contenedor
/kon-teh-nah-DOR/
bin
A 'contenedor' (bin) used for recycling waste.
contenedor(noun)
bin
?for trash or recycling
,dumpster
?large outdoor trash container
waste receptacle
?formal
📝 In Action
Tienes que tirar el cartón en el contenedor azul.
A2You have to throw the cardboard in the blue recycling bin.
Los trabajadores vaciaron el contenedor de basura esta mañana.
B1The workers emptied the dumpster this morning.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
Since 'contenedor' ends in -dor, it is a masculine noun and always uses 'el' or 'un'. The plural is 'los contenedores'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Street Colors
In many Spanish-speaking cities, different colored 'contenedores' are used for different types of waste (e.g., green for glass, yellow for plastic/cans).
A massive 'contenedor' (shipping container) used for transporting goods across the ocean.
contenedor(noun)
shipping container
?large metal box for transport
freight container
?transportation
📝 In Action
Las mercancías llegaron al puerto dentro de un contenedor de veinte pies.
B1The goods arrived at the port inside a twenty-foot shipping container.
Necesitamos alquilar varios contenedores para la mudanza internacional.
B2We need to rent several containers for the international move.
⭐ Usage Tips
Technical Terminology
When talking about global trade, you might hear specific types, like 'contenedor cisterna' (tank container) for liquids.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: contenedor
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'contenedor' to mean a large trash bin?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'contenedor' used for small household containers, like tupperware?
Not usually. For smaller, kitchen-type containers, Spanish speakers typically use 'recipiente' or 'táper' (from Tupperware). 'Contenedor' is reserved for large, industrial, or public-use bins.
Why is it always masculine (el contenedor)?
In Spanish, nouns that end in the suffix '-dor' and refer to a tool or object (like 'secador' or 'ascensor') are almost always masculine, which is why we say 'el contenedor'.