Inklingo

How to Say "pointed" in Spanish

English → Spanish

afilado

/ah-fee-LAH-doh//afiˈlaðo/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'afilado' when referring to an object that has been sharpened to a fine edge or point, often implying danger or precision, like a knife or a needle.
A shiny, sharp metal chef's knife resting on a wooden cutting board next to a sliced lemon.

Examples

Ten mucho cuidado con ese cuchillo; está muy afilado.

Be very careful with that knife; it's very sharp.

El lápiz tiene una punta muy afilada.

The pencil has a very sharp point.

El gato tiene garras afiladas para trepar.

The cat has sharp claws for climbing.

Matching with Nouns

This word changes its ending to match what it describes. Use 'afilado' for masculine items and 'afilada' for feminine ones.

Describing a Current State

Use this word with 'estar' when you want to say something is sharp right now (like a knife that was just sharpened).

Using it for 'Smart'

Mistake:Using 'afilado' to mean 'intelligent' in a general sense.

Correction: Use 'listo' or 'inteligente' for people; 'afilado' is mostly for physical objects or specific wit.

agudo

/ah-GOO-doh//aˈɣuðo/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'agudo' to describe a naturally sharp or pointed physical shape, like the tip of a pencil, a thorn, or a corner, without necessarily implying it has been sharpened.
A close-up of a perfectly sharp pencil tip pointing upwards.

Examples

Ten cuidado con el extremo agudo de la valla.

Be careful with the sharp end of the fence.

En la clase de geometría, dibujamos un ángulo agudo.

In geometry class, we drew an acute angle.

La punta del lápiz está muy aguda.

The tip of the pencil is very sharp.

Matching the word to the noun

Remember that this word must change its ending to 'aguda' if you are describing something feminine, like 'una punta' (a point).

Where to put the word

In Spanish, you usually place 'agudo' after the thing you are describing, such as 'un objeto agudo'.

Agudo vs. Afilado

Mistake:Using 'agudo' to talk about a knife's cutting edge.

Correction: Use 'afilado' for a blade's edge and 'agudo' for a needle's point or a sharp corner.

Afilado vs. Agudo for 'Pointed'

Learners often confuse 'afilado' and 'agudo' because both can mean 'sharp' or 'pointed'. Remember that 'afilado' typically refers to something made sharp through sharpening (like a tool), while 'agudo' describes a naturally pointed shape.

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