maquinilla cortapelos
/makiniʝa koɾtapelos/from spelling rules
The English phrase hair clippers is translated into Spanish as maquinilla cortapelos.
The term refers to an electric device used to cut or trim hair.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a compound of maquinilla, meaning small machine or razor and cortapelos, meaning hair-cutter.
Which one should you use?
The form máquina de cortar pelo is a common alternative used to describe the same device.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term for hair clippers is máquina de cortar cabello.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate multiple devices, the noun maquinilla is pluralized to maquinillas, while the compound adjective cortapelos remains unchanged.
How do you pronounce it?
/makiniʝa koɾtapelos/
Did you know?
- The term pelos in cortapelos is plural, but in many dialects, it is used even when referring to the hair on a single person's head, treating the hair as a collection of individual strands.
- In many Latin American countries, if you ask for a maquinilla, you might end up with a small electric razor for shaving rather than a device for cutting hair.
- The suffix -illa in maquinilla originates from the Latin -ella, a diminutive form that has survived through Old Spanish to describe small versions of objects.
Examples in context
- Para cortarme el pelo, necesito comprar una máquina de cortar pelo nueva.To cut my hair, I need to buy a new hair clipper.
- Necesito una maquinilla cortapelos nueva.I need a new hair clipper.
- ¿Dónde dejaste la maquinilla cortapelos?Where did you leave the hair clipper?
- La maquinilla cortapelos no tiene batería.The hair clipper has no battery.
Example conversation
Mateo is getting ready for a haircut at home.
- MaríaMateo, ¿tienes la maquinilla cortapelos?Mateo, do you have the hair clipper?
- MateoSí, la tengo en el cajón.Yes, I have it in the drawer.
- MaríaPásamela, por favor.Pass it to me, please.
- MateoAquí tienes la maquinilla cortapelos.Here is the hair clipper.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries maquinilla, CC BY-SA 4.0.
