gota
/GOH-tah/
drop
A single drop of water, illustrating gota meaning 'drop'.
📝 In Action
Necesito solo una gota de miel para mi té.
A1I only need one drop of honey for my tea.
Cayó una gota de lluvia sobre mi cabeza.
A2A raindrop fell on my head.
Por favor, dame las gotas para los ojos.
A2Please give me the eye drops.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Remember that 'gota' is always a feminine noun, so you use 'la gota' or 'una gota'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Measurable Amounts
Use 'gota' when you are talking about liquids in very small, measured doses, like medicine or flavorings.
A small, faint mark representing a 'trace' or hint of something, another meaning of gota.
📝 In Action
No queda ni una gota de café en la jarra.
B1There isn't a single drop (a bit) of coffee left in the pot.
Ella tiene una gota de talento para la música.
B2She has a touch (a trace) of talent for music.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Ni una gota'
This phrase is often used for emphasis in negative sentences, meaning 'absolutely none left'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'gota' often implies a tiny, almost insignificant amount of something abstract like courage, sanity, or luck.
The medical condition 'gout' is also translated as gota.
📝 In Action
La gota es una enfermedad que causa dolor en las articulaciones.
B2Gout is a disease that causes pain in the joints.
Los síntomas de la gota pueden ser muy intensos.
C1The symptoms of gout can be very intense.
💡 Grammar Points
Medical Context
When talking about the disease, always use the definite article: 'la gota'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Connection
The name 'gout' comes from the old idea that the disease was caused by a 'drop' (gota) of a bad fluid falling into the joint.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: gota
Question 1 of 2
Which meaning of 'gota' is used in the idiom 'la gota que colmó el vaso'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'gota' different from 'pizca'?
'Gota' specifically refers to a small amount of liquid, like water or oil. 'Pizca' usually refers to a small amount of a dry substance, like salt or sugar, that you can pick up with your fingers (a pinch).
Can I use 'gota' to mean 'just a little bit' of anything, even if it's not liquid?
Yes, you can! In figurative speech (like 'una gota de suerte' - a drop of luck), it means 'a trace' or 'a tiny bit,' extending beyond just liquids.