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cobre

KOH-breh/ˈkoβɾe/

“cobre” means “copper” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

copper

Also: copper-colored
NounmB1
A shiny, reddish-brown piece of raw copper ore and a smooth copper pipe.

📝 In Action

El cobre es un material que conduce muy bien la electricidad.

B1

Copper is a material that conducts electricity very well.

Las tuberías de las casas antiguas suelen ser de cobre.

B1

Pipes in old houses are usually made of copper.

Tiene el pelo de un color cobre muy intenso.

B2

She has hair of a very intense copper color.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • cable de cobre – copper wire
  • tubería de cobre – copper pipe

Idioms & Expressions

  • batir el cobre – to work very hard or to put up a strong fight for something

charge, collect / get paid

Also: cash
VerbB1regular ar
A hand passing a gold coin to another hand to pay for a service.
gerundcobrando
past Participlecobrado
infinitivecobrar

📝 In Action

Cobre, por favor.

A2

Charge me, please (used in a restaurant).

Cuando yo cobre el sueldo, te pagaré lo que te debo.

B1

When I get paid my salary, I'll pay you what I owe you.

Espero que no nos cobre mucho el mecánico.

B1

I hope the mechanic doesn't charge us much.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • percibir (to receive payment)
  • facturar (to bill)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • cobrar la nómina – to get your paycheck
  • cobrar en efectivo – to get paid in cash

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescobraran
yocobrara
túcobraras
vosotroscobrarais
nosotroscobráramos
él/ella/ustedcobrara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescobren
yocobre
túcobres
vosotroscobréis
nosotroscobremos
él/ella/ustedcobre

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescobraron
yocobré
túcobraste
vosotroscobrasteis
nosotroscobramos
él/ella/ustedcobró

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescobraban
yocobraba
túcobrabas
vosotroscobrabais
nosotroscobrábamos
él/ella/ustedcobraba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescobran
yocobro
túcobras
vosotroscobráis
nosotroscobramos
él/ella/ustedcobra
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cobre" in Spanish:

cash→charge→copper→copper-colored→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cobre

Question 1 of 2

If you are fixing an electric circuit, which 'cobre' are you likely looking for?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cobrar(to charge/collect) — Verb
cobrizo(copper-colored) — Adjective
cobrador(collector) — Noun
cobro(payment/collection) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The metal name comes from the Latin 'cuprum' (from the island of Cyprus). The verb form comes from 'cobrar', which descends from the Latin 'recuperare', meaning 'to recover' or 'get back'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: copperFrench: cuivreEnglish: recover

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cobre' the same as 'moneda'?

No. 'Moneda' is a coin. 'Cobre' is the metal coins used to be made of, though today it's rarely used for the money itself unless speaking figuratively.

How do I ask for the bill using this word?

You can say 'Cobre, por favor' (Charge me, please) or '¿Me cobra, por favor?'