cubo
/koo-bo/
bucket
This image shows a bucket, one meaning of 'cubo'.
📝 In Action
Por favor, saca el cubo de basura, está lleno.
A2Please take out the trash bin, it is full.
Necesito un cubo de agua para limpiar el suelo.
A1I need a bucket of water to clean the floor.
Los niños hicieron castillos de arena con sus cubos en la playa.
A2The children made sandcastles with their pails at the beach.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Remember that 'cubo' is a masculine word, so you must use masculine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'el cubo', 'un cubo grande').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'cubo' and 'caja'
Mistake: "Using 'caja' when referring to a bucket/pail."
Correction: 'Caja' means 'box.' Use 'cubo' or 'balde' for the container used for water or trash.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Trash Can
In Spain, 'cubo de basura' is the standard phrase for 'trash can,' though you might also hear 'papelera' (for smaller indoor bins).
The word 'cubo' also refers to this geometric shape: a cube.
cubo(noun)
cube
?geometric shape
,die
?single side of dice
third power
?mathematics (e.g., 'al cubo')
📝 In Action
El volumen de un cubo se calcula elevando la longitud de su lado al cubo.
B1The volume of a cube is calculated by raising the length of its side to the third power.
Este rompecabezas es un cubo mágico de colores.
B2This puzzle is a magical colored cube (like a Rubik’s Cube).
Tres al cubo es veintisiete (3³ = 27).
B1Three cubed is twenty-seven.
💡 Grammar Points
Math Usage
When talking about numbers raised to the power of three (e.g., 2³), you use the phrase 'al cubo' (two to the cube).
⭐ Usage Tips
Game Pieces
While 'cubo' can mean 'die,' in the context of games, the word 'dado' is much more frequently used for the small, numbered piece you roll.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cubo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cubo' in its geometric or mathematical sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'cubo' means 'bucket' or 'cube'?
The context is usually clear! If you see 'cubo de basura' (trash) or 'cubo de agua' (water), it means 'bucket/bin.' If you see it used with math, puzzles, or shapes (like 'cubo de Rubik' or 'al cubo'), it means the geometric 'cube.'
Is 'balde' the same as 'cubo'?
Yes, they both mean 'bucket' or 'pail.' 'Cubo' is more common across Spain, while 'balde' is the preferred word in many parts of Latin America.