In Spanish, “things” is usually “cosas,” with “asuntos” for matters and “objetos” for physical items.
You’ll see “things” everywhere in English. It can mean objects, chores, plans, belongings, problems, or a hazy “stuff” you don’t want to name.
Spanish gives you more than one clean option, and that’s a good deal. Pick the word that matches what you mean, and your sentence stops sounding like a translation.
Below you’ll get the core translations, the grammar that makes them work, and a set of sentence shapes you can plug into essays, homework, or casual chats.
Why ‘Things’ Changes Meaning From Line To Line
In English, “things” can do the job even when the speaker stays vague. Spanish still wants a noun, but your noun choice can hint at what kind of “things” you mean.
When you pick well, your Spanish sounds direct and relaxed. When you pick poorly, you can end up saying “junk” when you meant “items,” or “issues” when you meant “objects.”
One English Word, Three Common Spanish Lanes
Most uses of “things” land in one of these lanes. Start here when you’re stuck.
- General stuff:cosa (one thing) and cosas (things).
- Matters and topics:asunto, tema, cuestión.
- Physical objects:objeto, artículo, elemento.
There’s overlap, so you don’t need to stress. Ask one question: are you talking about stuff in general, a matter to deal with, or a thing you can pick up?
How To Say ‘Things’ In Spanish In Real Sentences
If you want one default that works in lots of places, go with cosas. It’s the closest match to English “things,” and it stays flexible.
Then, when your meaning gets more specific, swap in a sharper word. That small move can make your writing and speaking feel more native.
Start With Cosa And Cosas
Cosa means “thing.” The plural cosas means “things.” It’s a feminine noun, so articles and adjectives line up with la and las.
These patterns show up constantly:
- Una cosa = one thing
- Dos cosas = two things
- Muchas cosas = many things
- Varias cosas = several things
Articles And Possessives Make It Sound Like Spanish
English often drops “the.” Spanish often keeps it. That’s why las cosas shows up a lot in natural speech and writing.
Possessives work the same way: mis cosas (my things), tus cosas (your things), sus cosas (his, her, their things).
Easy Sentence Shapes You Can Reuse
- Tengo cosas que hacer. (I have things to do.)
- No tengo mis cosas aquí. (I don’t have my things here.)
- Hay muchas cosas en la mesa. (There are many things on the table.)
- Aprendí cosas nuevas. (I learned new things.)
When Cosas Is Fine And When Another Word Fits Better
Cosas works for a lot of day-to-day talk. Still, Spanish gives you better matches when you mean a narrower type of “thing.”
Here are the swaps that earn their keep fast, because they match common school and real-life situations.
Asunto For Matters, Issues, And Business
Asunto points to a matter or issue. Use it when “things” means business to handle, paperwork, or an issue that needs action.
Necesito hablar de un asunto contigo. (I need to talk about a matter with you.)
Tenemos varios asuntos pendientes. (We have several pending matters.)
Tema For A Topic You’re Talking About
Tema is a topic or theme. In class writing, it’s often cleaner than repeating cosas when you’re pointing to a subject area.
Ese tema es difícil. (That topic is hard.)
Cambiaron de tema. (They changed the topic.)
Objeto And Artículo For Physical Items
If you mean tangible objects, objeto is a straight pick. Artículo often reads like “item” in lists, shopping, or inventory language.
Encontré un objeto extraño. (I found a strange object.)
Compré tres artículos. (I bought three items.)
Pertenencias For Personal Belongings
When English “things” means “my stuff,” Spanish can be clearer with pertenencias (belongings). It’s common in travel, school lockers, and lost-and-found talk.
No dejes tus pertenencias aquí. (Don’t leave your belongings here.)
Recogí mis pertenencias. (I picked up my belongings.)
Trastos For Clutter Or Junk
Trastos can mean junk, clutter, or a pile of random household stuff. It’s casual. Use it when the tone is “ugh, this mess.”
Tengo demasiados trastos en mi cuarto. (I’ve got too much junk in my room.)
Cositas For Little Things
Cositas is the diminutive of cosas. It can mean small objects, small tasks, or “just a few little things,” and it often sounds friendly.
Solo necesito comprar unas cositas. (I just need to buy a few small things.)
La Cosa Es As A Natural “The Thing Is”
English “the thing is…” doesn’t translate word-for-word. Spanish often uses la cosa es que… or el caso es que… to set up a point.
La cosa es que no tengo tiempo. (The thing is that I don’t have time.)
El caso es que ya se fue. (The thing is, he already left.)
| What You Mean In English | Best Spanish Pick | When It Sounds Right |
|---|---|---|
| Things (general stuff) | cosas | Daily talk, vague lists, broad statements |
| One thing / a thing | una cosa | Single item, single idea, one point |
| Things to do | cosas que hacer | Plans, chores, tasks without naming each one |
| My things (belongings) | mis cosas / mis pertenencias | cosas for casual; pertenencias for clearer tone |
| Matters / issues | asuntos | Work, school admin, pending issues |
| Topic / subject | tema | Conversation topics, essay themes, class talk |
| Objects (tangible) | objetos | Physical items you can see or hold |
| Items (listed or counted) | artículos | Shopping, inventory, lists, receipts |
| Clutter / junk | trastos | Messy piles, random household stuff |
| Little things | cositas | Small purchases, small tasks, soft tone |
Grammar Moves That Make These Words Work
Picking the right noun is step one. Step two is making the sentence sound like Spanish, not like English with Spanish words pasted in.
These grammar moves are simple, and they show up all the time in good writing.
Match Adjectives To Cosa And Cosas
Cosa is feminine singular, so adjectives often end in -a. Cosas is feminine plural, so adjectives often end in -as.
- una cosa rara (a weird thing)
- cosas raras (weird things)
- cosas nuevas (new things)
Use De To Add Detail Without Extra Clauses
Spanish loves de to connect nouns. It’s a clean way to say what kind of “things” you mean.
- cosas de la escuela (school things)
- cosas de casa (house stuff)
- asuntos de trabajo (work matters)
Use Que + Verb For “Things That…”
English often uses a relative clause after “things.” Spanish does too, and the pattern is steady: cosas que + verb.
Hay cosas que no entiendo. (There are things I don’t understand.)
Son cosas que pasan. (Things happen.)
Everyday Phrases With Cosa That Sound Natural
Some expressions with cosa show up in writing and speech so often that they’re worth learning as chunks.
They keep you from translating word-by-word, which is where many awkward lines come from.
Una Cosa A La Vez
This means “one thing at a time.” It’s handy in school settings, group work, and daily life.
Una cosa a la vez. (One thing at a time.)
Otra Cosa
Otra cosa is “another thing.” It’s also a smooth way to add a new point without stiff transitions.
Otra cosa: mañana tengo examen. (Another thing: I have an exam tomorrow.)
La Misma Cosa
This means “the same thing.” It’s useful in comparisons and explanations.
Es la misma cosa. (It’s the same thing.)
Una Cosa Es… Y Otra Es…
This pattern draws a clean distinction between two ideas.
Una cosa es estudiar y otra es memorizar. (One thing is studying and another is memorizing.)
| Pattern | Spanish Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tengo cosas que + infinitivo | Tengo cosas que hacer. | I have things to do. |
| Hay cosas que + verbo | Hay cosas que no sé. | There are things I don’t know. |
| Mis cosas / Mis pertenencias | Busco mis pertenencias. | I’m looking for my belongings. |
| Asuntos pendientes | Tengo asuntos pendientes. | I have pending matters. |
| Cambiar de tema | Cambiemos de tema. | Let’s change the topic. |
| La cosa es que… | La cosa es que llegué tarde. | The thing is that I arrived late. |
| Una cosa a la vez | Tranquilo, una cosa a la vez. | Relax, one thing at a time. |
| Otra cosa | Otra cosa: necesito agua. | Another thing: I need water. |
Common Mix-Ups And Clean Fixes
Most mistakes with “things” come from using one Spanish noun for every meaning. The fix is usually one small swap.
Here are a few traps students hit a lot, with a cleaner option right after.
Using Cosas When You Mean A Topic
If you’re writing about a subject in class, tema often reads better than cosas.
- Mal:Hablamos de cosas de historia.
- Mejor:Hablamos de temas de historia.
Using Asuntos When You Mean Physical Objects
Asuntos leans toward “matters.” If you mean items on a desk or objects in a box, use cosas or objetos.
- Mal:Mis asuntos están en la mesa.
- Mejor:Mis cosas están en la mesa.
Forgetting Feminine Agreement
Cosa is feminine. That’s why una cosa is right, not un cosa.
- Mal:un cosa nueva
- Mejor:una cosa nueva
Translating “The Thing Is…” Word-For-Word
Don’t force la cosa into a literal English structure. Use the natural chunk: la cosa es que… or el caso es que…
Practice Drills You Can Do In Five Minutes
Want to lock this in? Do a short round of swaps. Read the English line, pick the best Spanish noun, then say the full Spanish sentence out loud.
Pick The Best Word
- “I have things to do.” → cosas / temas / asuntos
- “We need to talk about a matter.” → asunto / objeto / cosita
- “Don’t leave your belongings.” → pertenencias / temas / artículos
- “Let’s change the topic.” → tema / trasto / cosa
- “I found three items.” → artículos / asuntos / pertenencias
Answers
- cosas → Tengo cosas que hacer.
- asunto → Tenemos que hablar de un asunto.
- pertenencias → No dejes tus pertenencias.
- tema → Cambiemos de tema.
- artículos → Encontré tres artículos.
Next Steps For Using Cosas With Confidence
If you only learn one word today, make it cosas. It will carry you through a ton of sentences.
Then add a small set of swaps that match what you say most in English. That’s where your Spanish starts feeling sharper.
- Use cosas for broad “stuff,” tasks, and general lists.
- Use tema when you mean a topic or subject.
- Use asunto when you mean a matter to handle.
- Use objetos or artículos for physical items.
- Use pertenencias for belongings when clarity matters.
- Keep la cosa es que… in your pocket for “the thing is…” moments.