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curioso

koo-ree-OH-sokuˈɾjo.so

curious, inquisitive

A small, wide-eyed fox cub peering intently into a dark hole in the ground, showing curiosity.

📝 In Action

Mi hermana es una persona muy curiosa y siempre está leyendo libros nuevos.

A1

My sister is a very curious person and is always reading new books.

Los niños pequeños son naturalmente curiosos sobre el mundo que los rodea.

A2

Small children are naturally curious about the world around them.

Soy curioso, ¿cuál es tu opinión sobre esto?

B1

I'm curious, what is your opinion on this?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • interesado (interested)
  • preguntón (nosy/questioning (informal))

Antonyms

  • apático (apathetic)

Common Collocations

  • ser curioso – to be curious
  • mente curiosa – curious mind

strange, odd

Also: funny
A perfectly square, bright red apple sitting on a wooden table next to several normal round apples, depicting something strange.

📝 In Action

Es curioso que nos encontremos aquí, ¡es la tercera vez esta semana!

B1

It's strange/odd that we run into each other here, it's the third time this week!

Había un ruido curioso en el motor del coche.

B2

There was a strange noise in the car engine.

Me pasó una cosa curiosa ayer en el supermercado.

B1

A peculiar thing happened to me yesterday at the supermarket.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un hecho curioso – a strange fact
  • una coincidencia curiosa – an odd coincidence

meticulous, neat

Also: detailed
AdjectivemB2formal
A cartoon mouse wearing spectacles meticulously using a tiny pair of tweezers to place a single blue bead onto a patterned surface.

📝 In Action

El carpintero hizo un trabajo muy curioso con la madera.

B2

The carpenter did a very meticulous job with the wood.

Su caligrafía es curiosa y elegante.

C1

His handwriting is neat and elegant.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • detallista (detailed)
  • esmerado (careful/painstaking)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • trabajo curioso – meticulous work

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: curioso

Question 1 of 2

Which English translation is correct for the following sentence: 'Me encontré con un objeto muy curioso en la playa.'

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes directly from the Latin *curiosus*, which originally meant 'careful' or 'diligent' (related to *cura*, meaning 'care'). Over time, the meaning shifted to 'eager for knowledge,' and then extended to describe things that pique that eagerness, hence 'strange' or 'odd.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: curiosoPortuguese: curioso

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'curioso' means 'curious' or 'strange'?

Look at what it describes! If it describes a person, it usually means 'inquisitive' ('Ella es curiosa'). If it describes an event, an object, or a situation, it usually means 'strange' or 'odd' ('Esto es curioso').

Can I use 'curioso' to mean 'nosy'?

Yes, but be careful. Depending on the tone, 'curioso' can imply someone is too interested in other people's business. If you want to be explicitly negative, use 'entrometido' or 'metiche' (informal).