common technical anglicism used frequently in the engineering and electronics industries in Latin America.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, condensador is the universally accepted and preferred term. In Latin America, capacitor is used frequently in technical and engineering fields.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both words are masculine, so you should use the masculine articles el or un (for example, un condensador). The plural of condensador is condensadores, and the plural of the anglicism capacitor is capacitores.
How do you pronounce it?
/kondensaˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- If you are in Spain and ask for a condensador in a hardware store, the clerk might hand you a cooling coil for an air conditioner instead of an electronic component.
- The root of condensador comes from the Latin 'condensare', meaning 'to make thick'. This reflects the early scientific view that the device was 'condensing' electrical charge into a small space.
- While capacitor is common in Latin American engineering, using it in a formal academic paper in Spain might be viewed as a 'spanglish' error rather than a technical term.
Examples in context
- Necesito comprar un condensador nuevo para reparar la máquina.I need to buy a new capacitor to repair the machine.
- Necesito un condensador nuevo para este circuito.I need a new capacitor for this circuit.
- El condensador de la radio está dañado.The radio's capacitor is damaged.
- ¿Dónde puedo comprar un condensador de alta capacidad?Where can I buy a high-capacity capacitor?
Example conversation
Daniel is repairing a device in his workshop while Elena watches.
- Elena¿Qué estás reparando, Daniel?What are you repairing, Daniel?
- DanielEste condensador no funciona correctamente.This capacitor is not working correctly.
- Elena¿Tienes un condensador de repuesto?Do you have a spare capacitor?
- DanielSí, tengo uno en la caja.Yes, I have one in the box.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “capacitor” translations and entries condensador, capacitor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
