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caja

KA-ha/ˈkaxa/

box

Also: case, carton
NounfA1
Mexico
A plain, brown, rectangular cardboard box sitting on a wooden floor.

📝 In Action

Puse los libros viejos en una caja de cartón.

A1

I put the old books in a cardboard box.

Mi gata le encanta dormir dentro de las cajas.

A1

My cat loves to sleep inside boxes.

¿Puedes traerme una caja de leche del supermercado?

A2

Can you bring me a carton of milk from the supermarket?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • recipiente (container)
  • envase (packaging, container)

Common Collocations

  • caja de cartón – cardboard box
  • caja de herramientas – toolbox
  • caja de sorpresas – jack-in-the-box / box of surprises

Idioms & Expressions

  • caja de Pandora – something that creates a lot of new problems that you did not expect

checkout

Also: cash register, till
NounfA2
A brightly colored, simple cash register machine sitting on a retail counter.

📝 In Action

Hay una fila muy larga en la caja.

A2

There's a very long line at the checkout.

Por favor, pague en la caja número tres.

A2

Please pay at checkout number three.

El cajero abrió la caja para darme el cambio.

B1

The cashier opened the till to give me my change.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • pagar en la caja – to pay at the checkout
  • hacer caja – to count the day's earnings

safe / cashbox

Also: bank / savings bank
NounfB1
A heavy, gray metal safe with a large turning handle and a combination lock on the door.

📝 In Action

Guardamos los documentos importantes en la caja fuerte.

B1

We keep the important documents in the safe.

Voy a la caja de ahorros para depositar este cheque.

B1

I'm going to the savings bank to deposit this check.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • caja fuerte – safe (strongbox)
  • caja de ahorros – savings bank

case / housing

Also: drum, cage
NounfB2
A simple, red and white snare drum sitting on a small stand.

📝 In Action

El mecánico tuvo que reparar la caja de cambios del coche.

B2

The mechanic had to repair the car's gearbox.

El baterista tocaba la caja con mucha energía.

B2

The drummer played the snare drum with a lot of energy.

La radiografía mostró una fractura en su caja torácica.

C1

The x-ray showed a fracture in his rib cage.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • caja de cambios – gearbox
  • caja negra – black box (flight recorder)
  • caja torácica – thoracic cage / rib cage

Idioms & Expressions

  • sacar a alguien de sus cajas – to drive someone crazy, to make someone lose their temper

coffin

Also: casket
NounfC1informal
Spain
A polished, dark wooden casket with simple handles and a slightly rounded top.

📝 In Action

Dicen que se lo encontraron tieso en la cama y al día siguiente ya estaba en la caja.

C1

They say they found him stiff in his bed and the next day he was already in the coffin.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ataúd (coffin)
  • féretro (coffin, bier)

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: caja

Question 1 of 1

In the sentence 'Cuando termines, por favor paga en la caja', what does 'caja' mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cajero/a(cashier) — Noun
cajón(drawer) — Noun
cajita(small box) — Noun
encajar(to fit in) — Verb
cajetilla(pack (of cigarettes)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
fajarajanavaja
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'capsa', which meant 'box' or 'case'. It's a relative of the English words 'case' and 'cash'. The word has kept its core meaning of 'a container' while expanding to include things that contain money (like a cash register) or other items.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: caixaCatalan: caixaItalian: cassa

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'caja' and 'cajón'?

Think of it this way: a 'caja' is a standalone box you can pick up and move. A 'cajón' is a drawer that slides in and out of a piece of furniture, like a desk or a dresser. So you put clothes in a 'cajón', but you might ship a gift in a 'caja'.

I heard 'caja' used for a musical instrument. What is it?

Yes! In music, especially in a drum kit, 'la caja' refers to the snare drum. It's the one that gives that sharp, rattling sound.