cajón
“cajón” means “drawer” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
drawer
Also: filing cabinet drawer
📝 In Action
Por favor, guarda la cuchara en el tercer cajón.
A1Please put the spoon away in the third drawer.
Mi escritorio tiene tres cajones pequeños.
A2My desk has three small drawers.
crate
Also: wooden box, parking space/slot
📝 In Action
Necesitamos un cajón de madera para enviar estas herramientas.
B1We need a wooden crate to send these tools.
Solo queda un cajón libre en el estacionamiento.
B2There is only one parking space free in the lot.
cajon
📝 In Action
El percusionista se sentó en el cajón para tocar flamenco.
B2The percussionist sat on the cajon to play flamenco.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ 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▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Spanish word 'caja' (box) plus the augmentative suffix '-ón', which means 'big' or 'large'. So, literally, it means 'big box' or 'large receptacle'.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.