desinfectante
/desinfeɡˈtante/
The English phrase 'sanitizer' is translated into Spanish as desinfectante.
The term desinfectante can be used to mean both 'sanitizer' or 'disinfectant' in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the plural 'sanitizers', use desinfectantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/desinfeɡˈtante/
Did you know?
- In a pharmacy, if you ask for desinfectante without specifying 'hands', a clerk might show you powerful surface cleaners or bleach. To be safe, speakers often add de manos to specify 'hand sanitizer'.
- While desinfectante is the standard term, in many Latin American countries, people use the English loanword gel or gel antibacterial when referring to hand sanitizer specifically.
- The word desinfectante shares a common ancestor with the English word 'infect', as both stem from the Latin 'infectare' meaning 'to stain or dye'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, asegúrese de utilizar desinfectante para manos al ingresar al hospital.Please make sure to use hand sanitizer when entering the hospital.
- El museo proporciona desinfectante para manos a sus visitantes como medida de seguridad.The museum provides hand sanitizer to its visitors as a safety measure.
- Olvidé ponerme gel antibacterial antes de tocar esos alimentos.I forgot to use hand sanitizer before touching those foods.
- Necesito comprar un desinfectante para las manos.I need to buy a hand sanitizer.
- El desinfectante está sobre la mesa.The sanitizer is on the table.
- ¿Tienes un desinfectante en tu bolso?Do you have a sanitizer in your bag?
Example conversation
Daniel and María are entering a restaurant.
- DanielMaría, ¿tienes desinfectante en tu bolso?María, do you have sanitizer in your bag?
- MaríaSí, Daniel, aquí tengo un poco.Yes, Daniel, I have some here.
- DanielGracias, me lo pongo ahora mismo.Thanks, I'll put some on right now.
- MaríaDe nada, es mejor prevenir.You're welcome, it's better to be safe.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desinfectante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desinfectante, CC BY-SA 4.0.
