Spanish word

gota

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈgota/

Meaning

  • feminine noundrop

Example

Añade una gota de aceite a la salsa.

Add a drop of oil to the sauce.

Illustration for gota (drop)

More examples

Tras la herida salió una gota de sangre.

A drop of blood came out of the wound.

Core concept

A small rounded bead of liquid detaching from a surface.

Common phrases

  • una gota de agua

    a drop of water

  • unas gotas de lluvia

    a few drops of rain

  • gotas para los ojos

    eye drops

Similar words

chorrito: A narrow jet of liquid that issues briefly in a short thin stream.
goteo: A slow succession of tiny drops falling one after another.
lágrima: A clear drop of liquid produced by the eye.
salpicadura: A forceful splash that sends scattered droplets outward.

Definition in Spanish

Pequeña porción de líquido, normalmente redondeada, que se separa de una masa líquida o queda sobre una superficie; por extensión, cantidad muy pequeña; en medicina, la enfermedad llamada la gota.

Word origin

From Latin gutta via Vulgar Latin, Spanish gota keeps the basic meaning of a liquid drop and also denotes a very small amount and the medical condition gout.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech and recipes 'una gota de...' signals a tiny, imprecise quantity, and the phrase 'ni una gota' emphasizes not a single drop.

Other meanings

  • goutnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • goteardripverb
  • goteodripnoun
  • gotitadropletnoun

Word lists with this word