The word "cotilla" is a noun in Spanish.
The phonetic transcription of "cotilla" using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /ko̞ˈtiʎa/.
In Spanish, "cotilla" is commonly used to refer to a person who is excessively curious about other people's lives or who engages in gossip. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is intrusive or meddlesome.
The frequency of use is relatively high, especially in colloquial speech, and it is more prevalent in oral contexts where informal interactions occur. It can be used in both regions of Spain and Latin America, though different regions may have variations in how often or in which contexts the term is employed.
Mi vecino es un cotilla y siempre está espiando lo que hacemos.
My neighbor is a gossip and is always spying on what we do.
No le cuentes nada, porque ella es muy cotilla.
Don't tell her anything, because she is very nosy.
La cotilla del grupo no puede resistir el chisme.
The busybody of the group can't resist the gossip.
The word "cotilla" is often used in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, reflecting its meaning related to gossip and intrusiveness.
Ser un cotilla: Es alguien que siempre está metiéndose en la vida de los demás. To be a gossip: It is someone who is always getting into the lives of others.
Estar de cotilla: Significa estar husmeando o indagando sobre la vida ajena. To be nosy: It means to be snooping or probing into someone else's life.
Cotilla a medias: Se refiere a alguien que actúa como chismoso pero no quiere comprometerse del todo. Half-hearted gossip: Refers to someone who acts as a gossip but does not want to be fully committed to it.
Cotillear: Verbo que implica la acción de hablar sobre asuntos privados de otras personas. To gossip: A verb that implies the action of talking about others' private matters.
No seas cotilla: Una manera de pedirle a alguien que no se meta en asuntos que no le conciernen. Don't be a busybody: A way to ask someone not to interfere in matters that don't concern them.
The word "cotilla" derives from the Spanish word "cotillear," which means "to gossip" and likely comes from the Catalan "cotilleig," which also refers to tattle or gossip. The etymological roots suggest a long-standing sociocultural tendency toward curiosity about others' affairs.
This comprehensive breakdown shows the multifaceted nature of the term "cotilla" in the Spanish language, including its various connotations, usage, and related phrases.