Spanish word

caja

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkaxa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbox

Example

Pon los libros en la caja.

Put the books in the box.

Illustration for caja (box)

More examples

Pagó y dejó el ticket en la caja.

He paid and left the receipt at the cash register.

Core concept

Hollow container, usually prism-shaped, used to hold or transport objects.

Common phrases

  • caja registradora

    cash register

  • pagar en la caja

    pay at the cash register

Similar words

bolsa: Flexible bag of cloth or plastic used to carry loose items by hand.
paquete: Bundle of items wrapped or boxed together as a single unit for delivery or handover.
envase: Container designed to hold food or drinks for storage and sale, often sealed.
cajón: Deep sliding compartment in furniture that pulls out to store items.

Definition in Spanish

Recipiente hueco, generalmente de forma prismática, usado para guardar, proteger o transportar objetos; en comercios, lugar o aparato donde se guarda o se atiende el dinero.

Word origin

From Latin capsa via vulgar Latin caxa into Old Spanish caja, originally meaning a receptacle and later extended to money boxes and shop registers.

Usage tips

  • In shops, 'la caja' commonly means the checkout or cash register, so phrases like 'ir a la caja' or 'pasar por caja' refer to paying at the till.

Other meanings

  • cash registernoun
  • casenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word