💻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 kəmˈpjuːtə also: laptop, PC, machine | ordinateurm ɔʁdinatœʁ 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 oɾðenaˈðoɾ 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 ˈkiːbɔːd | clavierm klavje AZERTY, not QWERTY. | tecladom teˈklaðo Tecla = key (on a keyboard); llave = key (door). |
mouse noun · jargon | mouse maʊs Plural: mice — or mouses, in tech circles. | sourisf suʁi Same word as the animal. Final s silent. | ratónm raˈton also: mouse (Latin America, /maus/) |
screen noun · jargon | screen skɹiːn also: display, monitor | écranm ekʁɑ̃ Le grand écran = cinema; le petit écran = TV. | pantallaf panˈtaʎa /panˈtaja/ for most speakers. Also a lampshade. |
file noun · jargon | file faɪl | fichierm fiʃje Also a card index. Dossier = folder. | archivom aɾˈt͡ʃiβo also: fichero (Spain, older) Also 'archive'. |
folder noun · jargon | folder ˈfəʊldə also: directory | dossierm dosje Also a file (on a person), a case, a chair back. | carpetaf kaɾˈpeta False friend: not a carpet (alfombra). |
to download verb · jargon | to download ˌdaʊnˈləʊd | télécharger teleʃaʁʒe Covers BOTH download and upload; téléverser (Québec/official) for upload is spreading slowly. | descargar deskaɾˈɣaɾ also: bajar (informal) Also to unload a lorry. |
to upload verb · jargon | to upload ˌʌpˈləʊd | téléverser televɛʁse also: télécharger (vers), mettre en ligne, uploader (informal) | subir suˈβiɾ also: cargar Literally 'to go up / raise' — subir una foto. |
password noun · jargon | password ˈpɑːswɜːd also: passcode, PIN | mot de passem mo də pas pl. mots de passe | contraseñaf kontɾaˈseɲa also: clave Literally 'counter-sign'. |
software noun · jargon | software ˈsɒftweə Uncountable: a piece of software, not 'a software'. | logicielm lɔʒisjɛl 1970 coinage: logique + matériel (hardware = matériel). Didacticiel, ludiciel, progiciel followed the pattern. | softwarem ˈsofwaɾ also: programa English word; many speakers say /ˈsoɡwaɾ/ or /ˈsofwaɾ/. |
bug noun · jargon | bug bʌɡ 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 bœɡ also: bogue (m, official spelling — Québec uses it) Buguer / boguer = to glitch. 'Ça bugue.' | errorm eˈroɾ also: bug (/buɡ/), fallo |
to log in verb · jargon | to log in lɒɡ ɪn also: to sign in | se connecter sə kɔnɛkte also: s'identifier, ouvrir une session Se déconnecter = to log out. | iniciar sesión iniˈθjaɾ seˈsjon also: conectarse, loguearse (informal) Cerrar sesión = to log out. |
the cloud noun · jargon | the cloud ðə klaʊd | le cloudm lə klaud also: le nuage (official), l'infonuagique (Québec) Everyone says cloud; the Académie would prefer nuage. | la nubef la ˈnuβe Spanish happily translated it: 'guardar en la nube'. |