Spanish Conversation · Level 109
60 words
Spanish word
contenedor
Pronunciation
IPA/konteneˈðoɾ/
Meaning
- masculine nouncontainer
Example
Pon la botella en el contenedor de reciclaje.
Put the bottle in the recycling container.
More examples
¿Dónde está el contenedor para el vidrio?
Where is the container for glass?
Core concept
Receptacle for holding waste or other objects.
Common phrases
contenedor de reciclaje
recycling container
contenedor de basura
trash can
contenedor de carga
shipping container
Similar words
basurero: Indoor or outdoor household trash container for daily refuse awaiting collection.
papelera: Small outdoor bin for paper scraps and light litter on streets and in parks.
punto limpio: Municipal drop-off facility where residents bring household waste and recyclables.
Definition in Spanish
Recipiente destinado a contener residuos u otros objetos; se emplea tanto para papeleras como para contenedores de transporte.
Word origin
From Spanish contener 'to contain' plus the agentive suffix -dor, ultimately from Latin continere meaning 'hold together'.
Usage tips
- Often appears with a qualifier such as 'de basura', 'de reciclaje' or 'marítimo', so the surrounding phrase usually shows whether it means a trash bin or a shipping container.