cómoda
/ˈkomoda/feminine
The English phrase "chest of drawers" is translated into Spanish as cómoda. Wiktionary also lists cajonera.
Meaning: furniture for the storage of clothes (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cómoda | /ˈkomoda/ | feminine |
| cajonera | /kaxoˈneɾa/ | feminine |
Both terms refer to furniture used for the storage of clothes. Similarly, cajonera can be used to describe the structure of the piece, as in "La cajonera tiene cinco compartimentos" (The chest of drawers has five compartments).
What does it mean word for word?
The term cajonera is a noun meaning "drawer-filled thing". It is derived from cajón, which means "drawer".
Which one should you use?
While cómoda is widely used, cajonera is a common alternative used in many Spanish-speaking regions to describe the same piece of furniture.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, particularly the Caribbean, gavetero is an informal way to refer to a chest of drawers.
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer to multiple units, the plural forms are cómodas and cajoneras.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkomoda/
Did you know?
- Because cómoda is also an adjective, a sentence like la cómoda es cómoda literally means 'the chest of drawers is comfortable'.
- While cómoda is standard, the Caribbean term gavetero comes from gaveta, a word derived from the French 'gavette'.
- The suffix -era in cajonera is often used in Spanish to denote a container or a place where specific objects are kept.
Examples in context
- Una gran araña vive detrás de la cómoda.A big spider lives behind the chest of drawers.This sentence is useful for describing the location of an object in relation to the cómoda.Tatoeba #5683070 by albrusgher, translation #5678685 by protondonor
- Tom encontró algo que estaba escondido detrás de la cómoda.Tom found something hidden behind the chest of drawers.This sentence is useful for describing where something was found using the cómoda.Tatoeba #2162915 by marcelostockle, translation #10014222 by shekitten
- La cómoda es de madera oscura.The chest of drawers is made of dark wood.
Example conversation
Javier and María are organizing the bedroom.
- JavierMaría, ¿dónde ponemos esta cómoda?María, where do we put this chest of drawers?
- MaríaPonla junto a la ventana, Javier.Put it next to the window, Javier.
- JavierEstá muy pesada para moverla solo.It is too heavy to move alone.
- MaríaYo te ayudo a empujar la cómoda.I will help you push the chest of drawers.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chest of drawers” translations and entries cómoda, cajonera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
