What is the correct way to say "I have to vacuum"?

Question

I looked it up on here, and I got a solid answer I'm just a little curious. Vacuum in Spanish is la aspiradora, and for 'I have to vacuum' in Spanish it is tengo a vacío. Why wouldn't I say la aspiradora in it? Thanks.

Answer 1

Hello Jkrane,

Welcome to our Spanishdict community forum

You asked:

What is the correct way to say "I have to vacuum"? I looked it up on here, and I got a solid answer I'm just a little curious. Vacuum in Spanish is la aspiradora, and for 'I have to vacuum' in Spanish it is tengo a vacío. Why wouldn't I say la aspiradora in it? Thanks.

You can say:

Tengo que pasar la aspiradora por la sala = I have to vacuum the living room/ lounge

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

It's perfect, It's another way to say it! - DoctorSpanish, May 12, 2017

Gracias, Doctor ¿me podrías dar un voto, por favor? :) - FELIZ77, May 12, 2017

Claro que sí! - DoctorSpanish, May 12, 2017

Yours is the best expression. It's the one that is used in all the textbooks. And you have my vote. - Daniela2041, May 12, 2017

If I didn't want to say 'the living room' or any room at the end should I take out por la sala? - Jkrane01, May 12, 2017

At JKrane, yes, that is the part to remove to accomplish that. :) - bosquederoble, May 12, 2017

Muchas gracias, Dani y Bosque :) - FELIZ77, May 12, 2017

Gracias Bosque. :) - Jkrane01, May 12, 2017

Thank you for choosing my answer as Best answer, Jkrane :) - FELIZ77, May 12, 2017

To say "vacuum the rug" you use "pasarle la aspiradora a la alfombra. "Alfombra" becomes the indirect object in this unusual expression. - Daniela2041, May 12, 2017

Es perfecto!, Feliz77! - Raff75, May 13, 2017

You have my vote. - Raff75, May 13, 2017

Muchas gracias Dani y Raff :) - FELIZ77, May 13, 2017

Answer 2

One of meanings of the verb "Aspirar" in Spanish is "to vacuum", so "I have to vacuum" = "Tengo que aspirar"

::) - FELIZ77, May 12, 2017

Answer 3

The home appliance is called "aspiradora".
When we use it at home we could say "pasar la aspiradora".

Yo paso la aspiradora día por medio. I vacuum every other day.

---

The word vacuum as in " A gas expands into a vacuum." where it means there is nothing inside is translated as "vacío", which is a feminine noun: " el vacío".
Example:

Para conservar alimentos perecederos debemos envasarlos al vacío.

Don't confuse it with the masculine adjective "vacío", which means empty.

El apartamento está vacío. The apartment is empty.

Vacio means "empty", arrogant" and "with no air". 1-Bolsillos vacios. Roberto esta vacio. Cafe envasado al vacio. - Raff75, May 13, 2017

Answer 4

1- Tengo que aspirar la sala.

2- Tengo que pasar la aspiradora por la sala

Ambos son igualmente correctos.

Aunque a mí el ejemplo 1 me suena a construcción anglicada, pero la acepción está contemplada en el diccionario RAE última edición. No sé si sea una incorporación reciente por causa de que millones de hispanohablantes la usan.