el repuesto

Meaning in English

Repuesto most commonly means:

1. Spare / replacement (part)
   Something kept or used to replace another thing that is broken, worn out, or missing.

   • pieza de repuesto = spare part
   • tener un repuesto = to have a backup/spare

2. Reserve / extra supply (less technical, but common in some contexts)
   An additional unit kept for use if needed (a spare item, extra stock, backup).

   • un repuesto de baterías = a spare set of batteries

Parts of the word

• Comes from reponer (“to replace,” “to replenish”)
• re- (again) + poner (to put/place) → idea of “putting back” or “replacing”
• repuesto is also the past participle of reponer (“replaced / replenished”), though it’s very frequently used as a noun meaning “spare.”

Spanish synonyms

Depending on the meaning:

• For “spare/replacement part”: recambio, pieza de recambio, sustituto (more general)
• For “reserve/extra”: reserva, extra, suplemento (context-dependent)

Spanish antonyms

Not always exact, but by contrast:

• For “spare/backup”: principal, titular (as in the main item vs. the spare)
• For “replacement”: original (when contrasting replacement vs. original part)