coloca
/ko-LO-kah/
places
Colocar means to place an object in a specific spot.
coloca(verb)
places
?putting an object in a specific spot
,puts
?general positioning
arranges
?organizing items neatly
📝 In Action
Ella coloca las flores en el jarrón.
A1She places the flowers in the vase.
Él coloca los libros por orden alfabético.
A2He puts the books in alphabetical order.
💡 Grammar Points
Two Uses for One Word
'Coloca' can be a statement ('he places') or a command to a friend ('Place!'). Context tells you which one it is.
The 'c' to 'qu' Change
While the form 'coloca' is regular, the base verb changes its spelling to 'qu' (like in 'coloqué') when followed by an 'e' to keep the hard 'K' sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'pone' vs 'coloca'
Mistake: "Using 'pone' for everything."
Correction: Use 'coloca' when you want to sound more precise about the location or when things are being organized neatly.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding Natural
Use 'coloca' when describing professional settings, like an artist placing a painting or a librarian putting away books.
Colocar can mean finding a job or position for someone.
coloca(verb)
finds a job for
?placing someone in a workplace
invests
?placing capital in a fund
📝 In Action
La agencia coloca a muchos graduados en grandes empresas.
B1The agency finds jobs for many graduates in big companies.
💡 Grammar Points
Metaphorical Placement
Just as you place an object on a shelf, this sense 'places' a person into a job position.
Colocar is also used colloquially to describe the feeling of being high.
coloca(verb)
gets high
?the effect of a substance
gives a buzz
?describing what a drink or drug does
📝 In Action
Esa bebida coloca bastante.
C1That drink gives you quite a buzz.
💡 Grammar Points
Slang Alert
In this context, the substance is the thing that 'places' (coloca) the person into an altered state.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is King
Be careful! Use this only with close friends. In a museum, 'esta pintura me coloca' would sound very strange unless the art is literally making you feel dizzy.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: coloca
Question 1 of 2
If you are giving a command to a friend to 'Put the plate here!', which word do you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'coloca' always mean 'to put'?
Mostly, yes! It specifically suggests putting something in a designated or correct spot. While 'pon' (from poner) is a general word for 'put', 'coloca' is for when you care about the arrangement.
Is 'coloca' formal?
It is slightly more formal and precise than 'pone', but it is used by everyone in daily life.