contestador

Contestador is a Spanish noun with two main senses. First, it can designate a person who answers or responds in a dialogue or interaction, effectively an answerer. Second, it is commonly used to refer to a device or service in telecommunications: the contestador automático, an automatic answering machine that answers incoming calls, plays a greeting, and records spoken messages.

Etymology and usage. The word comes from contestar, to answer, with the agentive suffix -dor. In contemporary usage, the most frequent meaning is the electronic or virtual device that handles missed calls when the receiver is unavailable. In many Spanish-speaking regions, people simply say “el contestador” or “el contestador automático” to refer to voicemail systems or to a voicemail feature provided by a phone carrier or a mobile device. The sense of a person who answers questions is less common in everyday speech, but remains valid in contexts such as education, debates, or informal conversation.

Technology and function. A contestador typically greets callers, provides options, and records messages if the call is not answered. Modern systems may integrate with smartphones or web services, allowing users to listen to messages, manage greetings, and forward or delete recordings. In many regions, the term has been superseded in casual use by “buzón de voz” or “correo de voz,” though contestador is still understood and used in formal or technical settings.

See also. Buzón de voz, correo de voz, contestar.