How to Say "recording" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “recording” is “grabación” — use 'grabación' when referring to the finished audio or video file (product) or the process/session of creating it..
grabación
Examples
Me encanta esta grabación de la orquesta.
I love this recording of the orchestra.
grabando
grah-BAHN-doh/ɡɾaˈban̪d̪o/
Examples
El técnico está grabando la entrevista ahora mismo.
The technician is recording the interview right now.
Estamos grabando un mensaje para mi abuela.
We are recording a message for my grandmother.
¿Estás grabando el concierto con tu celular?
Are you filming the concert with your cell phone?
La cámara de seguridad estuvo grabando toda la noche.
The security camera was recording all night.
Continuous Action
The word 'grabando' is the '-ing' form of 'grabar.' It is almost always used right after the verb 'estar' (to be) to show that an action is happening right now: 'Estoy grabando' (I am recording).
Implied Action
You can sometimes use 'grabando' alone, like an adverb, to describe how someone is doing something: 'Aprendió español viendo y grabando películas' (He learned Spanish by watching and recording movies).
Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'
Mistake: “Soy grabando.”
Correction: Estoy grabando. Remember, the continuous action form (the -ing form) always uses the temporary verb 'estar', not the permanent verb 'ser'.
Examples
Subí un vídeo corto a mi canal de YouTube.
I uploaded a short video to my YouTube channel.
filmando
/feel-MAHN-doh//filˈmando/
Examples
Los directores están filmando la escena final de la película.
The directors are filming the final scene of the movie.
Estamos filmando un video para YouTube.
We are filming a video for YouTube.
Ellos pasaron todo el día filmando en el parque.
They spent the whole day filming in the park.
¿Qué estás filmando con tu teléfono?
What are you filming with your phone?
The '-ing' action form
Words ending in '-ando' are like English '-ing' words. Use them with the verb 'estar' (to be) to say what is happening right this second.
Missing the helper verb
Mistake: “Yo filmando un video.”
Correction: Yo estoy filmando un video. In Spanish, you almost always need 'estar' (am/is/are) before the '-ando' word.
Distinguishing 'grabación' from 'grabando'
Related Translations
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