borrador
“borrador” means “eraser” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
eraser
Also: blackboard eraser
📝 In Action
¿Me prestas tu borrador? Me equivoqué.
A1Can I borrow your eraser? I made a mistake.
El profesor no encuentra el borrador de la pizarra.
A1The teacher can't find the chalkboard eraser.
Este borrador no mancha el papel.
A2This eraser doesn't smudge the paper.
draft
Also: rough copy, sketch
📝 In Action
He escrito el primer borrador de mi novela.
B1I have written the first draft of my novel.
Por favor, revisa este borrador antes de enviarlo.
B1Please, review this draft before sending it.
Todavía es un borrador muy preliminar.
B2It is still a very preliminary draft.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: borrador
Question 1 of 3
If you are in a Spanish classroom and need to clean the whiteboard, what do you ask for?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish verb 'borrar' (to erase), which comes from the Late Latin 'borra', meaning 'coarse wool' or 'fluff', originally used to wipe ink or clean surfaces.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'goma' and 'borrador'?
In many places, 'goma' is specifically the small rubber for pencils, while 'borrador' can be for pencils OR the big one for whiteboards. In Spain, 'borrador' is almost exclusively for whiteboards.
Is 'borrador' ever used as an adjective?
Rarely. It can technically describe something that erases, but in 99% of cases, you will see it used as a noun meaning eraser or draft.
How do I say 'to draft' a document?
You don't use 'borrador' as a verb. You should say 'hacer un borrador' (to make a draft) or 'redactar' (to write/draft).