corto
/KOR-toh/
short
When referring to length or height, 'corto' means short.
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Remember that 'corto' must match the thing it describes in both gender (o/a) and number (singular/plural). Examples: 'el libro corto' (masculine singular), 'las faldas cortas' (feminine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Length and Size
Mistake: "Usando 'corto' para decir 'small' (e.g., 'el carro corto')."
Correction: Use 'pequeño' (small) for general size. Use 'corto' only for measurement of length or time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Time Expressions
Use 'corto' when talking about time durations, like 'un descanso corto' (a short break) or 'un periodo corto' (a short period).
When describing personality, 'corto' means shy or reserved.
corto(Adjective)
shy
?reserved personality
,lacking
?deficient in something (often used with 'de')
short-sighted
?corto de vista
,dim-witted
?corto de luces (informal)
📝 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).
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Corto de'
When 'corto' describes a deficiency, it is often followed by 'de' (of) and the noun indicating what is lacking: 'corto de dinero' (short on money), 'corto de paciencia' (lacking patience).
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Warning
Calling someone 'corto' without the 'de' qualification can be an informal way to say they are 'stupid' or 'slow.' Be cautious when using this in professional settings.
In the context of cinema, 'un corto' refers to a 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Noun Form
This is a noun (el corto) derived directly from the adjective, which is a common way to shorten 'cortometraje' (short film) in casual conversation.
'Corto' can also be used as a noun to describe a 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).
⭐ Usage Tips
Technical Usage
While 'cortocircuito' is the formal term, 'un corto' is very common and understood by native speakers when discussing electricity or wiring problems.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: corto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'corto' to describe a lack of an ability or resource?
📚 More Resources
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.