corta
/KOR-tah/
short
When used as an adjective, 'corta' means short, as in a short pencil.
📝 In Action
Necesito una cuerda más corta para atar esto.
A1I need a shorter rope to tie this.
La reunión fue muy corta, solo duró diez minutos.
A2The meeting was very short; it only lasted ten minutes.
Ella lleva una falda corta.
A1She is wearing a short skirt.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Match
As an adjective, 'corta' must be used only with feminine nouns (e.g., la mesa corta). If the noun were masculine, you would use 'corto' (e.g., el pelo corto).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Confusion
Mistake: "La camisa es corto."
Correction: La camisa es corta. (The adjective must match the feminine noun 'camisa'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Time vs. Length
You can use 'corta' for both physical length (short hair, short road) and duration (short time, short vacation).
The verb form 'corta' means he, she, or it cuts, illustrated by the action of scissors cutting paper.
corta(Verb)
cuts
?he/she/it cuts (present tense)
,is cutting
?he/she/it is cutting (present tense)
,Cut!
?command for 'tú' (informal you)
interrupts
?e.g., a conversation or power supply
📝 In Action
Mi hermana siempre corta el césped los sábados.
A1My sister always cuts the grass on Saturdays.
¡Corta el pan en rebanadas finas, por favor!
A1Cut the bread into thin slices, please!
Cuando habla, siempre corta la conversación de los demás.
B1When she speaks, she always interrupts other people's conversation.
💡 Grammar Points
Verb Forms
The form 'corta' is used for 'he/she/it' and 'usted' (formal you) in the present, AND it is the informal command ('tú') for telling someone to cut.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: corta
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'corta' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'corta' and 'corto'?
'Corta' is the feminine form, used when describing feminine things (like 'la falda corta'). 'Corto' is the masculine form, used for masculine things (like 'el pelo corto').
Can 'corta' mean 'short' in terms of height for a person?
Yes, but it is much more common to use 'baja' (low/short) to describe a person's height. You would usually say 'Ella es baja,' not 'Ella es corta.'