Inklingo

How to Say "storage" in Spanish

English → Spanish

almacenamiento

al-mah-seh-nah-myehn-tohalmaθenaˈmjento

nounB1general
Use 'almacenamiento' for general digital data space or a physical place where items are stored.
Several brown cardboard boxes neatly stacked together in a tidy pile.

Examples

Mi teléfono se quedó sin espacio de almacenamiento.

My phone ran out of storage space.

El almacenamiento de comida es importante para las emergencias.

The storage of food is important for emergencies.

La empresa optimizó el almacenamiento en sus bodegas.

The company optimized the warehousing in its depots.

Always Masculine

This word is always masculine. Even if you are storing feminine items (like 'comida'), you still use 'el almacenamiento'.

The '-miento' Ending

Words ending in '-miento' usually turn a verb into a noun. It describes the 'act or result' of the action. In this case, it's the result of 'almacenar' (to store).

Avoid Spanglish

Mistake: “No tengo mucho estore.”

Correction: No tengo mucho almacenamiento.

memoria

meh-MOH-ree-ahmeˈmo.ɾja

nounB1technical/digital
Use 'memoria' specifically when referring to the internal data capacity of a device, like a phone or computer.
A simple, high-quality illustration of a computer RAM stick, representing digital memory storage.

Examples

Mi teléfono se está quedando sin memoria para fotos y videos.

My phone is running out of memory for photos and videos.

Necesito un disco duro externo con más memoria.

I need an external hard drive with more storage/memory.

Technical Usage

When referring to a computer component, 'memoria' can be used on its own, but often requires a descriptor like 'memoria RAM' or 'tarjeta de memoria' (memory card).

conservación

nounB1general/technical
Use 'conservación' when talking about the method or process of preserving items, especially food or sensitive materials.

Examples

Consulta las instrucciones de conservación en el envase.

Check the storage instructions on the packaging.

capacidad

kah-pah-see-dahdkapaˈsiðað

nounB2technical
Use 'capacidad' to refer to the maximum amount something can hold, often in a technical or data context, but also for physical spaces.
A transparent glass jar completely filled to the very top with small, colorful marbles, illustrating the maximum volume it can hold.

Examples

El estadio tiene una capacidad para 50,000 espectadores.

The stadium has a capacity for 50,000 spectators.

El disco duro no tiene suficiente capacidad para guardar más archivos.

The hard drive doesn't have enough capacity (storage) to save more files.

La capacidad de la batería es de 5000 miliamperios.

The battery capacity is 5000 milliamperes.

Measure Words

When discussing physical volume, 'capacidad' often pairs with numbers and units of measure, such as 'capacidad para 10 litros' (capacity for 10 liters).

Almacenamiento vs. Memoria

Learners often confuse 'almacenamiento' and 'memoria' when talking about digital devices. Remember that 'almacenamiento' refers to the overall storage space, while 'memoria' specifically points to the device's internal memory capacity.

Related Translations

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