le hace cosquillas
/le aθe koskiʝas/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'tickles him' is translated into Spanish as le hace cosquillas.
This phrase is used to describe the act of touching someone in a way that causes a tingling sensation and makes them laugh.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'makes him/her/you (formal) tickles' because the verb hacer (to make/do) is paired with the noun cosquillas (tickles).
Which one should you use?
You might hear Le hace cosquillitas to express that something 'makes little tickles to him'. Additionally, Le da comezón is an informal way to say 'it gives him an itchy feeling', which can also be used to describe a tickling sensation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb must agree with the subject. You should use le hacen cosquillas if the subject is plural (for example, 'they tickle him').
How do you pronounce it?
/le aθe koskiʝas/
Did you know?
- The word le used in this phrase originates from the Latin word illī, which was the dative form of ille.
- The diminutive form cosquillitas is used less to describe the size of the tickle and more to signal affection or a playful mood.
- Because the phrase uses the indirect object pronoun le, the expression can mean 'it tickles him', 'it tickles her', or even 'it tickles you (formal)'.
Examples in context
- El globo le produce cosquillasThe balloon tickles him
- El gato le provoca cosquilleoThe cat tickles him
- La pluma le hace cosquillasThe feather tickles him
- El bebé le hace cosquillitasThe baby tickles him
- La hierba le da comezónThe grass tickles him
- El trapo le hace cosquillas en la nariz.The cloth tickles his nose.
- Si lo tocas ahí, le hace cosquillas.If you touch him there, it tickles him.
- Ese juguete le hace cosquillas en los pies.That toy tickles his feet.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are playing with their baby brother.
- LucíaMira, este peluche le hace cosquillas.Look, this stuffed animal tickles him.
- Mateo¡Sí! Se está riendo mucho.Yes! He is laughing a lot.
- LucíaEs muy divertido verlo así.It is very fun seeing him like this.
- MateoTú eres muy buena con él.You are very good with him.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cosquillas, hace, le, CC BY-SA 4.0.
