cobre

KOH-breh

nounmB1

copper?the reddish-brown chemical element or metal

Also:copper-colored?referring to a reddish-brown hue

📝 In Action

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

Copper is a material that conducts electricity very well.

Las tuberías de las casas antiguas suelen ser de cobre.

Pipes in old houses are usually made of copper.

Tiene el pelo de un color cobre muy intenso.

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

💡 Grammar Points

Always Masculine

Even though it ends in 'e', this word is always masculine ('el cobre').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Cobre vs. Cobrar

Mistake: "Confusing the metal with the verb."

Correction: Use 'el cobre' for the metal and just 'cobre' (without the 'el') for the verb form.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Color

When using it to describe a color, you can say 'color cobre' or use the adjective 'cobrizo'.

✏️ 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

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?'