Inklingo
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cita

/SEE-tah/

appointment

A colorful illustration showing two people enjoying a romantic date at a small cafe table outdoors.

Cita (Meaning 1: Appointment/Date). This illustration shows a romantic date, a common meaning of 'cita'.

cita(Noun)

fA2

appointment

?

scheduled meeting (doctor, business)

,

date

?

romantic meeting

Also:

rendezvous

?

formal or secret meeting

📝 In Action

Tengo una cita con el médico mañana.

A1

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.

¿Quieres tener una cita conmigo este viernes?

A2

Would you like to go on a date with me this Friday?

No puedo llegar tarde a mi cita en el banco.

B1

I can't be late to my appointment at the bank.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • compromiso (commitment/engagement)
  • reunión (meeting)
  • entrevista (interview)

Common Collocations

  • tener una cita – to have an appointment/date
  • cita médica – medical appointment
  • cita a ciegas – blind date
  • cita de negocios – business meeting

Idioms & Expressions

  • cita a ciegas – A date where you meet someone for the first time without knowing what they look like

💡 Grammar Points

Always feminine

Cita is always feminine: 'una cita', 'la cita'. The ending never changes.

Use 'tener' not 'hacer'

You 'have' an appointment in Spanish: 'tener una cita'. Don't say 'hacer una cita'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up appointment and quote

Mistake: "Saying 'Necesito una cita' when you need a quotation from a book."

Correction: Both use 'cita', but add context: 'cita médica' (doctor) or 'cita del libro' (quote) to be clear.

⭐ Usage Tips

Be specific for clarity

Add details: 'cita en el hospital' (hospital appt) vs 'cita romántica' (romantic date).

A simple illustration of a large open book resting on a stand, with an empty speech bubble floating directly above the pages, symbolizing a quotation.

Cita (Meaning 2: Quotation/Quote). Here, 'cita' is visualized as an important passage (the speech bubble) taken from a source (the book).

cita(Noun)

fB1

quotation

?

words taken from a text or speech

,

quote

?

cited passage

Also:

citation

?

formal academic reference

📝 In Action

El profesor nos pidió que incluyéramos tres citas en nuestro ensayo.

B1

The professor asked us to include three quotations in our essay.

Esta cita de Cervantes es muy famosa: 'No hay rosas sin espinas'.

B2

This quote from Cervantes is very famous: 'No roses without thorns.'

Debes poner entre comillas las citas textuales.

B1

You must put direct quotes in quotation marks.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cita textual (direct quote)
  • referencia (reference)
  • extracto (excerpt)

Common Collocations

  • hacer una cita – to quote/make a quotation
  • cita textual – direct/verbatim quote
  • entre comillas – in quotation marks
  • cita bibliográfica – bibliographic citation

💡 Grammar Points

Cita is the noun, citar is the verb

'Cita' = the quote itself. 'Citar' = the action of quoting. Example: 'Esta es una cita' vs 'Voy a citar al autor'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting quotation marks

Mistake: "Writing a quote without 'comillas' (quotation marks)."

Correction: Always use quotation marks for direct quotes: “Así se escribe una 'cita textual'.”

⭐ Usage Tips

Academic context

At school, 'cita' means quotation. Say 'cita textual' for direct quotes, 'parafraseo' for paraphrasing.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cita

Question 1 of 3

Your friend says: 'Tengo una cita a las 3'. Where are they most likely going?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

citar(to quote, to cite, to summon) - verb
citación(summons, subpoena) - noun
citable(quotable, citable) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'cita' means appointment or quotation?

Check the context! Daily life (doctor, dates, meetings) = appointment. School, books, essays = quotation. When unsure, add details: 'cita médica' or 'cita del libro'.

How is 'cita' pronounced differently in Spain and Latin America?

Spain: /THEE-tah/ (soft 'th' sound). Latin America: /SEE-tah/ ('s' sound). Both are correct—use the one that matches the accent you're learning.

What's the difference between 'cita' and 'citar'?

'Cita' is a noun—the appointment or the quote itself. 'Citar' is the verb—the action of making an appointment or quoting someone. 'Esta es una cita' vs 'Voy a citar al autor'.