Noun
/tenˈde.ɾo/
The word tendedero refers primarily to a device or structure on which clothes are hung to dry. This could be an outdoor clothesline or an indoor drying rack. It captures the action of extending or spreading out items, particularly laundry, in an exposed way to facilitate drying by air.
In terms of frequency, tendedero is a commonly used term in both oral and written contexts, particularly within households, discussions regarding laundry, and home care routines. However, it is likely to appear more frequently in spoken Spanish, as it pertains to everyday activities.
El tendedero está lleno de ropa mojada que necesita secarse.
The clothesline is full of wet clothes that need to dry.
Voy a poner la sábana en el tendedero para que se seque al aire.
I’m going to put the sheet on the drying rack so it can air dry.
Cuando llueve, uso un tendedero portátil en el interior de la casa.
When it rains, I use a portable dryer inside the house.
While tendedero is not a common component of idiomatic expressions, it does relate to everyday scenarios that may elicit colloquial uses. However, we can construct some expressive phrases that capture the essence of the word:
Tener los trapos en el tendedero
To have your rags on the drying rack
This expression can refer metaphorically to having personal affairs out in the open.
Tendedero de ideas
Drying rack of ideas
This phrase might be used to describe a brainstorming session where ideas are openly displayed for discussion.
Limpiar la ropa sucia del tendedero
To clean the dirty laundry from the clothesline
This is often used figuratively to mean addressing problems or issues in a situation.
No te preocupes por lo que digan, tener los trapos en el tendedero no es malo, todos tenemos secretos.
Don’t worry about what they say, having your rags on the drying rack is not bad; we all have secrets.
Después de la reunión, dejamos nuestras ideas en el tendedero de ideas, para que todos puedan verlas.
After the meeting, we left our ideas on the drying rack of ideas so that everyone could see them.
Es hora de limpiar la ropa sucia del tendedero antes de que se vuelva un gran problema.
It’s time to clean the dirty laundry from the clothesline before it becomes a big issue.
The term tendedero comes from the verb tender, which means "to stretch" or "to hang," and the suffix -ero, which is often used in Spanish to form nouns that indicate a place or equipment related to the root verb. The evolution of the word indicates its relationship to the act of spreading or stretching out clothing for drying purposes.
Through its utility in daily life, tendedero serves not only as a functional item but also as a term that encompasses cultural practices related to household management and care.