el aspirador o la aspirador

Question

In this week's Learn Spanish lesson there was a sentence using la aspirador. I thought that aspirador was masculine so I looked it up. It seems that it is both mascule and feminine with, at least, the RAE providing a distinction on what each means, but I wasn't quite sure what it was referring to.

aspirador-RAE

Googling, trying to find out what household devices each referred to, I only found vacuum cleaners for both genders.

Does anyone know the difference between el/la aspirador? Is one a vacuum cleaner and the other some type of air purifier? Something that pulls (suction) the air through a paper/water filter or an electrostatic dust remover (even though from the English cognate I would believe that suction must be involved, somehow, in the device).

Answer 1

Evening, Quentin.

RAE's definition allows either el aspirador or la aspiradora. The definition of the second is the first.

I guess it is regional. Maybe some folks from different parts can fill us in on what they use. I have only heard Mexicans and Central Americans say "la aspiradora".

Answer 2

Evening, Quentin.

RAE's definition allows either el aspirador or la aspiradora. The definition of the second is the first.

I guess it is regional. Maybe some folks from different parts can fill us in on what they use. I have only heard Mexicans and Central Americans say "la aspiradora".

Thank you for the clarification. I thought that the aspirador, aspiradora was referring to its use as an adjective, not as a noun.

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspiradora

el aspirador:
http://www.elaspirador.es/

la aspirador:
http://forum.delcam.com/viewtopic.php'f=21&p=27705

Here is an interesting site as they use aspirador and aspiradora as if they are different devices.
http://www.useandcaremanuals.com/pdf/V1000384.pdf

Notice that it is la aspirador in the title, but la aspiradora below in the body of the text.

Another site that uses both** la** aspirador and la aspiradora seemingly interchangeably.
http://www.genfoam.com/manuals/2008 Pool Manuals/Spanish Pool Maintenance Kit Instructions.pdf (link must be cut and pasted into browser navigation bar)

Answer 3

You can say either "pasar la aspiradora" or "pasar el aspirador".

How often do you vacuum?
¿Cada cuánto (tiempo) / Con qué frecuencia pasas la aspiradora (or "pasas el aspirador")?

P.S. "La aspirador " sounds odd to me. (I think it's a mistake)

Answer 4

P.S. "La aspirador " sounds odd to me. (I think it's a mistake)

-or.
1. suf. Forma sustantivos abstractos masculinos, en gran parte generados ya en latín. Amor, calor, rigor. Algunos se han formado en español, a partir de adjetivos o verbos. Dulzor, blancor, temblor.

1. suf. En adjetivos y sustantivos verbales, significa 'agente'. Aparece en palabras heredadas del latín. Censor, defensor, lector, cantor. Y en otras creadas en español. Revisor, reflector.

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Answer 5

Not that it helps the discussion but I think that "bomba aspiradora" is a suction pump. I suppose in this instance, "aspiradora" is an adjective.

Answer 6

Not that it helps the discussion but I think that "bomba aspiradora" is a suction pump. I suppose in this instance, "aspiradora" is an adjective.

It is, and it has to agree with "(la) bomba".