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"La cosa" is a form of "cosa", a noun which is often translated as "thing". "La máquina" is a form of "máquina", a noun which is often translated as "machine". Learn more about the difference between "la cosa" and "la máquina" below.
la cosa(
koh
-
sah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (object)
c. anything
¡Es increíble! Nunca he visto cosa igual.It's incredible! I've never seen anything like it.
d. nothing (in negative clause)
No hay cosa que más odie que las mentiras.There's nothing I hate more than lying.
2. (concern)
b. business
Deja de prestar tanta atención a las cosas del vecino.Stop paying so much attention to the neighbor's business.
a. situation
Pensé que ya se habría resuelto, pero la cosa está complicada.I thought it would have been worked out by now, but the situation is complicated.
4. (colloquial) (male genitalia) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. thing (colloquial)
Después de la circuncisión, puede que le salga costra en su cosa.After the circumcision, he may have a little scab on his thing.
las cosas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
la máquina(
mah
-
kee
-
nah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (apparatus)
a. machine
Hay que arreglar la máquina del taller para que podamos seguir con el trabajo.We need to fix the machine in the shop so that we can continue with our work.
2. (railway)
a. engine
La máquina se descarriló en la curva, pero por fortuna no iba muy rápido.The engine derailed on the corner, but luckily it wasn't going very fast.
b. locomotive
Mi tío es un fanático de las máquinas de vapor.My uncle is a steam locomotive fanatic.
a. car
La mayoría de las máquinas que se ven en La Habana son de los años cincuenta.Most of the cars you see in Havana are from the fifties.
a. camera
Me compré una máquina nueva para tomar fotos en la boda de mi mejor amigo.I bought a new camera to take pictures at my best friend's wedding.
5. (politics)
a. machine
La máquina de Chicago ha ejercido poder por demasiados años.The Chicago machine has exercised power for too many years.
