"Ordenador" versus "computadora"

Question

I was doing a practice quiz, "Saber vs. Conocer", and one of the example sentences translated the word "computer" as "ordenador." In Puerto Rico, they just say "computadora." Are both correct?

Welcome to SD - ian-hill, Oct 15, 2012

Answer 1

I think ordenador must be used more in Spain because I don't hear it much where I've been. I hear computadora more often on this side of the world.

No one in American would say "ordenador", unless they are snobs trying to sound Spanish. - diagonx, Oct 15, 2012

And, no one in Spain would say, "computadora" unless they wanted to sound like they were from Latin America. - JoyceM, Oct 15, 2012

How about the words for laptop? - katydew, Oct 15, 2012

It's usually called portatil in spain, not sure about the rest of spanish speaking comunities/countries. - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

oh, ordenador in spanish comes from the latin ordenare ...i believe that the french ordinateur comes from there too :) - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

Answer 2

In American dialects of Spanish "computador" or "computadora" is used due to the influence of English (computer). In Spain the word "ordenador" is used and comes from the French word "ordinateur".

You've gotten to the bottom of it. - katydew, Oct 15, 2012

well done about americanised spanish!! not sure about about hispanoamerican dialects... oh, ordenador in spanish comes from the latin ordenare ...i believe that the french ordinateur comes from there too :) - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

The French word exists because the French did everything they could to prevent "English" words from being absorbed into the French language. - ian-hill, Oct 16, 2012

Answer 3

I think only in Spain they still say "Ordenador" and it's almost universal elsewhere to say "Computadora."

As Franco says, "Computadora portátil" is a laptop / notebook computer.

LoL...just say "apple" and smile. - viejito, Oct 16, 2012

I'm sure that's because in Spain we speak Spanish. I'm saying this without the arrogance of some South Americans Spanish speakers posts... - 003e614f, Oct 20, 2012

elevator - lift :) Best Wishes to all of you and Good bye - 003e614f, Oct 20, 2012

Answer 4

Ordenador falls short of the definition of computer. Initially, computers were designed to sort (ordenar) data, but ever since they do much more than that. A computer is designed to perform many routine tasks very fast and accurately, among them, sorting data.

Really? - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

com·put·er (km-pytr) n. 1. A device that computes, especially a programmable electronic machine that performs high-speed mathematical or logical operations or that assembles, stores, correlates, or otherwise processes information. 2. One who computes. - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

How about laptops? Do you still say computadora/comptuador or just 'laptop"? - katydew, Oct 15, 2012

ordenador, ra. 1. adj. Que ordena. 2.m. m. Esp. Máquina electrónica dotada de una memoria de gran capacidad y de métodos de tratamiento de la información, capaz de resolver problemas aritméticos y lógicos gracias a la utilización automática de programas - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

computador or computadora portátil is the denition of laptop in Latin American Spanish. - francobollo, Oct 15, 2012

I won't get into a discussion about ordenador. I've had it way too many times in my life. To each his own. If you want to say ordenador and are happy with that definition, then more power to you. - francobollo, Oct 15, 2012

i never had a discusion about it - its just that in spanish its called ordenador, i did post the real academy of the spanish languaje definition above ...power to it, i dont need or want any :) - 003e614f, Oct 15, 2012

Answer 5

Sip - Yep

Typing at the same time again. :) - Tosh, Oct 15, 2012

:) - ian-hill, Oct 15, 2012

Answer 6

Sí. Depende del país.

You really are addicted. jeje - rac1, Oct 15, 2012

:)) - Tosh, Oct 15, 2012

I feel an SD addict posting coming on. - katydew, Oct 15, 2012

Answer 7

I know you're not asking, but among Spanish-speakers from the Americas there's also a simpler division, those who say computadora(F), and others who say computador(M).

Good to know. I've never come across the masculine form. - 0095ca4c, Oct 15, 2012