gabinete
/gah-bee-neh-teh/
cabinet
In a political context, 'gabinete' refers to a cabinet of government advisors.
📝 In Action
El presidente anunció cambios en su gabinete ministerial.
B2The president announced changes in his ministerial cabinet.
El gabinete se reunió de urgencia esta mañana.
B2The cabinet met urgently this morning.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Masculine
This word is always masculine ('el gabinete'), even if the people inside the group are all women.
❌ Common Pitfalls
False Friend Alert
Mistake: "Using 'gabinete' for a kitchen cupboard."
Correction: In most Spanish-speaking countries, use 'armario' or 'alacena' for kitchen storage. 'Gabinete' is for government or specific professional rooms.
⭐ Usage Tips
Political Context
When you hear this on the news, it almost always refers to the group of ministers who help a leader make decisions.
A 'gabinete' can be a professional office or consultation room, such as for a dentist.
gabinete(noun)
office
?professional room like a dentist or lawyer
,surgery
?UK English for a doctor/dentist room
study
?a private room for work
,laboratory
?specialized workspace
📝 In Action
El dentista me espera en su gabinete.
B1The dentist is waiting for me in his office.
Tiene un gabinete de prensa muy eficiente.
B2He has a very efficient press office.
💡 Grammar Points
Professional Space
Use 'gabinete' instead of 'oficina' when talking about a specialized room where a professional (like a doctor or researcher) works.
⭐ Usage Tips
Not just a desk
A 'gabinete' usually implies there is special equipment there, like in a dentist's office or a lab.
The word 'gabinete' also describes a computer case or electronic housing.
gabinete(noun)
case
?computer tower or electronic housing
display cabinet
?furniture for showing objects
📝 In Action
Necesito abrir el gabinete de la computadora para limpiar el ventilador.
B2I need to open the computer case to clean the fan.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tech Talk
In Latin America, 'gabinete' is the standard word for a PC tower/case.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: gabinete
Question 1 of 2
If you are going to see a dentist, where would they likely treat you?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'gabinete' for a kitchen cupboard?
While it's technically understood in some regions because of the English influence (cabinet), it's much more natural to say 'armario', 'alacena', or 'mueble de cocina' in Spanish.
Is 'gabinete' formal?
It depends on the meaning. For government and professional offices, it is the standard, neutral-to-formal term. For a computer case, it's everyday technical language.