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"El lavaplatos" is a form of "lavaplatos", a noun which is often translated as "dishwasher". "La cafetera" is a form of "cafetera", a noun which is often translated as "coffee maker". Learn more about the difference between "el lavaplatos" and "la cafetera" below.
el lavaplatos(
lah
-
bah
-
plah
-
tohs
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. dishwasher
Mañana viene el técnico a arreglar el lavaplatos.The repairman is coming tomorrow to repair the dishwasher.
Cuando acabe el lavaplatos, vacíalo.When the dishwasher is done, unload it.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
3. (profession)
a. dishwasher
Durante las vacaciones de verano, trabajaba como lavaplatos en un restaurante.During summer vacation, I worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant.
la cafetera(
kah
-
feh
-
teh
-
rah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (device)
b. coffee machine
Tengo que limpiar el filtro de la cafetera.I need to clean the coffee machine filter.
2. (receptacle)
a. coffee pot
Mi abuela me dio una cafetera de porcelana, pero no la utilizo jamás.My grandmother gave me a china coffee pot, but I never use it.
3. (colloquial) (old-fashioned) (old vehicle)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. old jalopy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mis padres siguen viajando en su cafetera.My parents still go traveling in their old jalopy.
b. old banger (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El mecánico dice que esta cafetera corre muy bien.The mechanic says that this old banger runs really well.
