Spanish word

lápiz

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlapiθ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpencil

Example

Pásame el lápiz, por favor.

Pass me the pencil, please.

Illustration for lápiz (pencil)

More examples

¿Tienes un lápiz para escribir?

Do you have a pencil to write with?

Core concept

Handheld wooden cylinder with a thin graphite core for writing or drawing.

Common phrases

  • afilar el lápiz

    sharpen the pencil

  • un lápiz de color

    a colored pencil

  • usar un lápiz

    use a pencil

Similar words

bolígrafo: Pen with a ball tip that dispenses quick-drying ink for everyday writing.
pluma: Ink pen with a metal nib or reservoir that produces smooth, expressive strokes.
portaminas: Mechanical pencil with thin replaceable lead advanced by a click for precise lines.
rotulador: Marker with a broad felt tip that lays down bold, saturated ink for visible marks.

Definition in Spanish

Utensilio manual para trazar o escribir compuesto por una mina alojada en un cuerpo que permite sujetarlo; se usa tanto para escribir como para dibujar.

Word origin

It derives from Latin lapis 'stone', a word for a marking stone or its powder, and regular Romance sound changes produce Spanish lápiz for the modern pencil.

Usage tips

  • The noun is masculine (el lápiz), keeps its written accent on á in the plural lápices, and forms the irregular plural by changing z to c and adding -es.

Related words

  • lapicerowriting instrumentnoun
  • lapicillominiature pencilnoun

Word lists with this word