dispositivo
nounCEFR B1
What does “dispositivo” mean in English?
device
device (a piece of hardware: phone, tablet, laptop, smart TV); formal/technical synonym of aparato (informal)
Example sentences
Puedes acceder a la plataforma desde cualquier dispositivo, ya sea el móvil, la tablet o el ordenador, con la misma cuenta.
You can access the platform from any device — whether your phone, tablet, or computer — with the same account.
La aplicación nos avisó de que habían iniciado sesión en nuestra cuenta desde un dispositivo desconocido y nos recomendó cambiar la contraseña.
The app notified us that someone had logged into our account from an unknown device and recommended we change our password.
Si tu dispositivo se queda sin batería durante la videoconferencia, otros participantes verán que te has desconectado.
If your device runs out of battery during the video call, other participants will see that you have disconnected.
How to use it
Dispositivo means 'device' (a piece of hardware: phone, tablet, laptop, smart TV). It is masculine: el dispositivo, los dispositivos. It is a slightly formal synonym of aparato (colloquial) and is the standard term in tech instructions and cybersecurity contexts. Common collocations: dispositivo móvil, dispositivo inteligente, conectar un dispositivo, el dispositivo no reconoce, iniciar sesión desde un dispositivo nuevo. At B1 it often appears in account-security contexts (your account was accessed from an unrecognised device) and in remote-work contexts (working from any device).
Common mistake
Dispositivo is the formal/technical term; aparato is the informal equivalent ('¿qué aparato usas?'). In official app notifications, documentation, and cybersecurity guidance, dispositivo is standard. Do not use the English loanword *divais — it does not exist in standard Spanish.