Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| portátil | /poɾˈtatil/ | masculine |
| computador portátil | /komputadoɾ poɾtatil/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| computadora portátil | /komputadoɾa poɾtatil/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| ordenador portátil | /oɾdenadoɾ poɾtatil/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| laptop | /ˈlabtop/ | feminine, masculine |
| lap | /lap/ (from spelling rules) | Mexico, feminine |
The term is used to refer to a laptop computer. Many Spanish speakers also use the English loanword laptop in everyday language.
What does it mean word for word?
The word portátil literally means 'portable'.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to refer to a laptop depending on the region. In Spain, the standard term is ordenador portátil. In much of Latin America, computadora portátil is commonly used instead.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, ordenador portátil is the most common term. In Mexico, the term laptop is used in most contexts and some speakers use the colloquial shorthand lap.
How does it change in a sentence?
Portátil is a masculine noun. The loanword laptop can be used as either a masculine or feminine noun. Computadora portátil is feminine, while computador portátil is masculine. The Mexican shorthand lap is feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾˈtatil/
Did you know?
- Because ordenador comes from the French word 'ordinateur', the way Spanish speakers name computers in Spain is actually more closely linked to French than to English.
- The word ordenador comes from the verb ordenar, which means 'to put in order' or 'to organize'.
- Because laptop is a loanword, its gender often depends on whether the speaker is mentally substituting it for ordenador or computadora.
Examples in context
- Esta laptop es mía.This laptop belongs to me.This sentence is useful for showing ownership of a laptop.Tatoeba #5045667 by don_ramon, translation #3271936 by CK
- Tom abrió su laptop.Tom opened his laptop.This sentence is useful for describing an action performed with a laptop.Tatoeba #3216071 by cueyayotl, translation #2646335 by CK
- Me compré una laptop.I bought myself a laptop.This sentence is useful for expressing the purchase of a laptop.Tatoeba #9192355 by hayastan, translation #9192354 by DJ_Saidez
- Hola, ¿me podrías prestar tu laptop para revisar mi correo electrónico, por favor?Hello, could you lend me your laptop to check my email, please?
- Estoy interesado en adquirir una computadora portátil para mis estudios universitarios.I am interested in acquiring a laptop for my university studies.
- 38 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are working together at a cafe.
- Alejandro¿Puedes prestarme tu portátil?Can you lend me your laptop?
- LucíaSí, pero ten cuidado con él.Yes, but be careful with it.
- AlejandroGracias, es un portátil muy bueno.Thanks, it is a very good laptop.
- LucíaDe nada, úsalo para tu trabajo.You're welcome, use it for your work.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “laptop” translations and entries portátil, computador portátil, computadora portátil, ordenador portátil, laptop, 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 computador, computadora, ordenador, portátil, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
