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"Cartón" is a noun which is often translated as "cardboard", and "papel" is a noun which is often translated as "paper". Learn more about the difference between "cartón" and "papel" below.
el cartón(
kahr
-
tohn
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (material)
a. cardboard
¿Estás seguro de que estas cajas de cartón corrugado van a aguantar el peso del flete?Are you sure these boxes made of corrugated cardboard will hold the weight of the shipment?
2. (container)
a. carton
Voy a usar este cartón de leche vacío como portalápices.I'm going to use this empty milk carton as a pencil holder.
3. (bingo)
a. card
Gritaron "¡Bingo!" y yo ni siquiera había marcado un número en mi cartón.They shouted "Bingo!" and I still hadn't marked any number on my card.
a. cartoon
Este cartón en El Universal muestra qué piensan los mexicanos de los Estados Unidos.This cartoon in El Universal illustrates how Mexicans see America.
el papel(
pah
-
pehl
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (material)
a. paper (uncountable)
Mucha gente ya no escribe con papel y pluma.Many people don't write with pen and paper anymore.
b. sheet of paper (countable)
¿Me prestas un papel, por favor?Can you please lend me a sheet of paper?
c. piece of paper (countable)
El viento se llevó todos los papeles.The wind carried away all the pieces of paper.
a. document
Le falta un papel necesario, y por lo tanto no puede sacar su licencia de conducir.He's missing a required document, so he can't get his driver's license.
3. (drama)
4. (position)
a. role
El empleado no sabe definir bien su papel en la empresa.The employee doesn't know how to properly define his role in the company.
