cortos
“cortos” means “short” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
short, brief
Also: small, low
📝 In Action
Los días de invierno son muy cortos en el norte.
A1Winter days are very short in the north.
Necesitas unos cables más cortos para que quepan.
A2You need some shorter cables so they fit.
Se quedó corto de dinero para pagar la cuenta.
B1He fell short of money to pay the bill.
shorts
Also: short pants
📝 In Action
Hace calor, así que todos llevamos cortos.
A2It's hot, so we are all wearing shorts.
Mis cortos favoritos están en la lavadora.
A2My favorite shorts are in the washing machine.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cortos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'cortos' as the masculine plural adjective?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin word *curtus*, which meant 'shortened' or 'mutilated.' This origin explains why the verb form 'cortar' means 'to cut.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (around the 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'cortos' sometimes used as a noun for clothing?
This is a form of linguistic shortcut! We take the adjective that describes the item ('pantalones cortos' or 'short pants') and drop the noun, leaving just the descriptive word 'cortos' to mean the item itself.
How do I know whether to use 'corto', 'corta', 'cortos', or 'cortas'?
Look at the noun you are describing. If the noun is masculine (like 'libro') and there is more than one, use 'cortos'. If the noun is feminine (like 'camisa') and there is more than one, use 'cortas'.