Different Types of Packaging and Containers in Spanish

Learning about containers and packaging in Spanish is useful not only to expand your vocabulary and fluency but also to help you in everyday life. 

This knowledge comes in handy when you’re shopping, shipping, doing business, or eating at a restaurant in a Spanish-speaking country! 

Read this article to learn the names of all kinds of containers and packages in Spanish. 

Get out your boxes, tape, and markers, and let’s begin! 

Containers and Packaging in Spanish: The Basics 

Los contenedores, or los envases (containers) are objects that hold or transport things.

Los paquetes (packages) are a group of objects that are shipped in some kind of container. The act of enclosing products for its distribution is called el embalaje or empaquetado (packaging).

Packaging Materials

Types of Packaging in Spanish

Fun fact: Foods and beverages have a longer life span in glass bottles or containers. Although plastic, cardboard, and aluminium are cheap, they only conserve the substance for a few months. In contrast, glass conserves products for several months or even years! 

Many kinds of packages exist. The kind of package you need to use depends on what you’re shipping. Here are some examples of different types of packaging in Spanish:

Liquid Packaging in Spanish

Imagine ordering your favorite hot beverage at a café in Mexico. The barista asks:

¿Quiere su café en taza para llevar o en pocillo? 
Do you want your coffee in a to-go cup or mug? 

Check out these other types of containers for drinks:

Example Spanish Sentences

En mi casa compramos tres garrafas de agua por mes.
At my house, we buy three water jugs per month.

El cargamento de botellas de agua llegó sin problemas al supermercado.
The shipment of water bottles arrived safely at the supermarket.

Mis abuelos guardaban sus bebidas en barriles.
My grandparents used to keep their beverages in barrels. 

Me gusta el nuevo empaque de las latas de Coca-Cola.
I like the new packaging of the Coca-Cola cans.

Food Packaging in Spanish

Just as with liquids, when handling food, the container you put it in is important. The packaging differs depending on the kind of food you’re transporting, when and where you are going to eat it, and how long it will be stored. 

Medical Packaging in Spanish

Containers for medicines and medical implements must comply with certain requirements to keep their contents safe and uncontaminated.

Example Spanish Sentences

En el hospital me pusieron una bolsa de suero para rehidratarme.
In the hospital they gave me a serum bag for rehydration. 

El paquete de inyecciones viene esterilizado.
The package of injections is sterilized. 

Hay una gran escasez de paquetes de mascarillas por el virus.
There is a huge shortage of facemask packages because of the virus. 

El algodón viene en un paquete especial que está esterilizado.
The cotton comes in a special sterilized package. 

Hygiene Packaging in Spanish

Just like with medicine, all the implements you need for personal hygiene have to be packaged with care. Check out the most common hygiene-product packaging in Spanish:

The Packaging Process in Spanish

The packaging process changes depending on the product, the company, and the number of workers. 

The following packaging-related verbs in Spanish are useful for talking about this topic: 

Example Spanish Sentences

Tomar el producto y meterlo en un recipiente.
Take the product and put it in a container.

Empaquetar el recipiente con el producto en una caja o el material indicado para su transporte o distribución. 
Package the container with the product in a box, or the appropriate material for its transportation or distribution. 

Utilizar un servicio confiable para el envío de la paquetería hacia su destino.
Use a trustworthy service to send the packages to their destination. 

Time to Practice Spanish

Congrats! You’ve just learned a lot of new words and expressions related to packaging in Spanish! Want to become part of the more than 53 million people who speak Spanish in the United States? To continue growing your Spanish skills, sign up today for a free trial class with one of our friendly, certified teachers from Guatemala. By becoming bilingual, you’ll open the door to new, better-paid job opportunities and improve your cognition and decision-making abilities! 

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

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