Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bolígrafo | /boˈliɡɾafo/ | masculine |
| birome | /biˈɾome/ | Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, feminine |
| boli | /ˈboli/ | Spain, colloquial, masculine |
| esfero | /esˈfeɾo/ | Colombia, Ecuador, masculine |
| lapicero | /lapiˈθeɾo/ /lapiˈseɾo/ |
Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, masculine |
| lápiz pasta | /lapiθ pasta/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /lapis pasta/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Chile, masculine |
| pluma | /ˈpluma/ | Mexico, masculine |
| plumero | /pluˈmeɾo/ | masculine |
| puntabola | /puntabola/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
This noun refers to a ballpoint pen.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bolígrafo is a compound of bola (ball) and grafo (writer/graph).
Which one should you use?
In Mexico, pluma is used for a pen, but be aware that in many other Spanish-speaking regions, pluma specifically refers to a fountain pen. In Spain, you might hear the shortened form boli used in casual conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Boli is a colloquial term used in Spain for informal speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions use specific terms for a ballpoint pen: birome is used in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. esfero is common in Colombia and Ecuador. lapicero is frequently used in Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru and Venezuela. lápiz pasta is used in Chile. And pluma is common in Mexico.
How does it change in a sentence?
bolígrafo, boli, esfero, lapicero, lápiz pasta and pluma are masculine nouns. birome is a feminine noun. puntabola is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/boˈliɡɾafo/
Did you know?
- The word birome, common in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, is actually a brand name that became a generic term. It is a combination of the names of the inventor, László Bíró, and his partner, J. J. Meyne.
- In Chile, the term lápiz pasta literally means 'paste pencil'. This refers to the thick consistency of the ink compared to the graphite of a standard pencil.
- The term esfero used in Colombia and Ecuador comes from the word esfera, meaning 'sphere'. It highlights the tiny rolling ball at the tip of the pen.
Examples in context
- Necesito un bolígrafo rojo.I need a red ballpoint pen.This sentence shows how to specify the color of a bolígrafo.Tatoeba #6806589 by arh, translation #6806561 by CK
- Mi precioso bolígrafo es morado.My beautiful ballpoint pen is purple.This sentence uses bolígrafo to describe an object's color.Tatoeba #7947142 by Seael, translation #7785216 by sharris123
- El bebé vio mi bolígrafo y se apresuró a por él.The baby caught sight of my ballpoint pen and reached out for it.This sentence shows how to use the word bolígrafo in a descriptive context.Tatoeba #4988457 by swyter, translation #272308 by CK
- ¡Oye, me prestas el boli?Hey, could you lend me your pen?
- ¿Tienes pluma para prestar?Do you have a pen to lend?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are in an office during a meeting.
- JavierElena, ¿me prestas un bolígrafo?Elena, can you lend me a ballpoint pen?
- ElenaClaro, aquí tienes uno azul.Sure, here is a blue one.
- JavierMuchas gracias, me salvas la vida.Thank you so much, you are saving my life.
- ElenaNo hay de qué, Javier.You're welcome, Javier.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ballpoint pen” translations and entries bolígrafo, birome, boli, esfero, lapicero, pluma, plumero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries birome, boli, bolígrafo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
