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cita

SEE-tahˈsita

“cita” means “appointment” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

appointment, date

Also: rendezvous
NounfA2
Latin AmericaSpain
A colorful illustration showing two people enjoying a romantic date at a small cafe table outdoors.

📝 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

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

quotation, quote

Also: citation
NounfB1
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.

📝 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

Common Collocations

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

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

✏️ 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
🎵 Rhymes▼
pitaquitamitalita
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'citare' meaning 'to summon, call forth, set in motion'. The word kept both senses: calling someone to a meeting and calling forth words from a text.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: citaItalian: citaFrench: citationEnglish: citation

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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'.