cuaderno
/kwaˈdeɾno/
The English phrase copybook is translated into Spanish as cuaderno.
The word cuaderno refers to a copybook. If you need to specifically ask for a copybook used for penmanship, you can use the phrase ¿Tiene un cuaderno de caligrafía?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, it is common to use the word cuaderno on its own to refer to a copybook.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of cuaderno is cuadernos.
How do you pronounce it?
/kwaˈdeɾno/
Did you know?
- The word cuaderno comes from the Latin word for 'four each' because early notebooks were made of four folded sheets of paper.
- In some Latin American contexts, the word cuaderno can refer to a specific chapter or section of a larger literary work, similar to a 'book' of an epic poem.
- The concept of a 'copybook' in Spanish culture is deeply tied to the ritual of 'caligrafía', a discipline often strictly monitored by teachers in primary schools.
Examples in context
- Arrancá una hoja de tu cuaderno.Tear a page out of your copybook.Tatoeba #1288594 by hayastan, translation #1348909 by marcelostockle
- Necesito comprar un cuaderno de caligrafía para practicar la escritura.I need to buy a copybook to practice writing.
- Mi hijo necesita un cuaderno de ejercicios de escritura para mejorar su letra.My son needs a writing exercise notebook to improve his handwriting.
- Voy a comprar una libreta de caligrafía para practicar mi letra.I am going to buy a copybook to practice my handwriting.
- Necesito un cuaderno de escritura para mejorar mi caligrafía.I need a writing notebook to improve my calligraphy.
- Necesito comprar un cuaderno para la caligrafía.I need to buy a notebook for calligraphy.
- Necesito comprar un cuaderno nuevo.I need to buy a new copybook.
- Escribe la fecha en tu cuaderno.Write the date in your copybook.
Example conversation
Daniel is looking for school supplies in his room.
- Elena¿Tienes tu cuaderno de matemáticas, Daniel?Do you have your math copybook, Daniel?
- DanielNo lo encuentro por ninguna parte.I can't find it anywhere.
- ElenaBusca debajo de tu cuaderno de dibujo.Look under your drawing copybook.
- DanielAh, aquí está. Gracias, Elena.Ah, here it is. Thanks, Elena.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cuaderno, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuaderno, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
