recibido
/reθiˈbido/
The English phrase "roger that" is translated into Spanish as recibido.
In radio communications, recibido is used as a standalone confirmation to signal that a transmission has been heard and understood.
What does it mean word for word?
recibido is the past participle of the verb recibir (to receive), which literally means "received".
Which one should you use?
While recibido focuses on the fact that the signal was received, entendido focuses on the fact that the meaning of the message was understood.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In technical radio telephony, copiado is a common term used to mean "message received and understood", similar to "copy that" in English. For formal responses to a message or request, you can also use entendido (Understood) or afirmativo (to acknowledge understanding or confirm receipt).
How do you pronounce it?
/reθiˈbido/
Did you know?
- In military or high-stakes contexts, using afirmativo is preferred over sí because the longer word is easier to distinguish through static and background noise.
- Outside of radio communication, recibido is often used in modern Spanish text messaging as a quick way to acknowledge a task without needing to write a full sentence.
- While recibido is the standard, some Spanish speakers use copiado specifically when they have written down a piece of information, like a coordinate or a code, during the transmission.
Examples in context
- Todo recibido, procederé con la misión.Everything received, I will proceed with the mission.
Example conversation
Two security guards communicating via walkie-talkie during a night shift.
- ElenaMateo, ¿escuchas mi reporte sobre la puerta sur?Mateo, do you hear my report about the south gate?
- MateoSí, Elena. Mensaje recibido.Yes, Elena. Message received.
- ElenaMantente alerta por si algo cambia.Stay alert in case something changes.
- MateoEntendido, estaré atento.Understood, I will be attentive.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry recibido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
