Inklingo

How to Say "recording" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “recording” is “grabación” — use 'grabación' when referring to the actual audio or video file, or the process/session of making a recording.

English → Spanish

grabación

nounA1general
Use 'grabación' when referring to the actual audio or video file, or the process/session of making a recording.

Examples

¿Puedes subir el volumen de la grabación, por favor?

Can you turn up the volume of the recording, please?

grabando

grah-BAHN-dohɡɾaˈban̪d̪o

verb (gerund)A1general
Use 'grabando' as the present participle (like '-ing' in English) to describe the ongoing action of recording audio, video, or data.
A colorful illustration showing a person recording vocals into a studio microphone, with an engineer monitoring the sound.

Examples

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'.

filmando

feel-MAHN-dohfilˈmando

verbA2general
Use 'filmando' specifically when the action involves capturing video footage, often with a camera.
A person holding a professional video camera on their shoulder, pointing it toward a colorful scene.

Examples

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.

vídeo

nounA1general
Use 'vídeo' when referring to the audio-visual content itself, especially when shared online or viewed.

Examples

¿Viste el nuevo vídeo que subieron a YouTube?

Did you see the new video they uploaded to YouTube?

discográfico

adjectiveB1general
Use 'discográfico' only as an adjective to describe something related to sound recordings, like the music industry or a record label.

Examples

El mercado discográfico ha cambiado mucho con las plataformas digitales.

The record market has changed a lot with digital platforms.

Grabación vs. Grabando

The most common mistake is confusing 'grabación' (the noun for the recording itself or the process) with 'grabando' (the gerund, meaning the action of recording happening now). Remember, 'grabación' is the thing or the event, while 'grabando' is the action in progress.

Related Translations

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