Spanish word

cofre

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkofɾe/

Meaning

  • masculine nountreasure chest

Example

Los piratas enterraron un cofre en la playa.

The pirates buried a treasure chest on the beach.

Illustration for cofre (treasure chest)

More examples

Abrí el cofre y encontré cartas antiguas.

I opened the treasure chest and found old letters.

Core concept

Ornate locked wooden chest for valuables.

Common phrases

  • cofre del tesoro

    treasure chest

  • abrir un cofre

    open a treasure chest

  • cofre antiguo

    old treasure chest

Similar words

caja: Generic container box for storing possessions at home or work, simple and unadorned.
baúl: Large portable chest for packing garments and other bulky goods during trips or storage.
caja fuerte: Secure heavy-duty safe designed to lock up and safeguard precious items.

Definition in Spanish

Caja cerrada para guardar objetos valiosos o tesoros, con tapa y a veces con cerradura o adornos.

Word origin

From Old French coffre via Late Latin cophinus and ultimately Greek kophinos 'basket', which explains how the word came to mean a sturdy container for valuables.

Usage tips

  • Used mainly in stories or historical contexts to mean a decorative or antique chest, while caja is the everyday 'box' and baúl the larger trunk.

Other meanings

  • chestnoun

Word lists with this word