Hi tech in Spanish

Question

I have been noticing that there aren't any mainstream common references (¡SD! translator, et.al.) for commonly used hi-tech terms such as laptop or e-mail. I would like to use more vernacular-type words when writing to my Mexican friend. Does any one know of some nouns that fit the bill?

Laptop - ordenador computador(a) portátil

e-mail - correo electrónico

For e-mail my friend writes "Mail" (alway capitalized) - but maybe he's just lazy!

How about:

Laptop - regazo encima or reg-cima?

Ok, that's just silly - but my question is "serious". Thanks!

Answer 1

In real life they mostly use the English terms. Some sticklers, particularly in Spain, will insist on using the officially approved terms, such as correo electrónico instead of e-mail, but a laptop is un laptop, for the most part. Ordenador/computadora portátil takes too long to say or write, even though it is the correct term.

Thank you - this mannerism is used in many languages I've noticed (that's where all them wacky English words came from too!) :-) - musicat, Jan 29, 2012