corte
“corte” means “cut” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
cut, haircut, style, outage / interruption
Also: slice, cross-section, cut of meat
📝 In Action
Me hice un corte en el dedo con un papel.
A2I got a paper cut on my finger.
Necesito un corte de pelo nuevo.
A2I need a new haircut.
Hubo un corte de luz en todo el barrio.
B1There was a power outage in the whole neighborhood.
Me gusta el corte de ese vestido, es muy elegante.
B2I like the cut of that dress, it's very elegant.
court, court
Also: entourage
📝 In Action
El acusado fue llevado ante la corte.
B2The defendant was brought before the court.
La Corte Suprema anunció su veredicto.
B2The Supreme Court announced its verdict.
La corte del rey celebraba grandes fiestas en el palacio.
C1The king's court held grand parties in the palace.
cut
📝 In Action
Corte el pan en rebanadas, por favor.
A2Cut the bread into slices, please. (formal command)
El jardinero me pidió que corte las rosas.
B1The gardener asked me to cut the roses. (subjunctive)
No corte por esa calle, hay mucho tráfico.
B1Don't cut through that street, there's a lot of traffic. (formal negative command)
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "corte" in Spanish:
court→cross-section→cut→entourage→haircut→i stopped→slice→style→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: corte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'corte' to talk about a haircut?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'corte' actually has two different origins! The meaning 'a cut' comes from the Latin word 'curtus', meaning 'shortened' or 'cut off.' The meaning 'a court' comes from a totally different Latin word, 'cohors' or 'cohortem', which meant an 'enclosure' or a 'group of attendants.' This is why they have such different meanings and even different genders.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'corte' sometimes masculine ('el corte') and sometimes feminine ('la corte')?
It depends entirely on the meaning! Use 'el corte' (masculine) when you mean a physical cut, a haircut, a style, or an interruption like a power outage. Use 'la corte' (feminine) when you are talking about a legal court (like the Supreme Court) or a royal court.
Is 'corte' a verb?
Not on its own. It's a specific form of the verb 'cortar' (to cut). You use it for formal commands (like telling a boss or stranger 'Corte aquí') and in special sentence structures that express desire, doubt, or opinion (like 'Espero que él corte el césped'). The base verb is always 'cortar'.