cosa
“cosa” means “thing” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
thing
Also: object, item, stuff
📝 In Action
¿Qué es esa cosa en la mesa?
A1What is that thing on the table?
Tengo muchas cosas que hacer hoy.
A1I have many things to do today.
Dame esa cosa, por favor.
A1Give me that thing, please.
matter
Also: affair, issue
📝 In Action
La cosa es que no tengo dinero.
A2The thing is, I don't have any money.
Es una cosa de familia.
B1It's a family matter.
Hay otra cosa que quiero decirte.
A2There's another thing I want to tell you.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cosa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'cosa' to talk about a situation, not a physical object?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'causa', which meant 'cause', 'reason', or 'legal case'. Over time, its meaning broadened to refer to any 'matter' or 'affair', and eventually to any 'thing' in general.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cosa' informal? Should I avoid it in formal writing?
Not at all! 'Cosa' is a neutral word used in all situations, from casual chats to formal speeches. However, in formal writing, it's often better to use a more precise word if you can. For example, instead of 'discutieron muchas cosas' (they discussed many things), you could write 'discutieron muchos temas' (they discussed many topics).
Why is 'cosa' feminine? It doesn't seem like a girl 'thing'!
Great question! In Spanish, the 'gender' of a noun is just a grammar rule and has nothing to do with whether something is masculine or feminine in real life. Words ending in '-a', like 'cosa', are usually feminine. You just have to learn it as part of the word: it's always 'la cosa'.