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
| English | Spanish |
| Cardboard | El cartón |
| Plastic | El plástico |
| Aluminium | El aluminio |
| Wood | La madera |
| Recycled material | El material reciclado |
| Packaging Tape | La cinta de embalaje/empaquetado |
| Packaging film | El plástico/película para empaquetado/embalaje |
| Labels | Las etiquetas |
| Filler packaging | El embalaje de relleno |
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:
| English | Spanish |
| Cans | Las latas |
| Bottles | Las botellas |
| Boxes | Las cajas |
| Envelopes | Los sobres |
| Tubes | Los tubos |
| Parcel | Las parcelas |
| Baskets | Las canastas |
| Buckets | Las cubetas |
| Bags | Las bolsas |
| Crates | Las cajas grandes |
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:
| English | Spanish |
| Bottle | El frasco |
| To-go cup | La taza para llevar |
| Jug | La jarra |
| Juice box | La cajita de jugo |
| Can | La lata |
| Bottle | La botella, El pachón |
| Water jug | El garrafón / La garrafa de agua |
| Barrel | El barril |
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.
| English | Spanish |
| Tupperware | El toper |
| Pyrex | El payrex |
| Can | La lata |
| Baggie | La bolsita |
| Pint container | La pinta |
| Plastic plates with a lid | Los platos de plástico con tapadera |
| Plastic wrap | La envoltura de plástico |
| Aluminum foil | El papel aluminio |
| Styrofoam container | El contenedor de poliestireno |
Medical Packaging in Spanish
Containers for medicines and medical implements must comply with certain requirements to keep their contents safe and uncontaminated.
| English | Spanish |
| Cough syrup bottle | La botella del jarabe para la tos |
| Pillbox | El pastillero |
| Pill blister pack | El blíster de pastillas |
| Medicine box | La caja de medicinas |
| Cotton bag | La bolsa de algodón |
| Band aid box | La caja de curitas |
| First aid kit | El botiquín |
| Box of bandages | La caja de vendas |
| Box of surgery gloves | La caja de guantes quirúrgicos |
| Serum bag | La bolsa de suero |
| Package of injections | El paquete de inyecciones |
| Package of vaccines | El paquete de vacunas |
| Facemask box | La caja de mascarillas |
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:
| English | Spanish |
| Tube of toothpaste | El tubo de pasta de dientes |
| Shampoo bottle | La botella de champú |
| Conditioner bottle | La botella de acondicionador |
| Hair dye box | La caja de tinte para el cabello |
| Soap box | La caja de jabón |
| Pack of razors | El paquete de rasuradoras |
| Shaving cream can | La lata de crema para afeitar |
| Deodorant bottle | El bote de desodorante |
| Perfume bottle | La botella de perfume |
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:
| English | Spanish |
| To package | Empaquetar |
| To seal | Sellar |
| To paste | Pegar |
| To indicate | Indicar |
| To transport | Transportar |
| To distribute | Distribuir |
| To sell | Vender |
| To save | Guardar |
| To store | Almacenar |
| To identify | Identificar |
| To promote | Promocionar |
| To consume | Consumir |
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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