cubierto
/koo-BYEHR-toh/
covered
Cubierto as an adjective means 'covered' or 'concealed'.
cubierto(adjective)
covered
?protected or concealed
,cloudy
?weather (el cielo está cubierto)
protected
?sheltered
,filled
?insurance/financial context (risk is covered)
📝 In Action
La mesa del jardín estaba cubierta por una lona.
A2The garden table was covered by a tarp.
Hoy el cielo está cubierto, parece que va a llover.
B1Today the sky is cloudy, it looks like it's going to rain.
Hemos cubierto todos los gastos del viaje.
B2We have covered all the expenses of the trip.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'cubierto' must match the thing it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). For example: 'El plato está cubierto' (The plate is covered) vs. 'La mesa está cubierta' (The table is covered).
Irregular Past Participle
'Cubierto' is the irregular past participle of the verb 'cubrir' (to cover). This means it doesn't follow the usual '-ido' ending rule, but you use it exactly the same way to form perfect tenses (e.g., 'ha cubierto' = 'has covered').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Gender
Mistake: "La caja está cubierto."
Correction: La caja está cubierta. (Caja is feminine, so the adjective must be feminine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Weather Tip
When talking about cloudy weather, use the masculine singular form: 'El cielo está cubierto' (The sky is cloudy).
Cubierto as a noun refers to 'cutlery' or eating utensils.
cubierto(noun)
cutlery
?utensils for eating (fork, knife, spoon)
silverware
?general term for utensils
,place setting
?a set of cutlery for one person
📝 In Action
Por favor, ¿me trae un cubierto limpio?
A1Please, could you bring me a clean set of cutlery?
Necesitamos poner cuatro cubiertos más en la mesa.
A2We need to put four more place settings on the table.
💡 Grammar Points
Singular vs. Collective
While 'cubiertos' (plural) means 'utensils,' the singular 'un cubierto' often refers to the entire set (fork, knife, spoon) needed for one person, similar to saying 'a place setting' in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
Restaurant Request
If you are missing a utensil in a restaurant, it's polite and common to ask for 'un cubierto' to refer to the whole set.
In a restaurant setting, cubierto can mean 'cover charge' or service fee.
📝 In Action
El restaurante cobra un cubierto de dos euros por persona.
B1The restaurant charges a cover fee of two euros per person.
En la factura se incluye el cubierto y el pan.
B2The bill includes the service charge and the bread.
💡 Grammar Points
Cultural Note
This charge is common in some European Spanish-speaking countries (like Spain and parts of Latin America) and usually covers the cost of bread, table linen, and basic service, separate from a tip (propina).
⭐ Usage Tips
Checking the Bill
Look for the word 'cubierto' or 'servicio' on your bill to see if a mandatory service fee has already been applied.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cubierto
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es el significado de 'cubierto' en la frase: 'El mesero olvidó un cubierto'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cubierto' regular or irregular?
The base verb, 'cubrir' (to cover), is regular in most tenses, but its past participle form is irregular. Instead of the expected *cubrido*, it uses 'cubierto.' That's why you see 'he cubierto' (I have covered).
How do I know if 'cubierto' means cutlery or cloudy?
Check the context! If you see 'el cubierto' (masculine noun) used with food or money, it means cutlery or a service fee. If you see 'el cielo está cubierto,' it describes the weather (cloudy).