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grabadora

grah-bah-DOH-rah/ɡɾaβaˈðoɾa/

“grabadora” means “recorder” in Spanish (a device used for capturing sound).

recorder

Also: tape recorder, voice recorder
NounfA2
Argentina & Uruguay
A classic portable cassette tape recorder with a small built-in microphone and control buttons.

📝 In Action

Uso una grabadora para mis clases de español.

A1

I use a recorder for my Spanish classes.

El periodista sacó su grabadora para la entrevista.

B1

The journalist took out his recorder for the interview.

Esta grabadora digital tiene mucha memoria para audio de alta calidad.

B2

This digital recorder has a lot of memory for high-quality audio.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • magnetófono (tape recorder (old fashioned))
  • dictáfono (dictaphone)

Antonyms

  • altavoz (speaker (something that plays sound rather than capturing it))

Common Collocations

  • grabadora de voz – voice recorder
  • encender la grabadora – to turn on the recorder
  • grabadora digital – digital recorder

Idioms & Expressions

  • parecer una grabadora – to keep repeating the same thing over and over

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "grabadora" in Spanish:

recorder→tape recorder→voice recorder→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: grabadora

Question 1 of 3

If you want to save a conversation to listen to later, you use a...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Derived from the Spanish verb 'grabar' (to engrave or record), which comes from the French 'graver'. It shares ancient roots with the English word 'grave' and 'engrave,' originally meaning to scratch or carve into a surface.

First recorded: 19th century (referring to engraving tools); mid-20th century (referring to audio devices)

Cognates (Related words)

French: graveurEnglish: engraver

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'grabadora' used for video cameras too?

Not usually. For video, we say 'cámara' or 'videocámara'. 'Grabadora' almost always refers to audio only.

Can I call the recording app on my phone a 'grabadora'?

Yes! In fact, most Spanish-language phones label the voice recording app as 'Grabadora de voz'.

What is the difference between 'grabadora' and 'grabador'?

In most places, 'grabadora' is the machine. 'Grabador' can mean a person who engraves, though in some countries like Argentina, 'grabador' is also used for the machine.