Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Cabinets in Spanish: Gabinetes
Gabinetes · noun · gah-bee-NEH-tehs
Gabinetes is a common Spanish word for cabinets, the enclosed storage compartments typically found in kitchens, bathrooms, and offices.
gah-bee-NEH-tehs
Vamos a instalar gabinetes nuevos en la cocina.
We are going to install new cabinets in the kitchen.
Cabinets in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for cabinets, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| gabinetes | cabinets | gah-bee-NEH-tehs | Default, widely understood |
| armarios | cabinets | Spain and general use for large cabinets | |
| alacenas | cabinets | kitchen cabinets specifically in Mexico |
How Native Speakers Use Gabinetes
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Kitchen remodel
Los gabinetes de madera le dan un aspecto cálido a la cocina.
The wooden cabinets give the kitchen a warm look.
Discussing kitchen renovation materials.
Organizing
Guardé los platos limpios en el gabinete de arriba.
I stored the clean dishes in the upper cabinet.
Describing where household items are kept.
Bathroom storage
El gabinete del baño tiene espejo en la puerta.
The bathroom cabinet has a mirror on the door.
Describing a medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Gabinetes
Using cabinete as a direct loan
Incorrect: Necesito un cabinete para la cocina.
Correct: Necesito un gabinete para la cocina.
The correct Spanish spelling is gabinete with a g, not cabinete — it is not a direct letter-for-letter borrowing from English.
Using gabinete for a political cabinet
Incorrect: Guardé los vasos en el gabinete ministerial.
Correct: Guardé los vasos en el gabinete de la cocina.
Gabinete ministerial means political cabinet (group of ministers); for furniture, specify the context like gabinete de cocina or simply alacena.
Lock in Cabinets Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Gabinetes used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using gabinetes in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vamos a instalar gabinetes nuevos en la cocina. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Cabinets in Spanish
- How do you say 'cabinets' in Spanish?
- The most widespread translation is gabinetes, though alacenas (Mexico) and armarios (Spain) are common regional alternatives.
- What is the difference between gabinete and armario?
- A gabinete typically refers to a smaller, wall-mounted or built-in cabinet, while an armario is a larger freestanding piece of furniture, closer to a wardrobe or closet.
- What is an alacena?
- An alacena is specifically a kitchen cabinet or pantry cupboard, widely used in Mexico and other Latin American countries to refer to the cabinets where dishes and food are stored.