Lavabo = bathroom sink?

Question

I know "fregadero" is "sink", but can "lavabo" also be used for "sink"? Maybe in the bathroom?

The Spanish-speakers I work with have not heard of it... and they all use "fregadero".

It may be regional... they are from Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.

Answer 1

Hi, Tosh.

The good folks here in Guatemala corrected my use of "fregadero," saying that "lavaplatos" or "lavatrastos" is used for the kitchen sink.

"Lavabo" is used for the bathroom sink only.

That's interesting, because fregadero can be used just to the north, at least in central Mexico. - Jeremias, Jul 26, 2011

Great! Thanks! - Tosh, Jul 26, 2011

my friends in Colombia only use 'lavamanos' o 'lavaplatos' Hay una lavamanos en el bano, y la cocina tambien. - royzito, Jul 26, 2011

Sí, me han dicho de 'lavamanos', también. - Tosh, Jul 26, 2011

We use " lavabos" for the bathroom sinks here in Mexico - pacofinkler, Jul 26, 2011

Answer 2

That has been my understanding. Fregadero is the kitchen sink and lavabo is the bathroom or sink in the laundry room, but, in general, they are both pilas (basins).

Answer 3

I'm not native Spanish, but based on the translations in my hardcopy Spanish-Dutch dictionary I'd say your guess is right:

lavabo = wastafel = bathroom sink

fregadero = gootsteen = kitchen sink

Latin American Spanish is generally easier than what they speak in Spain, so they apparently the decided to use the same word since both sinks have roughly the same function.

Thanks for checking! :) - Tosh, Jul 26, 2011

Answer 4

Yep. Do a google image search for it. In other places it is just used for a church sink.

Answer 5

I grew up learning from my Cuban parents that:

• fregadero = kitchen sink
• lavamanos = bathroom sink
• lavabo = bathroom sink (not used nearly as often as lavamanos, but understood)
• lavaplatos = dishwasher

I think I'll go with your parents! ;-) - territurtle, Jul 27, 2011

This is also what I learned and used while living in Mexico for almost 9 years. I agree with you gintar77. :) The most common used was lavamanos where I was on the border with Texas. I heard each of the different ones listed above depending on the region - CharityFloyd, Apr 25, 2017