💻Tech & software
How each language talks about computers (and how much English it borrows).
13 concepts
Columns follow the languages switched on at the top. Gender after the word (m/f/n); IPA beneath; notes, alternatives and origins underneath — nothing is hidden.
| Concept | English | Français | Español |
|---|---|---|---|
computer noun · jargon | computer also: laptop, PC, machine | ordinateurm also: ordi (informal), PC Coined in 1955 for IBM France by the Latinist Jacques Perret, from Latin ordinator 'one who puts in order' — a rare French coinage that completely beat the English word. | ordenadorm also: computadora (f, Latin America), computador (m, Colombia/Chile) Spain follows French; Latin America follows English. Say the wrong one and you've announced where you learned. |
keyboard noun · jargon | keyboard | clavierm AZERTY, not QWERTY. | tecladom Tecla = key (on a keyboard); llave = key (door). |
mouse noun · jargon | mouse Plural: mice — or mouses, in tech circles. | sourisf Same word as the animal. Final s silent. | ratónm also: mouse (Latin America, /maus/) |
screen noun · jargon | screen also: display, monitor | écranm Le grand écran = cinema; le petit écran = TV. | pantallaf /panˈtaja/ for most speakers. Also a lampshade. |
file noun · jargon | file | fichierm Also a card index. Dossier = folder. | archivom also: fichero (Spain, older) Also 'archive'. |
folder noun · jargon | folder also: directory | dossierm Also a file (on a person), a case, a chair back. | carpetaf False friend: not a carpet (alfombra). |
to download verb · jargon | to download | télécharger Covers BOTH download and upload; téléverser (Québec/official) for upload is spreading slowly. | descargar also: bajar (informal) Also to unload a lorry. |
to upload verb · jargon | to upload | téléverser also: télécharger (vers), mettre en ligne, uploader (informal) | subir also: cargar Literally 'to go up / raise' — subir una foto. |
password noun · jargon | password also: passcode, PIN | mot de passem pl. mots de passe | contraseñaf also: clave Literally 'counter-sign'. |
software noun · jargon | software Uncountable: a piece of software, not 'a software'. | logicielm 1970 coinage: logique + matériel (hardware = matériel). Didacticiel, ludiciel, progiciel followed the pattern. | softwarem also: programa English word; many speakers say /ˈsoɡwaɾ/ or /ˈsofwaɾ/. |
bug noun · jargon | bug Engineers' slang for a glitch since at least Edison (1878). The famous 1947 moth in Harvard's Mark II was taped into the logbook as 'first actual case of bug being found' — a joke on an already-old word. | bugm also: bogue (m, official spelling — Québec uses it) Buguer / boguer = to glitch. 'Ça bugue.' | errorm also: bug (/buɡ/), fallo |
to log in verb · jargon | to log in also: to sign in | se connecter also: s'identifier, ouvrir une session Se déconnecter = to log out. | iniciar sesión also: conectarse, loguearse (informal) Cerrar sesión = to log out. |
the cloud noun · jargon | the cloud | le cloudm also: le nuage (official), l'infonuagique (Québec) Everyone says cloud; the Académie would prefer nuage. | la nubef Spanish happily translated it: 'guardar en la nube'. |