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"Pencil" is a noun which is often translated as "el lápiz", and "pen" is a noun which is often translated as "la pluma". Learn more about the difference between "pencil" and "pen" below.
pencil(
pehn
-
suhl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
b. el lapicero (M) (Spain)
(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).
Regionalism used in 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.).
2. (to write)
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.
pen(
pehn
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
b. el bolígrafo (M)
(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).
This pen doesn't write anymore.Este bolígrafo ya no escribe.
c. la lapicera (F) (South America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
I need a pen with black ink.Necesito una lapicera con tinta negra.
d. la birome (F) (River Plate)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I keep all of my pens in this mug.Mantengo todos mis biromes en esta taza.
e. el esfero (M) (Colombia) (Ecuador)
(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).
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Ecuador
I prefer writing with pens rather than pencils.Prefiero escribir con esferos en vez de lápices.
f. el lapicero (M) (Andes) (Central America)
(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).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Would you lend me a pen?¿Me prestas un lapicero?
b. el corral (M) (horses, cattle)
(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).
The cowboys spent the night in the pen, next to their horses.Los vaqueros pasaron la noche en el corral, junto a sus caballos.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (literary)
