Inklingo
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cajón

/ka-HOHN/

drawer

A brown wooden desk with one rectangular drawer partially pulled open, revealing the empty interior.

A drawer, which slides out from a piece of furniture.

cajón(noun)

mA1

drawer

?

sliding compartment in furniture

Also:

filing cabinet drawer

?

office use

📝 In Action

Por favor, guarda la cuchara en el tercer cajón.

A1

Please put the spoon away in the third drawer.

Mi escritorio tiene tres cajones pequeños.

A2

My desk has three small drawers.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • gaveta (drawer (common in some regions))

Common Collocations

  • abrir el cajón – to open the drawer
  • cerrar el cajón – to close the drawer

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun

Remember to use the masculine articles 'el' or 'un' before 'cajón' because it is a masculine word.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Caja' Instead

Mistake: "Puse la ropa en la caja."

Correction: Puse la ropa en el cajón. (A 'caja' is a separate box; a 'cajón' is built into furniture.)

⭐ Usage Tips

The Big Box

Think of 'cajón' as 'caja' (box) plus the big suffix '-ón'. It's usually a large, strong box or a built-in box (drawer).

A sturdy, empty wooden crate made of slats, suitable for shipping goods.

A wooden crate used for transporting goods.

cajón(noun)

mB1

crate

?

wooden box for transport

Also:

wooden box

?

large, sturdy container

,

parking space/slot

?

regional usage in some countries

📝 In Action

Necesitamos un cajón de madera para enviar estas herramientas.

B1

We need a wooden crate to send these tools.

Solo queda un cajón libre en el estacionamiento.

B2

There is only one parking space free in the lot.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • embalaje (packaging)
  • huacal (crate (Mexico))

Common Collocations

  • cajón de verduras – crate of vegetables

⭐ Usage Tips

Parking Spot

In many Latin American countries (like Mexico), 'cajón' is the standard word for a parking slot or space.

A simple, cubic wooden percussion instrument known as a cajon, standing upright.

The cajon, a box-shaped percussion instrument.

cajón(noun)

mB2

cajon

?

percussion instrument

📝 In Action

El percusionista se sentó en el cajón para tocar flamenco.

B2

The percussionist sat on the cajon to play flamenco.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • cajón peruano – Peruvian cajon

⭐ Usage Tips

Cultural Note

The 'cajón' is a wooden box drum originating in Peru, now essential to flamenco and other musical styles.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cajón

Question 1 of 2

If you are looking for a place to put your car at the mall, which meaning of 'cajón' applies?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

caja(box, cashier) - noun
cajonera(chest of drawers, dresser) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'caja' and 'cajón'?

A 'caja' is a general box or container that you can move around. A 'cajón' is usually a specific type of box: either a drawer built into a piece of furniture, or a large, sturdy wooden crate used for shipping.

¿Qué es un 'cajón flamenco'?

It is a popular wooden percussion instrument, essentially a hollow box that a musician sits on and taps with their hands to create rhythms, especially important in Spanish flamenco music.