Master the subtle differences between these similar Spanish nouns and sharpen your linguistic skills.
Cutting Through the Meanings: Cuchillo vs. Cuchilla
Today, we delve into the nuanced world of Spanish vocabulary to distinguish between two commonly confused nouns: cuchillo (masculine) and cuchilla (feminine). While they may look and sound similar, their endings, genders, and uses set them apart.
Cuchillo: The Everyday Knife
A cuchillo is a handled utensil with a cutting edge—commonly referred to as a knife in English. It’s a staple of dining tables, often accompanied by a tenedor (fork) and cuchara (spoon). Here are some examples to sharpen your understanding:
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Celia solía afilar los cuchillos.
Celia used to sharpen the knives. -
Mientras masticaba, dejaba el tenedor y el cuchillo en los bordes del plato.
While he was chewing, he would leave his knife and fork on the edges of the plate. -
Sacó el cuchillo y rasgó el cuadro de arriba abajo.
He got out the knife and scored the painting from top to bottom.
You can listen to the pronunciation of cuchillo here.
Cuchilla: The Versatile Blade
A cuchilla refers to a cutting blade, whether it’s part of a knife or a piece of machinery. It translates as "blade" in most contexts:
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Un milagro hizo que la cuchilla no le afectara ningún órgano vital.
Miraculously, the blade missed all his vital organs. -
Usa una cuchilla nueva, muy afilada, para recortar.
Use a new, very sharp blade to do the cutting out. -
Cuchillas de recambio
Replacement blades
In some contexts, a cuchilla can have a handle and a broad blade, making it suitable for heavy-duty cutting or chopping. For example:
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Una cuchilla de carnicero
A butcher’s cleaver -
Necesitaremos las siguientes herramientas: cuchilla, tijeras, regla.
We’ll need the following tools: a craft knife, scissors, ruler.
Special Uses: Razor Blades and More
The term cuchilla also applies to razor blades, commonly used in personal grooming:
- La maquinilla eléctrica, la cuchilla y la crema depiladora son tres métodos que acaban con el vello.
The electric razor, the razor blade, and depilatory cream are three ways to get rid of hair.
You can listen to the pronunciation of cuchilla
Puzzle Time: A Creative Connection
Question: Based on its shape, what landscape feature might be referred to as una cuchilla?
Answer: A craggy mountain ridge.
Join us next week as we continue slicing through the intriguing layers of Spanish vocabulary!
