Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Pencil Sharpener in Spanish: Sacapuntas
Sacapuntas · noun (masculine) · sah-kah-POON-tahs
Pencil sharpener in Spanish is sacapuntas, a masculine compound noun that literally means tip-remover.
Sacapuntas is sah-kah-POON-tahs, four syllables with stress on POON.
¿Me prestas tu sacapuntas? El mío se rompió.
Can you lend me your pencil sharpener? Mine broke.
Pencil Sharpener in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for pencil sharpener, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| sacapuntas | pencil sharpener | sah-kah-POON-tahs | Default, widely understood |
| tajador | pencil sharpener | Colombia | |
| afilalápices | pencil sharpener | some Southern Cone countries |
How Native Speakers Use Sacapuntas
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Classroom
Cada estudiante debe traer un sacapuntas y una goma de borrar.
Each student must bring a pencil sharpener and an eraser.
School supplies list.
Art class
Necesito un sacapuntas para mis lápices de colores.
I need a pencil sharpener for my colored pencils.
Art supplies.
Colombian variant
Pásame el tajador que necesito afilar este lápiz.
Pass me the sharpener, I need to sharpen this pencil.
Regional variant in Colombia.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Sacapuntas
Changing plural form
Incorrect: Compré dos sacapunta.
Correct: Compré dos sacapuntas.
Sacapuntas is invariable—the form stays the same in singular and plural.
Wrong gender
Incorrect: La sacapuntas es nueva.
Correct: El sacapuntas es nuevo.
Sacapuntas is masculine: el sacapuntas.
Lock in Pencil Sharpener Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Sacapuntas used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using sacapuntas in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Me prestas tu sacapuntas? El mío se rompió. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Pencil Sharpener in Spanish
- How do you say pencil sharpener in Spanish?
- The standard word is sacapuntas (sah-kah-POON-tahs), a compound masculine noun whose form doesn't change between singular and plural.
- Why doesn't sacapuntas change in plural?
- Compound nouns ending in -s in Spanish are invariable—un sacapuntas, dos sacapuntas—you change only the article to show number.
- What regional variations exist?
- Sacapuntas is universal, but tajador is used in Colombia, tajalápiz in some Andean regions, and afilalápices occasionally in the Southern Cone.