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"Caja" is a noun which is often translated as "box", and "cajón" is a noun which is often translated as "drawer". Learn more about the difference between "caja" and "cajón" below.
la caja(
kah
-
hah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (container)
2. (machine)
a. cash register
Te lo juro. ¡Metí todo el dinero en la caja!I swear it. I put all the money in the cash register!
a. counter
Señor, tiene que pasar a la caja para sacar tanto dinero.Sir, you have to go to the counter to withdraw that much money.
c. checkout
Hay un montón de gente esperando para pagar en la caja.There's a ton of people waiting to pay at the checkout.
d. cash desk (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Podemos pagar en aquella caja de allí.We can pay at that cash desk over there.
a. take
¿Cuánto fue la caja de hoy, Pilar? - ¡Casi mil dólares!How much was today's take, Pilar? - Almost a thousand dollars!
5. (covering)
6. (music)
a. snare drum
¿Me pueden recomendar una buena caja para una banda de jazz escolar?Can anyone recommend me a good snare drum for a school jazz band?
b. soundbox (of a string instrument)
La caja de mi guitarra está pintada con flores.The soundbox of my guitar has flowers painted on it.
7. (colloquial) (casket)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. coffin
El presidente fue enterrado en una caja de roble.The president was buried in an oak coffin.
8. (weaponry)
a. stock
Esta caja fue usada con un cañón del siglo XVIII.This stock was used with an 18th-century cannon.
9. (printing)
a. case
¿Por qué está escrito en caja alta el título de este libro?Why is the title of this book written in upper case?
el cajón(
kah
-
hohn
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (furniture)
a. drawer
Yo guardo mis medias en el cajón de arriba de la cómoda.I keep my socks in the top drawer of the dresser.
2. (big box)
a. crate
Tuvimos que pedir diez cajones para empacar nuestras cosas cuando nos mudamos a la nueva casa.We had to order ten crates to pack our things when we moved to the new house.
3. (pall) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. coffin
Ya trajeron el cajón a la iglesia para el sepelio.They already brought the coffin to the church for the funeral.
b. casket (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Qué triste es cuando sacan el cajón del coche fúnebre al llegar al cementerio.It is so sad when they take the casket off the hearse at the cemetery.
4. (geography) (South America)
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
a. ravine
Bajamos por el cajón en burros hasta llegar al arroyo.We descended the ravine on donkeys until we reached the river.
