The Spanish Word for Sewing
The word for sewing in Spanish is costura. You pronounce it "koh-SOO-rah," with the stress on the second syllable. This is the noun form—the thing itself, the craft or the seam.
The verb form, meaning "to sew," is coser, pronounced "koh-SER." If you want to say "I am sewing" or "I sew," you would use this verb. For example, "Estoy cosiendo" means "I am sewing right now," and "Coso" means "I sew" in the present tense.
Both words come from Latin roots and are used across Spanish-speaking countries, though some regions have local variations in how they use related terms. The core words—costura and coser—are understood everywhere Spanish is spoken.
Key Takeaways
- Costura is the noun for sewing as a craft or activity, pronounced "koh-SOO-rah."
- Coser is the verb meaning "to sew," pronounced "koh-SER," and changes form depending on who is doing the action and when.
- A seamstress or person who sews is called a costurera (female) or costurero (male).
- Common sewing-related words like aguja (needle), hilo (thread), and máquina de coser (sewing machine) follow the same pronunciation patterns as costura and coser.
Verb Forms You'll Use When Sewing
Spanish verbs change depending on who is doing the action. If you are learning to talk about sewing in Spanish, these present-tense forms of coser are the ones you will hear and use most often:
| Yo coso | I sew |
| Tú coses | You sew (informal) |
| Él/ella cose | He/she sews |
| Nosotros cosemos | We sew |
| Vosotros cosáis | You all sew (Spain, informal) |
| Ellos/ellas cosen | They sew |
For ongoing actions, use the present progressive: "Estoy cosiendo" (I am sewing), "Está cosiendo" (he/she is sewing), and so on. This form is especially useful when you want to describe what someone is doing right now.
Essential Sewing Vocabulary in Spanish
Once you know the word for sewing itself, learning the names of tools and materials makes conversations easier. Here are the words you will encounter most often in a sewing context:
- Aguja (AH-hoo-hah)—needle
- Hilo (EE-loh)—thread
- Máquina de coser (MAH-kee-nah deh koh-SER)—sewing machine
- Tela (TEH-lah)—fabric or cloth
- Botón (boh-TOHN)—button
- Cremallera (kreh-mah-YEH-rah)—zipper
- Patrón (pah-TROHN)—pattern
- Puntada (poon-TAH-dah)—stitch
- Dedal (deh-DAHL)—thimble
- Tijeras (tee-HEH-rahs)—scissors
These words are used the same way in Spanish-speaking countries, though some regions may use slightly different terms for certain items. For instance, some areas say cierre instead of cremallera for zipper, but cremallera is the most widely recognized term.
How to Describe Sewing Actions
Beyond the basic verb "coser," Spanish has specific words for different sewing techniques. Knowing these helps you describe what you are doing or understand instructions in Spanish:
- Pespuntar—to backstitch or topstitch
- Remendar—to mend or patch
- Hilvanar—to baste (temporary stitching)
- Ojal—buttonhole (noun); hacer un ojal means to make a buttonhole
- Coser a mano—to hand sew
- Coser a máquina—to machine sew
When you combine these action words with the basic vocabulary, you can describe almost any sewing task. For example, "Estoy hilvanando la tela" means "I am basting the fabric," and "Necesito remendar los pantalones" means "I need to mend the pants."
Occupational Terms for People Who Sew
If you want to talk about someone whose job or hobby is sewing, Spanish has specific words for that. Costurera is a woman who sews professionally or regularly, and costurero is a man who does the same. Both words come directly from costura.
A sastre (SAH-streh) is a tailor, specifically someone who makes or alters men's clothing. A modista (moh-DHEES-tah) is a dressmaker, someone who makes women's clothing. These are more specialized terms than costurera or costurero, but they are useful if you are talking about professional seamwork.
You might also hear confeccionista, which refers to someone who works in garment manufacturing or assembly. This term is less common in everyday conversation but appears in job listings and industry contexts.
Regional Differences and Variations
Spanish spoken in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and other countries uses the same core words for sewing, but pronunciation and some vocabulary choices vary slightly by region. The words costura and coser are universal—you will be understood anywhere.
Some regions prefer different words for certain items. In some parts of Latin America, people say cierre instead of cremallera for zipper. In Spain, aguja de coser might be used to specify a sewing needle as opposed to other types of needles. These variations rarely cause confusion because context makes the meaning clear.
If you are learning Spanish for a specific region or country, it is worth noting local preferences, but starting with the standard terms taught in most Spanish classes will serve you well everywhere. Native speakers recognize and use the standard vocabulary even if they have regional alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "sewing machine" in Spanish?
The phrase is máquina de coser, pronounced "MAH-kee-nah deh koh-SER." Literally, it means "machine for sewing." Some Spanish speakers shorten it to just máquina when the context is already about sewing.
What is the difference between costura and coser?
Costura is a noun—it refers to sewing as an activity, a craft, or a seam in fabric. Coser is a verb—it means the action of sewing. Think of it like "cooking" (costura) versus "to cook" (coser). You use costura when talking about the thing itself; you use coser when describing the action someone is performing.
Is the pronunciation the same in all Spanish-speaking countries?
The pronunciation of costura and coser is consistent across Spanish-speaking regions. However, some countries pronounce the "z" and "c" sounds differently. In Spain, the "c" in coser has a "th" sound, while in most of Latin America it sounds like an "s." Both are correct; it just depends on the regional accent.
Can I use "coser" in past tense?
Yes. The past tense of coser is cosí (I sewed), cosiste (you sewed), cosió (he/she sewed), and so on. For example, "Cosí un botón en la camisa" means "I sewed a button on the shirt." The past participle is cosido, used in phrases like "He cosido" (I have sewn).
What do you call someone who sews as a hobby?
You can call them a costurera (if female) or costurero (if male), the same terms used for professionals. Spanish does not always distinguish between hobby and professional seamstresses the way English does. Context makes it clear whether someone sews for a living or for pleasure.