noun
ballpoint pen, pen
B1
"Kuli" (der) means "ballpoint pen" or informally "pen". Common colloquial short form of "Kugelschreiber". Masculine noun with plural "Kulis". Declines regularly (der Kuli, die Kulis). Use like any object noun; no special prepositions. It's common in everyday, informal speech in Germany.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Kannst du mir bitte einen Kuli leihen?
Could you please lend me a pen?
Ich habe meinen Kuli vergessen.
I forgot my pen.
Der Bewerber unterschrieb das Formular, sodass die Sekretärin den Kuli weglegen konnte.
The applicant signed the form so that the secretary could put the pen away.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Imagine clicking a small pen (the short, casual pen you carry in your pocket).
sounds like 'koo-lee' (like 'coolie')
der = imagine a man (Herr) handing you the pen; think 'der Kuli' = masculine.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Kuli is colloquial for Kugelschreiber (formal word). Common in everyday speech, especially among students and office workers.