fabricar
verbCEFR B2
What does “fabricar” mean in English?
to manufacture, to produce
to manufacture, to produce (fabricar coches/dispositivos — make goods on a large scale using machinery or labour)
Example sentences
La planta fabrica más de diez mil unidades al día gracias a los procesos de automatización implantados el año pasado.
The plant manufactures more than ten thousand units a day thanks to the automation processes implemented last year.
La empresa fabrica componentes para la industria aeronáutica europea desde hace más de treinta años.
The company has been manufacturing components for the European aeronautics industry for more than thirty years.
El abogado denunció que las pruebas habían sido fabricadas para incriminar a su cliente ilegalmente.
The lawyer alleged that the evidence had been fabricated to illegally incriminate his client.
How to use it
Fabricar means 'to manufacture' or 'to produce'. Structure: fabricar + product. At B2, it appears in industrial and economic contexts: fabricar automóviles/componentes/dispositivos. Figuratively: fabricar pruebas (fabricate evidence), fabricar una excusa (fabricate/make up an excuse). Don't confuse with producir (produce — broader, including agricultural and media production) or elaborar (produce/make — often food, documents, or plans with more craft/process implied).
Common mistake
Fabricar (manufacture — industrial scale production or fabricate/make up) vs. elaborar (produce with craft/process — plans, reports, food: 'elaborar un informe'). You fabrican coches (manufacture cars — industrial); you elaboran un plan (draw up/develop a plan — procedural). Don't use fabricar for intellectual or creative products.