plumas
/plu-mas/
feathers
Plumas means 'feathers,' the soft covering found on birds.
📝 In Action
El pato tiene plumas muy suaves para protegerse del frío.
A1The duck has very soft feathers to protect itself from the cold.
Mi chaqueta de invierno está rellena de plumas.
A2My winter jacket is filled with down.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine Plural
Since 'plumas' is the plural of 'pluma' (a feminine word), you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'las plumas blancas').
⭐ Usage Tips
Feathers vs. Hair
Use 'plumas' only for birds. For human or animal hair, use 'pelo' or 'cabello'.
Plumas also translates to 'pens,' often referring to fountain pens or quills.
plumas(noun)
pens
?writing instruments, usually fountain pens or quills
quills
?historical writing tool made from a feather
📝 In Action
El escritor solo usa plumas estilográficas para firmar sus libros.
B1The writer only uses fountain pens to sign his books.
Olvidé mis plumas en casa y no puedo tomar notas.
A2I forgot my pens at home and can't take notes.
💡 Grammar Points
Specific Pen Type
When you mean a standard ballpoint pen, many speakers prefer 'bolígrafo' or 'boli'. 'Pluma' often sounds more formal or refers to a fountain pen ('pluma estilográfica').
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary Contexts
In journalism or literature, 'la pluma' (singular) can refer to the 'style' or 'writing skill' of an author.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: plumas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'plumas' in the sense of 'writing tools'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'plumas' ever a verb?
Yes! 'Plumas' is the 'tú' (you, singular informal) form of the verb 'plumar,' which means 'to pluck' or 'to strip feathers.' For example, 'Tú plumas el pollo' means 'You pluck the chicken.'
Why does one word mean both 'feathers' and 'pens'?
The connection is historical. Before mass-produced metal and plastic pens, people wrote with feather quills. The writing implement was literally a feather, so the word stuck for the modern tool, even if it's no longer made of feathers.