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What are the possibilities for translating "CD" (Compact Disc) and "DVD" (Digital Video/Versatile Disc) into Spanish?

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3 Answers

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You can use CD and DVD safely. In some countries they are pronunced as in spanish (cedé, devedé) and in others like in english (cidí, dividí). The translations are:

  1. CD (Compact disc): Disco compacto.

  2. VCD (Video CD): Disco compacto de video

  3. DVD (Digital video/versatile disc): Disco Versátil Digital, Disco de Video Digital.

  4. CD-RW: CD regrabable.

  5. DVD±RW: DVD regrabable.

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1  
DVD stands for digital versatile disc. – CesarGon Jan 15 '12 at 15:02
Corrected, thanks. – Ricardo Jan 15 '12 at 15:33
But for the regular use, I guess all cases are covered. – Ricardo Jan 15 '12 at 19:21
2  
As a funny note, RAE accepts cederrón for CD-ROM – MikMik Jan 16 '12 at 14:43
1  
That could be an example about when people shouldn't follow RAE recomendations :) – Ricardo Jan 16 '12 at 17:45
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up vote 2 down vote

No translation, only to CD is

Disco Compacto

and DVD is:

Disco Compacto de Video

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DVD isn't "Disco compacto de Video". – Ricardo Jan 14 '12 at 19:21
up vote 3 down vote

Both are well known (in most countries) as:

Disco compacto

Here in Perú, we don't use Disco compacto at all. We use their abbreviated names: CD and DVD (with English pronunciation)

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