cortes

kor-tes

nounmA2

cuts?physical wounds or incisions,interruptions?power outages or service stoppages

Also:sections?pieces or divisions,style?usually refers to a haircut (cortes de pelo)

📝 In Action

Los cortes en su brazo eran superficiales.

The cuts on his arm were superficial.

Tuvimos varios cortes de electricidad durante la tormenta.

We had several power cuts during the storm.

Me gusta el corte de pelo que tienes.

I like the haircut (literally, 'cut of hair') you have.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tajo (gash)
interrupción (interruption)

Common Collocations

cortes de agua – water cuts/outages
cortes en la carretera – road closures

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Trap

Even though the singular noun el corte ends in -e, it is masculine, meaning its plural form los cortes is also masculine. Always use 'los' with this meaning.

⭐ Usage Tips

Talking about Utilities

If you are reporting a power or water outage, the phrase 'hay cortes' (there are outages) is the most natural way to describe the situation.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cortes

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'cortes' to refer to a government body?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cortar(to cut) - verb

corte(the cut, the court) - noun

cortador(cutter) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'cortes' means 'cuts' or 'courts'?

Look at the article! If you see 'los cortes' (masculine), it almost always means physical cuts, interruptions, or styles (like haircuts). If you see 'las cortes' (feminine), it refers to a judicial, royal, or legislative assembly (a court).

Is 'cortes' the same as the verb 'cortar'?

Not exactly. 'Cortar' is the base verb (to cut). 'Cortes' is a specific conjugated form of that verb, used when addressing 'tú' (you) in special moods like the present subjunctive or the negative command.