cobra
“cobra” means “he/she/it collects (money)” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he/she/it collects (money), he/she/it charges (a price)Also: collect!
📝 In Action
El banco cobra una comisión por cada transferencia.
A2The bank charges a commission for every transfer.
¿Cuánto cobra el electricista por venir a casa?
A2How much does the electrician charge for coming to the house?
Si no le cobra hoy, perderá el dinero.
B1If he doesn't collect the money today, he will lose it.
Word Connections
cobra (snake)
📝 In Action
La cobra es conocida por su capucha distintiva.
B1The cobra is known for its distinctive hood.
El encantador de serpientes toca la flauta y la cobra se levanta.
B2The snake charmer plays the flute and the cobra rises.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Vocabulary Collections
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cobra
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'cobra' as the verb form?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology
The two meanings of 'cobra' have different roots. The verb form comes from the Latin 'recuperare' (to recover or obtain). The noun (the snake) is a direct borrowing from Portuguese, meaning 'snake' or 'serpent,' which itself comes from Latin.
First recorded: 13th century (verb form)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'cobra' means the snake or the verb?
Look at the words around it. If you see 'el' or 'la' right before it, it's the snake ('la cobra'). If it follows a subject like 'él,' 'ella,' or 'usted' (or a name like 'Juan'), it's almost certainly the verb 'to charge/collect.'
Is 'cobra' a regular or irregular verb?
'Cobra' comes from the verb 'cobrar,' which is a fully regular verb in all tenses, making it easy to conjugate!