fregadero
/fɾeɡaˈdeɾo/masculine
The Spanish word for kitchen sink is fregadero.
fregadero refers specifically to the sink found in a kitchen used for washing dishes and food.
Meaning: sink in a kitchen (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word comes from the verb fregar, which means to scrub or to wash dishes, combined with a suffix to form a noun meaning a sink for washing or scrubbing.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between a kitchen sink and a bathroom sink. While fregadero is for the kitchen, lavabo is the standard term for a bathroom sink.
How does it change in a sentence?
fregadero is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɾeɡaˈdeɾo/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse fregadero (the sink) with lavaplatos, which refers to a dishwasher or the person washing the dishes.
Did you know?
- The verb fregar can be used colloquially in some regions to mean 'to annoy' or 'to bother' someone. This is far removed from the literal cleaning of a fregadero.
- The word fregadero shares an etymological root with the English word 'friction', as both trace back to the idea of rubbing or scrubbing.
- While fregadero is the standard term, some regions use pileta or tarja. In Mexico, tarja is the most common word for a built-in kitchen sink.
Examples in context
- Había una manzana a medio comer cerca del fregadero.There was a half-eaten apple near the kitchen sink.This sentence shows the location of an object near the fregadero.Tatoeba #1586426 by teskmon, translation #954389 by CK
- El lavaplatos de casa fue considerado una amenaza por el encargado del fregadero.The washing-up machine at home was regarded as a rival to the worker at the kitchen sink.This sentence illustrates a context involving a worker at the fregadero.Tatoeba #1713997 by teskmon, translation #1565765 by eastasiastudent
- No he tenido tiempo para lavar los platos por dos días, están apilados en el fregadero.I haven't had time to do the dishes for two days, they are in a pile in the kitchen sink.This sentence describes dishes piled in the fregadero.Tatoeba #1234580 by marcelostockle, translation #61396 by shekitten
- Necesito reparar el fregaderoI need to fix the kitchen sink
- Quiero instalar un nuevo lavabo de cocinaI want to install a new kitchen sink
- La pila de la cocina está goteandoThe kitchen sink is leaking
- ¿Me puedes ayudar a destapar la pila?Can you help me unclog the kitchen sink?
- Voy a lavar los platos en la fregaderaI'm going to wash the dishes in the kitchen sink
- Mi abuela siempre lava los platos en la fregaderaMy grandmother always washes the dishes in the kitchen sink
- El lavaplatos está obstruidoThe kitchen sink is clogged
- En mi nueva casa, el fregadero es de acero inoxidable.In my new house, the kitchen sink is made of stainless steel.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are in the kitchen checking a leak.
- Lucía¿Puedes mirar el fregadero, Javier?Can you look at the sink, Javier?
- JavierSí, parece que tiene una fuga.Yes, it looks like it has a leak.
- LucíaQué mal, hay mucha agua en el fregadero.That's bad, there is a lot of water in the sink.
- JavierLlamaré al fontanero ahora mismo.I will call the plumber right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kitchen sink” translations and entries fregadero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fregadero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
