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How to Say "telegram" in Spanish

English → Spanish

telegrama

teh-leh-GRAH-mah/teleˈɣɾama/

nounB1general
Use 'telegrama' for any urgent written message, especially one received in the past or in a general context, as it's the most common and direct translation for 'telegram'.
A simple storybook illustration of an isolated yellow sheet of paper, folded once, with a bright red seal in the center, depicted mid-flight, suggesting urgent delivery.

Examples

Recibimos un telegrama anunciando el nacimiento de nuestro nieto.

We received a telegram announcing the birth of our grandson.

El presidente envió un telegrama de felicitación al país vecino.

The president sent a congratulatory cable (telegram) to the neighboring country.

Antes, los mensajes urgentes se mandaban por telegrama.

Before, urgent messages were sent by telegram.

Masculine Noun Ending in -a

Even though 'telegrama' ends in -a, it is a masculine noun. This is common for words adopted from Greek that end in -ma, like 'el problema' (the problem) or 'el idioma' (the language).

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La telegrama es urgente.”

Correction: El telegrama es urgente. Remember to use 'el' and masculine adjectives, even though the word looks feminine.

cable

/kah-bleh//ˈkaβle/

nounB2dated
Use 'cable' when referring to the older, now largely obsolete, method of sending urgent messages via telegraph lines, often implying official or important news.
A uniformed messenger wearing a cap, running quickly while clutching a sealed, official-looking envelope, depicting fast message delivery.

Examples

El embajador envió un cable urgente a la capital reportando la situación.

The ambassador sent an urgent cable (telegram) to the capital reporting the situation.

Historical Context

This meaning comes from the time when messages were sent across continents via underwater telegraph cables.

Choosing Between 'Telegrama' and 'Cable'

Learners often use 'cable' when 'telegrama' would be more appropriate because 'cable' sounds more formal. Remember that 'cable' specifically refers to the dated technology, while 'telegrama' is the general term for the message itself.

Related Translations

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