Inklingo

How to Say "rim" in Spanish

English → Spanish

borde

BOAR-deh/ˈboɾ.ðe/

nounA2general
Use 'borde' for the edge of objects like glasses, plates, pools, or cliffs.
A simple colorful illustration showing a clear, distinct boundary where a grassy field meets a sandy beach, emphasizing the line where one surface ends and the other begins.

Examples

Ten cuidado de no caerte del borde de la piscina.

Be careful not to fall off the edge of the pool.

El borde del plato estaba decorado con oro.

The rim of the plate was decorated with gold.

Estábamos al borde de la desesperación.

We were on the verge of desperation.

Masculine Noun Rule

'Borde' is always a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it.

Confusing 'Borde' and 'Esquina'

Mistake: “Using 'borde' when you mean 'corner' (esquina).”

Correction: Use 'borde' for the length of an edge, and 'esquina' for where two edges meet.

bordo

/BOR-doh//ˈboɾ.ðo/

nounB2general
Use 'bordo' for the raised edge of a container or, less commonly, as a synonym for 'borde'. It's also used in the expression 'a bordo' meaning 'on board'.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing the smooth wooden deck and white railing of a ship against a bright blue ocean background.

Examples

El carpintero lijó el bordo de la mesa para suavizarlo.

The carpenter sanded the edge of the table to smooth it.

Todos los pasajeros están a bordo del avión.

All the passengers are on board the plane.

El capitán miró por encima del bordo del barco.

The captain looked over the side of the boat.

La policía revisó la documentación a bordo del vehículo.

The police checked the documentation inside the vehicle.

The fixed phrase 'a bordo'

When talking about being 'on' a vehicle (ship, plane, train), Spanish uses the fixed phrase 'a bordo' (on board). Even though 'a' usually means 'to,' here it acts like 'on' or 'at'.

Using 'en' instead of 'a'

Mistake: “Estamos en bordo del barco.”

Correction: Estamos a bordo del barco. Always use 'a' with 'bordo' in this context.

labios

/LAH-byos//ˈla.βjos/

nounA1general
Use 'labios' figuratively for the edge of a wound or container, but most commonly, it refers to 'lips' (the body part).
A close-up illustration focusing only on a pair of slightly pink, closed human lips.

Examples

Ella se pinta los labios de color rojo intenso.

She paints her lips a deep red color.

Por favor, no te muerdas los labios cuando estés nerviosa.

Please don't bite your lips when you are nervous.

El silencio en sus labios indicaba que no quería hablar del tema.

The silence on his lips indicated that he didn't want to talk about the subject.

Using 'The' for Body Parts

When talking about your own body parts or those of someone else, Spanish often uses 'el/la/los/las' (the) instead of 'mi/tu/su' (my/your/his/her). For example: 'Me lavo los labios' (I wash my lips).

Using Possessive Adjectives

Mistake: “Me duelen mis labios.”

Correction: Me duelen los labios. (The action verb 'doler' already tells us who owns the lips, making 'mis' unnecessary and awkward.)

Borde vs. Bordo

Learners often confuse 'borde' and 'bordo'. While both can mean 'edge', 'borde' is much more common for general edges like those of a glass or pool. 'Bordo' is more specific to the raised edge of a container or the phrase 'on board'.

Related Translations

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