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"Place" is a noun which is often translated as "el lugar", and "thing" is a noun which is often translated as "la cosa". Learn more about the difference between "place" and "thing" below.
place(
pleys
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
2. (house)
3. (seat)
a. el asiento (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Please take your places; the show is about to start.Favor de tomar sus asientos. Dentro de poco empezará la presentación.
4. (position)
c. la posición (F) (rank)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He took first place at the tournament.Quedó en primera posición en el torneo.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
It's not my place to judge you for your actions.No me corresponde a mí juzgar tus acciones.
It's not my place to make that decision.No es mi deber tomar esa decisión.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
5. (to put)
a. estimar
The medical examiner placed the time of death at ten.El forense estimó la hora de muerte a las diez.
7. (commerce)
a. hacer
Our clients placed a new order at the trade show.Nuestros clientes nos hicieron un pedido en la feria.
9. (to appoint)
a. poner
Even though I don't have much experience, they placed me as chair of the committee.Si bien no tengo mucha experiencia, me pusieron como jefe del comité.
10. (to assign)
a. poner
They placed him in an orphanage at the age of three.A los tres años lo pusieron en un orfanato.
a. hacer
I don't have enough minutes to place a call.No tengo crédito suficiente para hacer una llamada.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
12. (to finish)
c. quedar
We won the same number of games, but they scored more goals, so we placed second in the tournament.Ganamos la misma cantidad de partidos, pero ellos anotaron más goles, por lo que quedamos segundos en el torneo.
thing(
thihng
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
b. el aparato (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Do you know how to use this thing?¿Sabes cómo utilizar este aparato?
c. la vaina (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Pass me that thing from over there.Pásame esa vaina de allí.
3. (activity)
4. (matter)
c. la vaina (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Did you hear that thing on the radio about the elections?¿Escuchaste esa vaina en la radio acerca de las elecciones?
5. (event)
6. (thought)
b. la vaina (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Forget about those things!¡Olvida esas vainas!
7. (comment)
b. la vaina (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
That thing he said about me isn't true.Esa vaina que contó de mí no es verdad.
8. (act)
b. la vaina (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
I'm a bit worried about this thing.Me preocupa un poco esta vaina.
a. el tipo (M), la tipa (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The poor thing can't find his car keys.El pobre tipo no puede encontrar las llaves de su coche.
b. el crío (M), la cría (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Poor things, always loaded with homework!¡Pobres críos, siempre cargados de deberes!
c. la criatura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
What is that thing coming out of the forest?¿Qué es esa criatura que sale del bosque?
10. (in negations)
11. (colloquial) (preferred activity or hobby)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I invited Paul to go dancing, but he said it's not his thing.Invité a Paul a salir a bailar, pero dijo que no es lo suyo.
My thing is going to the movies.Lo mío es ir al cine.
12. (obsession)
a. la obsesión (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
My grandmother has a thing about teacups; she has like 500.Mi abuela tiene una obsesión por las tazas de té; tiene alrededor de 500.
13. (phobia)
a. la moda (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Why is everybody eating kale salads? - Dad, it's the thing right now.¿Por qué todo mundo come ensaladas hechas con col rizada ahora? - Papá, es la moda hoy en día.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Do you have anything for a migraine? - I've got just the thing!¿Tienes algo para la migraña? - Tengo justo lo que necesitas.
The thing is to make a good first impression.Lo importante es dar una buena primera impresión.
16. (colloquial) (romantic affair)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. la relación (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I can't believe John and Anita had a thing in high school.No puedo creer que John y Anita tuvieron una relación en la prepa.
things
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
17. (belongings)
a. las cosas (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I am going to pick up my things from my ex-girlfriend's place this weekend.Este fin de semana voy a recoger mis cosas de la casa de mi exnovia.
b. las vainas (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Bring your things over when you come.Traéte tus vainas contigo cuando vengas.
18. (situation)
b. las vaina (F) (Andes) (Caribbean) (Central America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
I'm not happy about things.Estas vainas no me hacen gracia.
