Inklingo

How to Say "cooperative" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cooperativa

/koh-oh-peh-rah-TEE-bah//ko.o.pe.ɾaˈti.βa/

adjectiveB1general
Use this adjective when describing a person, especially a child, who is willing to help and work together in a given situation.
A group of diverse farmers standing together in a lush field, holding a basket of fresh vegetables they harvested together.

Examples

Ella es una niña muy cooperativa en clase.

She is a very cooperative girl in class.

Compramos el aceite de oliva directamente en la cooperativa.

We buy olive oil directly from the co-op.

La cooperativa de crédito ayuda a los pequeños agricultores.

The credit union (financial co-op) helps small farmers.

Esta cooperativa de viviendas es la más grande de la ciudad.

This housing cooperative is the largest in the city.

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to a business, the word 'cooperativa' is always a feminine word. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Matching with Feminine Words

As an adjective, 'cooperativa' is the form you use to describe a feminine noun. If you were describing a man or a masculine object, you would change it to 'cooperativo'.

Confusing with the action

Mistake:Yo trabajo en un cooperativo.

Correction: Yo trabajo en una cooperativa. Use the 'a' ending when talking about the organization.

Ending choice

Mistake:Un equipo cooperativa.

Correction: Un equipo cooperativo. Because 'equipo' is masculine, the adjective must end in 'o'.

colaborador

/ko-la-bo-ra-dor//kolaβoɾaˈðoɾ/

adjectiveB2general
Use this adjective to describe someone who is actively willing to work with others and contribute to a task or effort.
A person helping another person carry a heavy box.

Examples

Tu hijo es muy colaborador en las tareas de la casa.

Your son is very helpful with the household chores.

Necesitamos personal con una actitud colaboradora.

We need staff with a cooperative attitude.

Siempre se ha mostrado colaborador con la policía.

He has always been cooperative with the police.

Matching the person

Even though it ends in 'r', this word changes to 'colaboradora' when describing a female person or a feminine word like 'actitud'.

Describing Personality

Use the verb 'ser' (to be) when saying someone is naturally a helpful person, and 'estar' if they are just being helpful in a specific moment.

The 'a' ending

Mistake:Ella es muy colaborador.

Correction: Ella es muy colaboradora.

cooperativa

/koh-oh-peh-rah-TEE-bah//ko.o.pe.ɾaˈti.βa/

nounB1formal
Use this noun to refer specifically to a business or organization that is owned and run jointly by its members.
A group of diverse farmers standing together in a lush field, holding a basket of fresh vegetables they harvested together.

Examples

Compramos el aceite de oliva directamente en la cooperativa.

We buy olive oil directly from the co-op.

La cooperativa de crédito ayuda a los pequeños agricultores.

The credit union (financial co-op) helps small farmers.

Esta cooperativa de viviendas es la más grande de la ciudad.

This housing cooperative is the largest in the city.

Ella es una niña muy cooperativa en clase.

She is a very cooperative girl in class.

Always Feminine

Even though it refers to a business, the word 'cooperativa' is always a feminine word. You should always use 'la' or 'una' with it.

Matching with Feminine Words

As an adjective, 'cooperativa' is the form you use to describe a feminine noun. If you were describing a man or a masculine object, you would change it to 'cooperativo'.

Confusing with the action

Mistake:Yo trabajo en un cooperativo.

Correction: Yo trabajo en una cooperativa. Use the 'a' ending when talking about the organization.

Ending choice

Mistake:Un equipo cooperativa.

Correction: Un equipo cooperativo. Because 'equipo' is masculine, the adjective must end in 'o'.

Adjective vs. Noun 'Cooperativa'

Learners often confuse the noun 'cooperativa' (a co-op organization) with the adjective 'cooperativa' (willing to help). Remember that 'cooperativa' can be both a thing and a description, while 'colaborador' is solely an adjective describing a helpful person.

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