taza
/TAH-sah/
cup
This illustration shows a taza, or cup, used for enjoying a hot beverage.
taza(noun)
cup
?small container, usually with a handle, for hot drinks
,mug
?larger cup, typically for coffee or tea
cuppa
?informal British English, referring to a drink
📝 In Action
Necesito una taza de café para despertarme.
A1I need a cup of coffee to wake up.
Esta taza tiene un asa rota, ten cuidado.
A2This mug has a broken handle, be careful.
Me compré una taza nueva con dibujos de gatos.
A1I bought myself a new cup with cat drawings.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Remember that 'taza' is always feminine, so you must use 'la taza' and 'una taza'. Even though it ends in 'a', it’s important to memorize the gender for every noun.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Taza vs. Vaso
Mistake: "Using 'taza' for cold drinks like water or soda."
Correction: Use 'vaso' for cold drinks (glass/tumbler) and 'taza' specifically for hot drinks (cup/mug). '¿Quieres un vaso de agua?'
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'De'
To specify the contents, always use the preposition 'de' (of): 'taza de café' (cup of coffee), not 'taza café'.
In some contexts, taza refers specifically to the ceramic basin of a toilet.
taza(noun)
toilet bowl
?the ceramic basin part of a toilet
toilet
?bathroom fixture (less common than 'inodoro' or 'váter')
📝 In Action
Hay que limpiar la taza del baño con desinfectante.
B1We have to clean the toilet bowl with disinfectant.
El fontanero tuvo que reemplazar la taza porque estaba rajada.
B2The plumber had to replace the toilet bowl because it was cracked.
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
When talking about the bathroom, 'taza' refers specifically to the bowl part. If you want to refer to the entire fixture, use 'inodoro' or 'váter' to be clearer.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: taza
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'taza' in its most common meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'taza' y 'tasa'?
This is a very common confusion! 'Taza' (with a Z) means a physical cup or the toilet bowl. 'Tasa' (with an S) is a completely different word meaning 'rate,' 'tax,' or 'fee,' often used in financial or statistical contexts (e.g., 'tasa de interés' is interest rate).
If I want a large cup of coffee, should I use 'taza' or 'tazón'?
You can use 'taza' for a standard cup or mug. If you want a truly massive, bowl-like mug, 'tazón' (which means large bowl) is a great choice.