The simple present tense of cortar is used to describe actions happening now or that occur regularly. For example, Corto el césped los domingos. (I cut the grass on Sundays.)

Cortar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the simple present follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Cortar (to cut) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Cortar generally means to cut or sever something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To cut or sever: This is the most common meaning, referring to the action of cutting something with a sharp object or tool. For example, Yo corto el pan con un cuchillo (I cut the bread with a knife).

To interrupt: It can also mean to interrupt someone or something. For example, Ella corta mi conversación con una pregunta (She interrupts my conversation with a question).

To stop or end: In some contexts, it can mean to stop or end something abruptly. For example, Él corta la música cuando llega su mamá (He stops the music when his mom arrives).

To cut off or disconnect: It can also refer to cutting off or disconnecting something, like a service or supply. For example, La compañía corta el servicio de internet si no pagas (The company cuts off the internet service if you don’t pay).

To cut across or take a shortcut: In a more figurative sense, it can mean to take a shortcut or cut across something. For example, Cortamos por el parque para llegar más rápido (We cut through the park to get there faster).

To cut off or interrupt someone (colloquial): In informal speech, it can mean to cut someone off or interrupt them rudely. For example, Siempre me corta cuando estoy hablando (He always cuts me off when I’m talking).

Examples

Examples of Cortar in the Present Tense

Yo corto el césped todos los sábados. (I mow the lawn every Saturday.)

Tú cortas las verduras para la ensalada. (You chop the veggies for the salad.)

Ella corta el papel con las tijeras. (She cuts the paper with scissors.)

Nosotros cortamos la carne en trozos pequeños. (We cut the meat into small pieces.)

Ellos cortan la madera para la fogata. (They chop the wood for the campfire.)

¿Cortas el cabello tú mismo o vas a la peluquería? (Do you cut your own hair or go to the hairdresser?)

El sastre corta la tela para hacer un traje a medida. (The tailor cuts the fabric to make a custom suit.)

Los niños cortan figuras de papel para hacer manualidades. (The kids cut paper shapes to make crafts.)

Mi mamá corta las uñas de mi hermanito. (My mom cuts my little brother’s nails.)

En la cocina, cortamos los ingredientes antes de cocinar. (In the kitchen, we chop the ingredients before cooking.)

El jardinero corta las ramas de los árboles. (The gardener trims the tree branches.)

Para hacer un atajo, cortamos a través del parque. (To take a shortcut, we cut through the park.)

El peluquero corta mi cabello en capas. (The hairdresser cuts my hair in layers.)

Cuando cortas las verduras, ten cuidado con el cuchillo. (When you chop the veggies, be careful with the knife.)

Los chicos cortan la torta para repartirla. (The kids cut the cake to share it.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Cortar (to cut) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.