German word

Kuli

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkuːliː/

Meaning

  • masculine nounballpoint pen

Example

Hast du noch einen Kuli?

Do you still have a ballpoint pen?

Illustration for Kuli (ballpoint pen)

More examples

Ich habe immer einen Kuli zur Hand.

I always have a ballpoint pen on hand.

Core concept

A slim everyday pen whose tiny rolling ball lays down ink as it moves across paper.

Common phrases

  • einen Kuli zur Hand haben

    have a ballpoint pen on hand

  • mit dem Kuli schreiben

    write with a ballpoint pen

  • einen Kuli kaufen

    buy a ballpoint pen

Similar words

Kugelschreiber: The formal term for a pen that writes with ink carried by a small rolling ball.
Stift: A general term for a stick-shaped tool used for writing.
Füller: A pen that writes by feeding stored ink through its nib.

Definition in German

Kurzform von Kugelschreiber im alltäglichen Sprachgebrauch; ein Stift, der durch eine kleine Kugel schreibt.

Word origin

Kuli is the colloquial shortened form of Kugelschreiber, a compound of Kugel, 'ball', and Schreiber, 'writer'.

Usage tips

  • Kuli is masculine: der Kuli and ein Kuli; the regular plural is Kulis.

Opposites

Word lists with this word