Inklingo

grabando

grah-BAHN-dohɡɾaˈban̪d̪o

grabando means recording in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

recording, taping

Also: filming, saving (data)
Verb (Gerund)A1regular ar
A colorful illustration showing a person recording vocals into a studio microphone, with an engineer monitoring the sound.
infinitivegrabar
gerundgrabando
past Participlegrabado

📝 In Action

Estamos grabando un mensaje para mi abuela.

A1

We are recording a message for my grandmother.

¿Estás grabando el concierto con tu celular?

A2

Are you filming the concert with your cell phone?

La cámara de seguridad estuvo grabando toda la noche.

B1

The security camera was recording all night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar grabandoto be recording
  • seguir grabandoto keep recording

engraving, etching

Also: inscribing
Verb (Gerund)B1regular ar
A detailed illustration of a hand using an engraving tool to carve a geometric pattern into a wooden surface.
infinitivegrabar
gerundgrabando
past Participlegrabado

📝 In Action

El joyero está grabando las iniciales en el anillo.

B1

The jeweler is engraving the initials on the ring.

Están grabando un mensaje en la piedra para la historia.

B2

They are carving a message into the stone for history.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • esculpir (to sculpt)
  • tallar (to carve)

Indicative

Preterite

yograbé
grabaste
él/ella/ustedgrabó
nosotrosgrabamos
vosotrosgrabasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesgrabaron

Present

yograbo
grabas
él/ella/ustedgraba
nosotrosgrabamos
vosotrosgrabáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesgraban

Imperfect

yogrababa
grababas
él/ella/ustedgrababa
nosotrosgrabábamos
vosotrosgrababais
ellos/ellas/ustedesgrababan

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yograbe
grabes
él/ella/ustedgrabe
nosotrosgrabemos
vosotrosgrabéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesgraben

Imperfect Subjunctive

yograbara/grabase
grabaras/grabeses
él/ella/ustedgrabara/grabase
nosotrosgrabáramos/grabásemos
vosotrosgrabarais/grabaseis
ellos/ellas/ustedesgrabaran/grabasen

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "grabando" in Spanish:

engravingetchingfilminginscribingrecordingtaping

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: grabando

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'grabando' in the sense of 'engraving' or 'carving'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

Comes from the Old German word *graban*, which meant 'to dig' or 'to carve.' This original meaning is still visible in the Spanish sense of 'engraving.' The meaning shifted to 'recording' only after the invention of audio and video technology.

First recorded: The root verb 'grabar' appeared in Spanish around the 15th century.

Cognates (Related words)

French: graverEnglish: engrave

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'grabando' the same as 'grabado'?

No. 'Grabando' is the continuous action form (like '-ing' in English: 'recording'). 'Grabado' is the past participle form (like '-ed' in English: 'recorded' or 'engraving'). They are used in different parts of speech and tenses.

Can I use 'grabando' without the verb 'estar'?

Yes, but it's less common. When used alone, it functions like an adverb, describing how an action is being done: 'Vino corriendo y cantando' (He came running and singing). It describes the manner of the action.