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grapar means staple — a common term in Medical Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: January 20, 2026

🩺 Medical Spanish

grapar

verb • /[gra-PAR]/

staple

Example:

Van a grapar la herida.

They’re going to staple the wound.

🧠 What does grapar mean?

The verb 'grapar' means to fasten or join things together using staples. It is most commonly used in an office or school context for joining sheets of paper. However, it also has an important medical application, where it refers to the surgical procedure of closing a wound or incision with surgical staples.

📚 Extra examples

  • El cirujano tuvo que grapar la herida en la pierna del paciente.
    The surgeon had to staple the wound on the patient's leg.
  • Por favor, ¿puedes grapar estos tres informes antes de archivarlos?
    Please, can you staple these three reports before filing them?
  • La enfermera explicó que le quitarían las grapas en dos semanas.
    The nurse explained that they would remove the staples in two weeks.
  • Siempre grapo mis apuntes por tema para mantenerme organizado.
    I always staple my notes by topic to stay organized.

💡 Did You Know?

The word 'grapar' is directly related to the noun 'grapa' (a staple). This single concept applies to both the small metal fasteners for paper and the larger, sterile ones used in surgery to close skin or connect internal tissues, highlighting the versatility of the term.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "grapar"

Synonyms: unir con grapas, engrapar, sujetar con grapas
Opposites: desgrapar, quitar las grapas

🔍 See more medical spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'staple' in Spanish?
The verb 'to staple' is 'grapar'. The noun for a single staple is 'una grapa', and the tool used for stapling, a stapler, is 'una grapadora' or 'una engrapadora'.
How do you pronounce 'grapar' in Spanish?
The word 'grapar' is pronounced /gɾaˈpaɾ/. The stress falls on the final syllable, '-par'.
How do you use 'grapar' in a sentence?
To use 'grapar' in a sentence, one might say: 'Voy a grapar los documentos.' (I'm going to staple the documents). The verb is typically followed by the object that is being stapled.
What is the English translation of 'grapar'?
The English translation of 'grapar' is 'to staple'.
Does 'grapar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'grapar' does not change for gender or number. It is conjugated according to the grammatical person, tense, and mood. For example, 'él grapa' (he staples) and 'ellas grapan' (they staple).
Is 'grapar' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'grapar' is a very common verb in everyday Spanish, particularly in academic and office environments. It is also standard terminology within medical and surgical contexts.
Does 'grapar' have slang or double meanings?
No, 'grapar' is a straightforward verb and does not typically have any slang or idiomatic secondary meanings. Its use is literal.
Is 'grapar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The verb 'grapar' is used consistently across the Spanish-speaking world. A related regional difference is the word for 'stapler': 'grapadora' is standard in Spain, while 'engrapadora' is more common in many parts of Latin America. The verb, however, remains 'grapar'.
How do you conjugate 'grapar' in Spanish?
'Grapar' is a regular -ar verb. Its present tense conjugations are: yo grapo, tú grapas, él/ella/usted grapa, nosotros grapamos, vosotros grapáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes grapan. Its preterite (simple past) form is: yo grapé, tú grapaste, él grapó, etc.

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