costado
“costado” means “side” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
side, flank
Also: ribcage area
📝 In Action
Me duele el costado después de correr tanto.
A2My side hurts after running so much.
El pirata tenía un parche en el costado del barco.
B1The pirate had a patch on the side of the ship.
side
Also: ancestry
📝 In Action
Ella heredó su talento artístico por el costado materno.
B1She inherited her artistic talent through her mother's side (maternal side).
Por el costado paterno, la familia es de origen italiano.
B2On the paternal side, the family is of Italian origin.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: costado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'costado' to refer to family origin, not a physical location?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *costa*, meaning 'rib' or 'side'. The Spanish word 'costado' originally referred to the part of the body containing the ribs, and later extended to mean the side of any object or structure.
First recorded: Medieval Latin period
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'costado' and 'lado'?
'Lado' is the general word for 'side' or 'direction' (e.g., 'el lado derecho' - the right side). 'Costado' is more specific; it usually refers to the flank or rib area of a body, or the hull/external wall of a large structure like a ship or building.
Is 'costado' related to the verb 'costar' (to cost)?
Yes, they share the same root (*costa* - rib/side/expense), but they are used for different purposes. 'Costado' is also the past participle of 'costar' (e.g., 'ha costado mucho' - it has cost a lot), but as a noun, it means 'side' or 'flank'.