How to Say "socket" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “socket” is “cavidad” — use 'cavidad' to refer to a natural hole or hollow space, like a tooth cavity or the socket of a joint in a biological sense.
cavidad
kah-bee-DAHDka.βiˈðað
Examples
El ojo del cráneo forma una cavidad para el globo ocular.
The eye socket of the skull forms a cavity for the eyeball.
El dentista dijo que no tengo ninguna cavidad en los dientes.
The dentist said I don't have any cavities in my teeth.
El corazón se encuentra dentro de la cavidad torácica.
The heart is located inside the chest cavity.
Los arqueólogos encontraron una cavidad oculta en la pirámide.
The archaeologists found a hidden hollow in the pyramid.
Gender Pattern
Words ending in '-dad' are almost always feminine. Just like 'la ciudad' or 'la universidad', you should always say 'la cavidad'.
Pluralization
To make it plural, add '-es' because it ends in a consonant: 'las cavidades'.
Hole vs. Cavity
Mistake: “Using 'agujero' for a tooth cavity.”
Correction: Use 'cavidad' or more commonly 'caries' for tooth decay. 'Agujero' usually means a hole that goes all the way through something.
encaje
en-KAH-hehenˈkaxe
Examples
El enchufe tiene un encaje perfecto en la pared.
The plug has a perfect socket in the wall.
El encaje de las piezas del puzzle es perfecto.
The fit of the puzzle pieces is perfect.
Buscamos el encaje social de los nuevos residentes.
We are looking for the social integration of the new residents.
Esta pieza no tiene un buen encaje en el motor.
This part doesn't have a good fit in the engine.
Abstract Use
'Encaje' can describe physical fitting or abstract fitting, like how a person fits into a team.
jack
yak'ʝak
Examples
Mi portátil solo tiene un jack para auriculares.
My laptop only has one headphone jack.
Conecta los auriculares en el jack de 3.5 milímetros.
Plug the headphones into the 3.5 millimeter jack.
El amplificador tiene un jack de entrada y uno de salida.
The amplifier has an input jack and an output jack.
hembra
EM-brah (like 'em' in 'ember' followed by 'brah')ˈem.bɾa
Examples
La hembra del enchufe eléctrico es donde se insertan los pines.
The socket of the electrical plug is where the pins are inserted.
Necesitas alinear el macho con la hembra para cerrar la cerradura.
You need to align the male part with the female part (socket) to close the lock.
La conexión tiene una cabeza macho y una hembra.
The connection has a male head and a female head (receptacle).
Technical Gender Analogy
In technical Spanish, 'hembra' (female) is used for the part that receives or contains something, while 'macho' (male) is the part that inserts or connects.
Choosing between cavity and fit
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