Spanish word

cortaplumas

Pronunciation

IPA/koɾtaˈplumas/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpocketknife

Example

Guardé el cortaplumas en mi bolsillo.

I put the pocketknife into my pocket.

Illustration for cortaplumas (pocketknife)

More examples

Usé el cortaplumas para abrir una carta.

I used the pocketknife to open a letter.

Core concept

Compact pocket folding knife for opening parcels or cutting thread.

Common phrases

  • tener un cortaplumas

    have a pocketknife

  • usar el cortaplumas

    use the pocketknife

Similar words

navaja: Folding-blade pocketknife whose blade pivots and tucks into the handle for safe carrying.
cuchillo: Knife for preparing and serving food, used to slice, chop, and carve ingredients at the table.

Definition in Spanish

Navaja pequeña y plegable que cabe en el bolsillo y sirve para pequeñas tareas de corte.

Word origin

Formed from cortar 'to cut' and pluma 'feather', with the sense shifting from a quill-trimming blade to a general small pocketknife.

Usage tips

  • In casual usage cortaplumas and navaja can overlap, but cortaplumas more strongly suggests a small everyday folding knife rather than a larger or fixed-blade knife.

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