Inklingo

How to Say "pen" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bolígrafo

nounA1general
Use this word for the most common type of pen used for everyday writing, especially those with ballpoints.

Examples

¿Me prestas un bolígrafo, por favor?

Can you lend me a pen, please?

pluma

ploo-mah'plu.ma

nounA2general
Use this word when referring to a pen, particularly a more formal or elegant writing instrument, or historically, a quill pen.
A simple black fountain pen with a silver nib, resting on a light blue surface.

Examples

Necesito una pluma para firmar estos documentos importantes.

I need a pen to sign these important documents.

Mi abuelo todavía usa una pluma estilográfica antigua.

My grandfather still uses an old fountain pen.

Historical Connection

This meaning comes directly from the quill pen—a feather used for writing before modern pens existed.

corral

ko-RAHLkoˈral

nounA2general
Use this word exclusively to refer to an enclosure or pen for keeping animals, such as chickens or sheep.
A simple wooden fence enclosure in a green field containing a few fluffy sheep.

Examples

Las gallinas duermen en el corral.

The chickens sleep in the pen.

El granjero cerró la puerta del corral para que no escaparan las ovejas.

The farmer closed the yard gate so the sheep wouldn't escape.

Hay mucho barro en el corral después de la lluvia.

There is a lot of mud in the farmyard after the rain.

Always Masculine

This word always uses 'el' (el corral) or 'un' (un corral), even though it refers to a place.

Making it Plural

Since it ends in a consonant 'l', you add '-es' to make it plural: 'los corrales'.

Confusing with Coral

Mistake: “El coral de las ovejas.”

Correction: El corral de las ovejas. 'Coral' with one 'r' is the colorful skeleton found in the ocean (reef).

Writing Pen vs. Animal Pen

The most common mistake is using 'corral' when you mean a writing instrument. Remember, 'corral' is strictly for animal enclosures. Confusing 'bolígrafo' and 'pluma' is less critical, as both refer to writing tools, though 'bolígrafo' is more common for everyday pens.

Related Translations

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