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"Dependable" is an adjective which is often translated as "fiable", and "dependent" is an adjective which is often translated as "dependiente de". Learn more about the difference between "dependable" and "dependent" below.
dependable(
dih
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pehn
-
duh
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buhl
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. fiable
A dependable employee is beneficial for the business.Un empleado fiable es un beneficio para la empresa.
b. formal
Our babysitter picks up the children from school every day. She's very dependable.Nuestra babysitter busca a los niños en la escuela todos los días. Es muy formal.
c. confiable (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
He's not a dependable man—his absence tonight is proof of that.No es un hombre confiable: el hecho de que no esté aquí esta noche es prueba de ello.
b. confiable (machine) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
It's not a fancy car, but it gets good mileage, and it's dependable.No es un auto muy lujoso, pero consume poca gasolina y es confiable.
dependent(
dih
-
pehn
-
dihnt
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. dependiente de
People have become dependent on cell phone service.La gente se ha vuelto dependiente del servicio de telefonía celular.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Garret was dependent on drugs, but he's been clean for years now.Garret era drogodependiente, pero ha estado limpio desde hace años ya.
He became dependent on opium when he worked as a secret agent.Empezó a depender del opio cuando trabajó como agente secreto.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Eugenio provides for three dependent relatives.Eugenio sostiene tres cargas familiares.
Other than my children, I have no dependent relatives.Aparte de mis hijos, no tengo familiares a mi cargo.
3. (grammar)
a. subordinado
We learned about dependent clauses in English class today.Aprendimos las cláusulas subordinadas hoy en la clase de inglés.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Dependent upon your answer to this question, the interview could go in different directions.En función de su respuesta a esta pregunta, la entrevista podría ir en diferentes direcciones.
Whether or not it snows tonight is dependent upon the temperature.Si nieva o no esta noche depende de la temperatura.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la persona a cargo (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Max's children and his mother are his dependents, because he pays their living expenses.Los hijos y la mamá de Max son personas a su cargo, porque él paga sus gastos de manutención.
