Inklingo

How to Say "container" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bote

BOH-tay/ˈbo.te/

nounA1general
Use 'bote' for small, general-purpose containers, often made of glass or plastic, used for food items or liquids.
A transparent glass jar tightly sealed and filled with bright red strawberry jam, sitting on a wooden surface.

Examples

Guarda las galletas en un bote de cristal.

Store the cookies in a glass jar.

Necesito un bote de miel para hacer el postre.

I need a jar of honey to make the dessert.

Tira ese bote de plástico a la basura.

Throw that plastic container in the trash.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'bote' is always masculine, so use 'el bote' or 'un bote'.

continente

/kon-tee-NEN-teh//kontiˈnente/

nounB2formal
Use 'continente' in a more abstract or formal sense, referring to the physical structure or shell that holds something, like a building or a large receptacle.
A simple wooden crate with a lid, standing alone on a plain background.

Examples

El agua se acumula en el continente interior del motor.

Water accumulates in the internal container of the engine.

El seguro de hogar cubre el continente y el contenido.

The home insurance covers the structure (building) and the contents.

El continente de la botella es de vidrio reciclado.

The container of the bottle is made of recycled glass.

Technical Usage

In insurance, 'continente' is the 'box' (the house itself) and 'contenido' is what's inside the box.

Bote vs. Continente

The most common mistake is using 'continente' for everyday food jars. Remember that 'bote' is for common, smaller containers like jars or cans, while 'continente' refers to the structure or shell holding something, often in a more technical or abstract context.

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