Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| esquina | /esˈkina/ | feminine |
| rincón | /rinˈkon/ | masculine |
| ostugo | /ostuɡo/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| sucucho | /suˈkut͡ʃo/ | masculine |
Spanish uses different words for a corner depending on whether the space is inside or outside. Use esquina to refer to the corner of a street, a building or an external intersection. Use rincón to refer to an internal corner of a room or a cozy nook.
Which one should you use?
The distinction between these forms depends on the location of the corner: esquina is used for external or street corners, while rincón is used for internal or room corners. To specify a location at a street corner, you would use the phrase en la esquina, whereas to specify a location inside a corner of a room, you would use en el rincón.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
esquina is a feminine noun, while rincón and ostugo are masculine nouns. sucucho is also a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/esˈkina/
Did you know?
- While you might expect the word esquina to be related to 'edge', it is actually a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'shin'. Both come from an ancient root describing a 'rim' or 'plate'.
- The term estamos en la esquina can be used idiomatically in some contexts to mean that a certain event is just about to happen.
- While rincón means a corner, it is often used metaphorically to describe a remote, secluded place or a small hometown, such as mi rincón favorito.
Examples in context
- Está en la esquina.It's at the corner.This sentence is useful for saying something is at the corner using esquina.Tatoeba #1721336 by marcelostockle, translation #50921 by CM
- Él dobló en esa esquina.He turned the corner.This sentence is useful for describing someone turning the corner using esquina.Tatoeba #1254546 by marcelostockle, translation #290640 by CK
- Esa silla va en el rincón.That chair goes in the corner.This sentence is useful for describing something being in a corner using rincón.Tatoeba #2254730 by hayastan, translation #2254629 by _undertoad
- Disculpe, ¿dónde está la esquina más cercana?Excuse me, where is the nearest corner?
- Necesito colocar esta estatua en el rincón de la sala.I need to place this statue in the corner of the room.
- Hay un gato durmiendo en el recoveco del jardín.There's a cat sleeping in the garden's hiding spot.
- 98 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are looking for a specific cafe in the city.
- AlejandroLucía, ¿sabes dónde está la cafetería?Lucía, do you know where the cafe is?
- LucíaCreo que está justo en la esquina.I think it is right on the corner.
- Alejandro¡Ah, ya la veo en esa esquina!Ah, I see it on that corner!
- LucíaQué bueno, Alejandro, vamos hacia allá.Great, Alejandro, let's go towards it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “corner” translations and entries esquina, rincón, sucucho, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esquina, rincón, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
