hoja afilada
/oxa afilada/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'sharp blade' is translated into Spanish as hoja afilada.
In this context, the noun hoja is feminine.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to 'leaf/blade sharp', where hoja can mean both 'leaf' and 'blade' (such as a knife or razor) and afilada is the feminine adjective for 'sharp'.
Which one should you use?
If you want to refer to a 'dull blade', you would use the opposite term hoja roma. Additionally, while hoja afilada refers to the object itself, the noun filo is used to refer specifically to the cutting edge or the sharpness of the blade.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in hojas afiladas.
Did you know?
- In traditional Spanish swordplay, the filo is the edge, but the opposite side of the hoja is called the lomo or 'back', which literally translates to 'hump' or 'loin' of an animal.
- The Spanish word hoja evolved from the Latin plural folia, which was mistakenly reinterpreted as a singular feminine noun in Old Spanish.
- The word hoja is also used to describe a 'sheet' of paper, making the same word applicable to leaves, blades and documents.
Examples in context
- Un ingenio afilado es mucho más importante que una hoja afilada.A sharp wit is much more important than a sharp blade.This sentence is useful for contrasting a sharp wit with a hoja afilada.Tatoeba #8672676 by ajje, translation #8672683 by ajje
- Por favor, ten cuidado con la hoja afilada del cuchillo.Please be careful with the sharp blade of the knife.
- El barbero utilizó una cuchilla afilada para afeitar.The barber used a sharp blade for shaving.
- Ten cuidado con el filo afilado de las tijeras.Be careful with the sharp edge of the scissors.
- Juan sacó su navaja afilada para cortar la cuerda.Juan took out his sharp blade to cut the rope.
- Ten cuidado con esa hoja afilada.Be careful with that sharp blade.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are in the kitchen preparing dinner.
- MaríaMateo, ¿tienes una hoja afilada para el cuchillo?Mateo, do you have a sharp blade for the knife?
- MateoSí, María, está en el cajón de herramientas.Yes, María, it is in the tool drawer.
- MaríaGracias, es difícil cortar los tomates así.Thanks, it is hard to cut the tomatoes like this.
- MateoDe nada, usa esa hoja afilada con cuidado.You're welcome, use that sharp blade carefully.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hoja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
