aparato
/ah-pah-RAH-toh/
device
In its most common usage, 'aparato' means an electronic device or gadget.
aparato(noun)
device
?electronic item, gadget
,appliance
?household machine
gadget
?small technical tool
,machine
?general term
📝 In Action
Necesito cargar el aparato antes de salir.
A1I need to charge the device before leaving.
Compramos un aparato nuevo para hacer café.
A2We bought a new appliance to make coffee.
¿Sabes cómo funciona este pequeño aparato?
A2Do you know how this small gadget works?
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Rule
Even though many Spanish words ending in '-a' are feminine, words ending in '-o' like 'aparato' are almost always masculine (el aparato).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the feminine article
Mistake: "La aparato"
Correction: El aparato. Always use the masculine article 'el' or 'un' with this word.
⭐ Usage Tips
The All-Purpose Word
'Aparato' is a great general term when you can't remember the specific word for a gadget, machine, or piece of equipment.
The word 'aparato' can also refer to a structure or organizational system, such as a biological or mechanical system.
aparato(noun)
system
?biological or organizational structure
,apparatus
?technical or political structure
mechanism
?internal working structure
📝 In Action
El médico estudió el aparato respiratorio del paciente.
B1The doctor studied the patient's respiratory system.
La burocracia es parte del aparato administrativo del gobierno.
B2Bureaucracy is part of the government's administrative apparatus.
El aparato de la cámara es muy complejo.
B2The camera's mechanism (internal workings) is very complex.
💡 Grammar Points
Body Parts and Articles
When talking about body systems, Spanish usually uses the definite article 'el' (the) instead of possessives (my/your): 'el aparato digestivo' (the digestive system), not 'mi aparato digestivo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning is often found in academic papers, news reports, or medical texts. It refers to the interconnected pieces that make up a whole.
Less commonly, 'aparato' can mean a spectacle or a show.
aparato(noun)
show
?spectacle or performance
,fuss
?excessive display or commotion
pomp
?ceremonial display
,display
?showing off
📝 In Action
Montaron un gran aparato para la visita del presidente.
C1They put on a big show (or display of resources) for the president's visit.
No me gusta el aparato que hace cuando tiene que hablar en público.
C1I don't like the fuss/show he makes when he has to speak in public.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning usually implies that the effort or complexity involved is unnecessary or overly theatrical. It's often used with verbs like 'montar' (to set up/mount).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If the context is clearly not talking about a physical machine or a biological system, 'aparato' likely means 'show' or 'display of authority/pomp'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: aparato
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'aparato' to refer to a biological structure, not a machine?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'aparato' ends in 'o', why does its related adjective 'aparatoso' end in 'o' and 'a'?
'Aparato' is a noun and has a fixed gender (masculine). 'Aparatoso' is an adjective and must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'un accidente aparatoso' (a spectacular accident) but 'una caída aparatosa' (a spectacular fall).