Electronics

1. el móvil

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   "El móvil" in Spain; Latin America says "el celular" and will not readily follow "móvil"

2. la tableta

   Tablet

   Usage

   Security will ask you to take it out of your bag. Many people simply say "la tablet"

3. el portátil

   Laptop

   Usage

   Spain shortens "el ordenador portátil" to "el portátil". Mexico says "la laptop", Argentina "la notebook"

4. el cargador

   Charger

   Usage

   For losing one, buying one or borrowing one: "¿me puede prestar un cargador?"

5. el cable de carga

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Say the connector too — "USB-C" or "Lightning". Phone shops and neighbourhood bazaars stock them

6. la batería externa

   Power bank

   Usage

   Also called "el power bank". Lithium cells must travel in your hand luggage, never in the hold

7. el adaptador de enchufe

   Plug adapter

   Usage

   Spain uses the round two-pin Type C at 230V. Mexico uses flat pins at 127V, Argentina the angled Type I at 220V — check the country, not the language

8. el enchufe

   Power socket

   Usage

   Show it when hunting for a socket: "¿puedo usar el enchufe?". Latin America says "el tomacorriente", and Mexico "el contacto"

9. la regleta

   Power strip

   Usage

   One adapter plus one of these charges the whole party. Argentina and Chile call it "la zapatilla", Colombia "la multitoma"

10. las pilas

    Batteries

    Usage

    Sizes are simply "AA" and "AAA". A built-in rechargeable is "la batería", a different word

11. el wifi

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Pronounced roughly "wee-fee" in Spain. The first thing to ask at a café: "¿hay wifi?"

12. la contraseña del wifi

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    Show it and staff will write it on your receipt. Latin America more often says "la clave del wifi"

13. la tarjeta SIM

    SIM card

    Usage

    A prepaid one is "una tarjeta prepago", and Spain requires your passport to buy it. An eSIM is simply "la eSIM"

14. la tarjeta de memoria

    Memory card

    Usage

    Show it in an electronics shop when your camera fills up. "La tarjeta SD" works too

15. los auriculares

    Headphones

    Usage

    For buying a replacement or asking cabin crew for a pair. Latin America says "los audífonos"

    Grammar Note

    Always used in the plural

16. el altavoz

    Speaker

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for the volume down. South America says "el parlante", Mexico "la bocina"

17. la cámara

    Camera

    Usage

    Show it when asking whether photos are allowed: "¿puedo hacer una foto?" in Spain, "¿puedo tomar una foto?" in Latin America

18. la linterna

    Torch / Flashlight

    Usage

    Needed for caves and power cuts. The phone function has the same name: "la linterna del móvil"

19. el aire acondicionado

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    Often shortened to "el aire". Inland Spain passes 40°C in summer, so check before you book

20. el mando a distancia

    Remote control

    Usage

    Spain shortens it to "el mando"; Latin America says "el control remoto"

21. el ventilador

    Fan

    Usage

    Ask for one where there is no aircon. The hand-held Spanish fan is "el abanico" — a different word and a summer essential

22. la nevera

    Fridge

    Usage

    "La nevera" or "el frigorífico" in Spain, "el refrigerador" in Mexico, "la heladera" in Argentina

23. el hervidor de agua

    Kettle

    Usage

    Spanish hotel rooms rarely have one — ask at reception, or check whether the room has a coffee machine instead

24. el microondas

    Microwave

    Usage

    "¿Me lo puede calentar?" is how you ask for something to be heated up

    Grammar Note

    Masculine with the same form in both numbers: "el microondas", "los microondas"

25. la lavadora

    Washing machine

    Usage

    A self-service laundry is "la lavandería autoservicio" and the dryer "la secadora". Argentina calls the machine "el lavarropas"

26. el secador de pelo

    Hairdryer

    Usage

    Reception will usually lend one: "¿tienen secador de pelo?"

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