Spanish word

contestador

Pronunciation

IPA/kontestaˈðoɾ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounanswering machine

Example

Hay un mensaje en el contestador.

There is a message on the answering machine.

Illustration for contestador (answering machine)

More examples

Por favor, deja un mensaje en el contestador.

Please leave a message on the answering machine.

Core concept

A device or automatic system that stores voice messages left by callers who reached no one.

Common phrases

  • dejar un mensaje en el contestador

    leave a message on the answering machine

  • el contestador automático

    the automatic answering machine

  • mensaje en el contestador

    message on the answering machine

Similar words

buzón de voz: Phone service that stores incoming voice messages on the provider's system for retrieval.
contestador automático: Line-connected device that automatically answers calls and records a spoken message.
mensaje de voz: Individual spoken message left by a caller for the recipient to hear later.

Definition in Spanish

Máquina o servicio que registra mensajes de llamadas no atendidas para que su destinatario pueda oírlos más tarde.

Word origin

Derived from contestar 'to answer' plus the suffix -dor 'one who answers', reflecting a device or service that answers by recording messages.

Usage tips

  • Common collocation is contestador automático, and contestador is not equivalent to English 'respondent' in many contexts since it names the recording system rather than a person.

Other meanings

  • respondentnoun

Opposites

  • llamantecallernoun

Related words

  • contestaranswerverb
  • contestaciónreplynoun
  • contestadoansweredadjective

Word lists with this word