cable trenzado
/kable tɾenθado/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'stranded wire' is translated into Spanish as cable trenzado.
The term refers to an electrical conductor composed of several small wires twisted together.
Which one should you use?
Use cable trenzado for stranded wire, whereas cable sólido should be used to refer to a single-strand conductor. If you are referring to multiple individual strands or multiple pieces of stranded wire, you can use the plural form alambres trenzados.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the term cable de hilos trenzados is sometimes used to express stranded wire.
Did you know?
- While trenzado refers to the twisted nature of the wire, the verb trenzar is also the standard word used for braiding hair in many Spanish-speaking cultures.
- The word cable is a linguistic traveler that entered Spanish via French, rather than coming directly from Latin or being a native Spanish development.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, alambre is used strictly for rigid, single-core wire, while cable is reserved for stranded conductors. Using alambre trenzado might sound like a contradiction to some professionals.
Examples in context
- cable trenzado de cobreCopper stranded wire
- Necesito un cable trenzado para este motor.I need a stranded wire for this motor.
- El cable trenzado es más flexible que el sólido.The stranded wire is more flexible than the solid one.
- Corta el cable trenzado con cuidado.Cut the stranded wire carefully.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are repairing a broken lamp.
- SofíaDaniel, ¿tenemos cable trenzado en el taller?Daniel, do we have stranded wire in the workshop?
- DanielCreo que se terminó el cable trenzado ayer.I think we ran out of stranded wire yesterday.
- SofíaQué mal, necesito que el cable sea flexible.That's too bad, I need the wire to be flexible.
- DanielIré a la tienda a comprar un rollo ahora.I'll go to the store to buy a roll now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cable, CC BY-SA 4.0.
