Noun
/puˈpiteɾe/
The word pupitre refers to a piece of furniture, typically used in schools, designed for students to write on, usually featuring a flat surface and sometimes storage for books or supplies. It is commonly seen in classrooms and educational settings.
Pupitre is frequently used in both oral and written contexts, especially in the context of education. However, it may be more prevalent in written language, such as textbooks and school materials.
El profesor pidió a los estudiantes que limpiaran su pupitre antes de salir.
The teacher asked the students to clean their desk before leaving.
Ella se sentó en su pupitre y comenzó a escribir la tarea.
She sat at her desk and started writing her homework.
Los pupitres en el aula estaban organizados en filas.
The desks in the classroom were arranged in rows.
While pupitre itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions, it is relevant to phrases associated with school and learning. Here are some examples:
Estar en el pupitre
"Cuando yo estaba en el pupitre, siempre soñaba con ser astronauta."
When I was at the desk, I always dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
Descansar en el pupitre
"Después de tantas horas de clase, solo quería descansar en el pupitre."
After so many hours of class, I just wanted to rest on the desk.
Escribir en el pupitre
"Escribir en el pupitre me ayuda a concentrarme mejor."
Writing at the desk helps me focus better.
Compartir el pupitre
"Los dos amigos decidieron compartir el pupitre durante el examen."
The two friends decided to share the desk during the exam.
Dibujar en el pupitre
"Siempre me distraigo dibujando en el pupitre en lugar de prestar atención."
I always get distracted drawing on the desk instead of paying attention.
The word pupitre comes from the Latin term pulpitum, which means platform or stage. Over time, it evolved from a term that implied a raised structure for holding something, into its modern use referring specifically to a student's desk.