Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jaulón | /xaulon/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| jaba | /ˈxaba/ | feminine |
| guacal | /ɡwaˈkal/ | masculine |
| huacal | /w̝aˈkal/ /ɡwaˈkal/ |
masculine, alternative form |
| cajón | /kaˈxon/ /kaˈʃon/ (Early, Modern, Spanish) |
masculine |
| transportín | /tɾanspoɾˈtin/ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
While cajón is a common term, it is more frequently used to refer to a drawer or a large wooden box rather than a small basket-style crate. If you need to be very formal, the term Caja de embalaje can be used to mean a packing box.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Several terms are specific to certain areas. In many parts of Latin America, guacal or its alternative spelling huacal is the standard word for a fruit or vegetable crate. In the Andean region, particularly Peru, jaba is frequently used to refer to a crate or basket for transporting goods. In some Spanish-speaking countries, notably in the Caribbean, canasta is used to describe a crate or basket.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word guacal is a masculine noun, so it requires masculine articles such as el or unos.
How do you pronounce it?
/xaulon/
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, using cajón to describe a 'crate' might be misunderstood as referring to a 'coffin', which is also called a cajón in several Spanish-speaking countries.
- The cajón flamenco is a percussion instrument created from a wooden crate or box that players sit upon to produce sound.
- The word guacal is not originally Spanish but was borrowed from huacalli in Classical Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs.
Examples in context
- No sé qué está en el cajón.I don't know what's in the crate.This sentence shows how to use cajón to refer to the contents of a crate.Tatoeba #6968789 by iharmonize2, translation #5923901 by mailohilohi
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are preparing to transport a pet bird.
- ElenaJavier, ¿dónde está el jaulón?Javier, where is the crate?
- JavierEstá en el garaje, Elena.It is in the garage, Elena.
- ElenaAyúdame a limpiar el jaulón ahora.Help me clean the crate now.
- JavierClaro, lo hago enseguida.Sure, I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crate” translations and entries jaba, guacal, huacal, cajón, transportín, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries guacal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
