goma de borrar
/ˌɡoma de boˈraɾ/
In Spanish, the phrase for pencil eraser is goma de borrar.
Goma de borrar refers to the small tool used to remove graphite marks made by a pencil from paper. While goma de borrar specifically refers to the pencil eraser, note that the word goma alone can also mean the material 'rubber' depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase goma de borrar literally translates to 'eraser of erasing' or 'rubber for erasing'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, some speakers use the shorter term Goma to refer to a pencil eraser. In Mexico, the standard term for a pencil eraser is borrador.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌɡoma de boˈraɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word goma can mean a 'rubber band' or a 'condom' depending on the context.
- The word borrar comes from borra, which once referred to 'rough wool'. This suggests that the earliest way to erase marks was by rubbing them with coarse wool.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿podría proporcionarme una goma de borrar, por favor?Excuse me, could you please provide me with an eraser?
- ¿Me puedes prestar tu borrador?Can you lend me your eraser?
- Necesito una goma de borrar nueva. ¿Puede ayudarme, por favor?I need a new eraser. Can you help me, please?
- ¿Me prestas tu borrador? El mío se perdió.Can you lend me your eraser? Mine got lost.
- Oye, ¿tienes una goma que me puedas prestar? Se me olvidó la mía.Hey, do you have an eraser that you can lend me? I forgot mine.
- Necesito una goma de borrar para mi examen.I need a pencil eraser for my exam.
- ¿Dónde está mi goma de borrar?Where is my pencil eraser?
- Esa goma de borrar es muy pequeña.That pencil eraser is very small.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are studying together in a library.
- MateoSofía, ¿tienes una goma de borrar?Sofía, do you have a pencil eraser?
- SofíaSí, aquí tienes una.Yes, here you go.
- MateoMuchas gracias por prestarme tu goma de borrar.Thank you very much for lending me your pencil eraser.
- SofíaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry goma de borrar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries borrar, de, goma, CC BY-SA 4.0.
