tubo
/ˈtubo/masculine
The English word 'tube' is translated into Spanish as tubo. Wiktionary also lists canuto.
Meaning: a pipe (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| tubo | /ˈtubo/ | masculine |
| canuto | /kaˈnuto/ | masculine |
tubo is the general masculine noun used to describe a pipe or a tube. For instance, you can use it when talking about a tube of toothpaste or a muscular tube. In scientific contexts in Spain and parts of Latin America, tubo de ensayo is the term for a test tube.
Which one should you use?
tubo is the standard word for any pipe or tube, whereas canuto is an informal term often used to refer specifically to a small, narrow tube or a hollow cylinder, such as a rolled paper tube.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and the Caribbean, the word pipa is used to describe a tube-like structure, such as a water pipe or a smoking pipe.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of tubo is tubos, created by adding the suffix '-s'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtubo/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, canuto refers to a specific type of evangelical church in Chile, named after the preacher Juan Bautista Canut de Bon Gil.
- In Spanish, tubo is a homophone for tuvo, the past tense of 'to have'. This often leads to common spelling mistakes and puns in written Spanish.
- In some contexts, the word canuto is used as a slang term for a hand-rolled cigarette. This is a common use of the word in Spain.
Examples in context
- La vagina es un tubo muscular.The vagina is a muscular tube.This sentence uses tubo to describe a biological structure.Tatoeba #5052470 by don_ramon, translation #3318984 by corvard
- Él exprimió la pasta de dientes del tubo.He squeezed the toothpaste out of a tube.This sentence uses tubo in the context of toothpaste.Tatoeba #1247987 by marcelostockle, translation #298300 by CK
- Antes de meter los cables, lubrico el tubo.Before putting the cables in, I lubricate the tube.This sentence uses tubo regarding cables and lubrication.Tatoeba #7645425 by arh, translation #8170328 by magnificentgoddess
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are in the garden fixing the irrigation system.
- Mateo¿Ves ese tubo negro?Do you see that black pipe?
- ElenaSí, lo veo, Mateo.Yes, I see it, Mateo.
- MateoEl tubo tiene una fuga.The pipe has a leak.
- ElenaYo lo arreglaré ahora.I will fix it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tube” translations and entries tubo, canuto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries canuto, tubo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
