El desviador no funciona.

El is the masculine singular definite article, meaning the.

So:

• el desviador = the derailleur / the switch / the diverter (depending on context)

Spanish uses articles very naturally, and in a sentence like this, you usually need it if you are talking about a specific thing.

No. They are different words:

• el = the
• él = he

The accent mark matters. In El desviador no funciona, it is el without an accent because it is an article, not a pronoun.

Desviador is a noun from the idea of diverting or redirecting something. Its exact meaning depends on context.

Possible meanings include things like:

• a bike derailleur
• a switch
• a diverter
• a device that redirects flow or movement

So the sentence structure is clear, but the exact translation of desviador depends on what object you are talking about.

In Spanish, no usually goes directly before the verb to make it negative.

So:

• funciona = works / is working
• no funciona = doesn’t work / isn’t working

This is the normal word order in Spanish.

Funciona is the third-person singular present tense of funcionar.

That means it can translate as:

• works
• is working
• sometimes does work, depending on context

Here, El desviador no funciona can mean either:

• The derailleur doesn’t work
• The derailleur isn’t working

Spanish present tense often covers both simple present and present progressive ideas when the context is clear.

Because funcionar is commonly used for machines, devices, systems, and parts.

In Spanish, objects can funcionar just like in English things can work.

Examples:

• La lavadora funciona. = The washing machine works.
• Mi móvil no funciona. = My phone doesn’t work.

So El desviador no funciona is completely natural.

Yes. That is also correct, but the nuance is slightly different.

• El desviador no funciona = The derailleur doesn’t work / isn’t working
  
  • more general or neutral
• El desviador no está funcionando = The derailleur is not working
  
  • emphasizes what is happening right now

In many everyday situations, no funciona is the more common and simple way to say it.

Because Spanish usually does not need subject pronouns when the verb ending already shows who or what the subject is.

Here, the subject is already stated:

• El desviador

So adding a pronoun would be unnecessary.

Spanish often leaves out pronouns unless they are needed for emphasis or contrast.

Yes, you can. Both are grammatical, but the emphasis changes a little.

• El desviador no funciona = neutral, standard statement
• No funciona el desviador = gives more emphasis to doesn’t work

The second version might sound more natural in certain contexts, especially in conversation when you are pointing out the problem.

In Spain, it is pronounced roughly like:

des-bya-DOR

A few useful points:

• the stress is on the last syllable: -dor
• v and b are pronounced very similarly in Spanish
• the d in the middle of a word is often softer than English d

A more approximate IPA pronunciation is:

[dezβjaˈðoɾ]

But for a learner, the most important thing is to stress -dor clearly.

Yes, nouns ending in -or are very often masculine.

So:

• el desviador
• plural: los desviadores

This pattern is very common in Spanish.

Yes, but it does not mean exactly the same thing.

• El desviador no funciona = The derailleur doesn’t work
• El desviador está roto = The derailleur is broken

No funciona describes the problem in terms of operation.
Está roto says more specifically that it is broken.

Something can not work without necessarily being physically broken, so no funciona is slightly broader.