laboratorio

laboratory

noun lah-boh-rah-TOH-ryoh Less Common

Origin: From Latin laboratorium (place of work), from laborare (to work).

Also means

lab

Usage Note

Laboratorio is commonly shortened to labo in informal speech, especially among students and scientists. It is used for scientific labs (laboratorio de química) and pharmaceutical companies (un laboratorio farmacéutico). The stress falls on the to- syllable, which can trip up learners expecting the English-like stress pattern 'la-BOR-atory'.

Examples

"Los científicos trabajan en el laboratorio."

Natural Translation

The scientists work in the laboratory.

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