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"Phone" is a noun which is often translated as "el teléfono", and "cell" is a noun which is often translated as "la celda". Learn more about the difference between "phone" and "cell" below.
phone(
fon
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (medium)
a. el teléfono (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He's on the phone right now. Can I take a message?Ahora mismo está en el teléfono. ¿Quiere dejar un mensaje?
2. (device)
a. el teléfono (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I have to buy a new phone because I dropped mine in the toilet.Tengo que comprar un teléfono nuevo porque el mío se me cayó al inodoro.
b. el celular (M) (cell) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
The battery life on my phone is terrible.La duración de batería de mi celular es malísima.
c. el móvil (M) (cell) (Spain)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Spain
I need to buy a new screen protector for my phone.Necesito comprar un protector de pantalla nuevo para mi móvil.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (to call)
b. telefonear
Why don't you phone your mother and ask her?¿Por qué no telefoneas a tu madre y le preguntas?
c. hablarle a (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Mexico
Have you phoned the dentist for an appointment?¿Le has hablado al dentista para pedir cita?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
cell(
sehl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (place)
a. la celda (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).
Prisoners were only let out of their cells for one hour a day.Se les permitía a los reclusos salir de sus celdas solo durante una hora al día.
3. (biology)
a. la célula (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).
Cells undergo changes which, in some cases, can lead to cancer.Las células sufren cambios que, en algunos casos, pueden provocar cáncer.
5. (colloquial) (electronics) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. el celular (M) (Latin America)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Do you have my cell number?¿Tienes mi número de celular?
6. (politics)
7. (computing)
