How Do You Say "Record" in Spanish? A Complete Guide to All Meanings
The simple question "how do you say record in Spanish?In real terms, " Getting it wrong can lead to confusion, but mastering these terms will dramatically improve your fluency and accuracy. " opens a fascinating door into the precision of language. Unlike English, where one word can cover multiple distinct concepts, Spanish typically uses different words for each specific meaning of "record.This guide will break down every major use of "record," providing clear translations, practical examples, and the crucial context you need to choose the right word every time.
This is the bit that actually matters in practice.
The Core Challenge: One English Word, Many Spanish Translations
The English word "record" is a classic example of a polysemous term—a single word with several unrelated meanings. Which one you use depends entirely on whether you're talking about a vinyl disc, a world achievement, the act of capturing media, or an official document. The primary translations you need to know are disco, récord, grabar, and registro. In Spanish, these meanings are almost always expressed with separate vocabulary. Let's explore each in detail And it works..
1. "Record" as a Noun: The Vinyl Disc (Disco)
When you think of a classic "record," you likely picture a vinyl disc played on a turntable. Day to day, the standard, universal Spanish word for this is disco (pronounced DEES-koh). This is a straightforward, one-to-one translation.
- Example: "Mi padre tiene una gran colección de discos de los años 70." (My father has a large collection of records from the 70s.)
- Related Term: You might also hear disco de vinilo (DEES-koh deh VEE-nee-loh), which explicitly means "vinyl record," though in common speech, disco alone suffices.
- Cultural Note: The resurgence of vinyl has made disco a very current and commonly understood term across all Spanish-speaking regions.
2. "Record" as a Noun: The Achievement (Récord)
This is perhaps the most common point of confusion. On top of that, when referring to a world record, a sports record, or any measurable best performance, the correct term is récord (pronounced REH-kord, with a rolled or strong 'r' sound). It's a direct loanword from English, but it follows Spanish grammatical rules.
- Key Grammar Point: Récord is a masculine noun: el récord. It is invariable in the singular, but the plural is récords.
- "Ella rompió el récord mundial de velocidad." (She broke the world speed record.)
- "El equipo estableció nuevos récords esta temporada." (The team set new records this season.)
- Usage: It's used for athletic feats ("récord de carrera" - running record), sales figures ("récord de ventas" - sales record), and any statistical high or low.
- Alternative: In very formal or legal contexts, you might see plusmarca (PLOOS-mar-kah), but récord is dominant in everyday speech and media.
3. "Record" as a Verb: To Capture Sound/Image (Grabar)
It's a critical distinction. Which means the verb "to record" in the sense of capturing audio, video, or data is grabar (pronounced grah-BAR). This word comes from the root "grabar," meaning "to engrave" or "to imprint," which perfectly captures the idea of fixing information onto a medium Most people skip this — try not to. Simple as that..
This is where a lot of people lose the thread.
- Example: "Vamos a grabar el podcast mañana." (We are going to record the podcast tomorrow.)
- "¿Puedes grabar la reunión en video?" (Can you record the meeting on video?)
- Important Nuance: Grabar primarily implies the act of capturing. The resulting file or tape is often called la grabación (lah grah-bah-see-OHN - the recording).
- "La grabación sonó muy clara." (The recording sounded very clear.)
- Regional Note: In some Latin American countries, for recording TV shows, you might also hear archivar (ar-chee-VAR - to archive) or capturar (kap-TOO-rar - to capture), but grabar remains the most widely understood and used.
4. "Record" as a Noun: The Document or Entry (Registro)
This meaning refers to an official note, a log entry, a file, or a database record. The translation here is registro (pronounced reh-hee-STROH). It's a masculine noun: el registro No workaround needed..
- Example: "Encontré el registro de nacimiento en el archivo." (I found the birth record in the archive.)
- "El registro de llamadas muestra una llamada perdida." (The call log shows a missed call.)
- "Necesito acceder a mi registro médico en línea." (I need to access my medical record online.)
- Broader Use: Registro also means "registration" (as in signing up) and "registry" (as in a list). Context is essential. "Registro civil" is the "civil registry" office for births, marriages, and deaths.
Other Specialized Meanings and False Friends
Spanish has additional, more specific words that capture other shades of "record."
- Acta: A formal, written record of proceedings, such as the minutes of a meeting (acta de reunión) or a notarial deed.
- Constancia: A certificate or document that serves as proof or a record of something, like a certificate of attendance (*constancia de asistencia
