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cables

/kah-bles/

cables

A close-up of several thick, brightly colored electrical cables bundled together, including red, blue, and yellow wires.

The most common meaning of cables refers to physical wires, often used for electrical or structural purposes.

cables(noun)

mA1

cables

?

electrical or structural wires

,

wires

?

as in electrical wiring

Also:

cords

?

for charging or connecting devices

,

leads

?

medical or technical context

📝 In Action

Todos los cables de la televisión están detrás del mueble.

A1

All the television cables are behind the furniture.

Necesitas cables de arranque para encender el coche.

A2

You need jumper cables (starting cables) to start the car.

El técnico dijo que un par de cables estaban mal conectados.

B1

The technician said a couple of wires were badly connected.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • alambres (wires (thin metal))
  • cordones (cords (thicker))

Common Collocations

  • cables de red – network cables
  • cables USB – USB cables
  • cables pelados – bare/stripped wires

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Plural

Since 'cable' ends in -e, the plural is formed by adding -s. Remember it’s a masculine word, so use 'los' or 'unos' before it.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'cuerda'

Mistake: "Using 'cuerdas' for electrical wires."

Correction: 'Cuerdas' means rope or string. Use 'cables' for anything conducting electricity or used for communication.

⭐ Usage Tips

General Term

'Cables' is the safe, general word for any kind of wire, cord, or lead, making it very useful in daily conversations.

A simple, side profile silhouette of a human head. Inside the head, bright, colorful, and neatly organized electrical wires are visible, illustrating mental clarity.

In idiomatic use, cables can refer to one's mental state or sanity, like having your 'wires connected' (mental wiring).

cables(noun)

mB2

mental wiring

?

sense or sanity (only in idiomatic phrases)

Also:

mental connections

?

used when referring to how someone thinks

📝 In Action

Creo que a Pedro se le han cruzado los cables; está actuando muy raro.

B2

I think Pedro has snapped/lost it; he's acting very strange.

Cuando me estreso mucho, siento que tengo los cables pelados.

C1

When I get very stressed, I feel like I'm on edge/my wires are exposed (highly irritable).

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • cruzarse los cables (a alguien) – To go crazy, to snap, to lose one's train of thought suddenly.
  • tener los cables pelados – To be extremely nervous, irritable, or on the verge of a breakdown.

💡 Grammar Points

Using the Reflexive

When using 'cruzarse los cables,' you must use the reflexive pronoun (se, me, te, etc.) and the verb form changes depending on who snapped: 'Se le cruzaron' (He snapped).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Literal Translation

Mistake: "Translating 'cruzarse los cables' literally when speaking English."

Correction: This phrase is purely Spanish slang. Use natural English equivalents like 'He snapped' or 'He went off the rails.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Use for Sudden Changes

Use this idiom when someone unexpectedly does or says something irrational, often in a humorous or exaggerated way.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cables

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'cables' is used in the phrase 'A mi vecina se le cruzaron los cables'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cable(cable, wire (singular)) - noun
cablear(to wire, to cable) - verb
cableado(wiring, cabling) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cable' pronounced the same as in English?

No. In Spanish, the 'c' before 'a' is a hard 'k' sound, and the 'b' is often softer, closer to a 'v' sound between vowels. The stress falls on the first syllable: KAH-bles.

How do I say 'cable TV' in Spanish?

You would typically say 'televisión por cable' or simply 'el cable'.