consulta
/kohn-SOOL-tah/
appointment
When you schedule a doctor's visit or medical appointment, it is called a 'consulta'.
consulta(noun)
appointment
?e.g., doctor's visit
,consultation
?professional meeting
check-up
?medical review
📝 In Action
Tengo una consulta con el cardiólogo a las diez.
A2I have an appointment with the cardiologist at ten o'clock.
La consulta duró solo quince minutos porque era un caso simple.
B1The consultation only lasted fifteen minutes because it was a simple case.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Remember that 'consulta' is a feminine noun, so you always use 'la' or 'una' before it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Cita' vs. 'Consulta'
Mistake: "Using 'cita' when you specifically mean the medical/professional act of advice, e.g., 'Tengo una cita médica.'"
Correction: While 'cita' is fine, 'consulta' is more specific to the act of seeking advice from an expert: 'Tengo una consulta con el médico.' (I have a consultation with the doctor.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Office' Meaning
In some contexts, 'la consulta' can refer to the doctor's office or the consulting room itself, not just the time slot. 'El médico está en su consulta.' (The doctor is in his office.)
A 'consulta' can also refer to a formal query or a search for information, like a database query.
consulta(noun)
query
?database search/formal question
,inquiry
?request for information
reference
?looking something up
,referendum
?political vote (less common)
📝 In Action
La base de datos permite hasta 50 consultas por minuto.
B2The database allows up to 50 queries per minute.
Enviamos una consulta al departamento legal sobre el nuevo contrato.
B1We sent an inquiry to the legal department about the new contract.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Usage
This meaning of 'consulta' is often used in written or official communications, meaning 'a formal question' or 'a data request.' It feels more official than 'pregunta'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Hacer'
To express the action of making an inquiry, use the verb 'hacer' (to do/make): 'Hice una consulta sobre mi factura.' (I made an inquiry about my bill.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: consulta
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'consulta' in the sense of a formal request for information, rather than a scheduled meeting?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'consulta' the same as 'cita'?
'Cita' is a general term for any scheduled meeting or date. 'Consulta' is specifically a meeting where you seek professional advice, usually medical, legal, or financial. All *consultas* are *citas*, but not all *citas* are *consultas*.
How do I use 'consulta' when searching on the internet?
When referring to a search, you can say 'hacer una consulta' (to perform a search/query). However, the word 'búsqueda' (search) is more common for general internet searching.