costa
/kos-ta/
coast
This image shows a coast (costa), which is the edge of land next to the sea.
costa(noun)
coast
?the edge of land next to the sea
,shore
?the land bordering a body of water
seaside
?as a place to visit
📝 In Action
Pasaremos nuestras vacaciones en la costa del Mediterráneo.
A1We will spend our vacation on the Mediterranean coast.
La costa de ese país es muy rocosa y difícil de navegar.
A2The shore of that country is very rocky and difficult to navigate.
Hay pueblos pequeños y bonitos a lo largo de toda la costa.
B1There are beautiful small towns all along the entire coast.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'costa' ends in -a, always remember that it is a feminine noun and needs 'la' or 'una'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'costa' and 'costado'
Mistake: "Using 'el costado' when talking about the beach."
Correction: 'Costado' means 'side' (of a person or object), while 'costa' is only the land next to the sea.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Prepositions
To say you are on the coast, use 'en la costa'. To say you are going to the coast, use 'a la costa'.
The expense or cost (costa) of something is its price, visualized here by tokens exchanged for an apple.
costa(noun)
cost
?expense or price of something
,expense
?what has to be paid
judicial costs
?in the plural, 'costas'
,sacrifice
?figurative use in set phrases
📝 In Action
Logró su éxito a costa de mucho esfuerzo y dedicación.
B2He achieved his success at the cost of much effort and dedication. (Meaning: through great sacrifice)
Si pierdes el juicio, tendrás que pagar las costas judiciales.
C1If you lose the trial, you will have to pay the court costs.
Debemos defender nuestra posición a toda costa.
B2We must defend our position at all costs (Meaning: whatever the sacrifice).
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Form in Law
When talking about legal fees or court payments, this noun is almost always used in the plural: 'las costas'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Master the Idioms
The expression 'a costa de' is crucial for high-level Spanish. It shows that one thing was achieved by making another thing suffer or be used up.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: costa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'costa' in its geographical meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'costa' a geographical term only, or does it have other uses?
While the main use of 'costa' is the geographical one (coast/shore), it also has an important formal and idiomatic meaning related to 'expense' or 'sacrifice', often seen in phrases like 'a toda costa' (at all costs).
What is the difference between 'la costa' and 'el coste'?
'La costa' (feminine) refers to the seashore. 'El coste' (masculine) is a synonym for 'el precio' or 'el gasto' (the price or expense), and is only used for the financial meaning.