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cotizar means to quote — a common term in Spanish for Business. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: December 8, 2025

💼 Spanish for Business

cotizar

verb • /[ko-tee-SAR]/

to quote

Example:

Vamos a cotizar con tres empresas.

We’ll request quotes from three companies.

🧠 What does cotizar mean?

The verb "cotizar" primarily means to provide a price or estimate for goods or services. In a business context, it refers to the action of a company or individual submitting a formal offer, including a price, for a project, product, or service. This is a crucial step in procurement processes, negotiations, and obtaining competitive bids. Beyond pricing, "cotizar" can also extend to listing or being listed on a stock exchange, referring to the value or price at which shares are traded. It can also imply contributing to social security or pensions.

📚 Extra examples

  • La empresa nos pidió cotizar el proyecto de construcción.
    The company asked us to quote the construction project.
  • Necesitamos cotizar varias opciones antes de decidirnos por un proveedor.
    We need to get quotes for several options before deciding on a supplier.
  • El valor de las acciones de la empresa cotiza alto en la bolsa.
    The company's stock value is trading high on the stock exchange.
  • Los trabajadores deben cotizar para su jubilación.
    Workers must contribute to their retirement.

💡 Did You Know?

The verb 'cotizar' can refer not only to providing a price estimate but also to the act of contributing to social security systems in Spanish-speaking countries, a vital aspect of employment and public services.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "cotizar"

Synonyms: presupuestar, tasar, valorar, estimar, licitar
Opposites: comprar, adquirir, rechazar una oferta

🔍 See more spanish for business words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to quote' in Spanish?
The Spanish word for 'to quote' in a business context, when referring to providing a price or estimate, is "cotizar".
How do you pronounce 'cotizar' in Spanish?
The pronunciation of "cotizar" is koh-tee-THAR (in Spain) or koh-tee-SAR (in Latin America). The stress is on the last syllable.
How do you use 'cotizar' in a sentence?
"Cotizar" is used when a business or individual provides a price for goods or services. For example, "El proveedor cotizó el servicio por quinientos euros" (The supplier quoted the service for five hundred euros).
What is the English translation of 'cotizar'?
The primary English translation of "cotizar" is 'to quote' or 'to estimate a price'. It can also mean 'to trade' or 'to be listed' on a stock exchange, and 'to contribute' to social security.
Does 'cotizar' change for gender or number?
As a verb, "cotizar" changes its form based on the subject and tense, not for gender or number of the noun it refers to. For example, "yo coticé" (I quoted), "tú cotizaste" (you quoted), "ellos cotizaron" (they quoted).
Is 'cotizar' common in everyday Spanish?
While "cotizar" is very common in business and financial contexts, its use in everyday casual conversation might be less frequent unless discussing prices for services or the stock market.
Does 'cotizar' have slang or double meanings?
The primary meanings of "cotizar" are related to pricing, stock exchange trading, and social security contributions. It does not typically carry slang or significant double meanings in common usage.
Is 'cotizar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The core meanings of "cotizar" remain consistent across Spain and Latin America. The pronunciation of 'z' differs (like 'th' in Spain, like 's' in Latin America), but the verb's application in business, finance, and social security contexts is the same.
How do you conjugate 'cotizar' in Spanish?
"Cotizar" is a regular -ar verb. The present tense conjugation for "yo" is "coticé" (or "cotizo" in some contexts, but "coticé" is the preterite first person singular). In the present tense, it follows the pattern: yo coticé, tú cotizaste, él/ella/usted cotizó, nosotros cotizamos, vosotros cotizasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes cotizaron. For the present subjunctive, it's: yo cotice, tú cotices, él/ella/usted cotice, nosotros coticemos, vosotros coticéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes coticen. It's important to note that the preterite first person singular ('yo coticé') has a spelling change to maintain the hard 'c' sound before 'e'.

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