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cono

koh-noh/ˈkono/

“cono” means “cone” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

cone

Also: ice cream cone, traffic cone
NounmA2
Spain & Latin America
A bright yellow geometric cone standing upright on a flat surface.

📝 In Action

El niño pidió un helado en cono.

A2

The boy asked for an ice cream in a cone.

Cuidado, hay conos en la carretera por las obras.

B1

Careful, there are cones on the road due to construction work.

Calcula el volumen de este cono en el examen.

B2

Calculate the volume of this cone in the exam.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cucurucho (wafer cone (specifically for food))

Antonyms

  • tarrina (ice cream cup (the opposite of a cone choice))

Common Collocations

  • cono de helado – ice cream cone
  • cono de tráfico – traffic cone
  • forma de cono – cone-shaped

cone

Also: cone cell
NounmB2
A large cone-shaped mountain with a crater at the top and smoke rising from it.

📝 In Action

El volcán tiene un cono perfecto.

B2

The volcano has a perfect cone.

Los conos de la retina nos permiten ver los colores.

C1

The cones in the retina allow us to see colors.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • bastón (rod (the other type of cell in the eye))

Common Collocations

  • cono volcánico – volcanic cone
  • conos y bastones – cones and rods (in the eye)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cono" in Spanish:

cone→cone cell→traffic cone→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cono

Question 1 of 3

If you are at an ice cream shop and don't want a cup, what do you ask for?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cónico(conical) — Adjective
conicidad(conicity) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'conus', which comes from the Greek 'konos', originally meaning a pine cone or a spinning top.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: coneFrench: côneItalian: cono

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'cono' mean something bad in Spanish?

No, 'cono' is perfectly safe to use. However, be careful with the pronunciation. If you add a squiggly line (tilde) over the 'n' (coño), it becomes a very rude swear word. Keep the 'n' sound simple like 'nose'.

Can I use 'cono' for a pine cone?

While the word 'cono' technically fits the shape, Spanish speakers usually call a pine cone 'piña'. Use 'piña' for the fruit and for the thing that falls from pine trees.

What is a 'cono de luz'?

It translates to a 'cone of light,' like the beam coming out of a flashlight or a spotlight.