goma
/go-ma/
eraser
Goma, meaning 'eraser', is used to correct mistakes made with a pencil.
📝 In Action
Perdí mi goma y no puedo corregir el dibujo.
A1I lost my eraser and can't correct the drawing.
Esta goma es muy suave y no rompe el papel.
A2This eraser is very soft and doesn't tear the paper.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'goma' is always treated as a feminine word, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives, like 'la goma' or 'una goma blanca'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up the tool and the action
Mistake: "Voy a gomar esto."
Correction: Voy a borrar esto con una goma. ('Gomar' is not a verb; use 'borrar' for the action of erasing.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Essential School Supply
In a classroom setting, 'goma' is the standard word for the physical tool used to erase pencil marks.
As a 'rubber band', goma is a flexible loop used for securing items together.
goma(noun)
rubber band
?elastic loop for holding things
elastic (band)
?a stretchy band
,gum
?the sticky substance
📝 In Action
Necesito una goma para atar este manojo de cables.
A2I need a rubber band to tie up this bundle of cables.
Se me rompió la goma del pelo.
B1My hair elastic broke.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you are holding papers together, 'goma' means 'rubber band.' If you are correcting a pencil mark, it means 'eraser.' The context usually makes the meaning clear!
Goma refers to 'rubber', the elastic material itself, often derived from trees.
📝 In Action
El suelo del gimnasio es de goma para amortiguar los golpes.
B1The gym floor is made of rubber to cushion the impacts.
Tuvimos que parar porque se nos pinchó una goma.
B2We had to stop because we got a flat tire. (Regional usage)
⭐ Usage Tips
Material vs. Product
Use 'goma' when talking about the material itself (like 'wood' or 'metal'). Use 'caucho' if you want a more technical or formal word for rubber.
When used to mean 'hangover', goma describes the feeling of being ill after drinking excessive alcohol.
📝 In Action
¡Qué goma tengo hoy! No debí beber tanto anoche.
C1What a hangover I have today! I shouldn't have drunk so much last night.
⭐ Usage Tips
Spain Slang
If you are in Spain and hear this meaning, remember it is very informal. In almost all other Spanish-speaking countries, use 'resaca' for 'hangover'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: goma
Question 1 of 2
If someone in Madrid says, 'Tengo una goma terrible,' what do they mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'goma' have so many different meanings?
All the meanings are related to the original substance: rubber or gum. The word is used for the material itself, and also for three common objects made from it: the eraser, the rubber band, and, regionally, the tire.
If I ask for a 'goma' in a Latin American stationery store, what will I get?
You will most likely get an 'eraser' (a rubber for pencils). However, in Mexico, you might hear 'borrador' more often, and 'liga' for a rubber band.