Ordenador vs. Computador

Question

I have always heard a computer referred to in Spanish as computadora here in California.

I have also heard "ordenador". Is this term only used in Spain?

Answer 1

I'm sure that either would be recognized anwhere, but:

ordenador

The ESP next to definiton 3 is for España meaning that the word is used mostly in Spain.

Finally they decided to add "Esp" to meanings and words used only in Spain. In the past they could not be bothered, so you never knew. - lazarus1907, Apr 24, 2011

Answer 2

No, it's not just in Spain. I've hear "ordenador" in South America, although it's not common. I've also heard a rather sexist remark that if it's working correctly it's called "el computador"; if it's not working right it called "la computadora". Both "el computador" and "la computadora" are grammatically correct. I would stick with the feminine.

Funny. - 0074b507, Apr 24, 2011

wow calvo, nice to see you around, I hope all is well with you and abuelita:) - 00494d19, Apr 24, 2011

Very funny, hehe. - Eddy, Apr 24, 2011

Answer 3

Probably. "Computador(a)" has been adopted following the English term, while "ordenador" is a clear imitation of the French term for it.

Ordinateur (fr.) which means "God that brings order to the world." - culé, Apr 24, 2011

Answer 4

Just to through a wrench in the works, one of my dictionaries shows computador for a desktop computer and computadora for a laptop.

Answer 5

Yes, in general "ordenador" appears in spanish books from Spain. In south américa we use "computadora", "compu" as informal.

That is my understanding of the differences too :) - FELIZ77, Apr 24, 2011