What is words can be used to translate the software term "plugin" in Spanish?
I think that Firefox has chosen "extensión", but I would like to have some other opinions on the matter.
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Sign up to join this communityWhat is words can be used to translate the software term "plugin" in Spanish?
I think that Firefox has chosen "extensión", but I would like to have some other opinions on the matter.
In many cases, using the loanword, in this case "plugin" or "plug-in," makes sense--if for no other reason than to avoid confusion and ambiguities by overloading an existing word just to have it carry a new sense of meaning for something that is entirely new. Consider that, in English itself, the word "plugin" is a word that was coined specially for this technical application.
However, in this case, the word "plugin" is spelled in a manner that is inconsistent with Spanish pronunciations. "Ploo-heen" doesn't much resemble the original word, and would confuse anyone familiar with the original word. So, while loanwords sometimes enrich a language with new vocabulary, in this case it seems an inferior option.
For Firefox, the word extensión is good, because its plugins extend its functionality. But sometimes a plugin is not even a piece of software: it can be a new graphics card for the PC, added to the main board via a slot for the purpose. Do we still think of that as an extension?
I like cocteau´s suggestion of módulo. For a piece of hardware, at least, that seems a better word. For software, extensión, auxiliar, suplementario, or even módulo might be options to consider.
I think words like programa and aplicación should be reserved for the main software to which the plugin is added.
Yo apuesto por
Complemento. Cosa, cualidad o circunstancia que se añade a otra para hacerla íntegra o perfecta.
A plugin on this website https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/plugin/ is defined as a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website.
I tried to find what the Spanish translation for Software was and all I found were these sites:
https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the/spanish-word-for-c981d125d1a564c9f5738faff51d59d98711f145.html
https://www.duolingo.com/dictionary/Spanish/software/38c6e81de9516a35e9d97902e74acf26
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english-spanish/software
https://www.linguee.com/english-spanish/translation/software.html
In Wordhippo.com: How do you say software in Spanish? Answer: software
In duolingo.com: How do you say softare in Spanish? Answer: software
In collinsdictionary.com: How do you say software in Spanish? Answer: software
But in linguee.com: How do you say software in Spanish? Answer: software (most commonly used) or programa or aplicación informática (less commonly used)
You can't get any closer than programa or aplicación informática
I typed plugin in the search bar of linguee.com and this search directed me to the DeepL Translator: https://www.deepl.com/translator?utm_source=lingueebanner1&il=en#en/es/plugin How do you say plugin in Spanish? DeepL Translator's Answer: Plugin
I would go with Jdamian's comment, if you really want a true Spanish equivalent of the word plugin.