corten
“corten” means “Cut (plural command)” in Spanish (Giving an order to a group (ustedes)).
Cut (plural command), Stop / Interrupt (plural command)
Also: That they cut / That you all cut
📝 In Action
Por favor, corten el pastel en ocho pedazos iguales.
A2Please, cut the cake into eight equal pieces.
El director gritó: '¡Corten! ¡La escena está perfecta!'
B1The director shouted: 'Cut! The scene is perfect!'
Es necesario que corten la luz antes de empezar a trabajar.
B1It is necessary that they cut the power before starting to work.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: corten
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'corten' as a command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
'Corten' comes from the verb 'cortar,' which evolved from the Latin verb *curtare*, meaning 'to shorten' or 'to mutilate.' The idea of making something shorter or separating it has always been central to the word's meaning.
First recorded: 12th century (as the root verb 'cortar')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'corten' only used for physical cutting?
No. While it means 'to cut,' it is very often used figuratively to mean 'to stop,' 'to interrupt,' or 'to disconnect' (like cutting power or stopping a conversation).
How do I know if 'corten' is a command or a subjunctive phrase?
If it is the first word in the sentence (or follows a name) and has an exclamation point (¡Corten!), it is a command. If it follows words like 'que' and verbs of emotion or doubt (Espero que corten...), it is the subjunctive form.