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"Caja" is a noun which is often translated as "box", and "fondo" is a noun which is often translated as "bottom". Learn more about the difference between "caja" and "fondo" 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 fondo(
fohn
-
doh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. bottom
Hay muchas hojas de té en el fondo de la taza.There are a lot of tea leaves at the bottom of the mug.
b. bed (of a river or stream)
Pudimos ver muchos renacuajos en el fondo del arroyo.We could see a lot of tadpoles on the creek bed.
2. (backdrop)
a. background
Pintó unas flores rojas sobre un fondo verde.She painted red flowers on a green background.
b. end (alley, street)
Vamos a poner las cajas al fondo de la calle para que las recoja el camión de la basura.We're going to put the boxes at the end of the street so that the garbage truck picks them up.
4. (essence)
a. fund
Establecieron un fondo para ayudar a los estudiantes de escasos recursos.They established a fund to help low-income students.
6. (catalog)
a. collection
El fondo de la biblioteca incluye más de 10,000 libros.The library's collection includes more than 10,000 books.
7. (dimension)
a. depth
El apartamento es angosto, es cierto, pero tiene mucho fondo.The apartment is narrow, it's true, but it has a lot of depth.
