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How to Say "items" in Spanish

English → Spanish

cosas

/KO-sas//ˈko.sas/

nounA1general
Use 'cosas' when referring to general, unspecified things or a collection of various objects, often in an informal context.
A colorful collection of various everyday objects like a book, an apple, keys, and a toy car, representing the general idea of 'things'.

Examples

¿Qué son esas cosas en la mesa?

What are those things on the table?

Tengo muchas cosas que hacer hoy.

I have a lot of things to do today.

Guarda tus cosas en la mochila.

Put your things/stuff in the backpack.

Always Plural, Always Feminine

'Cosas' refers to more than one thing and is always treated as feminine. Remember to use 'las' or 'unas' with it, like in 'las cosas' (the things).

Singular Form: 'cosa'

When talking about just one thing, you use the singular form: 'una cosa' (one thing) or 'la cosa' (the thing).

Using the Wrong Gender

Mistake: “Me gustan los cosas que compraste.”

Correction: Me gustan las cosas que compraste. 'Cosa' is a feminine word, so even when it's plural ('cosas'), it stays feminine.

artículos

nounA1general, commercial
Choose 'artículos' when referring to specific goods, products, or items for sale in a store or listed in an inventory.

Examples

Todos los artículos de la tienda están en oferta.

All the items in the store are on sale.

objetos

oh-BHEH-tohs/oˈxetos/

nounA1general
Use 'objetos' for tangible, physical things or possessions that can be seen and touched, especially when listing personal belongings.
A simple colorful storybook illustration featuring four distinct physical items: a red ball, a blue book, a yellow cup, and a brown wooden block, arranged together.

Examples

Necesito empacar todos mis objetos personales antes de mudarme.

I need to pack all my personal objects before moving.

Hay muchos objetos pequeños de valor en esta caja.

There are many small valuable items in this box.

Los objetos perdidos se encuentran en la oficina principal.

Lost objects are found in the main office.

Plural Form

This word is the plural form of 'objeto.' Since 'objeto' ends in a vowel, you just add '-s' to make it plural.

Masculine Noun Rule

'Objetos' is a masculine noun, so it always uses masculine articles and adjectives: 'los objetos,' 'objetos viejos' (old objects).

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “La objetos (using the feminine article 'la')”

Correction: Los objetos (Use the masculine article 'los' since 'objetos' is masculine.)

unidades

oo-nee-DAH-des/uniˈðaðes/

nounA1commercial, inventory
Employ 'unidades' specifically in commercial or inventory contexts to refer to countable quantities of a particular product.
A visual depiction of measurement units showing three identical, colorful wooden blocks arranged neatly.

Examples

Necesitamos comprar diez unidades de este producto.

We need to buy ten units (items) of this product.

El informe está en unidades de medida internacionales.

The report is in international units of measurement.

Hay tres unidades defectuosas en el cargamento.

There are three defective units (items) in the shipment.

Feminine Plural

Since the singular form 'unidad' ends in '-d', its plural form 'unidades' is feminine and always uses feminine articles like 'las' or 'unas'.

Gender Confusion

Mistake: “Los unidades”

Correction: Las unidades. Remember that words ending in -dad, -tad, -ción, and -sión are almost always feminine in Spanish.

General vs. Specific Items

Learners often confuse 'cosas' with more specific terms like 'artículos' or 'objetos'. Remember that 'cosas' is very general; use 'artículos' for commercial goods and 'objetos' for tangible possessions. 'Unidades' is strictly for countable quantities in business.

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