corto
“corto” means “short” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
short, brief
Also: low
📝 In Action
Mi pelo es más corto que el tuyo.
A1My hair is shorter than yours.
La reunión fue muy corta, solo duró diez minutos.
A2The meeting was very brief; it only lasted ten minutes.
Necesito un cable más corto para conectar la televisión.
A1I need a shorter cable to connect the television.
shy, lacking
Also: short-sighted, dim-witted
📝 In Action
No seas corto, habla con ella.
B1Don't be shy/reserved, talk to her.
Parece que está un poco corto de memoria.
B2It seems he is a bit lacking in memory.
Mi abuela está un poco corta de oído.
B1My grandmother is a little hard of hearing (short of hearing).
short film
📝 In Action
El director presentó su nuevo corto en el festival.
B2The director presented his new short film at the festival.
Los cortos suelen durar menos de 30 minutos.
B2Short films usually last less than 30 minutes.
short circuit
📝 In Action
Tuvimos que llamar al electricista porque hubo un corto.
C1We had to call the electrician because there was a short circuit.
Si conectas mal los cables, puedes hacer un corto.
C1If you connect the wires incorrectly, you can cause a short circuit (make a short).
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "corto" in Spanish:
brief→dim-witted→lacking→low→short→short circuit→short film→short-sighted→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: corto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'corto' to describe a lack of an ability or resource?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word *curtus*, which meant 'short, abbreviated, or mutilated.' This word has been used in Spanish since its earliest forms, always retaining the core meaning of being limited in length or extent.
First recorded: Before 1200
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'corto' ever mean 'small' in size, like 'pequeño'?
Not usually. 'Corto' is almost exclusively about limited **length** (like a string or a skirt) or **duration** (like a trip or a meeting). If you mean 'small' in general size, you should use 'pequeño'.
When do I need to add 'de' after 'corto'?
When you are describing a deficiency or limitation in a person. For example, 'corto de dinero' (short of money) or 'corto de oído' (hard of hearing). It means they are 'lacking' that specific thing.