A Complete Guide to Spanish Computer Vocabulary

Want to become a Spanish computer whiz? Even if you’re simply looking to become literate in Spanish computer terminology, this post is for you. These terms are especially useful for you  if you work with Spanish-speaking colleagues or clients. 

In today’s digital age, “technology” encompasses high-tech gadgets, like computers, tablets, and smartphones, as well as internet use, social media, and general computing lingo. Computers have become a part of daily life, and many of us carry a miniature one around with us almost all the time in the form of our phone. 

For the purpose of this blog post, we’ll cover multiple areas of technology in Spanish—including relevant verbs, the Spanish keyboard, hardware, software, internet, and social media. 

Although the terms provided in this post are all used by Spanish speakers somewhere, word choice depends on the region and preference of the individual speaker. 

Spanish Computer Vocabulary Guide 

Spanish vocabulary related to computers and the internet remains in a state of continuous change; some Spanish speakers object to the direct import of English words. For this reason, for example, a computer mouse may be referred to as a “mouse” (pronounced maus), or as la ratón (the Spanish word for “mouse”). 

Spanish Computer Vocabulary: Verbs

Here are the action words you need to know in Spanish to discuss all things related to computing.

Turn on – encender

Turn off – apagar

Upload – subir

Save – guardar

Erase, delete – borrar

Click – hacer clic, cliquear, presionar, pulsar

Download – bajar, descargar

Search – buscar 

Google (as a verb) – googlear

Reboot – reiniciar

Crash – caer el sistema

Print – imprimir

Type – teclear

Connect – conectar

Install – instalar

Access – acceder

Log in – iniciar sesión

Upgrade, update – actualizar

Browse – navegar

Back up – hacer una copia de seguridad

Cut and paste – cortar y pegar

Email – enviar correo electrónico, enviar por correo electrónico, emailear

Spanish Computer Keyboard Codes

The Spanish language uses several symbols and punctuation marks that do not appear in the English language. If you’ve endeavored to type in Spanish, you’ve likely struggled to find characters such as ¿, ¡, «, », á, é, í, ó, ú, ü, or ñ.

A keyboard layout designed with the Spanish language in mind is a great tool for writing in Spanish. The Spanish keyboard eliminates the need for shortcuts and includes the letter Ñ, as well as Spanish-only punctuation marks such as the initial exclamation and question marks ¡ ¿. 

Spanish alt codes are easy to use, and they help you to write faster when typing in Spanish. Copying and pasting accented letters from websites gets tedious. Instead, you can check your list of Spanish alt codes or use your international keyboard to type more efficiently, saving you loads of time and energy. 

Spanish Computer Keyboard Vocabulary

“At” symbol (@) – la arroba

Button (as on a mouse) – el botón

Cursor – el cursor

Key (of a keyboard) – la tecla

Keyboard – el teclado

Mouse – el ratón, el mouse

Slash (/) – la barra, la barra oblicua

Backslash (\) – la barra invertida, la barra inversa, la contrabarra

See also: 

• The Spanish Keyboard – How to Type Anything in Spanish
• What’s the Deal With the Upside Down Question Mark in Spanish?
• Check out this online Spanish keyboard!

Spanish Computer Vocabulary: Hardware

Computer – la computadora

Tablet – la tableta

Laptop – el plegable, la computadora portátil, el ordenador portátil

Printer – la impresora

Hard Drive – el disco duro

Headphones – los audífonos

Microphone – el micrófono

Screen – la pantalla

Camera – la cámara

Speakers – las bocinas

RAM – la memoria RAM

Flash memory – la memoria flash

Battery – la batería

Hard drive – el disco duro

USB port – puerto USB

Drive – el driver

Server – el servidor

Cable – el cable

Smartphone – el teléfono inteligente, el smartphone

Operating system – el sistema operativo, el código operacional

Processor – el procesador

Router – el router

Example Sentences

No se enciende mi computadora.
My computer won’t turn on.

Mamá, tu cámara no está encendida.
Mom, your camera is not turned on.

Cayó el sistema de mi computadora portátil. 
My laptop crashed.

¿Cuánto va a costar repararla? 
How much will it cost to repair it?

Quiero hacer una copia de seguridad de mi disco duro.
I want to back up my hard drive.

To learn more, check out Technology in Spanish: Modern Tech-Savvy Vocabulary

Spanish Computer Vocabulary: Software

Software – el software

Password – la contraseña

App – la aplicación

Database – la base de datos

Bug – el fallo, el error, el bug

Virus – el virus

Toolbar – la barra de herramientas

Terms and conditions – los términos y condiciones

Desktop – el escritorio, la pantalla

Screensaver – el salvapantallas

Spreadsheet – la hoja de cálculo

Data – los datos

Digital – digital

File – el archivo

Folder – la carpeta

Example Sentences

No hay que compartir tu contraseña con nadie.
Don’t share your password with anyone.

¿Cuál es la mejor aplicación de calendarios?
What is the best calendar app?

Tienes que aceptar los términos y condiciones para poder usar este software.
You have to accept the terms and conditions to be able to use this software.

Ella guardó el archivo en la carpeta del escritorio que se llama “mis documentos.”
She saved the file in the folder called “my documents” on the desktop.

Spanish Computer Vocabulary: Internet

Link – el enlace, la conexión, el vínculo

Internet – el internet

Worldwide Web – la World Wide Web (WWW), red informática mundial

Network – la red

Search engine – el buscador, el servidor de búsqueda

Data – la data

Email – el correo electrónico

Podcast – el podcast

Wi-fi – el wifi

Blog – el blog

Digital – digital

Tab (in a browser) – la pestaña

Bandwidth – la amplitud de banda

Bookmark – el favorito, el marcador, el marcapáginas

Cookie (used in browsers) – la cookie

Cache – el caché, la memoria cache

Browser history – el historial de navegador

Address (email or website) – la dirección

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) – las preguntas más frecuentes/comunes, las FAQ

Home page – la página inicial, la página principal, la portada

Privacy policy – la política de privacidad, la póliza de privacidad

Domain – el dominio

Dot com – punto com

Keyword – la palabra clave

Spam – el correo basura, el spam

Video – el video

Video call – la videollamada

Cloud – la nube

Example Sentences

Siempre tengo más de 4 pestañas abiertas a la vez. 
I always have more than 4 tabs open at once.

Mi esposo pasa horas navegando por el internet. 
My husband spends hours surfing the internet.

Nunca hago clic en los anuncios. 

I never click on advertisements.

¿Has visto mi nueva portada? 
Have you seen my new home page?

¿Cual es tu dirección de correo electrónico? 
What’s your email address?

Handpicked for you: Online in Spanish: 100 Useful Words Related to the Internet

Spanish Computer Vocabulary: Social Media

Social media – las redes sociales  

Username – el nombre de usuario 

Tag – la etiqueta  

Hashtag – el hashtag 

Profile – el perfil

Comment – el comentario

Message – el mensaje

Privacy – la privacidad

Post – la publicación

Notification – la notificación

Page – la página

Advertisement – el anuncio

Follower – el seguidor

Account – la cuenta 

Example Sentences

Te quiero agregar a mi Instagram.
I want to add you on Instagram.

¿Tienes 10 minutos para chatear? 
Do you have 10 minutes to chat?

¡Mi amiga no tiene ningún perfil en las redes sociales! 
My friend doesn’t have a single profile on social media!

¿Puedo compartir tu publicación?  
Can I share your post?

Use Your New Spanish Computer Vocabulary in Conversation

Now that you’ve learned a ton of new technology-related words in Spanish, are you ready to put your new knowledge into practice? To start speaking Spanish today with a professional Spanish-speaking teacher, sign up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy. 

Time and time again, our students prove that taking online classes with a Spanish teacher is the fastest way to learn Spanish! Additionally, it affords you the flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere. Best of all, your teacher will develop a study plan tailored to your level and goals and keep you focused and engaged in the lesson. Join us today and see how quickly you can improve your Spanish skills!

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