Is it true...

[WMX]

... that you don't use the word cuchillo when you're talking about a table knife?

[sosia]

In spain is false.
table knife: cuchillo (no other option)
knife: cuchillo, navaja (this is the folding one).

Bowie knife: machete, cuchillo de monte
paper knife: abrecartas


Perhaps in other places????? Tomisimo?? Elaina??

[Elaina]

Hola!

Estoy de acuerdo con Sosia. Hay diferentes clases o tipos de cuchillos al igual que los nombres.........pero "table knife" de que otra forma se diria? Como te dijeron que se dice, WMX? Estoy intrigada.....

Elaina

[Hawkgirl]

WMX,

You can absolutely use the word "cuchillo" in Spanish if you're talking 'bout a 'table knife'.

[WMX]

ok, thank you so much for the responses, someone told me I should use cubierto instead of cuchillo. Does that make any sense?

[sosia]

Cubierto:cutlery
vajilla, cubertería: flatware
vajilla (de plata): silverware

"cubierto" implies fork or spoon or knife. Really can be all the utensils you use in a proper meal.
Usually said to kids, in order to eat properly.
"No uses las manos, usa los cubiertos"
"No bebas la sopa del plato, usa los cubiertos" (or "usa la cuchara")
"no comas trozos tan grande de carne, córtalos con los cubiertos" (or "córtalos con el cuchillo")

So you can use "cubierto" instead of knife, but also instead of spoon or fork or soup spoon or meat fork or............
When I'm talking about a table knife I always say "cuchillo"

PD: cubierto also means "covered"