tomo
“tomo” means “I take” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
I take, I drink
Also: I grab, I have, I make
📝 In Action
Tomo el autobús para ir a la escuela.
A1I take the bus to go to school.
Todos los días tomo un café con leche.
A1Every day I drink a coffee with milk.
Tomo nota de todo lo que dices.
A2I take note of everything you say.
volume
Also: part
📝 In Action
La enciclopedia tiene diez tomos en total.
B1The encyclopedia has ten volumes in total.
Solo he leído el primer tomo de la saga.
B2I have only read the first volume of the saga.
El tomo final se publicará el próximo año.
B1The final volume will be published next year.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tomo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'tomo' to mean 'I grab'?
📚 More Resources
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The noun 'tomo' comes from the Latin 'tomus,' which itself came from the Greek word 'tomos,' meaning 'a cut' or 'a piece.' This referred to a roll of papyrus, which was a 'piece' of a larger work. The verb form 'tomo' (I take) comes from a separate but related root, Vulgar Latin 'tummāre,' meaning 'to grasp' or 'to seize.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'tomo' mean both 'I take' and 'volume'?
These two words are spelled and pronounced exactly the same but come from slightly different historical roots. The verb form comes from the idea of grasping, while the noun form comes from the Greek word for a section or piece of a work.
In Latin America, is 'tomo' used for drinking?
Yes, but less often than in Spain. In many Latin American regions, 'beber' (to drink) is the most common verb for liquids, while 'tomar' is preferred for using transportation or grabbing objects.