How to Say "The Pen" in Spanish

el bolígrafo

/el boliɡɾafo/from spelling rules

The pen in Spanish is el bolígrafo.

el bolígrafo is used to refer to the pen.

Which one should you use?

While el bolígrafo specifically refers to a ballpoint pen, you should use la pluma estilográfica if you are referring specifically to a fountain pen.

The term el boli is a common informal shortening of el bolígrafo.

el bolígrafo is commonly used in Spain. In places like Colombia, Venezuela and Central America, el lapicero is more commonly used.

/el boliɡɾafo/

The word pluma means 'feather' and was used for pens long before bolígrafo existed, reflecting the history of quill pens.
The word bolígrafo is a technical hybrid, combining the Spanish word for 'ball', bola, with the Greek-derived suffix -grafo.
Spanish uses the word tinta for 'ink', which is a direct cognate of the English word 'tincture'.

El bolígrafo está roto.
The pen is broken.
This sentence is useful for describing the condition of el bolígrafo.
Tatoeba #524847 by Shishir, translation #370649 by saeb
¿Dónde está el bolígrafo?
Where is the pen?
This sentence is useful for asking about the location of el bolígrafo.
Tatoeba #7248137 by Leono, translation #7251121 by Sifaks
El bolígrafo está derramando tinta.
The pen is spilling ink.
This sentence is useful for noting that el bolígrafo is leaking ink.
Tatoeba #5841647 by albrusgher, translation #2751961 by mervert1
El profesor siempre lleva la pluma en el bolsillo.
The professor always carries the pen in his pocket.
¿Dónde dejé mi lapicero?
Where did I leave my pen?
11 more sentences on Tatoeba

Daniel and Sofía are in a classroom.

Sources

IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries bolígrafo, el, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.

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