Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cubo de basura | /ˌkubo de baˈsuɾa/ | Spain, masculine |
| basurero | /basuˈɾeɾo/ | Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, masculine |
| bote de basura | /ˌbote de baˈsuɾa/ | El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, masculine |
| caneca | /kaˈneka/ | Colombia, feminine |
| cesto de basura | /θesto de basuɾa/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sesto de basuɾa/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Cuba, Honduras, masculine |
| pipote | /piˈpote/ | Venezuela, masculine |
| tacho | /ˈtat͡ʃo/ | Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, masculine |
| zafacón | /θafaˈkon/ /safaˈkon/ |
Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, masculine |
| safacón | /safakon/ (from spelling rules) | Dominican Republic, masculine |
The term refers to a receptacle used for holding waste. In formal contexts, you may use contenedor de basura to refer to a garbage container.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cubo de basura is composed of cubo (bucket/cube) and basura (garbage).
Which one should you use?
While basurero can mean a garbage can in certain regions, it is also a common word for a garbage man (the person who collects trash).
Is it said differently in some regions?
Spanish speakers use many different words for a garbage can depending on their location. In Spain, cubo de basura is used. In Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua, you will hear bote de basura or simply bote. In Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, the word tacho is common. In Chile, Costa Rica and Peru, basurero is used. In Colombia, the feminine form caneca is used. In Cuba and Honduras, you may see cesto de basura. In Venezuela, pipote is used. In the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, zafacón or safacón is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
cubo de basura is masculine. caneca is feminine. Most other terms like basurero, bote de basura, cesto de basura, pipote, tacho, zafacón and safacón are masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌkubo de baˈsuɾa/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Tom arrojó la manzana podrida al basurero.Tom tossed the rotten apple into the garbage can.This sentence shows the use of basurero.Tatoeba #3300206 by marcelostockle, translation #2958367 by CK
- Ayer vi a un hombre comer de un bote de basura.I saw a man yesterday eating from a garbage can.This sentence shows the use of bote de basura.Tatoeba #1307483 by marcelostockle, translation #953587 by CK
- El chico que vi rebuscando en el cubo de basura dijo que no había comido nada durante cuatro días.The boy I saw searching through the garbage can said that he had not eaten anything for four days.This sentence shows the use of cubo de basura.Tatoeba #1781688 by Shishir, translation #954338 by CK
- Por favor, coloque los papeles en la papelera.Please place the papers in the garbage can.
- Deseche sus residuos en el contenedor de basura correspondiente.Dispose of your waste in the appropriate garbage can.
- Tira eso en el basurero, por favor.Please throw that in the garbage can.
- El cubo de basura está lleno. ¿Puedes sacarlo?The garbage can is full. Can you take it out?
- ¿Dónde está el bote de basura más cercano?Where is the nearest garbage can?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are cleaning up the kitchen.
- Alejandro¿Dónde está el cubo de basura?Where is the garbage can?
- SofíaEstá debajo de la encimera.It is under the countertop.
- AlejandroGracias, ya lo encontré.Thanks, I found it already.
- Sofía¡No olvides cerrar el cubo de basura!Don't forget to close the garbage can!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “garbage can” translations and entries cubo de basura, basurero, bote de basura, caneca, cesto de basura, pipote, tacho, zafacón, 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 basura, basurero, bote, caneca, cesto, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
