Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| afilado | /afiˈlado/ |
| agudo | /aˈɡudo/ |
| filoso | /fiˈloso/ |
| puntiagudo | /puntjaˈɡudo/ |
| punzocortante | /punθokoɾˈtante/ /punsokoɾˈtante/ |
| cortopunzante | /koɾtopunθante/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /koɾtopunsante/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
The term used to describe something being able to cut easily depends on whether you are discussing a physical blade, a sensory perception or a technical hazard.
Which one should you use?
Filoso is the most common way to describe the inherent quality of a blade being sharp in everyday conversation. Puntiagudo refers to something being sharp in the sense of having a fine point rather than a cutting edge. Agudo is used for non-physical sharpness, such as a sharp sound, a sharp pain or a sharp intellect. Punzocortante is a technical or formal term used to describe objects that are both sharp and capable of piercing, such as medical sharps or weapons.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, afilado must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies (for example, cuchillos afilados).
How do you pronounce it?
/afiˈlado/
Did you know?
- While filoso describes a blade, the word filo refers to the cutting edge itself. In many Spanish-speaking countries, a person who is 'sharp' or witty is colloquially described as filoso.
- In music, agudo describes a high-pitched note. This differs from English, where 'sharp' usually refers to a note being slightly higher than its intended pitch.
- While agudo describes a 'sharp' intellect, it is also the term used for the 'acute' accent mark used over vowels in Spanish writing.
Examples in context
- Él es un tirador agudo.He is a sharp-shooter.This sentence uses agudo to describe a person's skills.Tatoeba #5140110 by albrusgher, translation #300434 by CM
- El cuchillo no es filoso.The knife is not sharp.This sentence uses filoso to describe the state of a knife.Tatoeba #5021366 by don_ramon, translation #60758 by CK
- Tengo un agudo dolor aquí.I have a sharp pain here.This sentence uses agudo to describe a physical sensation.Tatoeba #1321852 by marcelostockle, translation #61778 by CK
- La cuchilla está afilada.The blade is sharp.
- La punta del lápiz es puntiaguda.The tip of the pencil is sharp.
- El sonido de ese cuchillo es muy agudo.The sound of that knife is very sharp.
- Ten cuidado con las tijeras, están afiladas.Be careful with the scissors, they're sharp.
- El clavo tiene la punta puntiaguda.The nail has a sharp tip.
- Carlos es un hombre muy ingenioso.Carlos is a very sharp-witted man.
- Ella tiene una mente muy aguda.She has a very sharp mind.
- Ten cuidado, ese vidrio está muy filoso.Be careful, that glass is very sharp.
- El papel de aluminio tiene los bordes cortantes.The aluminum foil has sharp edges.
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are preparing dinner in the kitchen.
- AlejandroTen cuidado, este cuchillo está muy afilado.Be careful, this knife is very sharp.
- ElenaGracias, Alejandro. Voy a cortar las verduras.Thanks, Alejandro. I'm going to cut the vegetables.
- Alejandro¿Quieres que use el otro cuchillo?Do you want me to use the other knife?
- ElenaNo, este está perfecto y bien afilado.No, this one is perfect and well sharpened.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sharp” translations and entries afilado, agudo, filoso, puntiagudo, punzocortante, cortopunzante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
