Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Microwave in Spanish: Microondas
Microondas · noun (masculine) · mee-kroh-OHN-dahs
Microwave in Spanish is microondas (el microondas for the appliance). The full form is horno de microondas (microwave oven), but most speakers just say el microondas. The word is invariable — it does not change between singular and plural: un microondas, dos microondas.
mee-kroh-OHN-dahs — four syllables, stress on the third. The word combines micro (small) and ondas (waves).
Calienta la sopa en el microondas.
Heat up the soup in the microwave.
Microwave in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for microwave, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| microondas | microwave | mee-kroh-OHN-dahs | Default, widely understood |
| horno de microondas | microwave | full form: microwave oven |
How Native Speakers Use Microondas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Reheating food
Pon el plato en el microondas por dos minutos.
Put the plate in the microwave for two minutes.
El microondas is masculine despite ending in -as because it's short for el horno de microondas.
Buying an appliance
Necesitamos comprar un microondas nuevo para la cocina.
We need to buy a new microwave for the kitchen.
Un microondas (masculine singular) — the word looks plural but functions as singular.
Physics context
Las microondas son ondas electromagnéticas de alta frecuencia.
Microwaves are high-frequency electromagnetic waves.
When referring to the waves themselves (not the appliance), microondas is feminine plural: las microondas.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Microondas
Making it feminine because it ends in -as
Incorrect: La microondas está descompuesta.
Correct: El microondas está descompuesto.
El microondas is masculine (short for el horno de microondas). Despite ending in -as, it takes masculine articles and adjectives.
Pluralizing to microondases
Incorrect: Tienen dos microondases en la oficina.
Correct: Tienen dos microondas en la oficina.
Microondas is invariable — the same form serves as singular and plural. Words ending in -s with stress not on the final syllable do not change in the plural.
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See Microondas used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Microwave in Spanish
- How do you say microwave in Spanish?
- Microwave is el microondas (masculine). The full term is horno de microondas, but the short form is universally used in conversation.
- Is microondas masculine or feminine?
- As an appliance, it is masculine: el microondas (derived from el horno). When referring to the electromagnetic waves, it is feminine plural: las microondas (las ondas).
- Does microondas change in the plural?
- Not exactly — microondas is invariable: un microondas, dos microondas. The form stays the same.