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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).
masculine noun
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.
2. (basin) (Andes)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. sink
Llené el lavaplatos de agua y dejé la cacerola en remojo toda la noche.I filled the sink with water and left the saucepan to soak overnight.
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).
masculine or feminine noun
a. dishwasher
Durante las vacaciones de verano, trabajaba como lavaplatos en un restaurante.During summer vacation, I worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant.
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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).
feminine noun
a. coffee maker
Esta cafetera hace un buen café.This coffee maker makes good coffee.
b. coffee machine
Tengo que limpiar el filtro de la cafetera.I need to clean the coffee machine filter.
c. French press
¿Puedo sumergir el émbolo de la cafetera?Can I push the French press plunger down?
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.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
(old-fashioned)
(old vehicle)
a. old jalopy
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Mis padres siguen viajando en su cafetera.My parents still go traveling in their old jalopy.
b. old banger
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
(United Kingdom)
El mecánico dice que esta cafetera corre muy bien.The mechanic says that this old banger runs really well.
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