Inklingo

How to Say "tank" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tanque

TAHN-keh/ˈtaŋke/

nounA2general
Use 'tanque' for a container holding liquid or gas, especially for fuel in a vehicle, or for an armored military vehicle.
A large, simple blue cylindrical water storage tank standing on four metal legs against a clear blue sky.

Examples

El coche necesita más gasolina, el tanque está casi vacío.

The car needs more gas, the tank is almost empty.

Necesito parar para llenar el tanque de gasolina.

I need to stop to fill the gas tank.

Revisamos el nivel del agua en el tanque.

We checked the water level in the tank.

El tanque blindado avanzó por el campo.

The armored tank advanced across the field.

depósito

nounA2general
Use 'depósito' for a general storage place or container, especially for liquids or fuel when not referring to a vehicle's tank, or for a storage room.

Examples

Guardamos el aceite de oliva en un depósito grande.

We store the olive oil in a large tank.

tina

TEE-nah/ˈtina/

nounB1specific
Use 'tina' specifically for a large vat used for storage or fermentation, particularly in contexts like winemaking or brewing.
A massive, cylindrical, metal industrial vat, standing on the floor of a simple warehouse or factory environment.

Examples

La cerveza se fermenta en una tina de acero inoxidable.

The beer ferments in a stainless steel vat.

El vino se está fermentando en una gran tina de roble.

The wine is fermenting in a large oak vat.

Necesitamos una tina para mezclar el cemento.

We need a tub (or mixing container) to mix the cement.

Context is Key

If you hear 'tina' outside of a bathroom context (e.g., in a winery or construction site), it refers to a very large, utility container or tank.

Tanque vs. Depósito

Learners often confuse 'tanque' and 'depósito' for liquid containers. Remember that 'tanque' is the default for vehicle fuel and military vehicles, while 'depósito' is more general for storage or a separate container.

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