I have a quick story for you about when I moved from Chile to Argentina and the confusion of how to say pen in Spanish. But first, the quick answer you’re looking for is “bolígrafo” commonly shortened to “boli” for a ballpoint pen. That’s the general word that will be understood almost anywhere you go. It may not be the locally used word, but it will get you by.
Now here’s my story…let’s pretend that you are going to be transferred for work to a Spanish-speaking country. You might already know Spanish, so there will be no “language barrier” that will affect your transition to your new company. That was exactly what I thought when I moved from Chile to Argentina in 2001. When I arrived at the office and started asking for basic office supplies, my assistant looked at me with a lost face. Apparently, I was speaking a whole different Spanish language.
Don’t believe me? Let’s take for example all the words in Spanish for pen. This simple and common item can be identified with so many words in Spanish-speaking countries. Take a look at this infographic that lists 12 Spanish words for ballpoint pen and the countries that use them. But there’s no need to panic or try to memorize all the words. If you use the word bolígrafo you can be understood anywhere.
PEN in Spanish Infographic
Spanish teacher: You can print and hang this poster in your classroom here.
1. birome – Used in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This word comes from the brand “Birome” created in the 40’s by the company Bíró Pens of Argentina owned by the Bíró brothers and Juan Jorge Meyne. So, birome is a combination of the names Bíró and Meyne. It is sometimes written with a V as in “virome”.
2. boli – It is the short for bolígrafo and it is used in Spain.
3. bolígrafo – This is the general common word for a pen.
4. esfero – Short for esferográfico and is commonly used in Colombia and Ecuador.
5. esferográfico – Also, esferógrafo and is a formal/cult word for pen in Colombia and Ecuador.
6. lapicera – Argentina
7. lapicero – Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras
8. lápiz pasta – Chile
9. lápiz tinta – Honduras
10. pluma – Common in Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.
11. plumero – Used only on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
12. puntabola – Bolivia
Constructing Sentences with Pen Terms
In Spanish, one can refer to a pen as any of the above terms, depending on the country, the most common being “bolígrafo”.
The verb “escribir” means to write. When constructing sentences, it is important to be aware of the noun’s gender and the verb conjugation.
For instance:
- “She writes with a pen” translates to “Ella escribe con una pluma”.
- “I need a pen to sign the document” can be said as “Necesito un bolígrafo para firmar el documento”.
When discussing different types of pens, such as a marker, the term “marcador” is used. For example:
- “He is coloring with a marker” would be “Él está coloreando con un marcador”.
| English | Spanish | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|
| pen | pluma/bolígrafo | ¿Tienes una pluma para prestar? |
| to write | escribir | Ella escribe una carta a su amigo por correspondencia. |
| marker | marcador | Necesitamos marcadores para la pizarra. |
| pen pal | amigo por correspondencia | Quiero encontrar un amigo por correspondencia para practicar mi español. |
Practical Phrases
When using pen-related vocabulary in practical phrases, one might encounter idiomatic expressions or culturally specific terms.
The saying “la pluma vale más que la espada” translates to “the pen is mightier than the sword,” emphasizing the power of words.
A writer’s pen name is referred to as “nombre de pluma” in Spanish. “To put pen to paper” translates to “ponerse a escribir”, literally meaning “to start writing.”
| Spanish Phrase | English Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Este bolígrafo escribe muy bien. | This pen writes very well. |
| Prefiero los bolígrafos azules. | I prefer blue pens. |
| Envíame una carta envenenada. | Send me a poison-pen letter. |
| Ella utiliza un nombre de pluma. | She uses a pen name. |
Common pen-related question
What is the term for a writing instrument in Spanish?
The most widely accepted and understood terms for a writing instrument in Spanish are ‘bolígrafo’ or ‘pluma.’
How do you express ‘ink pen’ in the Spanish language?
In Spanish, an ‘ink pen’ is often referred to as ‘pluma fuente’ or ‘estilográfica.’
Could you tell me the Spanish word for a notebook?
The Spanish word for ‘notebook’ is ‘cuaderno.’
What Spanish vocabulary is used for ‘paper’ in the context of writing materials?
For ‘paper’ in the context of writing materials, the Spanish vocabulary is ‘papel.’
Check out these other articles about the Spanish Language.
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Jared Romey
Founder of the Speaking Latino Spanish Teachers Community, host of the World Language Teacher Summit, and author of 12 books about Spanish varieties.
