Inklingo
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cortada

/kor-TAH-dah/

cut

A small colorful bandage on a person's finger.

A bandage used to protect a cut on the skin.

cortada(noun)

fA2

cut

?

a physical wound on the skin

Also:

slash

?

a deeper or longer opening in material or skin

📝 In Action

Lávate bien esa cortada en la mano.

A2

Wash that cut on your hand well.

Me hice una cortada con el papel.

A2

I got a paper cut.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • herida (wound)
  • incisión (incision)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • una cortada profunda – a deep cut
  • limpiar una cortada – to clean a cut

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun

This word is always feminine, so use 'la' or 'una'. Even if a man has the injury, it is still 'una cortada'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using it for all injuries

Mistake: "Using 'cortada' for a bruise."

Correction: Use 'moretón' for a bruise. 'Cortada' only refers to when the skin is actually sliced open.

⭐ Usage Tips

Paper cuts

To specifically say 'paper cut', you can say 'cortada de papel' or simply 'me corté con un papel'.

A child with blushing cheeks hiding behind a wooden door.

A shy person feeling embarrassed or tongue-tied.

cortada(adjective)

fB1

shy

?

feeling embarrassed or tongue-tied

Also:

broken up

?

an interrupted audio or phone signal

,

cut

?

sliced or chopped (for feminine items)

📝 In Action

Ella se sintió muy cortada cuando le pidieron hablar en público.

B1

She felt very shy when they asked her to speak in public.

Tu voz se escucha cortada, no hay buena señal.

B1

Your voice sounds broken up; there isn't a good signal.

La fruta ya está cortada sobre la mesa.

A1

The fruit is already cut on the table.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tímida (shy)
  • interrumpida (interrupted)

Antonyms

  • extrovertida (extroverted)
  • fluida (fluid/clear)

Common Collocations

  • quedarse cortada – to become tongue-tied
  • llamada cortada – dropped or broken call

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the Noun

Because this is an adjective (a describing word), use 'cortada' only for feminine things. For masculine things, use 'cortado'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Social Embarrassment

Use 'estar cortada' when someone is temporarily embarrassed. If they are permanently shy, 'tímida' is a better fit.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cortada

Question 1 of 1

If you are talking on the phone and the other person's voice keeps stopping and starting, how would you describe the audio?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'cortada' mean the same thing as 'herida'?

Not exactly. 'Herida' is a general word for any wound (like a burn or a scrape), while 'cortada' specifically means a cut made by something sharp.

Can I use 'cortada' to describe a shy man?

No, for a man you must change the ending to 'o': 'Él está cortado'.