Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| acumulador | /akumulaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| acumulador compulsivo | /akumulaˌdoɾ kompulˈsibo/ | masculine |
| afecto del síndrome de Diógenes | /afeɡto del sindɾome de djoxenes/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
While acumulador is a general term for anyone who accumulates objects, the term acumulador compulsivo is specifically used to describe the psychological disorder.
What does it mean word for word?
The word acumulador is derived from the verb acumular (to accumulate), meaning one who gathers or collects things.
Which one should you use?
Acumulador is a general term for someone who accumulates things, whereas acumulador compulsivo is the specific medical or psychological term for a compulsive hoarder. Additionally, afecto del síndrome de Diógenes can be used to describe someone affected by Diogenes syndrome.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is acumulador. If you are referring to a woman, use the feminine form acumuladora. For a group of men or a mixed-gender group, use the masculine plural acumuladores.
How do you pronounce it?
/akumulaˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- The phrase síndrome de Diógenes refers to the Greek philosopher Diogenes, who lived in a large ceramic jar in Athens to show that humans need very few possessions.
- In Spanish, afecto can mean both 'affectionate' and 'affected by a condition', depending on whether it is used as an adjective or a participle.
- While acumulador describes the person, Spanish often uses the verb acumular in a financial context to describe the buildup of interest or capital.
Examples in context
- Mi vecino es un acaparador, su casa está llena de cosas que nunca usa.My neighbor is a hoarder, his house is full of things he never uses.
- La persona que sufre de este trastorno se considera un coleccionista compulsivo.The person who suffers from this disorder considers themselves a compulsive hoarder.
- No puedo creer lo que vi en su casa, es un acumulador empedernido.I can't believe what I saw at their house, they are a hardcore hoarder.
- El vecino es un acumulador.The neighbor is a hoarder.
- Ese hombre actúa como un acumulador.That man acts like a hoarder.
- Un acumulador suele llenar su casa de objetos.A hoarder tends to fill his house with objects.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are talking about a messy house in their neighborhood.
- Alejandro¿Has visto la casa de la esquina?Have you seen the house on the corner?
- LucíaSí, parece que el dueño es un acumulador.Yes, it looks like the owner is a hoarder.
- AlejandroTiene demasiadas cajas en la entrada.He has too many boxes at the entrance.
- LucíaEs un problema serio para el barrio.It is a serious problem for the neighborhood.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hoarder” translations and entries acumulador, acumulador compulsivo, 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.
