Hola Cards
EN RU PT BR
Download

32 Spanish school supplies words and classroom objects

School supplies in Spanish are útiles escolares or materiales escolares. Start with el lápiz, el cuaderno, la mochila and la regla, then learn regional pairs such as el bolígrafo / la pluma, la goma / el borrador and el ordenador / la computadora. The list below gives every noun with its article, a usable sentence and a clear regional note.

Disclosure: Hola Cards is published by the owner of this website. Spanish audio, writing, pronunciation, custom groups, and review modes were verified on 26 August 2026.

App Store Download for iOS Google Play Download for Android

A1–A2 vocabulary 32 practical words articles, examples and regional variants

Warm classroom desk with Spanish flashcards labelled lápiz, cuaderno, mochila and regla beside pencils, notebook, ruler, headphones and a phone
Core school supplies: el lápiz, el cuaderno, la mochila and la regla.

Turn the school list into a focused Spanish word group

Import all 32 words and practise them with Spanish audio and writing on iOS or Android. The vocabulary guide remains complete without the app.

Spanish school supplies vocabulary

What are the most useful school supplies in Spanish?

The essentials are el lápiz, el bolígrafo, el cuaderno, el libro, la hoja, la carpeta, la regla, las tijeras, la mochila and el estuche. Learn each noun with its article so gender becomes part of the word.

Regional vocabulary matters. Bolígrafo is widely understood, while pluma is common for a pen in Mexico and other regions. Spain often uses goma, rotulador and ordenador; much of Latin America also uses borrador, marcador and computadora.

Separate portable supplies from classroom furniture. A mochila or estuche goes with the learner; a mesa, silla, pizarra or impresora normally stays in the room. This makes recall more concrete than one alphabetical list.

Learn each classroom noun in three steps

Say the article and noun together: el lápiz, la regla, las tijeras.

Attach one action: escribir con, guardar en, cortar con or llevar en.

Add a regional partner only where it is useful: bolígrafo/pluma, goma/borrador, rotulador/marcador, ordenador/computadora.

32 Spanish school supplies and classroom objects

The list covers writing tools, paper and books, measuring and craft tools, bags, technology and classroom furniture.

32 school supplies in Spanish with English meanings, examples and usage notes
Spanish word Meaning Example in context Usage note
el lápiz pencil Escribe tu nombre con lápiz. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
el bolígrafo ballpoint pen ¿Me prestas un bolígrafo? Keep both regional forms for recognition and choose one for active use.
la pluma pen; fountain pen En México, pluma suele significar bolígrafo. Keep both regional forms for recognition and choose one for active use.
el rotulador felt-tip pen; marker Subraya el título con un rotulador. Keep both regional forms for recognition and choose one for active use.
el marcador marker Usa un marcador azul para el título. Keep both regional forms for recognition and choose one for active use.
la tiza chalk La profesora escribe con tiza. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
la goma eraser Borra la palabra con la goma. Keep both regional forms for recognition and choose one for active use.
el borrador eraser; board eraser Necesito un borrador para corregirlo. Keep both regional forms for recognition and choose one for active use.
el cuaderno notebook Escribe la fecha en el cuaderno. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
el libro book Abre el libro en la página diez. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
el diccionario dictionary Busca la palabra en el diccionario. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
el papel paper Necesitamos papel para la actividad. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
la hoja sheet of paper Entrega una hoja en blanco. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
la carpeta folder Guarda la fotocopia en la carpeta. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
el archivador binder; file Ordena las hojas en el archivador. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
la fotocopia photocopy; handout La profesora reparte una fotocopia. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
la regla ruler Mide la línea con la regla. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
las tijeras scissors Corta el papel con las tijeras. This item is normally named in the plural.
el pegamento glue Pega la imagen con pegamento. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
la grapadora stapler Une las hojas con la grapadora. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
la grapa staple Falta una grapa en la esquina. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
el sacapuntas pencil sharpener El sacapuntas está en el estuche. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
el compás compass Dibuja un círculo con el compás. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
la calculadora calculator Comprueba el resultado con la calculadora. Pair the noun with this common classroom action.
la mochila backpack Guarda los libros en la mochila. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
el estuche pencil case Los lápices están en el estuche. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
la mesa desk; table Deja el cuaderno sobre la mesa. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
la silla chair Pon la mochila debajo de la silla. Learn the article with the noun so gender is not an extra step.
la pizarra board; whiteboard Copia la frase de la pizarra. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.
el ordenador / la computadora computer Abrimos la actividad en el ordenador. Regional technology vocabulary differs between Spain and Latin America.
la impresora printer La impresora está junto a la puerta. Regional technology vocabulary differs between Spain and Latin America.
el mapa map Busca Madrid en el mapa. A high-value core word in beginner classroom Spanish.

Learn the vocabulary in four desk-sized groups

Move from writing tools to paper, practical tools and objects around the classroom.

Writing and erasing

Pens, pencils, markers and erasers form the first useful desk group.

el lápiz · el bolígrafo · la pluma · el rotulador · el marcador · la tiza · la goma · el borrador

Paper, books and organisation

Connect each item to reading, writing, filing or copying.

el cuaderno · el libro · el diccionario · el papel · la hoja · la carpeta · el archivador · la fotocopia

Measuring, cutting and making

Learn practical tools with the action they perform.

la regla · las tijeras · el pegamento · la grapadora · la grapa · el sacapuntas · el compás · la calculadora

Bags, furniture and technology

Move from personal supplies to larger objects around the room.

la mochila · el estuche · la mesa · la silla · la pizarra · el ordenador / la computadora · la impresora · el mapa

How should you practise school-supply vocabulary?

Put a removable Spanish label on objects you really use. Each time you pick up a pencil, say el lápiz and one short sentence such as Necesito un lápiz.

Practise the noun with a verb instead of recalling an isolated translation: escribir en el cuaderno, guardar en la carpeta, cortar con las tijeras and llevar la mochila.

Choose one regional pair as your active word and keep the other as recognition vocabulary. Both may be correct; the most natural choice depends on country and classroom.

Hola Cards is a Spanish flashcard app from holacards.org for iOS and Android. It is free to download, requires no account, has no ads, and works offline. The interface is available in English, Russian, and Portuguese; cards support translations in 28 languages and 18 practice and game modes. You can import these 32 fixed entries into a custom group and practise them with Spanish audio, writing, pronunciation, and review modes. Hola Cards does not decide which regional school-supply word fits your country, so keep the Spain and Latin America notes on the cards you use.

Connect these objects with classroom phrases, articles, noun gender, house vocabulary and the beginner vocabulary list.

Classroom phrases Definite and indefinite articles Spanish noun gender House vocabulary 100 common Spanish words

Spanish school-supply flashcards beside headphones, a notebook, pencils and a phone audio waveform
Hear and write the article with the noun so the full phrase becomes automatic.

A five-minute school-supplies routine

  1. Name five objects on your desk with their articles.
  2. Sort eight cards into writing, paper, tools and classroom.
  3. Say one action phrase for each object.
  4. Compare the four regional pairs without treating one as an error.
  5. Write a short school-bag checklist from memory, then listen again.

Vocabulary references

The A1–A2 education set and selected dictionary forms were checked against primary Instituto Cervantes and RAE–ASALE sources.

FAQ

How do you say school supplies in Spanish?

Use útiles escolares or materiales escolares. Both refer to the supplies used for study and class.

What are the basic school supplies in Spanish?

Start with el lápiz, el bolígrafo, el cuaderno, el libro, la regla, las tijeras and la mochila.

Is a pen bolígrafo or pluma?

Both are used. Bolígrafo is widely understood; pluma is especially common for a pen in Mexico and parts of Latin America.

Is an eraser goma or borrador?

Both occur. Goma is especially common in Spain; borrador is common in much of Latin America and can also mean a board eraser.

Is computer ordenador or computadora?

Ordenador is standard in Spain. Computadora is widespread in Latin America; computador is also common in several countries.

Does Hola Cards choose regional vocabulary automatically?

No. You can import and practise the entries, while this guide explains which regional pairs to recognise.

Copy the 32 school-supply words into Hola Cards

Open word groups in Hola Cards, choose paste/import, and paste the block. The app recognises the title and “Spanish - translation” lines.

**Spanish school supplies: 32 words**

el lápiz - pencil
el bolígrafo - ballpoint pen
la pluma - pen; fountain pen
el rotulador - felt-tip pen; marker
el marcador - marker
la tiza - chalk
la goma - eraser
el borrador - eraser; board eraser
el cuaderno - notebook
el libro - book
el diccionario - dictionary
el papel - paper
la hoja - sheet of paper
la carpeta - folder
el archivador - binder; file
la fotocopia - photocopy; handout
la regla - ruler
las tijeras - scissors
el pegamento - glue
la grapadora - stapler
la grapa - staple
el sacapuntas - pencil sharpener
el compás - compass
la calculadora - calculator
la mochila - backpack
el estuche - pencil case
la mesa - desk; table
la silla - chair
la pizarra - board; whiteboard
el ordenador / la computadora - computer
la impresora - printer
el mapa - map
Importing 32 Spanish school-supply words into a custom Hola Cards group
A focused group keeps articles, regional pairs and classroom examples together.

Review school vocabulary in Hola Cards

Practise the 32 fixed entries with Spanish audio, writing, pronunciation, custom groups, and review modes on iOS and Android.

App Store Download for iOS Google Play Download for Android
Back to all articles