cita
/ˈθita/
To say quotation in Spanish, as in words quoted from a book or speech, use cita.
cita is the most common word for a quotation of text, such as a line from a famous book.
Meaning: act of naming a price, price that has been quoted (noun)
Which one should you use?
For a price quotation or estimate in business, Spanish uses presupuesto, not cita. Dicho refers to a popular saying or proverb rather than a quoted passage.
How does it change in a sentence?
cita is a feminine noun, so it takes una as in the examples.
How do you pronounce it?
cita is pronounced /ˈθita/ in central and northern Spain, with a th sound at the start. In Latin America the first sound is an s.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Remember that cita also means an appointment or a date, so context decides the meaning. When asking a business for a price quote, use presupuesto.
When do people say it?
Spanish texts traditionally mark quotations with angle quotation marks, a pair of double chevrons around the quoted words, though ordinary double quotes are also common.
Did you know?
- The word cita shares a common ancestor with the English word 'cite'. Both stem from the Latin 'citare', which means 'to summon' or 'to call upon'.
- Spanish traditionally uses comillas angulares (angle quotes) like for primary quotations. English-style double quotes are typically reserved for quoting a phrase within another quotation.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the term cita for an appointment is so broad that it can be used for a doctor's visit, a business meeting, or a legal hearing. The specific type of meeting is usually understood through context rather than a different word.
Examples in context
- Es una cita del Quijote.It's a quotation from Don Quixote.cita del Quijote means a quotation from Don Quixote.Tatoeba #2258981 by hayastan, translation #2258980 by _undertoad
- El siguiente pasaje es una cita de una bien conocida fábula.The following passage is a quotation from a well-known fable.una cita de introduces where the passage comes from.Tatoeba #5401721 by albrusgher, translation #28384 by al_ex_an_der
- Según la cita del artículo científico, "La biodiversidad es fundamental para el equilibrio ecológico".According to the quotation from the scientific article, "Biodiversity is crucial for ecological balance."
- "La vida es como una bicicleta, para mantener el equilibrio debes seguir adelante" es una frase célebre de Albert Einstein."Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving forward" is a famous quotation by Albert Einstein.
- "No dejes para mañana lo que puedas hacer hoy."Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Example conversation
Maria and Alejandro are discussing a home renovation project.
- MaríaAlejandro, ¿ya recibiste la cita del pintor?Alejandro, have you received the painter's quotation yet?
- AlejandroNo, todavía no me ha enviado nada.No, he hasn't sent me anything yet.
- MaríaNecesitamos esa cita para decidir el presupuesto.We need that quotation to decide the budget.
- AlejandroLe escribiré ahora mismo para pedírsela.I will write to him right now to ask for it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cita, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cita, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
