Spanish word

microondas

Pronunciation

IPA/mikɾoˈondas/

Meaning

  • masculine nounmicrowave

Example

¿Puedes calentar esto en el microondas?

Can you heat this in the microwave?

Illustration for microondas (microwave)

More examples

No pongas metal en el microondas.

Don't put metal in the microwave.

Core concept

Small kitchen box that heats food from inside using electromagnetic waves.

Common phrases

  • calentar en el microondas

    heat in the microwave

  • poner en el microondas

    put in the microwave

  • programar el microondas

    program the microwave

Similar words

horno: Large closed oven that bakes or roasts food by applying intense dry heat.
cocina: Freestanding range for home cooking with multiple burners and an integrated oven.
hornillo: Portable small stove whose burner heats cookware directly on a concentrated flame.
tostadora: Electric toaster that quickly browns slices of bread and crisps their surface.

Definition in Spanish

Electrodoméstico que utiliza ondas electromagnéticas llamadas microondas para calentar o cocinar alimentos y bebidas en poco tiempo.

Word origin

From Spanish micro- 'small' + ondas 'waves', originally the name for the electromagnetic waves and later applied to the cooking appliance.

Usage tips

  • Although it ends in -s, microondas is often singular with el (el microondas), so rely on the article and verb for number; it is also commonly shortened to micro in casual speech.

Other meanings

  • microwavesnoun

Opposites

  • hornoovennoun
  • estufastovenoun

Word lists with this word