Inklingo

How to Say "mobile" in Spanish

English → Spanish

portátil

adjectiveA1general
Use 'portátil' when referring to something designed to be easily carried or moved, like electronic devices or chargers.

Examples

Necesito un cargador portátil para mi teléfono.

I need a portable charger for my phone.

móvil

adjectiveB1general
Use 'móvil' when something has the ability to be moved or is designed to be moved, often in a more structural or functional sense.

Examples

Instalaron una pared móvil para dividir la sala de reuniones.

They installed a moveable wall to divide the meeting room.

ambulante

am-boo-lan-tehambuˈlante

adjectiveA2general
Use 'ambulante' to describe something or someone that travels from place to place, often in a professional or commercial context.
A colorful caravan wagon traveling along a winding dirt road through green hills.

Examples

El circo ambulante llegó a mi pueblo ayer.

The traveling circus arrived in my town yesterday.

Hay muchos puestos ambulantes en esta calle.

There are many mobile stalls on this street.

La biblioteca ambulante visita las zonas rurales.

The mobile library visits the rural areas.

One size fits all

This word ends in -e, which means it stays exactly the same whether you are talking about a masculine or feminine thing. No need to change it to 'ambulanta'!

Positioning

Like most descriptive words in Spanish, 'ambulante' usually comes after the person or thing it describes, like in 'circo ambulante'.

The 'Ambulance' Trap

Mistake: “Llamé a un ambulante porque estaba enfermo.”

Correction: Llamé a una ambulancia porque estaba enfermo.

Portátil vs. Móvil

Learners often confuse 'portátil' and 'móvil'. Remember, 'portátil' is for things easily carried (like a laptop), while 'móvil' refers to things that can be moved or are designed to move, like a partition or even a mobile phone itself ('teléfono móvil').

Related Translations

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