cosquilloso
/koskiˈʝoso/
The English word 'ticklish' is translated into Spanish as cosquilloso.
Use cosquilloso to describe someone who is sensitive or susceptible to the sensation of being tickled. While cosquilloso is the adjective used to describe the person, if you want to describe the act of tickling someone or the sensation itself, you can use the verb cosquillear in Spain. To perform the action of tickling someone, the common verb phrase is hacer cosquillas.
Meaning: sensitive or susceptible to tickling (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word cosquilloso is derived from cosquillas, which means 'tickles'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the verb cosquillear is used to describe the act of tickling someone or the sensation of being tickled.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, cosquilloso must agree in gender and number with the subject it describes. Use cosquillosa for a feminine subject, cosquillosos for a masculine plural subject and cosquillosas for a feminine plural subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/koskiˈʝoso/
Did you know?
- While cosquilloso usually describes physical sensitivity, it can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is overly sensitive or easily offended.
- The adjective cosquilloso shares the same Latin root '-osus' as the English suffix '-ous', as seen in 'famous'. This connection explains why the word is built by adding a suffix to the noun cosquillas to describe a person's quality.
- Spanish uses the plural cosquillas to refer to the general sensation of tickles, whereas English uses the singular 'tickling' or 'a tickle'.
Examples in context
- Soy muy cosquilloso, ¡hazme cosquillas!I'm very ticklish, tickle me!This sentence shows how to use cosquilloso when expressing a desire to be tickled.Tatoeba #9188901 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9188902 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Soy cosquilloso.I'm ticklish.This sentence provides a simple way to state that you are ticklish using cosquilloso.Tatoeba #9520592 by hayastan, translation #2111676 by CK
- Maria es muy cosquillosa. No soporta que la toquen en los pies.Maria is very ticklish. She can't stand being touched on her feet.
- Alejandro es muy sensible a las cosquillas. Se ríe mucho cuando lo tocan en el estómago.Alejandro is very ticklish. He laughs a lot when you touch his stomach.
- ¡No me cosquillees! Soy muy sensible.Don't tickle me! I'm very sensitive.
- Mi hermano es muy cosquilloso en los pies.My brother is very ticklish on his feet.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are playing a game of tag.
- Lucía¿Eres cosquilloso, Daniel?Are you ticklish, Daniel?
- DanielNo, no soy nada cosquilloso.No, I am not ticklish at all.
- Lucía¡A ver si es cierto!Let's see if that's true!
- Daniel¡Ay, no, detente!Ow, no, stop!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ticklish” translations and entries cosquilloso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cosquilloso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
