Spanish word

filo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfilo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounedge

Example

Ten cuidado: el filo del cuchillo corta muy bien.

Be careful: the edge of the knife cuts very well.

Illustration for filo (edge)

More examples

Cambia el filo del cuchillo cuando notes que no corta bien.

Change the edge of the knife when you notice it doesn't cut well.

Core concept

Thin blade rim that does the cutting.

Common phrases

  • el filo del cuchillo

    edge of the knife

  • perder el filo

    go blunt

  • afilar el filo

    hone the edge

Similar words

hoja: Flat, thin cutting surface of a knife or tool that runs along its length.
borde: Outer rim following an object's outline, marking where its material ends.
punta: Pointed tip at the end of an object that concentrates force to pierce.

Definition in Spanish

Borde delgado y cortante de una herramienta o arma, especialmente en cuchillos, responsable de cortar materiales.

Word origin

It derives from Latin filum 'thread', where a sense of thinness transfers to the narrow cutting border in Old Spanish that became modern filo.

Usage tips

  • Spanish normally contrasts filo with hoja for the whole blade and cuchillo for the whole knife, so translating filo simply as 'blade' can be misleading.

Other meanings

  • bladenoun

Word lists with this word