German Conversation · Level 25
90 words
German word
Kugelschreiber
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈkuːgl̩ˌʃʁaɪ̯bɐ/
Meaning
- masculine nounballpoint pen
Example
Hast du einen Kugelschreiber?
Do you have a ballpoint?
More examples
Zum Vertrag brachte er seinen eigenen Kugelschreiber mit.
He brought his own ballpoint pen for the contract.
Core concept
A pocket pen with an ink-fed ball rotating at its tip during everyday writing.
Common phrases
den Kugelschreiber zücken
pull out the ballpoint pen
den Kugelschreiber in die Tasche stecken
put the ballpoint pen in the pocket
Similar words
Kuli: A common colloquial short form for a ballpoint pen.
Stift: A broad term for a writing instrument such as a pen or pencil.
Bleistift: A graphite pencil whose marks can be erased.
Filzstift: A felt-tip writing tool that produces a thick line.
Definition in German
Ein Schreibgerät, das durch eine kleine kugelförmige Spitze Tinte auf Papier bringt.
Word origin
Kugelschreiber is a German compound of Kugel, ball, and Schreiber, writing device, referring to the ball mechanism that transfers ink.
Usage tips
- Kuli is a common shortened colloquial form, while Stift is broader and can also mean a pencil.
Related words
- Kugelschreiberhalterballpoint pen holdernoun
- Kugelschreiberfabrikballpoint pen factorynoun