colador
/kolaˈdoɾ/masculine
The English word strainer is translated into Spanish as colador. Wiktionary also lists coladera.
Meaning: utensil (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| colador | /kolaˈdoɾ/ | masculine |
| coladera | /kolaˈdeɾa/ | feminine |
What does it mean word for word?
The word colador is derived from the verb colar, which means to strain or to sift.
Which one should you use?
In a kitchen context, colador typically refers to a fine-mesh strainer used for liquids or flour. In contrast, coladera often refers to a larger, coarser strainer or a sink drain.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain parts of Argentina, the word for strainer is escurridor. Additionally, while colador is the standard term for a kitchen strainer, coladera is often used in Mexico and other parts of Latin America to refer to a strainer or a drain strainer.
How do you pronounce it?
/kolaˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the verb colar does not just mean to strain liquids, but also to sneak into a place or to slip through a crowd unnoticed.
- The phrase ser un colador is used colloquially to describe someone who cannot keep a secret or a sports defense that lets every attack through.
- In Mexico, if you talk about a coladera, you might be referring to the street sewer grate rather than a kitchen tool.
Examples in context
- Ponga las verduras en el colador.Put the vegetables in the strainer.This sentence shows how to use colador when placing vegetables in the utensil.Tatoeba #2267686 by hayastan, translation #2267685 by _undertoad
- La memoria es un colador singular: conserva lo bueno de nosotros y lo malo de los demás.Memory is a curious strainer. It keeps the best of ourselves and the worst of everyone else.This sentence uses colador in a metaphorical sense regarding memory.Tatoeba #2242199 by ildefonk, translation #10465430 by DJ_Saidez
- Por favor, pásame el colador para escurrir la pasta.Please, pass me the strainer to drain the pasta.
- Necesito un tamiz fino para separar los grumos de la harina.I need a fine strainer to sift out the lumps from the flour.
- ¿Dónde está el chino para colar el caldo?Where is the strainer to strain the broth?
- ¿Me pasas el cernedor para separar las semillas de la pulpa?Can you hand me the strainer to separate the seeds from the pulp?
- Necesito un colador para la pasta.I need a strainer for the pasta.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are cooking dinner together in the kitchen.
- Elena¿Dónde está el colador, Mateo?Where is the strainer, Mateo?
- MateoEstá en el cajón de la cocina.It is in the kitchen drawer.
- ElenaGracias, ya lo encontré.Thanks, I found it already.
- MateoPerfecto, ahora podemos cocinar.Perfect, now we can cook.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strainer” translations and entries colador, coladera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
