¿puedo sacar punta a mi lápiz?
The English phrase 'may I sharpen my pencil' is translated into Spanish as ¿puedo sacar punta a mi lápiz?
The expression sacar punta is the standard way to say 'to sharpen' when referring to pencils or colored pencils.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase sacar punta literally means 'to take out the point' or 'to extract the tip'.
Which one should you use?
The forms ¿Podría afilar mi lápiz, por favor? and ¿Sería posible afilar mi lápiz? are formal, whereas ¿Me dejas afilar mi lápiz? and ¿Puedo afilar mi lápiz? are informal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word lapicero is a regional variation for lápiz.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ¿puedo sacar punta a mi lápiz?, the verb poder (to be able to) is conjugated in the first person singular to express 'I can' or 'May I' in a request. While 'sacar punta a mi lápiz' uses the possessive mi (my), it is also common to use the definite article el (the) to say sacar punta al lápiz.
Did you know?
- The word lápiz is a distant relative of the English words 'lapidary' and 'lapis lazuli'. All three share a common ancestor in the Latin word for 'stone'.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría afilar mi lápiz, por favor?Could I sharpen my pencil, please?
- Sí, por supuesto.Yes, of course.
- ¿Me dejas afilar mi lápiz?Can I sharpen my pencil?
- Claro, no hay problema.Sure, no problem.
- ¿Sería posible afilar mi lápiz?Would it be possible to sharpen my pencil?
- Disculpe, ¿puedo sacar punta a mi lápiz?Excuse me, may I sharpen my pencil?
- Señor, ¿puedo sacar punta a mi lápiz?Sir, may I sharpen my pencil?
Example conversation
Daniel is in a classroom and needs to sharpen his pencil.
- DanielElena, ¿puedo sacar punta a mi lápiz?Elena, may I sharpen my pencil?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, puedes usar el sacapuntas.Yes, Daniel, you can use the sharpener.
- DanielGracias, es que ya no escribe.Thanks, it's just that it doesn't write anymore.
- ElenaNo hay problema.No problem.
