caldera
/kalˈdeɾa/feminine
The English word 'kettle' can be translated into Spanish as caldera, calentador or pava.
Meaning: vessel for boiling a liquid or cooking food (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| caldera | /kalˈdeɾa/ | feminine |
| calentador | /kalentaˈdoɾ/ | feminine |
| pava | /ˈpaba/ | feminine |
The term refers to a vessel used for boiling a liquid or cooking food.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific object you are describing. caldera refers to a large industrial boiler or a large cauldron rather than a small kitchen kettle. calentador refers to a device that heats something, such as a water heater, rather than a vessel for boiling water. In a domestic setting, the word tetera for teapot is often used interchangeably with the terms for a kettle.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, the word pava is commonly used to refer to a kettle.
How does it change in a sentence?
caldera and pava are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalˈdeɾa/
Did you know?
- In Argentina and Uruguay, the word pava refers to a kettle, but it is also the word for a 'peahen'.
- The word caldera is used in geography to describe the large basin formed after a volcanic eruption.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, calling someone a pava is a colloquial way of saying they are naive or silly.
Examples in context
- La pava está hirviendo.The kettle is boiling.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use pava in a sentence.Tatoeba #5041391 by don_ramon, translation #324248 by CK
- Por favor, ¿puede calentar agua en la tetera?Please, can you heat water in the kettle?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are preparing tea in the kitchen.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿dónde está la caldera?Sofía, where is the kettle?
- SofíaEstá sobre la estufa, Alejandro.It is on the stove, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, voy a poner el agua.Thanks, I'm going to put the water in.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo busco las tazas.Perfect, I'll look for the cups.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kettle” translations and entries caldera, calentador, pava, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
