How to Say "detector" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “detector” is “detector” — use 'detector' when referring to a device specifically designed to find or identify the presence of a particular substance or condition, like smoke or gas..
detector
/deh-tehk-TOR//deteɣˈtoɾ/
Examples
El detector de humo está en el techo.
The smoke detector is on the ceiling.
Tienes que pasar por el detector de metales.
You have to go through the metal detector.
Es difícil engañar a un detector de mentiras moderno.
It is difficult to fool a modern lie detector.
Always Masculine
Even though it refers to a device, the word is always masculine ('el detector'). Use 'un' or 'el' with it.
The 'de' Rule
To say what kind of detector it is, just add 'de' followed by the thing it finds (e.g., 'detector de gas').
Gender confusion
Mistake: “La detector de metales.”
Correction: El detector de metales. Words ending in '-or' in Spanish are almost always masculine.
sensor
sehn-SOHR/senˈsoɾ/
Examples
El sensor de movimiento encendió las luces del pasillo.
The motion sensor turned on the hallway lights.
Mi coche tiene un sensor que ayuda a aparcar sin chocar.
My car has a sensor that helps with parking without crashing.
El sensor de huellas dactilares del teléfono no funciona bien.
The fingerprint sensor on the phone isn't working well.
Making it plural
Since this word ends in a consonant (the letter 'r'), you make it plural by adding '-es' to the end: 'un sensor' becomes 'dos sensores'.
Word Order for Descriptions
In English, we say 'motion sensor.' In Spanish, we flip it: 'sensor de movimiento' (sensor of motion). Use 'de' to describe what the sensor does.
Wrong Gender
Mistake: “la sensor”
Correction: el sensor (Words ending in -or are almost always masculine in Spanish).
Detector vs. Sensor
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.