tubos

TOO-bohs

pipes?plumbing or construction,tubes?general cylindrical containers

Also:barrels?the hollow part of a wave in surfing

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Los tubos de la cocina están rotos.

The kitchen pipes are broken.

Necesitamos unos tubos de cartón para el proyecto.

We need some cardboard tubes for the project.

Since 'tubo' ends in a vowel, we simply add an '-s' to make it plural: 'tubos'.

This word is masculine. Any words describing it (like 'the' or 'red') must also be masculine: 'los tubos rojos'.

Mistake: "Writing 'tuvo' when you mean pipes."

Correction: Use 'tubos' for the objects. 'Tuvo' (with a V) means 'he or she had' and is a completely different word.

Use 'tubos' for individual pieces, but use 'tubería' when talking about the whole network of pipes in a house.

Question 1 of 2

Which of these is a set of 'tubos de ensayo'?

tubería(piping) - noun

entubar(to intubate or put into a pipe) - verb

Is 'tubos' the same as 'tuvo'?

No! They sound exactly the same in Spanish, but 'tubos' with a 'B' are pipes, while 'tuvo' with a 'V' means 'he/she had'.

When should I use 'cañerías' instead of 'tubos'?

'Cañerías' is specifically used for water pipes or sewage systems. 'Tubos' is a more general word for any cylindrical object.