Quote Meaning In Spanish | The Three Meanings Most Learners

The English word “quote” has three main Spanish translations: the verb citar for citing a source, the feminine noun la cita for a passage.

You hear a friend say they need a “quote” for their essay — and later they mention getting a “quote” from a plumber. In English, both sentences use the same word. In Spanish, those two situations demand completely different vocabulary. That’s where the confusion begins.

The word “quote” wraps three distinct concepts into one English term. To translate it accurately into Spanish, you need to know what kind of “quote” you’re dealing with — a citation, a price estimate, or a stock market number. This article breaks down each translation with examples so you won’t mix them up.

The Three Core Translations of Quote in Spanish

The first split is between verb and noun. As a verb meaning “to cite someone’s words,” the translation is citar. This is a direct cognate of the English “to cite,” making it the most intuitive choice for academic writing or speeches.

As a noun, the meaning shifts. If you’re referring to a line from a book or speech, use the feminine noun la cita. For a price estimate from a contractor or service provider, use the masculine noun el presupuesto.

A third, less common noun form appears in financial contexts. When talking about a stock price or financial quotation, the correct Spanish term is la cotización — not cita or presupuesto.

Why a Single Word Causes So Much Confusion

English speakers learning Spanish often default to citar for every meaning because it sounds closest to “quote.” The problem is that citar only works for citing a person or source. Using it for a price estimate sounds as odd as saying “I need a citation from my mechanic” in English.

• The cita trap: La cita also means “date” (as in a romantic appointment). If you say “tengo una cita” without context, a native speaker might think you have a date, not a quotation. Always clarify with context or use presupuesto for business estimates.
• Verb vs. noun gender: La cita is feminine (la), while el presupuesto is masculine (el). Mixing up the article gives away a learner immediately.
• Cotización for stocks: If you ask for a stock quote on the Madrid exchange, use cotización. Saying presupuesto would be understood but sounds unprofessional.
• The interjection y cito: In spoken Spanish, you can say “y cito” (and I quote) before delivering a direct quotation. It’s a useful phrase for formal debates or presentations.
• Alegar as a variant: Cambridge Dictionary lists alegar as a possible translation when “to quote” means to cite something as evidence or justification, especially in legal contexts.

Once you know these distinctions, choosing the right word becomes a matter of asking yourself one simple question: Am I citing a person, requesting a price, or referring to a financial figure?

Verb Meanings: Citar and Its Relatives

The most common verb translation is citar, used for repeating or referencing someone else’s words. For example: “El autor cita a Shakespeare” — “The author quotes Shakespeare.” This covers almost all academic and literary uses.

When the verb “to quote” means “to give a price estimate,” Spanish uses presupuestar or the phrase dar un presupuesto. In financial settings where a rate is set, the verb cotizar applies. SpanishDict’s entry for “Quote translates to citar” gives example sentences that show how context changes the verb choice.

Using the wrong verb can confuse a native speaker. Stick with citar for words, presupuestar for money, and cotizar for financial rates.

How to Choose the Right Word in 3 Steps

When you encounter the word “quote” in English and need to translate it, follow this quick mental checklist to avoid common mistakes.

1. Identify the part of speech: Is “quote” a verb (an action) or a noun (a thing)? Verbs use citar (for citations) or presupuestar (for pricing). Nouns use la cita (the passage) or el presupuesto (the estimate).
2. Determine the context: If you’re reading or repeating someone’s words, pick citar or cita. If you’re asking a mechanic or builder for a price, pick presupuestar or presupuesto. If you’re checking a stock price, use cotización.
3. Check the gender and article: Always pair cita with “la” and presupuesto with “el.” Getting the article wrong is a dead giveaway that you’re translating directly from English without adjusting for Spanish grammar.

These three steps cover roughly 90% of everyday situations. For the remaining edge cases — like the verb alegar in legal writing — a good bilingual dictionary will fill the gap.

Noun Forms: Cita, Presupuesto, and Cotización

The noun translations are where most learners slip up. La cita works for a line of text or speech but also means a scheduled meeting, so context is everything. El presupuesto is exclusively a cost estimate and is the standard word used in every Latin American and Spanish business setting. La cotización is reserved for stock quotes or official financial quotations.

Collinsdictionary’s entry on “Quote as a noun cita” provides example sentences that illustrate the range, including the use of presupuesto for construction estimates and cotización for market prices. The dictionary also confirms the grammatical gender of each noun.

Once you memorize these three nouns and their genders, you’ll handle any “quote” situation in Spanish without hesitation.

The Bottom Line

Translating “quote” into Spanish comes down to context. Use citar / la cita for citations, presupuestar / el presupuesto for cost estimates, and cotización for financial quotes. Master these three pairs and you’ll avoid the most common learner mistakes.

If you’re learning Spanish for work travel to Mexico or for academic writing, a certified Spanish teacher (DELE examiner) can drill these context shifts with you through real-world dialogues tailored to your industry and proficiency level.