QUICK ANSWER
"Pencil" is a noun which is often translated as "el lápiz", and "mechanical pencil" is a noun which is often translated as "el portaminas". Learn more about the difference between "pencil" and "mechanical pencil" below.
pencil(
pehn
-
suhl
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el lápiz
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
Would you lend me a pen or pencil?¿Me prestarías un bolígrafo o un lápiz?
b. el lapicero
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
I need to sharpen my pencils.Necesito sacarle punta a mis lapiceros.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. apuntar
There were several notes penciled in the margins of the book.Había varias notas apuntadas en los márgenes del libro.
a. dibujar a lápiz
She was sitting in the park, penciling a sketch of a bird.Estaba sentada en el parque, dibujando a lápiz un boceto de un pájaro.
Copyright © 2025 Curiosity Media Inc.
mechanical pencil(
muh
-
kah
-
nih
-
kuhl
 
pehn
-
suhl
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el portaminas
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
Mom, I need a mechanical pencil, a ruler, a compass, and an eraser for tomorrow's drawing class.Mamá, necesito un portaminas, una regla, un compás y una goma de borrar para la clase de dibujo de mañana.
b. el lápiz mecánico
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
I lost my mechanical pencil, and now I have to use a wooden one.Perdí mi lápiz mecánico y ahora tengo que usar uno de madera.
Copyright © 2025 Curiosity Media Inc.